Gastric Bypass complications/Questions?

   I know a lady who currently weighs 350 pounds, 5'3".

Her medical history before the surgery 4.5 years ago was 210 lbs and a history of migraines.

After the surgery she never did the follow ups, became pregnant and continued supplements up until about a month before the child's birth via section.

She has never controlled her eating habits before or after surgery and since her child's birth has quit supplements, has been lactating for about 2.5 years after she quit breast feeding and currently weighs 350lbs.

Given that she has to have some mental health issues, what hormonal and mental health issues may have resulted from damage and neglect to her body.

Oh, I almost forgot she prefers a high starch diet and participates in minimal physical activity. Does anyone know what tests are currently being used to treat/locate the problems with gastric bypass?

Can the surgery be reversed at all if complications start to compound?

[CalGal]

What specific form of surgery did she have? There are several kinds. But in general, gastric bypass surgery especially if it's something like the Roux-en-Y are not reversible.

There's no way anyone on the 'outside' of the issue could really tell you hwat hormonal/mental/general health issues may come out of her neglecting her body. Only her doc could really give you an informed opinion about that.

[SeriousSam]

Roux-en-Y, She won't go to a doctor.  She actually had never done her follow up with the bariatric clinic in Belvidere illinois

[CalGal]

A Roux-en-Y can't unfortunately be reversed. There's no way to force her to see a doc unless she's a danger to herself or others.

[SeriousSam]

Unfortunately she is a danger someone.  My son.

[CalGal]

I know you're worried, but your son is going to have to take steps to make sure he and his child remain safe. It's a difficult situation to be in.

What physical problems is she having? The problems that are typically experienced are extreme weight loss due to too 'much' being bypassed and loss of nutrients. Gaining weight is not usual and suggests that she resumed her previous eating habits. And lack of exercise doen't help, unfortunately.

[SeriousSam]

Neurotic behaviors, memory loss, sleeping etc...

My son is 3 years old.

[CalGal]

Oops, sorry. I read into it that your son could be 'the husband.' SeriousSam, you can't change your wife's behaviors. She's got to take the first step and evidently she either can't, or doesn't want to. Does she have any close friends she can talk to about how she feels, etc? Or perhaps a psychologist she could talk to? If she is a danger to your son, you may have to find a way to remove him from that situation. Or have someone else intervene.

[homeisJax]

I had a lot of bad mental side-efftects as well as physical ones from lack of Iron and B-12....  If she had a gastric bypass and isn't on any supplements than it is probably safe to say that she has some issues going on....  Some physical and a few mental things will be irriversable if she doesn't do something about it....  Look up Iron def. anemia and Pernicious anemia....  Perhaps you can show her the side effects of these disorders and educate her to where she wants to go to her primary physician and get some blood work done....  Good luck and God Speed!

[SeriousSam]

Do you have more details on the other problems, other than anemia?

[LegalGal]

My mom has had alot of problems with the surgery she has had the anemia she is always low on iron and potassium and loss memory and cant hold nutritions well. Another sypmtom or thing she has from all of that was with all that medical things that were going on with her she had a major break down or somehting. It seemed like she went crazy not necasarily mean all of the time but it seems she went loopy for a while. She did at one point get admitted though she isnt crazy. But since the day everyone seen it her go "crazy" she had gotten help she is still low in nutrients and things like that but she is not crazy like anymore...i wish i could help but i think i kind of know what your going through because it sounds a little similar to the things my family went through if there is anything that i can try to help you with please let me know! hope i was some help

[SeriousSam]

Do you know what type of doctor she had that finally diagnosed the problem?  Internist etc..