WLS Reading - Books about Gastric Bypass & Banding

[Mrs_CakeyBun]

As a Librarian I am addicted to books and they have been of great help while researching the surgery options open to me and the facts and figures surrounding the different types of Surgery.

I just thought it might be of some help to newbies if we listed the books we have read on and around the subject with a few words about them and how good and/or relevant we felt they were. Books on this subject are expensive and library copies are few and far between unfortunately so it might help others with there research to read what we have thought of them?

Just an idea anyway I will start off

The Patients Guide to Weight Loss Surgery (Everything you need to know about Gastric Bypass and Bariatric Surgery)
By April Hochstrasser
( Pub date 2004)

An interesting book that covers the subject well however it , as the title suggests, is mostly focused on Gastric Bypass Surgery. As an American book it doesn’t talk much about Gastric/Lap bands, however the other information in it was very interesting.
It explains about the wide range of diet remedies herbal and prescription and also has information on experimental studies about weightloss.
There is a lot in the book about working trough your emotions and I think that’s one of the most valuable aspects of this book in that it virtually demands of you that you look at your "head" issues before committing to weight loss surgery.
There are also a lot of Personal stories in the book showing the good the bad and the ugly side of WLS and I found it interesting reading, especially when its gone wrong, as it gives you an insight into issues you might have to face.

All in all a good book, well written and very well researched, if you are looking at Bypass surgery and can get a copy I think it would be very helpful, looking at a Gastric Band? I think that all the other information in it is very relevant and it would still be of great help.

 

[Mrs_CakeyBun]

My Next Review - Gut Feeling - Carnie Wilson

Gutt Feeling
Carnie Wilson
Pub Date 2003

I enjoyed this book and feel a lot of empathy for Carnie as a result. She is extremely open about her life and her feelings towards food and her obesity. I know when I read the book I felt so many parallels with how I felt about eating and my feelings about myself and my inability to loose weight on a myriad of different diets, its nice to hear anopther person be so open about the dreadful struggle we have all had.

The book is in a biography style and starts with her as a child and her problems then and goes up to and includes her Gastric Bypass surgery in 1998.

One thing I think that comes through in the book is how she felt she suffered from peoples view of her and how that coloured how she felt about herself. The tortures she went through on stage as part of Wilson Phillips (the band) as always being called The fat one by the press.

Its an honest and heart warming story and I enjoyed it...not crammed full of WLS facts and figures but an interesting human angle story about WLS

 

[Mrs_CakeyBun]

I'm Still Hungry - Finding myself through thick and thin
By Carnie Wilson
Pub Date 2003

This is a follow up book to Gut Feelings her 1st book. this book deals a lot more with the "Head stuff" that is a major part of mastering your WLS and making it successful. Carnie talks at length about her struggles after the honeymoon period of the first 8mths and her initial large weightloss. She talks honestly about her steep learning curve and how she had to learn to work with her bypass and not to work against it by "cheating". She also talks in a very positive way about how she worked slowly towards making exercise part of her life and how this has helped her with her weighloss and toning up her body.

She covers her reconstructive tummy tuck and boob lift too and about the feeling of apprehension she had about having more surgery.
She talks candidly about her decision to agree to Playboys offer to be a playmate and have a centrefold shoot done too.
At the end of the book she lists 75 ways to help your self be a good and successful WLS patient and I think they are brilliant.

Another nice easy read and a change from factual books that can get a bit boring from time to time

 

[Mrs_CakeyBun]

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding - Achieving permanent weigh loss with minimally invasive surgery
by Jessie H Ahroni
pub date 2004

As the title suggests this book deals only with the Gastric Band though it does describe the other forms of WLS at the beginning of the book.

The book starts be describing in detail the surgery involved with Gastric banding in easy to understand terms it then goes on to deal with questions you may have regarding the surgery.
Another chapter talks about how to decide if gastric banding is right for you and then talks about the risks and advantage of having the surgery. all in an easy to understand language.
The book moves on to talk about what to expect with the actual surgery and what to expect in the weeks following.
The Chapter that discusses band fills was incredibly well written and the series of questions she suggest you ask of yourself to see if you need a band adjustment I think are invaluable....they are broken down into sections -

• questions to determine if you need an eating adjustment
• questions to determine if you need a behaviour adjustment
• questions to determine if you need an activity adjustment
• questions to determine in you need an attitude adjustment
• questions to determine if you need a band adjustment
• questions to determine if you need a band de-fill

These questions are very well written and it easy to see that the author has not only has a Gastric Band herself but is also specialises in helping banders make behaviour and lifestyle changes to work with their band.

I think this is a very well written and well researched book and written in a style and language that makes the complexities of this surgery easy to understand. I gave the book to both my husband and my 17yr old daughter to read so they could understand what the surgery was that I was looking to undergo and so they would understand the restrictions and changes I would have to make to make this form of WLS successfully. They both found the book easy to read.

I think this book would be an invaluable tool for others who want to provide those close to them with easy to understand information that both calms and answers all those fears and questions they may have surrounding this form of WLS.

I strongly recommend the book and think its well worth the money

 

[donnax658]

Thanks hun........brilliant idea. I'm off to google the book about the band now. I've been looking for a good book to buy so thank you xx

 

[hopelesscase]

fantastic post

 

[Mrs_CakeyBun]

I will add more as I read them...will do a revew later of Anne Diamonds book

 

[starry]

Before and After - Susan Maria Leach

Hi All

I have just read this book and I really like it.

It has really made me believe in what this surgery is all about.

The author is 7 years post op and tells her story and follows with some great advice , nutritional facts and recipes

This book has made me realise that maybe the dieticians advice of you dont need extra protein, a sanatogen tablet will be fine and mashed potatoes are a perfect post op food etc etc maybe isnt that good !!

Also I see how you have to turn your life over to this surgery and find how a new way of eating is a positive - really helped me, liked the advice and my way of eating and nutrition post op has certainly changed and good recipes even though USA stylie easily adapted to here in blighty

got mine at amazon

Liz
x
5 days to surgery yikes

 

[Mrs_CakeyBun]

Thanks starry

 

[quetiapina]

The Gastric Band Solution: this is offered at a "cheap" £25.00 to people who have had surgery with the Hospital Group. You can get it on Amazon for £16.00 incl. Postage.

 

[deq]

Thanks Jenni.

 

[deq]

Just finished the I'm still hungry through thick and thin and really enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[twinklyhb]

thanks for this ive just bought it from amazon £8.80 inc p&p (laproscopic adjustable gastric banding) a great thread for those of us that have ? coming out of our ears lol xxh

ive read it and its quite good for those stupid just came into your head ?s def worth a look xxh

 

[angelpie]

thanks for the info. now i can have some useful reading whilst waitng surgery

 

[Jezabelle]

I ordered "weight loss surgery for dummies" the other week and it turned up here last Friday. I'm going to start reading it tonight in bed as I have my 1st appointment this Thursday which was unsuspected as I thought i'd be waiting at least another 14 weeks.

 

[Meggie]

I've just bought Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies. Should be an interesting read!!!!!

 

[phatmomma]

I too like the last two posters have just ordered WLS for Dummies. It was half the price on Amazon than the ones i found on ebay and it had free delivery. RESULT! Just waiting delivery, will be an avid read i think.

 

[fairyringuk]

Jezabelle good luck with your appt
Starry good luck with your surgery how exciting
Wanda thanks for sharing your critiques with us re the books they sounded interesting
Have done all of my 'reading' via the net which is sometimes hard going but worth doing

Jay xx

 

[lollycakes]

thanks for the info, will take a look at amazon or play.com

 

[Bullyfun]

Thanks for info... great post