[FWD: Re: : Re: Another show on obesity surgery]

[Guest guest]

I don't think i deserved to be attacked for stating my opinion.

" So? It is some kind of revelation that ultimately we are responsible

for ourselves? The idea that " the system " , medicine, our families

even, are there to carry us is fallacious. I don't know about you, but

I don't need People Magazine to tell me how to live my life. As for

Doctors, if you lay down and swallow their authoritarianism whole,

then you deserve whtever you get. They are professionals whom you pay

for a service, and caveat emptor applies here, just as much as at the

car dealership. "

Many overweight people are very passive. They do as they are told by drs. I

have learned in going after the health I want that I have to be my own advocate.

We may pay for their service but it still is different than buying a car.

" I personally think showing the

> surgery, how it works, what it can and can't do will educate

> not only drs and people needing it but also the public.

You are wrong if you think Joe Q. Public is qualified to make the

decision that they " need " BPD/DS. This is what we pay doctors for, to

help us make these decisions. As far as " how it works " goes, well,

this is a perfect example of how a little knowledge can be dangerous.

It's like " educating " the public on how to operate a nuclear reactor. "

I decided I needed it. My dr never heard of it. I went out and started

researching my options. Many here did. My dr could care less which led me to

another dr that was at least willing to talk to me. As with any medical

procedure known today, they all carry risks, compromises and unforseen issues.

Anyone doing anything surgical or other wise should always be well educated on

their choice. That's about all we can do at this point.

" I can't relate. I decided years ago not to care what people think. I

derive my self esteem from other sources. I am not seeking this

operation for my self image, I am seeking it to save my life. I am

personally dead against use of this sort of a procedure for self-image

or cosmetic purposes. "

I can't let go of caring what people think, but most important to me is what I

think. I am also trying to save my life. I am close to 400 lbs. There is

nothing healthy about that but its also not wrong to crave for a better self

image. I totally agree this should never be done simply to fix a small weight

problem, but when you are unable to do everyday activities, can't walk more than

a few feet, have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, edema, constantly getting

sick , etc then I think it warrants that more drastic measures are given

consideration.

" > Anyhow...if the surgery gets better...I think more drs will

> do it and right now i believe if it was urgent to have the

> surgery they would bump a person to the head of the list.

You assume that DS is simply " better " in all cases. I disagree, as

does every single surgeon I have spoken with, and every academic study

I have read. Even DS specialists stress the far higher risk of certain

complications as compared with RNY. People on this list who have these

absolute opinions are amateurs, and should not be listened to. If they

had to pay malpractice insurance every year, they'd be a lot more

stingy with their unqualified medical advice. "

I never meant to imply that the DS is better in all cases...I was referring to

drs learning more, getting more experience, understanding the reason we get so

heavy, the reason things work the way they do, etc. I don't agree with not

listening to members of this list. I am on many lists for support of all

differnt types and I think everyone makes the personal chioce based on their

lifestyles, what they are comfortable with doing to their body and what results

are expected. No one here claims to be anything other than people going thru

similiar situations and sharing their experiences, thoughts and ideas. Its

called support.

" I repeat my assertion that commercial promotion of this is a bad idea,

and will cause far more harm than good. As for your belief that

surgeons will simply " bump " me up the list, tell that to Dr. Magnuson

who is no longer accepting ANY new patients. "

I will still respectfully disagree. I think knowledge is power. As for bumping

you up the list...you are indicating you are not his patient. I was intending my

comment to coinside with being a patient already prepared to have surgery.

There are many many drs that are not taking new patients no matter what. They

can't handle more people. I think a good dr would be looking at the situations

and making judgements in that respect. If not, then its probably not the

surgeon I'd want to go with.

AJ

****************************************************************************

lookn2bthin@... wrote:

>

> pieman@... wrote:

>

> >I know we would all like to diagnose and make recommendations for

> >major surgery to our fellows, but consider the fact that surgeons are

> >already overwhelmed with demand for Bariatric surgery. If we got much

> >more publicity, people whose lives depend on operation, (like me),

> >might go un-treated.

> >

> >This is not a consumer product, a convenience item, nor a cosmetic

> >procedure. It is massively traumatic, intrusive surgery, with many

> >mortal risks. I would think it wildly innapropriate to commercially

> >promote such a thing.

> >

> >Doctors know about it, or they should. The only promotion that is

> >called for is education of PCP-type doctors through medical journals,

> >etc. That way, all the people who need it will find out about it

> >through their doctor, as is appropriate.

>

> What you said is true but that is in an idealistic world.

> We all know that we are the only ones that really care about

> our health in the big picture. Our drs and families try to

> do right by us, but ultimately we have to take control and

> unfortunely so many drs are still of the impression that

> this is not to be done.

So? It is some kind of revelation that ultimately we are responsible

for ourselves? The idea that " the system " , medicine, our families

even, are there to carry us is fallacious. I don't know about you, but

I don't need People Magazine to tell me how to live my life. As for

Doctors, if you lay down and swallow their authoritarianism whole,

then you deserve whtever you get. They are professionals whom you pay

for a service, and caveat emptor applies here, just as much as at the

car dealership.

> I personally think showing the

> surgery, how it works, what it can and can't do will educate

> not only drs and people needing it but also the public.

You are wrong if you think Joe Q. Public is qualified to make the

decision that they " need " BPD/DS. This is what we pay doctors for, to

help us make these decisions. As far as " how it works " goes, well,

this is a perfect example of how a little knowledge can be dangerous.

It's like " educating " the public on how to operate a nuclear reactor.

> So

> many think its a eating problem and don't realize just how

> complex it is. I definitely wish I'd found a way to never

> get this large. I was looking at pics of myself today that

> I'm including in my appeal and while i've never been really

> thin, I looked pretty normal until my second child was born.

> Then as you look thru the pics you can follow the

> progression. I know my problem is a combination of genetics

> (most the women in my family are heavy), depression and

> lonliness.

I can't relate. I decided years ago not to care what people think. I

derive my self esteem from other sources. I am not seeking this

operation for my self image, I am seeking it to save my life. I am

personally dead against use of this sort of a procedure for self-image

or cosmetic purposes.

> Anyhow...if the surgery gets better...I think more drs will

> do it and right now i believe if it was urgent to have the

> surgery they would bump a person to the head of the list.

You assume that DS is simply " better " in all cases. I disagree, as

does every single surgeon I have spoken with, and every academic study

I have read. Even DS specialists stress the far higher risk of certain

complications as compared with RNY. People on this list who have these

absolute opinions are amateurs, and should not be listened to. If they

had to pay malpractice insurance every year, they'd be a lot more

stingy with their unqualified medical advice.

I repeat my assertion that commercial promotion of this is a bad idea,

and will cause far more harm than good. As for your belief that

surgeons will simply " bump " me up the list, tell that to Dr. Magnuson

who is no longer accepting ANY new patients.

>

> AJ

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