RE: [FWD: Re: : Re: Another show on obesity surg ery]

[Guest guest]

Okay, I just want to offer my two cents and not start any fights because I

agree with parts of what all of you are saying.

As far as not caring what people think and so on and not using surgery for

" self image " problems, but using it to save our lives....well, I am a firm

believer that self image is part of our life and although what we think

about the way we look or what other people think about the way we look may

not have a direct effect on our health, it does ultimately have some sort of

an effect on our health. I personally do care about what people think about

me and I don't think that makes me less of a person or even makes me have

low self esteem. We are all very different people and I for one think that

it's okay to care or not care. If you are able to block out the rest of the

world then great and if you aren't, well that's okay too.

I don't believe that there are all that many people ready to jump up on the

table and under the knife with out fully realizing all of the implications.

I personally am scared beyond belief when I think about it and have to

remind myself at the as my weight continues to rise, that yes, there are

complications that can come from surgery and I suppose that the worst case

would be death....but with the path that I'm currently on....well, isn't

that what's at the end of my road anyway? I know that there are risks...but

at this point, they are far less of a threat to me than what is inevitable

if I just continue on as I am.

Look, I am not at a point in my life where I can't or wont go outside my

house and live an active life, but there are people out there (maybe even a

few on our list) that may be able to go outside and have a somewhat active

life but don't because of a deep emotional tie to what society says about

us. I do know that mental health plays a big role in physical health and

I'm sorry, if this surgery (or any other form of WLS) helps me or anybody

else for that matter to feel better about the way they look, then how can

that possibly be a terrible thing? Ultimately we all want to be

healthy....in every aspect of life. Period.

> [FWD: Re: : Re: Another show on obesity

> surgery]

>

> 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

>

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>

[Guest guest]

but there are people out there (maybe even a

few on our list) that may be able to go outside and have a somewhat active

life but don't because of a deep emotional tie to what society says about

us.

That is me, here I am, proof positive that my size restricts me emotionally and psychologically even more then it does physically.

I have been on medication for years because of depression, panic disorder and anxiety and it is all because I am so ashamed to be seen in public. pre-op

BMI 51

Eileen