Not a magic bullet/Re: All the bull posts

[Guest guest]

Greetings, all:

Tonie, you are spot on with your commentary. That which we give our

energry will increase (doen't matter if it is negative or positive).

We do need to address the concerns of those who develop a

complication, which is one thing that happen to , and those who

are slow losers.

We have endured so much pain in our lives from being heavy - our

souls

and emotions are raw and right there on the surface. Of course, I am

not talking about every particular person, but am speaking to the

collective.

The surgical option is not for everyone. If I believed that there

was

a way that I could have lost weight the diet route, I would have

given

it another try. However, I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, which

screwed up my insulin metabolism, threw my hormones into a tizzy and

turned my body against itself. It took me four years to come to the

decision to have surgery. I spent the last year and a half before

surgery in therapy to sort out the facts from pain from illusion. I

was also at least 150 pounds overweight by my calculations (I have a

frame measured to be equal to a man's extra large, so I'll never be

" normal sized " by what the chart says).

Surgery - MAJOR SURGERY - despite the fact that it is laparoscopic

and

one is out of the hospital in a day (barring complications). The

reality is that there are complications, they do happen to some of us

and we cannot have a Pollyannaish attitude that the MGB is a piece

of,

if you'll pardon the food reference, cake. That is why Doc R. has

such an extensively detailed manual and he expects us to understand

everything that can, might, and will happen to us. Our bodies and

our

lives are changed forever by this surgery and things we used to take

for granted are no longer the case.

USUALLY, men will lose faster than women, the younger you are the

faster you lose, and no one loses slower than a

postmenopausal/menopausal woman. That is one truth that will most

likely hold true even with us MGBers.

As for the frightening things said that we'd get…well, I

cannot

guarantee you that something like that won't happen. However, I also

cannot guarantee that you won't get hit by a car, get a non-digestive

major illness, or live happily ever after (although I hope all of you

do). I would have died very, very early without the surgery. I do

know this: I was there when died, I held Doc R. as he wept

over it; he was beyond exhausted…you cannot fake that reaction

not

matter how well you can act. I know how much he cares for me, for

you, for all of us. His spirit is infinite but his body, time, and

attention are very finite. Therefore, we, in cooperation with our

PCPs, must be responsible for our own recovery and health.

If you are unwilling to change your life and you old ways of eating,

of looking at your self, of dealing with life - don't get the

surgery.

Save yourself the grief. If you are willing to accept the changes,

accept the risk, and are ready to demand what you need, then if you

feel the MGB is for you, go for it.

This is not a magic bullet that will change your life! The surgery

stacks the metabolic deck back in your favor. You cahnge your

life!! You will have to speak up for yourself to your family,

co-worker, friends, and out in the world. You will have to look at

yourself differently and see you as the divine creation that you are.

And if you do develop a complication - get to your doctor so they can

get to Doc R. immediately (unless you think you have a leak - call

Doc. R. and got to the hospital ASAP!!!). Sorry if this sounds like

" tough love " but I thought it was needed. I, myself, was lucky - no

complications. I am losing well (I think it's because even though I

am 41, I have elevated levels of testosterone - don't know if that's

it but I am not complaining.) and have been working with the

emotional

changes involved.

I want it for you all to be easy and good and fast. Reality si

different. Sometimes we read about so much going well that we

fail to notice that there are folks who aren't doing so well and we

could become one of them.

Be prepared. Be of a rational mind. Be in spiritual harmony. These

have helped me beyond measure dealing with the MGB and my life

changes.

This group and the Post-Op group will be here for you - if you ask!

-Ginny Ivanoff

mgb: 3/1/00

348/254/195

> I have been watching and checking in onthe post since April this

> year. I went to clinic 3,25,2000. I am now waiting for Durham to

> start accepting my ins. again I hear that won't be until Nov. if

> then.I haven't been posting because of my beging out in left feild,

> after the past several days thoI need to tell you all I have never

> seen such crap in the post. Everyone has the right to think and

feel

> the way they want, even T. I don't understand her turn

around,

> and will never understand. I can tell you the more you feed her the

> more will come if you totaly ingore some thigs they go away.

> I'm not saying you shouldn't check out any and everything you can

> about any surgery your looking at having because you should it your

> life in the doctors hands. There are problems that come with any

> surgery up to and encluding death. You and You alone are the only

one

> that can make the right choice for you, then you must be willing to

> aceppt the outcome. Perfect hopefully ,if not you take what come

and

> make the best of it ,as long as you have complete trust and faith

in

> your surgeron .You should feel safe ,in knowing he cares for his

pts.

> and is treating you like you are the only one that matters to him

> when he is caring for you. He should be able to give you his full

> attention when talking or treating you, if he has an emergence how

> dose he handle it make them wait or excuse himself so he can tend

to

> it. Which would you want ?

> Yes there is alot to consider about surgery of any kind and

there

> are pros and cons for every kind its your life you deside.

> I'm still waiting and still want Dr. Rutledge to

preforme

> the MBG on me. I hate the thought of haveing to go to someonesle to

> have another type of weight loss sugery. I have seen what serveral

> others have gone thru after the different surgerys for weight loss

> and I do not wish to go thru it if there is any way to avoid such a

> thing. Sorry for being so long winded . I hope you all will get

> back to supporting and helping each thru the prep and post op .

> Don't feed the negtive so much please.

> thanks

> Tonie