Headhunter

Sometimes I think that the only reason some people post here is so they can take shots at the surgery they DIDN'T have. When are people actually going to begin to UNDERSTAND the very, very SIMPLE (for SOME people) FACT that different procedures work for different people? Huh? When are you gonna actually GET that? I see people spouting the same crap here day after day. It’s amazing. The way some people talk about bypass you’d think it was on the same level as having unprotected sex with a heroin mainliner. Or Christina Aguilera. It Not. It’s still considered the “gold standard” for WLS, and while SOME idiots are able to screw it up by NOT doing what the Doctor TOLD them to do, it’s a remarkably effective, safe procedure that has been performed on hundreds of thousands of people for the last HALF CENTURY. So do everyone a favor and stop trying to justify YOUR choice of procedures to YOURSELF by bad-mouthing OTHER procedures. The band worked for you. That’s swell. I’m simply thrilled by that. But it DOESN’T work for everyone. You really need to GET that. And by bad-mouthing a procedure you know little or nothing about (other than your “three people”) you might be influencing a patient AGAINST having a procedure that might very well save their life. Note: Whenever I see that someone knows people that have had a bad Bypass outcome, they almost always say its “three people”. Wonder why. :thumbup: Potential WLS patients need to look at all the options, discuss those options with multiple doctors, have some psychotherapy with a therapist that specializes in bariatric disorders, and then decide what is right for them. It’s not an easy or fast process. It’s not a matter of going on forums like this and seeing what everyone else has to say and just picking "something". When I first researched WLS, I pretty quickly dismissed Gastric Bypass as an option for most of the reasons that people have stated here: High mortality rate (wrong), potential regain (very rare), the “invasive” factor(don't get me started), blah, blah, blah. Of course, I didn’t get my information on this from any RELIABLE sources,…just stuff that was posted around the internet. . Kind of like how most people HERE get their information. And that information was WRONG. It took a life-threatening experience with the lap band, several years of bad health and Multiple Surgeries for me to discover that I should have had the Bypass to BEGIN with. It was what worked for ME. Some people need restriction. Some people need malabsorbtion. Some people need a combination. And for SOME people, NOTHING will work. Let be VERY clear about this for those of you who are ignoring most of what I’m saying here: I am NOT advocating the Gastric Bypass. I am NOT Advocating the Lap Band. OR the Sleeve. And I am not OPPOSED to ANY of them. I am advocating what is CORRECT for the patient. And guess what: YOU don’t know what that IS. And neither do I. There is an increasing number of people who had one type of WLS surgery, and discovered that it was wrong for them. And they ended up having another surgery, often as a self-pay because many insurance providers won’t cover a revision. You need to get it right the FIRST time. Don't dismiss the bypass because someone here decided not have it. :thumbup: Don't base this important, life-changing decision on what a few people who don't know what they're talking about have to say. It's fine to get information from people about the surgery that THEY have had, but when they start blathering about stuff they haven't experienced, that's when you need to turn the page. Get the FACTS from professionals, and base your decisons on that. And that ALONE. HH

Kev; I've had a Tanita Digital scale on which I have happily watched the number go from 340 down to 160. It's been reliable, and I'd buy another one in a heartbeat. HH

Hi, Saber; As someone who has had both the Band AND the Bypass, I can speak from some experience. I discovered after having the band fail on me (for a lot of reasons) that the band had been the WRONG choice for me. You need to view this whole issue a little differently; It's not how much weight you can lose in a specified period, it's whether or not the band is RIGHT for YOU. I’d like to point out the misconception that the entire Weight Loss Surgery issue is that of a big WLS “Smorgasbord”, and that all you have to do is simply pick the one that tickles your fancy. Wrong. They are ALL different, and they are meant for different types of people and bodies. They ALL work (to varying degrees)…..but their long-term (and short-term) efficacy is dependant on some very individual elements. You really need to take the time and the effort to ascertain which WLS is right for you. In other words, Your Doctor does NOT choose your Surgery. YOU do NOT choose your surgery. The SURGERY chooses YOU. You really need to do the research, ask a LOT of questions, speak to knowledgable Doctors, and go into it really KNOWING that you have chosen the RIGHT procedure. If your Doctors are letting YOU make the decision without a lot of input from them, then I'd question whether I want that Doctor putting a knife into me. They are both ENTIRELY different procedures. And, you should be aware that there are OTHER procedures available as well, in particular what is known as the "Sleeve". It is becoming very popular now as well. I would strongly advise you to take the time, do the research, and make sure you make the right choice. The band has worked wonders for many people. But, so has the Bypass. AND the Sleeve. You just need to find out what will work best for YOU. If you have questions, feel free to ask....that's why we're all hanging out here! HH

I was thinkin' the same thing..... :smile:

Tasteful??? Screw tasteful. I've got a polaroid in the back of my van....... HH

I lost a half-size in my shoes. It's amazing how the body changes. Most everything gets smaller. SOME "components" actually got BIGGER. A LOT bigger. It's also interesting to note that when I was at a particular weight many years ago, and fit into a certain size pants, well, I'm at that weight now, but the pants don't fit any more! The entire body structure just changes, and not just in size. HH

Trust me; There IS life after the Lap Band. There are many, many reasons why it fails. It does NOT, however, mean that YOU are a failure. HH

Emmy; I would strongly suggest that you speak with your Dr so that he/she can help alleviate your anxiety. People here can offer a LOT of advice, some good, some bad, but the only REAL authority for you should be the person that put your band IN you. It is important to keep in touch with them, and follow their prescribed behavior TO THE LETTER, even if it seems counterintuitve. Your surgeon has (hopefully) done hundreds or thousands of these operations, and has been able to refine their procedure based upon the various outcomes of their patients. So, it is IMPORTANT that you follow the instructions that they give you with regard to eating, and everything else. So, give your Dr a call, and they will no doubt have an answer for you....it will most likely alleviate the anxiety you are having about this. HH

I'm not all that usre that the band really NEEDS any more publicity. It's advertised on the sides of buses, on bus Stop benches, the ads are ALL OVER the TV here in L.A., billboards everywhere, etc. What I think needs the publicity is not the procedures, but the fact that different procedures are right for different people. If Oprah, for instance, went out and had a Lap band, EVERYBODY would be crowding their Dr's offices wanting to get one too. And the Lap band is NOT the right procedure for everyone. And RNY isn't either. Nor is the sleeve. I think everyone thinks they are all interchangeable. And they're not. Incidentally, Annie Wilson of "Heart" also had a Lap Band. She has not been successful with it. I think she had one put in about 6 or 7 years ago. HH

Hi, PoolGirl; I like your name AND avatar....:cursing: The best advice that I can toss in here is to make sure that you have looked at ALL your options, in terms of surgeries. You indicated that you have a VERY strong sweet tooth, and in some situations that might indicate that going a different route, such as the bypass, would be more successful. So really do yourself a favor, and attend some additional seminars and see some other doctors if you can. This is a surgery that you only want to do ONCE, and you want to get it right the FIRST time. There are several different types of surgeries, and they are meant for different bodies and personality types. It's not a matter of simply picking the one you prefer; you need to pick the one that is RIGHT for YOU. Again, you mentioned your sweet tooth specifically, so if I were you I'd do a little further research and investigation and educate yourself on ALL the various options. Best of luck! HH

Uh...yeah.....what THEY said. You're right....she posted once in Feb, then 4 times today...... We're all happy to help, BUT.....ya gotta be a little patient, ok? Calm down, relax, come back, and we'll give you answers you need. or not. It's up to you, cupcake. :cursing: HH

Nicely put. HH

Holli, I have a newfound respect for you. Your son was going through this, which must have been a nightmare for you, and you're here yacking about useless crap with the rest of us. You're a strong woman. I admire that. HH

Keep in mind that it's not about THEM....it's about YOU. YOU are the one whom this loss is important to. You've done VERY well thus far, but as a percentage of your overall weight, the amount you have has lost is not large enough to be REALLY apparent to most people. In another 10 pounds, people will really begin to notice. But remember....this is not about THEM. It's about YOU. YOU notice the loss....and that's all that matters. HH

I see you're in New York. If you were in California, and part of the California school system, then yes, I would have automatically assumed you had failed. HH

Well, Don't kick yourself, Top. This is stuff that just HAPPENS. We never know what is in store for us post-scalpel. I really, really think that endoscopy SHOULD be a regular component of the pre-surgery work-up for everyone. I think that they could catch a lot of issues that might create a problem for the band. I've thought for a while that Endosocopy should be something that is done on EVERYONE after a certain age, just like a Colonoscopy is recommended. A lot of nasty stuff could be caught very early! But, the ulcer is treatable, very much so, and if you want to look on the bright side of it, you will now be FORCED to limit your diet even more, while you are treating the ulcer. That can only result in a little faster weight loss! So, no, don't kick yourself over having "caused" an ulcer. Not at ALL. The fact is that there are ulcers present in MILLIONS of people who NEVER have symptoms of any kind. It's a byproduct of our society and culture, the way we eat and live. Keep us posted on your progress....and your weight loss! HH

Actually, I'm not seeing all that much wrong with what he had to say. Of course, I wasn't there, I didn't hear his tone, inflections, etc, But it didn't sound like something I would post in a forum over. I've had people say similar stuff to me when they found out how much I weighed pre-surgery. Many times, In fact. And, as far as staying committed, well, what he said was quite factual. It IS hard for heavier people to commit to a long-term excercise regimen. I do think he was trying to be complimentary, but he just wasn't all that good at it. HH

That is a difficult one, and it applies to those of us with Different WLS's, as well as the Band. I used to LOVE to guzzle. A while after surgery, I realized that my MAX limit was 5 swallows at once (30 minutes after eating, of course) , and I learned to live with that. I still count each swallow, kind of like in a cadence. It's tough to get used to, but you HAVE to learn and play by the rules....it is CRUCIAL to the success of the band. HH

Excellent! You must be relieved! Hopefully, you'll be able to get some rest now. HH

PG ALERT! PG ALERT! PG ALERT!

Top Tier; In spite of the exchanges that you and I have had in the past, I am sorry that you are going through this. My heart does go out to you. It’s no fun. The road to WLS is difficult, and once you actually have the surgery, to have this happen, well, I know that it is heartbreaking. I’ve been there; I know what it’s like. Normally, Ulcers ARE a problem with having WLS. That was one of the problems I had post-bypass, but it is a SIDE-EFFECT that some RNY patients experience….like me, unfortunately. Did they perform an endoscopy PRIOR to your band installation? That was something that perhaps they should have known about. The good news is that ulcers are very treatable. They can be uncomfortable, and it will take some time to heal it, but it IS doable. I struggled with my ulcer for a while, but the medication finally kicked in and it seems to have healed properly. I would suggest that you not give up hope, and I firmly feel that if you treat the ulcer properly, there should be no reason that your band should have to be removed. Just be very careful with your diet, and make sure you take all of the meds they give you. If you haven’t already, you might consider getting a second opinion from another gastroenterologist, one that might work to treat the ulcer a little more aggressively. Keep us posted on how you do with this. I think you will be okay, long term. And congrats on your initial 30-pound loss. It’s a rough road to take to begin your weight loss, but you ARE on your way! HH

I personally cannot say enough BAD things about "Mayor" V. He is the worst of the worst, miserable, scum-sucking, glad-handing politicians on this planet. I don't often rant about politicians, because they are automatically whores in my book the minute they take office. But V is the worst of the worst. And at a time when city workers are being LAID-OFF, for him to pick up the tab for a funeral is....well, even I don't have words for it. HH:cursing:

Nice. For the couple of thousand bucks these clowns want for the "program fee", I could get my OWN custom-tailored fuzzy robe, a personal chef, and a couple of Hookers on call to take care of my post-surgical "needs". I understand the "spa-like" experience. That would be nice, but for many, many people the WLS issue is one of SAVING THEIR LIVES, not having their toenails painted and knuckles buffed. And, that extra "program fee" PRECLUDES the possibility of many people being able to have/afford this life-saving/life changing surgery. No, it's all a bunch of BS; just another way for these greedy scum-suckers to squeeze some more blood out the system. And those who PAY the program fees are complicit, to a certain degree; every person who accepts these "fees" are encouraging the act of charging them. Eventually, ALL the Doctors will see that they can extract THAT much more money from the patients, and it will become the standard. And as a result, there will be people who really need the surgery that will not be able to afford it. It's a bad situation, and it makes me sick. :wub: HH

Ya know, Threads like these are nice. They are TOTALLY off-topic with respect to the original forum content, but you kinda get to know people in threads like this. I tend to avoid getting to know people in forums, because it sometimes makes it more difficult when you have to tell it like it "is" in other areas of discussion. But, I have found that I really like many of the people here. I even like like some of the people that you might not THINK I would like. I actually had a long response to this MJ thread pretty much completed, because I have some personal experience with him. I worked for many years in the Music industry, and Motion Pictures/Television, and I know a lot of people who knew and worked with MJ. But, writing it all out became a little time consuming, and then I would have to spend the time responding to responses, answering questions, etc. However you feel about Michael Jackson, it does seem to be a hot-button for people on both sides. He did some good stuff; he did some bad stuff. Both good and bad, he did it on a HUGE scale. But regardless of where you stand on the issue of Mr. Jackson, you HAVE to admit: some of the jokes are funny as hell. :wub: HH

Best of luck to your Son, Holli! It's never fun to watch a child go through anything like that. HH