http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6393607.htm

The Miami Herald put this article out which really upset me. The way they portray the band makes me understand why insurance companies dont want to cover the procedure and whay some people believe it does not work....I mean, if the paper says this, it must be the truth....right? They should really do some real research before they make such a negative portrayl of something that could be so valuable. Anyway, just wanted to vent. Thanks! ~Dawn (preband, still researching) ....if I were at the beginning of research, an article like this would have steered me in the bypass lane.

Hi Dawn,

I see your point about this article, but rest assured that articles like these have literally no effect on insurance companies' decisions. They might affect potential patients, and it's these people I worry about.

I mean, holy crow, of course if you're going to put cheeseburgers in the blender or stay up all night chewing just so you can down an entire pizza, you have deeper problems than a band can fix. Those people won't succeed with the bypass either!

What really disturbs me about this article is that the morbidly obese patient is characterized as an obsessive maniac. We all know you don't have to be a monstrous gorger to gain to a BMI of 50! I have never once told a waiter to "keep them coming," for Pete's sake.

Alexandra---you make me laugh almost every time I read your posts.....keep'em coming, they are good reading! And you are absolutely right about the "keep'em coming" thing....but you never know what someone might do for the LAST FILL. Sounds scary when you put it like that. They make it sound as if youll never eat again. Anyway, thanks for the reply!

~Dawn (pre-band)

Yes, that article is quite misleading. Anyone who would blend up a burger to gorge themselves has huge psychological problems that even the RNY wouldn't be enough to stop.

It's a shame that they portray the RNY as foolproof, since that's really NOT true. Yes, most people lose weight with the RNY at first, but they can easily REGAIN the weight in a couple of years if they don't exercise and watch what they eat.

The Duodenal Switch is the only surgery that's near-impossible to "outeat", but even with that surgery you still need to have the willpower to avoid too many sugar and carbs.

The saddest thing is when people go throguh all the danger and discomfort of the RNY but then end up disappointed because they didn't lose as much weight as they expected.

I read the article and have a few comments about it , and most of the articles I read in newsprint. They try to summarize the weight loss surgeries in 1000 words or less. This results in reporting such huge generalities that the articles are usually worthless. I find it difficult to read them knowing that most people on forums like this, and that included the rny forums, know more about the surgeries and the final outcomes than the reporters.

Jerry

Twinkie Milkshakes? This type of article just gets me going!

I sent an email to the woman who wrote the article. She responded to me within twenty four hours and admitted that maybe he was not the best subject. She asked me if I would like to participate in a followup story about someone who is success ful with the lapband. I gave her referrals to Century members and three different lapband support groups. I told her to get back to me in a few months, so I really have something to tell since I am a newbie with slightly less than 30 pounds in the last 6 weeks. Here is my letter I sent to her:

Dear Ms. Martin,

I was thoroughly disappointed with your article on the Lapband procedure.

Most of the information about the Lapband in your article is inaccurate and

has no real substance.You also make a mockery of all morbidly obese people

by choosing a photo of a candidate with 10,000 calories of food at his table

ordering the waiter to bring more.

Most Lapband patients achieve longterm weight loss percentages similar to

bypass patients without dumping syndrome, malabsorption and without

permanent damage to their stomachs and intestines. The process is slower at

a rate of 6-8 pounds a month, which is a much healthier approach to weight

loss and requires less plastic surgery (or none)for the person who is

morbidly obese. We are a society of quick fixes to long term problems.

Obesity is a serious problem in the US and many will choose numerous other

tortuous procedures that will permanently damage their bodies over one that

is slower, but more healthy. I should know because I was banded and I am

successfully losing the weight I want to lose slowly and in a healthy way. I

have learned that it is true that the band is just a tool and the patient

must eat healthy low carbohydrate, low caloric food and exercise as well to

achieve the desired result. However, it is not true that negative

reinforcement in the form of food getting stuck in the band is what is

keeping me away from the fast food. I eat without much restriction and

definitely without pain, which could be said about most Lapband patients. I

now take the time to chew my food and taste what I am eating instead of

inhaling it. Most of the banded people I know have lost 50 to 100% of the

weight they want to lose within 2 years. Many bypass patients will lose

60-80% of their desired weight and many will gain back 20% or more of their

losses. Banded people who learn to eat properly and healthy and get regular

exercise have just as much of a chance to lose the same amount of weight and

keep it off as bypass patients. It is my opinion that bypass patients never

really get the chance to eat normal portions, since the amount is not

adjustable. I eat about 6-7 ounces of food, Protein and vegetables and then

leave the table.

People in other countries have been banded for the last 10 years and these

statistics are more accurate than the most recent US ones.

In a European study, it showed most banded patients lost between 47%-75% of

their desired weight loss.

What I want to know is why you would choose to write about a man who

obviously has a compulsive eating disorder?

Anyone who eats three Breakfast meals and is still is thinking about lunch

(despite his profession) has a bigger issue at hand. I am sure if a licensed

psychologist did a self inventory eating disorder panel on such a candidate,

they would not recommend any surgery.One should try to tackle the eating

disorder first before considering any bariatric procedure. There is a

difference between eating too much and being a compulsive eater. There are

also other factors such as genetics, metabolism, lack of exercise, hormonal

and glandular disorders and many other factors which contribute to weight

gain. These are people who might make better candidates because they are

willing to make changes to improve their health.

If you would really like to learn about the Lapband, I would be happy to put

you in touch with at least three different support groups that are national

and regional who would give you more accurate information for a future

article.

Babs, that's a wonderful letter. It's informative and not at all defensive or confrontational. And it says a lot about the integrity of the journalist that she wrote back to you and wants to follow up. Kudos all around!!

Babs...I agree with Alexandra, that was a GREAT letter! Thank you for taking the time to write such an excellent letter.

~Dawn

What an irresponsible article! Seriously, would anyone here really blend up a twinkie into a milkshake? Give me a break! Babs, I am so glad you wrote that letter. Thank you.

Tami

Great letter! Why don't you put her in touch with Wednesday. She lives in Coral Springs and has been very sucessful.

Lori

Excellent, excellent letter and thank you for writing it. It will be interesting to see if she does write a follow up. If she does, please keep us posted.

Nancy

Dear Fellow Bandsters,

Well I never did hear back from our Miami writer. Perhaps it was just lip service about the followup. I will give her another week and send another email to ask her what she is doing to publish a more accurate story.

-35 and counting

6/23/03