I am so over hearing people simplify this major surgery by calling it a tool. My darling Dad, who died 2 weeks ago, had this surgery 30 years ago because he had a huge tumor in his stomach. I guess he was a test case for us fat people. He didn't choose to have 3/4 of his stomach removed like we do. He wasn't desperate to be thin or want to wear a bikini or want to be like his friends or have blood pressure or diabetes problems, he hade a healthy diet and exercise regime, he wasn't lazy or the hundred other reasons we all claim to be the best reasons in the world for us to have this surgery.

He had this surgery to save his life, if he didn't he would have died.

I had this surgery to save my life and I am so over this disrespectful simplification of this major life saving surgery by calling it a tool. A hammer, drill, screwdriver, saw and jackhammer are tools. This is major surgery! Calling it a tool just makes it seem like Weight-watchers or Jenny Craig for people who have no idea what they are getting themselves into.

For example, why don't we talk more about the fact that if you get bowel cancer after you have been sleeved you are doomed to die because we don't have any excess stomach to replace the cancerous part of our bowel. Oh. And should we get stomach cancer then say goodbye because we are all left with the minimum amount of stomach we need to live.

I don't want to be over-dramatic, but a TOOL, that's misleading and insulting.

Ok! Ok! Wendy no more tools!

Lol, thanks Laura. I'm pleased to see you are supporting my cause. In Australia, if someone is a total idiot, we call them a 'tool'. Is that ironic?

This is a very strange topic. People get offended by the oddest things. I'm not 100% convinced the OP gets the context of how the word "tool" is used in relation to the sleeve. No one in their right mind has this surgery on a whim. It is a major surgery with major risks. But once it is done, its only part of the weight loss equation, in addition to the other "tools" we use to manage weight.

Again, strange, strange post...

-Kendra

Lol' date=' thanks Laura. I'm pleased to see you are supporting my cause. In Australia, if someone is a total idiot, we call them a 'tool'. Is that ironic?[/quote']

Girl, we do the same here! So can I tell people that their stomach isn't the tool, they are??

This is a very strange topic. People get offended by the oddest things. I'm not 100% convinced the OP gets the context of how the word "tool" is used in relation to the sleeve. No one in their right mind has this surgery on a whim. It is a major surgery with major risks. But once it is done' date=' its only part of the weight loss equation, in addition to the other "tools" we use to manage weight.

Again, strange, strange post...

-Kendra[/quote']

I must say there are a lot of people not in their "right mind" and did sign up to this surgery on a "whim" sad but true..

I must say there are a lot of people not in their "right mind" and did sign up to this surgery on a "whim" sad but true..

Ok, ok, I accept! I am the tool.

Ok' date=' ok, I accept! I am the tool.[/quote']

But your my favorite tool in my big ole tool box

I must say there are a lot of people not in their "right mind" and did sign up to this surgery on a "whim" sad but true..

That is exactly what I was going to type until I saw you did first!

There are plenty of "tools" on the forum

That is exactly what I was going to type until I saw you did first!

There are plenty of "tools" on the forum

I really do wish you'd quit talking about me like that.

I'm sorry about your loss. No disrespect to him or you but I'll stop calling it a tool when everyone else around here stops using the word Nazi. I find that highly offensive but it keeps being used and the mods keep allowing it.

I completely agree that calling this a tool is oversimplifying the surgery. But if you don't call it that' date=' people tend to think this is a miracle surgery that requires no effort on their part. It is a major surgery, one that could kill you. I had my surgery on Thursday and one of the other patients died on the table. My heart rate slowed to 40 with my bp being 80/40. I'm thankful I made it through, but it could have just as easily been that my heart stopped. I didn't consider these possibilities too much when I was pre-op! Now I'm just thankful to be alive and that every day is getting better.

But yes, there are many risk factors involved with this, few of which were discussed. Patients want to lose weight, surgeons want to make money, and while they try to minimize complications, the fact is that fat people are very, very risky surgical patients.

I'm glad to be one of the lucky ones.[/quote']

What is your BMI again? Do you know the BMI of the person that died? I am having panic attacks all day and night right now and I'm seriously considering canceling the surgery. I will lose $5,000 and still be fat, but at least I'll be alive for now. I have struggled with bulimia (which carries risks of heart attacks too), I just can't decide which carries a greater risk.

Part of the definition of a tool is, used to carry out a particular function. Getting a sleeve was my tool to reach the function of a healthy weight.

When my husband uses a tool, the hammer, to put a nail in the wall, the tool alone didn't do it, my husbands strong muscled arm put power to it but it helped to make it easier to achieve the nail in the wall.

My sleeve in my opinion is a tool, if you don't like the wording DON'T SAY IT!!

Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

What is your BMI again? Do you know the BMI of the person that died? I am having panic attacks all day and night right now and I'm seriously considering canceling the surgery. I will lose 5' date='000 and still be fat, but at least I'll be alive for now. I have struggled with bulimia (which carries risks of heart attacks too), I just can't decide which carries a greater risk.[/quote']

I think you should ask specific questions to your surgeon, only when you are comfortable should you do it. There are risk and there are benefits, you have to be the one to chose which is best for you.

I am 3 months out, have had one complication with a structure but I would do it again tomorrow.the benefits FOR ME out weigh the complication I've had.

Good luck to you!

Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

What is your BMI again? Do you know the BMI of the person that died? I am having panic attacks all day and night right now and I'm seriously considering canceling the surgery. I will lose 5' date='000 and still be fat, but at least I'll be alive for now. I have struggled with bulimia (which carries risks of heart attacks too), I just can't decide which carries a greater risk.[/quote']

My bmi is very high. I think it's around 55 right now. I have no idea about how old or how heavy the patient who passed was.

It's a risk no matter how heavy you are. It's a major trauma to your body... I passed all my preop testing, so it was unexpected to have the complications.

You definitely need to think long and hard about this surgery. Despite the complications, I'm still happy I went through with it and am anxious to see the results!

I dont think the bmi matters, unforseen complications can happen at any weight. You dont know if that person had an underlying medical disorder that caused the death.

For me, it is a tool. Yes, it's major surgery, but if I don't work it, I will gain weight. At two years post-op, it's pretty easy to eat enough to gain every ounce back.

Lynda