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.

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

I'm only seven weeks out and I could definitely eat enough of the wrong foods even this early on to gain weight if I wasn't careful to use my sleeve in the way it was intended.

I am so sorry for your huge loss. I am not sleeved yet, but when I had to explain to my friend why im so scared to go through this procedure even though i dont know you or your dad , I used your story. I live in NY and we have a huge cancer hospital out here, I told her people downplay this because it is elective and its for weightloss. I told her but if I was diagnosed with stomach ca and had to undergo probably the exact same procedure it would be a huge deal. I feel this surgery IS no joke, and not to be taken lightly. I agree with you Aussie this is no tool. and even though I am waiting on approval and a date I am **** scared.

For me' date=' 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[/quote']

If that's the case, why can't I find anyone who has done that?

I am so sorry for your huge loss. I am not sleeved yet' date=' but when I had to explain to my friend why im so scared to go through this procedure even though i dont know you or your dad , I used your story. I live in NY and we have a huge cancer hospital out here, I told her people downplay this because it is elective and its for weightloss. I told her but if I was diagnosed with stomach ca and had to undergo probably the exact same procedure it would be a huge deal. I feel this surgery IS no joke, and not to be taken lightly. I agree with you Aussie this is no tool. and even though I am waiting on approval and a date I am **** scared.[/quote']

Thanks for the understanding comment.

If that's the case' date=' why can't I find anyone who has done that?[/quote']

Maybe saying "it's easy to gain every ounce back" is a bit of a stretch, but there are many cases where people have regained substantial weight back. Granted, this is almost always caused by a total disregard of the lifestyle changes that we all should be well aware of before undergoing this surgery.

Aussie lady you are one of the people that make reading comments here worthwhile.

Aussie lady you are one of the people that make reading comments here worthwhile.

Thank you so much, you don't know reassuring that is to hear, but I think you are my only fan.

First off, I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I am very close to my daddy and I can't imagine the pain of not being able to talk to him every day. There are no words that I can say that can take away your sorrow but I know he will always live on in your heart and in your memories.

As far as calling the surgery a "tool"...

The dictionary definition of tool includes "anything used as a means of accomplishing a task or purpose: Education is a tool for success".

For me, as someone who has tried everything to lose weight, as someone who has been researching this option for well over a year rejecting it time after time because I just KNEW I could do it on my own, as someone who is VERY physically active every day, I am hoping that this procedure is going to be the tool I need to be successful in breaking my cycle of yo-yo dieting. Yes, I do understand the seriousness of the procedure and I know the risks. That said, there are just as many risks to my health if I stay at this weight. I don't feel the use of this word minimizes the seriousness of what you have gone through or of what I am going to go through.

That said, I am also someone who believes that many curse words are simply four or five letters strung together, that there is really no meaning behind them except the intent in which they are spoken. I highly doubt that there are many people here who have gone through this process that are flippant about their journey,

As far as gaining back all the weight? I have a very close friend who lost 180 pounds with gastric bypass, gained it all back over 5 years, had the surgery again, lost it all and gained again. I have another close friend who had this surgery 2 years ago, lost 75 pounds over 6 months and has gained 50+ back since. I have no doubt she will gain every ounce back that she lost because she thinks her sleeve is going to to all the work instead of seeing that it is a means of helping her control her portion size, not what kind of crap she shoves in her mouth all day long...

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']

The same slang has bridged the oceanic gap to the States as well. :-)

How would you define the Sleeve then? It is an elective surgery. It is not a cure for obesity, but it is a very effective treatment. It can be used properly or it can be ignored and manipulated.

I'd also like to add my condolences to your recent loss.

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's why I included the phrase "right mind" LOL. I honestly don't think many of those whim people are here on the forums. Either that or they are too scared to post!

First off' date=' I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I am very close to my daddy and I can't imagine the pain of not being able to talk to him every day. There are no words that I can say that can take away your sorrow but I know he will always live on in your heart and in your memories.

As far as calling the surgery a "tool"...

The dictionary definition of tool includes "anything used as a means of accomplishing a task or purpose: Education is a tool for success".

For me, as someone who has tried everything to lose weight, as someone who has been researching this option for well over a year rejecting it time after time because I just KNEW I could do it on my own, as someone who is VERY physically active every day, I am hoping that this procedure is going to be the tool I need to be successful in breaking my cycle of yo-yo dieting. Yes, I do understand the seriousness of the procedure and I know the risks. That said, there are just as many risks to my health if I stay at this weight. I don't feel the use of this word minimizes the seriousness of what you have gone through or of what I am going to go through.

That said, I am also someone who believes that many curse words are simply four or five letters strung together, that there is really no meaning behind them except the intent in which they are spoken. I highly doubt that there are many people here who have gone through this process that are flippant about their journey,

As far as gaining back all the weight? I have a very close friend who lost 180 pounds with gastric bypass, gained it all back over 5 years, had the surgery again, lost it all and gained again. I have another close friend who had this surgery 2 years ago, lost 75 pounds over 6 months and has gained 50+ back since. I have no doubt she will gain every ounce back that she lost because she thinks her sleeve is going to to all the work instead of seeing that it is a means of helping her control her portion size, not what kind of crap she shoves in her mouth all day long...[/quote']

Thanks for your comments but I really want to hear it from someone it has actually happened to. Everyone seems to have a friend, or friend of a friend, or their second cousins aunty twice removed, but of everyone on this site who has had surgery "HAS ANYONE REGAINED ALL OF THE WEIGHT THEY LOST".

BTW you can't have Gastric Bypass twice. You can get a revision where they tighten you stomach, but that's it.

Pardon my incorrect words for the redo she had. I will be sure to be more accurate in the future.

I will see if I can convince my friend to come here and give you the statement you want to hear, but understandably, this is not something she is proud of nor is it something she is in full acceptance of yet. Perhaps that's why you are not getting first hand stories. I can't imagine how I would feel if I went through this process myself, only to throw it all away because I could not gain control over that hand to mouth motion that got us all here in the first place.

How would you define the Sleeve then? It is an elective surgery. It is not a cure for obesity' date=' but it is a very effective treatment. It can be used properly or it can be ignored and manipulated.

I'd also like to add my condolences to your recent loss.[/quote']

If you think you can ignore it, go and eat a meal that you would have eaten pre-surgery and let me know if the end result is any different.

Thanks for your condolences Amanda. As I have said before, you are looking great!

Pardon my incorrect words for the redo she had. I will be sure to be more accurate in the future.

Not incorrect words, it was a false statement.