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.

I am sorry I can see your frustration with the term "tool" but that is exactly how I look at it. It is a tool that I am using to prolong and possibly save my life. If I do not use my "tool" to its fullest extent it will quit working for me and I will put the weight back on and probably get back all of my co-morbidities. This was a major surgery but it is not going to work for me if I don't change my relationship with food and figure out what triggers me to eat junk, to eat when not hungry, etc. The surgery in and of itself is not going to be a "miracle" where I will never have to watch what I eat or never exercise, etc. It is just a "tool" to get me to a healthier, happier me.

All apologies but it is a tool. Look up the definition of tool. It is a replacement solution to all the diets that didn't/don't work and helps control my appetite and amount of food I am able to consume. I looked at it as a tool in deciding to get it and the exact word my surgeon and primary care physician used to describe it and educate me.

@cinn ...i agree with your way of thinking..i may not know what the future holds for me completely, anything is possibable, but i sûre know what my past looks like, and that i can look at honestly...and make decisions on what i can change to possibly get à better chance in life to be productive again. And of course with changes comes guidelines to follower..eyes wide open...

Oh i did clearly address the issue of "tool"...for me yes since i was educated on the subject, the term tool have been used...seeing this post also educated me on another view point which i understood aready how serious of à décision this will be for me. Im to the point right now, whatever it is called is fine with me, im so gratful thats its available to me now and i know the risks of having it as well as the risk if i dont, just as well as it will not be easy and im making à lifetime committment. And resources are available for me on this journey in here and outside, but its up to me to stay on top of my needs..and its time i do something for me, making me priorty was the start for me, my date is june 18, keep à eye out for me, i will be here soaking up all the info and support i can find....have à wonderful day ....

I lost my dad when he was 43 and I was 18. We were estranged since I was 7 and it is one of my life regrets even though it was not my fault. He is one of the reasons I got this surgery. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm thankful that as you say, your father lived a full life.

All the sleeve is is something to help you lose weight. If I start eating small portions of McDonald's everyday, then yes, I will gain.

The sleeve is a tool designed to assist you in losing weight. Sure, it's major surgery, it's my first surgery, but realistically, smaller portions DO NOT = weight loss. You can start drinking milkshakes at every meal, along with chips and crackers, and in 2 weeks, you'll see exactly why that is.

I'm not going to stop calling my sleeve a tool. My sleeve helps me, it doesn't do all the work for me. I also have to put thought into what I eat and what I drink. Exercise is another tool.

I am sorry for your loss. The loss of a parent is hard, I lost my mother at a young age.

I am so sorry for your loss, AussieLady.

I completely agree that calling this a tool is oversimplifying the surgery. But if you don't call it that, 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.

I completely agree with you. It is a very risky procedure and people lose their lives. Calling it a tool does kind of oversimplify the procedure when in fact it is very dangerous and not everyone is as lucky. Complications do arise that may mean more surgery and/or in worst cases, lives are lost. I call it a tool so people don't think I took the easy way out. WLS is usually associated with trying to lose weight the easiest way. This is not the easy way out and it does require a lot of effort on our part. That's what many people do not understand and will never understand unless they've gone through the procedure.

At the end of the day, as individuals we can choose what to call it. Tool, George, Tom, etc. it's yours to name.