"I don't know why you need surgery, you're not that big."

[Kaye21 46]

I'm getting sick of explaining to my family over and over again that my band failed and it needs to come out so I need something else to keep me from gaining all the weight back. I had it in the first place to help my sleep apnea, blood pressure, pcos, degenerative disk disease, etc. ????

[CanyonBaby 1,852]

I think I would stop explaining, and just do it. They could come with you to the informational sessions, or to the surgeon's visit, or to your dietician's visit. Then they could ask real questions and get real answers. Sometimes it takes one of the professionals who specializes in this to get it through to family. But it makes you wonder sometimes......

[Swampdoggie 477]

I'm with @@CanyonBaby on this one. You don't have to explain yourself. I went from band to sleeve and am so happy. It's about quality of life.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

The technician who did my pre-op EKG told me the same thing (even with my 53" waist). "You don't look like you need surgery. You're not that big." I told her that she had better call my surgeon then, and tell him she disagrees with his diagnosis. That shut her up.

[wannaBthinsoon 1,634]

@@Miss Mac You go girl!! Good one!

[Miss Mac 6,262]

As a matter of fact, when I got a Press - Gainey Survey in the mail, I mentioned her by name.

[B-52 7,113]

If you qualify with your Insurance co....you have problems that need attention, regardless what any "Pseudo" expert may think

[BayougirlMrsS 3,938]

I had surgery 5 years ago and a few weeks ago my husband said..... Lapband was my hobby and that I really didn't n it because you weren't that fat

[drmeow 323]

The technician who did my pre-op EKG told me the same thing (even with my 53" waist). "You don't look like you need surgery. You're not that big." I told her that she had better call my surgeon then, and tell him she disagrees with his diagnosis. That shut her up.

Obviously you can tell better in person what someone's intentions were, but I would have assumed the person was just trying to make you feel better about your size. Many people mistakenly believe only the super-obese like 500 lbs, need surgery.

My PCP, when asked about WLS, said he only recommends it for people who are in danger of dying soon otherwise, like unregulated diabetics losing limbs, etc. At that point I had not done much research myself and at first accepted what he'd said (he'd been a great doctor up to that point). Then he said, "and all those people who have had the sweater just gained it all back after a few years" yep, he called the sleeve a sweater. LOL

[Miss Mac 6,262]

That's a new one. I have never heard of a sleeve being called a sweater. What a dork.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Sweater!

Funny.

Yeah, you need a new doc. Sounds like the kind of person who generalizes to everything / all the time based on one thing he heard from somebody who knew somebody whose cousin read something in a newspaper.

Even those kinds of idjits can become doctors. And other people have deeply wired prejudices that no amount of education can correct.

[drmeow 323]

Honestly, until he said that he's been great (started seeing him about 4 years ago). He was the first doctor to talk to me about low carb dieting, and to get off the low-fat bandwagon. He's managed my BP and my depression pretty well so far. And he really talks to me.

And maybe sweater just popped out without him thinking about it, b/c it was a very quick conversation. But I did realize then that he'd had little good information on WLS.

[blashlee 509]

People make comments like this because they think they're being helpful. I've had all kinds of people say it. Then I tell them what my starting weight was and how awful my lab reports were when I was pre-op and then they STFU. I guess they think it's a compliment to say "I don't even think you're that fat!" Well. I am far enough where my health is affected. Maybe to you I don't look "that big," but I'm big enough where surgery is an option.

Anybody who gives off an opinion and isn't a bariatric nurse or doctor, don't listen to.

[carebear42 82]

I went to my last class before surgery and actually heard this from the other PATIENTS! It made me question my decision which really ticked me off. I felt like I was being ganged up on by two of the girls. I was hoping to find a support buddy but that clearly didn't happen.

[Lady VS 1,147]

@ Miss Mac, that's a good one. LOL love the response.