Sunday Roll call....

Hello again. I am in the mood to post, hope nobody minds......I read a post on the main board the other day that has been bothering me. Tell me what you think. This woman was upset because she had surgery in June 06 and has been ill ever since. Not major ill but ill enough to make her go back in frequently to see the doctor. Anyway she says there is a strain on her marriage and feels she was not well informed of the complications of surgery because she was approved in three days and had surgery 1 week later. She feels bad for her husband because he didn't "sign up" for a skinny lady but a fat one and that is why her marriage is in trouble. My questions to you.... 1) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops? 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? 4) would you do this agian if you knew what you know now if so/not why? ~~hugs and well wishes~~ Chris

1) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? I felt it was my job to be informed and I risked my life daily by being morbidly obese so I needed to do something regardless of the risks...... 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops? I think the majority of people DO NOT have complications but the rare few who do can post to teach us. I learn something every day.... 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? For the most part this surgery has changed my relationship with myself.(Does that make sense) I like myself now and enjoy getting up every day. My relationship with my husband has always been good and now I think it is just better.. 4) would you do this agian if you knew what you know now if so/not why? In a heart beat....I feel so good.... ~~hugs and well wishes~~ Chris

You know these post**** close to home for me, Chris. They make me so mad too!! As most of you know I'm complication city. It has built itself around me. But I've conquered over it. And I've fought hard against the better advice of my surgeon to hold onto my RNY. This was MY DECISION. I researched it - grant you I had no idea how bad it could be- but I knew that there could be complications even death. And this is what I CHOSE. Yes, I CHOSE. Not the doctors, not my hubby, not my children, not my friends.. ME! And I feel bad they are having to go through all this. I am on long term home health and they have to care for me. I feel bad that I signed on for this but they did not. BUT YES I knew the complications and anyone who didn't study up and read up on MAJOR surgery you are having to CHANGE your body must be slow.. I'm sorry but I read up on it for months. It is a LIFE CHANGE! Not a bandaid short term fix! Now.. sorry I got on my soap box Chris but I've needed to do that on all these posts from people *****ally don't even know how BAD things could really be for them! Now.. ) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? Yes, I was well informed. Not only by my surgeon who took a week to decide if he would even do my case but months of research on the internet. And personal cases I knew about for 2 years. 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops?NO way!! There are forums for complications. I don't go there because it's too negative for me!! I need to get well and being negative doesn't help. There were also memorials that I checked out on this site. They don't hide it - they let you see people have DIED from having this surgery. THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS, serious ones! 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? Yes. It has. But you have too look at the fact that the surgery has changed YOU!! Of course none of the changes I have are a bad thing 4) would you do this agian if you knew what you know now if so/not why?YES!! I would do it all over again. And I am asked this by my nurses each time I'm hospitalized. I no longer have asthma, CHF, diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea!! I may have traded for complicatons but I feel strongly these will go away! The others would have been the death of me! Thanks Chris!! Have a great day. Julie

1) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? Absolutely! From my family doctor, my surgeon, my internist...and I researched for two years, spoke face to face with others who had the surgery and lurked on the OH boards for well over a year before my own surgery. 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops? Everything is discussed and presented...the good, the bad AND the ugly! People have every opportunity to read it all on this site. 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? Ive found that many actually admire my courage to take this step..if anything changed in relationships, its because I feel so much better about myself...I am happier with myself and in life in general...that, in turn, makes those who are closest to me happier too. 4) would you do this again if you knew what you know now if so/not why? In a heartbeat! absolutely! YES!! Nancy B

Good Afternoon Again Chris! Keep Posting Away Chickadee! 1) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? * I definately didn't know ALL the risks, but I researched for years and talked with my surgeon and people I knew. 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops? * Definately not... the site offers forums for complications AND Memorials 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? * I've had a few relationships turn bad and few turn for the better... it made me a more confident person, someone who is real and I will not be walked on anymore 4) would you do this agian if you knew what you know now if so/not why? * In a heartbeat. I'm alive and that's all I ever wanted Jaci

Hi Chris 1) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? Extremely. I also did alot of research so I know what I was signing up for. 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops? Not at all. Just look at the memorial page if you really want to get scared or depressed. 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? Only that I can go and be with people now instead of having to stay home all the time. 4) would you do this agian if you knew what you know now if so/not why? In a heartbeat. I would probablly be dead or near dead by now if I didn't have this surgery. For me it was truly life saving.

Hey Chris I'm late but I like your questions so I'm answering anyway! 1) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? Yes, when I was pre-op, I spent hours on OH reading profiles, all the different boards and asked lots of questions. My surgeon is also very BLUNT about this surgery. He's truthful about risk and things that can happen afterwards even down the road. He also requires his patients to sit through 2 of his support meetings where there were people with complications. 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops? Nope.. The good, bad and ugly are on the sites.. especially this one. The complication board really tell's it like it is. 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? Yes, Me and my best friend are slowing fading away. He didn't want me to have the surgery anyway. Once I did it and starting loosing weight, he NEVER had anything positive to say about it. Once I got smaller than him.. he started making a point to point out the bad things like my hair falling out, the loose skin and certain foods making me sick. We use to talk everyday, 2 or 3 times a day. Now we talk maybe once a week. 4) would you do this agian if you knew what you know now if so/not why? YES!! I was totally aware of the outcome of this surgery. Up to this point, nothing has suprised me. WLS saved my life! At 450 lbs., I was misrible. I couldn't breath, walk, sleep or even tie my own shoe. Little things that people do everyday, I couldn't. Now I can because of this surgery. It was the best decision I have ever made. I'd do it once a year if I had to!

1.) do you feel you were well informed of the risks of surgery? Yes, and I did a lot of research on my own via internet research and speaking with WLS post ops directly. I also felt that the literature given to me by my doc was very informative... but I dont know if everyone reads that suff. 2) do you feel the obesity web site hides the complications only to sugar coat things for the pre-ops? No, but I also feel a lot of people post only one side of the story because they are so pleased with the positive changes and thus, thats what they focus on. 3) Has this surgery changed your relationships with anyone? Yes, unfortuanatly there are a few people *****spect me a bit more now that I am thin. People who I did not realize cared about my weight before, but it is clear now they did care before, they just hid it. 4) would you do this agian if you knew what you know now if so/not why? Yes!!! I am so pleased with the results. Everyday is still a struggle with me and food, but I finally feel like I have control over my body. I am so thankful for the health that I have now.