My thoughts about WLS and who should have (WARNING: Big Opinions You Might Not Like)

I agree, Supergirl.  My BMI was also in the 40's and after a lifetime of gaining weight despite every effort, I see no reason to wait a minute longer than I did, and for my body to deteriorate and have me suffer more comorbities than I already had.  Waiting for a body to become less healthy only increases your risk for complications. 

Exactly supergirl!  Why wait?  The point is to STOP gaining weight so we dont become as fat as she did. Being a 100 pounds over weight or more is in no way healthy - despite what you may be smoking.  

Im glad her opinion doesnt matter for wls approval.  Ms. Self righteous should have taken her own advice if she thinks all one has to do is exercise and diet...maybe then she wouldnt have let her bmi get into the 70s.  *rolls eyes* 

Sounds more like someone is bitter that they waited so long...just saying..

 I strongly agree.  I was one of those with a BMI in the 40's but a truckload of co-morbids.  My greatest regret is that I did not have the procedure while I was young enough to have babies because PCOS and infertility was one of my life's biggest heartbreaks.  I think you have to consider the individual situation before painting with such a broad brush.  Some folks with relatively low BMI's are in terrible health and some with higher BMI's have been lucky, but to assign a cut off simply on BMI is not something I would agree to.

I agree 110%!!!!

Like a lot of people here, I have been overweight all my life. I am now 34 years old. I have also been pretty much comfortable with myself and my weight. I never even thought about WLS, until I started having health problems.

I am blessed to have a very supportive husband who loves me for who I am. At any weight. When we first got married, eight years ago, I wanted a baby so bad. We tried for a year. I went to a fertility specialist. We got pregnant twice but they didn't last. My doctor suggested WLS. I thought he was CRAZY! I would never do that to my body. That was way to extreme. Then my sister started looking at it. The more I learned about it, the more comfortable I was with it. I have been to several seminars about it and have tried to get the process going a long time ago. There was always something in the way. My insurance whould not cover it. Or the cost was to great and we could not afford it. Now my time has come. I found out I was diabetic and had high blood pressure last year. That was the last straw. I would not be like my sister and father and suffer the way they have with their diabetes. My insurance will cover the surgery now. I found a great doctor that is close by and no program fees.

I can see what you are saying about the lower BMIs. I have always been very active and healthy, even at a higher weight. But once my health started declining, I have to do something to stop it.

God bless,
Maddy

I appreciate your opinion, and see your point.  However, I have to agree that everyone's situation is different,  My BMI started at like 37, and I was just turning 38 years old when I had the DS.  I was extremely diabetic, meaning I had very, very high blood sugar counts.  It was putting me at risk for a lot of other things, not to mention being tired all the time from the medicine and not having any energy for my young sons.  I saw my sister go through the process, and about 11 months later, I went in for my DS.  She was my guinea pig.  My diabetes is gone, I've lost 53 pounds since November 5th, and I've got more energy than ever before.  I  my DS.

Are you serious?  You think you get to spew your opinion out here and then say, PLEASE DON'T FLAME ME FOR MY OPINION?  Deal's off on that one as far as I'm concerned. I'm pissed off by your post.  You have your opinion, and I have mine.  You tell us LIGHTWEIGHTS (i.e. anyone under a BMI of 50) not to have a surgery to better our physical lives because we should just eat healthy and exercise.  Hmmm **** that, if eating healthy and exercising is so easy, then please explain how you became SMO.  Had you just eaten healthy and exercised YOU could have remained below a BMI of 50.  Swings both ways sweetheart.  Your joints hurt at a BMI of 72, well I can tell you that *everything* on my body ached at a BMI of *gasp* 42.3!!  I get to have my opinions too. 

OMG, the things I could say right now in response to your post.  Good grief.  Good for you that you learned fat acceptance, I didn't.  Not for my life.  Wasn't gonna happen.  Man did I ever try.  It wasn't about feeling "icky," although I did.  It wasn't about being beautiful, I was already beautiful.  I hated every aspect about being fat.  I was out of control with eating, my body was out of control with gaining, it was a complete whirlwind for me. I got sick everytime I was within a mile of someone else who was sick.  My health plain sucked.  I had no comorbidities, I was just borderline on several. Does that make me less of a candidate for surgery, HELL NO!!!  What others choose to do with their bodies is THEIR choice.  I would never judge them for that.  I, btw, don't judge you for becoming SMO, I only said the above to you because of your comment about lightweights just eating better and moving to stay healthy.  If that statement were true (eating better and moving) then you could have controlled your weight before your BMI went over 50.  Do you see what I mean?

If you don't like being flamed, keeping your opinion to yourself is a good way to do that.  I haven't walked in your shoes, and you haven't walked in mine.  I'm sorry that you think us so called "lightweights" shouldn't have this surgery, but I ask you kindly to shove your opinion back to where it came from!!!!!

I have complete respect for those who's BMI's are over 50, I ask for your respect for those of us who choose to have the DS who's BMI's are under 50.  Everyone's tolerances and mileage varies, you should respect that.  

You don't have to agree with me on this, but if you put your opinion out here like this, you have to know that you're going to ruffle feathers.  I know my feathers are rather ****** up right now.

Lori

ETA:  I was 32 years old the day of my surgery.  So you've completely pissed all over my playground.

I agree with you on many points. Especially the telling lightweights that they should exercise and eat right. If it were only that easy.

Like I said, we all have our own valid reasons for WLS. I would NEVER talk someone into a diet, knowing they never work.

By being on this board, I have learned so much about people and my perceptions on WLS have changed from the time I thought it was only for the SMO.

When you're SMO, 200+ pounds doesn't seem that heavy too you. But when you're 200+ pounds and you know life would be better with WLS. I say go for it.

Dana

Thank you Lori for saying in a nicer tone what I wanted to say

'cept I was ready to unload ....so I'll just ditto what you said

some people have nerve to judge others - especially on a site like this