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

That was nice?  Geez, I was really trying to come off as *****y.  Should I try harder?  Lol! 

I rarely let stuff around here get to me, this one has my adrenaline going this morning.  And I'm sans coffee right now!!!

nooo
I said you were nicer than I would have been
ddin't say you were nice LOLOL

I woulda just told her to shut the **** up .......

I have to agree with Lori on this one, minus the profanity!  :) 

How could you DARE tell a BMI of 40's to eat right and exercise and all their troubles would go away, and yet somehow miraculously a BMI of 50 and those rules don't apply? 

The simple truth is if a person could exercise 1 hour every day and eat 1,000 to 1,200 calories every single day for the rest of their natural born life, there would be about .1% of the population of people with Cushing's syndrome, or metabolic disorder that would be the only fat people on the planet.  

 It is a ridiculous notion, and a cop out to say that a BMI of 50+ somehow the rules of nature does not apply to.

Weight loss surgery is extreme, no matter what your BMI is, whether RNY, DS, or Lap Band. 

It is an individual decision. 

And, yeah...  you cannot really come on here and share your opinions, and expect them not to anger some folks.

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.

                                                  

You're right about one thing: unpopular opinions.

You would love to hear mine? Sure--my BMI is less than 50 and I'm only 26 years old. I already have type 2 diabetes, have inconsistently high blood pressure, have had high triglycerides, and have aching joints (I've had bad knees for yeeeears from forcing my obese body to play softball, and my back is starting to act up on me).

I want to have children in the future. Yes, I could very well have a perfectly healhy pregnancy and perfectly healthy babies while obese. But the chances of that happening while also combating type 2 diabetes are not in my favor. I'd like to keep my kidneys and would prefer not to be on dialysis while raising toddlers.

Yes, surgery has risks, and ye, there are unknowns .But the things I DO know about diabetes make the surgical risks, and even the future unknowns, very much worthwhile to me.

Diabetes was the #1 reason for my revision. I've seen my grandmother, father and sister die of the disease. Bravo for you in making this choice.


Dana

I'd like to know who the hell made HER the new arbiter of what constitutes "true morbid obesity."

I am so pissed.

Another lightweight chiming in here. My BMI was around 45 at time of surgery and I weighed 263 pounds. That 263 pounds was my living hell. I think we need to realize what's hell for one person may not be for another. I was not fat all of my life. I lived a very active life when I was younger and was the picture of health. Life took some twists and turns and at 45 years old I was 263 lbs had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, history in my family of diabetes and knees that were killing me. I saw my life deteriorating daily.

I was never a happy fat person. I was miserable. I was very withdrawn and had absolutely no self confidence. My personality changed with every pound I managed to pack on. I was avoiding family gatherings due to the way I felt about myself. It wasn't anything society put on me ...it was ME. I knew the real me was buried deep inside all of that depression and misery but I didn't know how to bring her out. Diets failed me and the cycle just continued in a downward spiral. Like Gina, my metabolism was busted. I saw my father die at 68 from heart disease and I knew that would be in my path if I didn't take the appropriate steps. I had tried everything I could and nothing worked. The DS has saved my life.

Hi Big B,

Interesting post.  I'll give it a go.  By current BMI fluctuates between 49 and 52, and Im 28 (soon to be 29) years old. 

For the most part, I've always been pretty confident with my size.  I'd be a shrink's dream if not, considering the fact that I've been large my entire life.  But I have to be honest, I stopped feeling good about my fat about 50 pounds ago.  I don't have any co-morbids, but my knees are beginning to hurt and both sides of my family have a history of diabetes and hypertension, so I pretty much know what to expect.  But besides for that, yes, Im one of those dreadful vain people that wants to "look skinny."  And I dont apologize for it to ANYONE.

You get tired of being the pretty big girl, not being as active as all of your friends and feeling like there are certain limitations on your life.  Maybe for you and a few other fortunate folks life was not like that as a SMO person, but for once, I'd like to wear a strapless dress, sit on a man's lap, not grimmace at the thought of the beach, and not panic when asked to be a bridesmaid (a size 22 in a dress clearly designed for a size 8 -- not a good look).  The way I see it, I've been heavy since the age of 6 and have paid my penance.  If I want to have WLS and be a size 10 and wear 4 inch heels without my knees cracking, I deserve it.

And I agree with you about not knowing the long term effects.  That was one of my biggest concerns with the DS -- not knowing how my body will react 50 years from now (assuming/hoping that I have another 50 years to live).  But you know,  all I can do is research, talk to my surgeon, and most importantly pray.  I pray all the time for God to guide me in all of life's decisions, WLS included.  I just have faith that he will keep me and it will be fine.  So that's how I will make it -- FAITH, PROTEIN, VITAMINS and LABS, lol.  Otherwise, I'll be here in another 5 years, 50 pounds heavier singing the same tune.  Tomorrow isnt promised to anyone -- so I plan to live it up and have no regrets.