Easy way out???? Bullsh*t it is!!!

Hey Kim!  I had a great experience with Dr. Duncan.  I had an easy recovery, and I haven't had any problems at all with my band since I got it.  Since he is also a plastic surgeon, a bonus is that your scars will heal nicely.  The only scar I can still see today is the port incision, and even that one is beginning to fade too.  I will tell you that I haven't seen Dr. Duncan since the day of my surgery.  I've seen a PA since then, but she is great, so I don't mind.

I saw the PA on my first appt also and she was pretty nice so i didn't mind it either. Thanks for your info. I am just really nervous and wanted to hear a first hand account of  someone that has dealt with them.

Well, it's your body, not his, so in theory you should just let his silly words blow by in the wind, but it is discouraging to have a family member who thinks that way.

I suppose he thinks that people having gall bladder surgery or heart surgery or hip replacement or whatever are also taking the easy way out? That they should be able to overcome their body's pain and disability through sheer willpower?

Jean

 My reply would be --- And what is wrong with that? 

 oh, I am so mad, still.  I would continue with === I am your wife, the person you love more than anyone else in the world. So why would you not want my life to be as easy as possible, and as happy as possible. I would be interested to know his answer to that question.

I don't put down anyone's desire to change -- whether they take the 'hardest' path or the 'easiest' path ---- who is to judge?

Your 'hard way' could be my 'easy way' --- to be honest, having my Band Surgery is one of the easiest things I have ever done.

I made up my mind, I realized that my insurance was not going to pay for it and I set out on a course to get it done myself.

I interviewed 3 surgeons, chose one and from 'decision to incision' was about 10 weeks.
I had a few medical tests, went in for an easy out-patient procedure and was home in a few hours.
I took a week off work -- rested and went back to work.

I followed my doctor's food plan and I lost 135 pounds to get to my goal weight in 18 months.

For me -- it was the easy way -- and I have no shame for being smart to do it that way.

@ For me -- it was the easy way -- and I have no shame for being smart to do it that way.

Well said,  Love it!  

Hi!

I didn't tell anyone about my wls because I didn't want ANYONE's input.  I only told my DH and my parents about my desire/intention to get banded.  They didn't want me to do it.  They were scared for my safety and the risks.  They wanted me to try weigh****cher's "one more time" before I took the plunge.  They were greatly relieved when I came out of surgery okay.  Keep in mind that the outcome of these decisions effect your loved ones and not just you.

I read many stories from wls blogs who got divorced because their spouse felt threatened.  This had me very nervous.  My daughter's team mate's mom had a bypass and went buck crazy having affairs with multiple men when she lost the weight.  She hadn't turned a head in a minute and she couldn't handle it when she got some attention.  She ended up divorced and her daughter ashamed and hating her for her decisions.

18 months later, my family is elated by my success.  Mom lives 3 hrs away but takes every opportunity to make me mushies when I get fills.  She can't stop telling me how proud she is of my weight loss.  Hubby is very proud of the new me and likes sporting me around town and social events.  They also remind me to eat slowly when they think I'm enjoying food too much so that I avoid a stuck or PB episode.

If you decide to do this, do it for you.  Others will understand (or maybe they won't) over time.  Listen to their concern and "what they're not saying" and stay grounded.  Usually respect begets respect.  Everyone will see the benefits in the end.

I know where you are coming from -- wanting to be healthier and understanding that wls is not the easy way out. I thought about wls for years before going ahead and doing it in Aug of 2009. In the initial stages of my mulling over wls I thought it was the easy way too -- until I started researching and reading people's experiences with wls.

My husband has never had a weight problem in his life and really doesn't have a clue about how tough this journey is. When I first told him about me wanting to have surgery I was a little nervous he would not be supportive because he didn't understand my struggle with weight.I was surprised at how supportive he was even though he didn't "get it".

I wonder if your husband in in a similar situation -- a lot of people (even medical professionals!) just think diet and exercise is all we need and don't really understand why someone would do something as "drastic" as surgery. But once he sees all the hard work you put into this surgery and the lifestyle changes and sees you losing weight because of it he I betcha he will be so proud of you! And, realize wls is work!
 
I wish you the best,

Trixie

The success rate of morbidly obese people losing and keep off their rate is 3%!!!  Would he want to trust his life to something that had that success rate?  Would he want to trust yours?  If he had cancer would he want the treatment that had a 3% success rate or one which had a much, much higher possibility of succeeding?  Ask him that question.  When you present it that way, he may realize that it's logical to have WLS, not "the easy way."  And it's not so easy, especially when you have the lapband.  There's lots of working out and watching what you eat.  The difference is that you have a tool that can keep you full enough so that you're not constantly bombarded by signals to your brain saying "I'm hungry, I'm hungry, feed me, feed me."  You'll have to give up bad habits and form new ones and you'll have to do that for your life time, not just until you lose the weight.  I wish you the very best of luck.  And even if he doesn't support now, he may come around when he sees that you've come through the surgery successfully and that you are losing weight.