WLS ARTICLE IN SELF MAG.

As much as I'd love to come, I've traveled the past two weekends (once to *****oteague and once to Pittsburgh) and I'm just wiped out. I do hope to meet all of you soon though.

I read it this afternoon.  Yes, this is a very serious surgery!!  I have read blogs on here from poeple who have had serious complications since surgery.  So there is the reality of the complications that could occur. 

With that being said there are many positive's to this surgery as well.  You have to look at both and decided for youself if the benifits outweight the risks.

Yes, I have had the more minor complication of vomiting and nasuea.  And for one moment I do not regret more choice. I was terrified right surgery of all the complication and risks.  As associated with any surgery.  Then I hadalso had to look at my risk for bring obese.  I am diabetic at the young age of 28.  My mom's side of the family are all diabetic.  I have an Uncle who had lost his limbs and eventually his life from the disease.  I have extremly high cholesterol.  Being 414lbs, I was a walking time bomb for a heart attack or stroke.  I did not want to die at 30.  I want to live.  There are risk with this surgery as with any surgery.  If you notice, they said people are not active in the followup care.  Be proactive with your health and post op care!

Hi, Lanette:

"Interesting" article -- definitely one sided, in my opinion.  It seems to me that the journalist had his/her own agenda when writing it.  In the interest of balance, I think interviews with people who are doing well with their WLS should have been included.

As some have already said, there are a lot of alarmist articles and news reports out there, but luckily, there are more and more positive ones coming out all of the time.  Like anything else, you should read everything you can and form your own opinions based on what you have read/heard/experienced yourself.

In my mind the bottom line is this:  WLS is MAJOR SURGERY.  As such, there are risks, both short term and long term.  Anyone getting WLS should be aware of this from the start and take it into consideration when making the decision to have it.  I also think that it is the responsibility of the patient to learn as much about the surgery, the surgeon, the hospital, the follow up, etc. before making that same decision.  Understanding that this surgery is not a miracle cure, but rather a tool to help in weight loss and ultimately, better health, is crucial. 

I can't speak for anyone else, but I can say that in my own personal experience, though going through major surgery in an attempt to get the weight off and rid myself of so many health issues (that were showing up with increasing frequency) may seem extreme, it was a real blessing for me.  Nothing else was working....pure and simple.

I wouldn't let this article scare you.  Just keep reading, keep learning, keep up with all of the new things that are going on with bariatric medicine and WLS, attend support groups, follow your surgeon's instructions, keep up with your nutritionist, get your labs done, follow up with your PCP and any other physicians you see -- take care of your pouch, exercise....all of the things that are part of the process....and most of all, ENJOY LIFE, again!   :)

Thanks Cindy for your reply, I truly have not one regret with me having this surgery. How can it be all bad I feel 100 times better just losing 57 pounds in 9 weeks. My tool is working. I can do so much more and I feel human again. I am so excited for this journy to continue. Like I said to Neen, I feel this article hit me hard  because of the Local Dr. Having his data added. It made It feel so close. Just knowing of him. Just a little scare. Not enough to have any regrets.
Thanks again to you ALL for the feedback.  Lanette

Hi Lanetter,

Well that was an extremely one sided article wasn't it? But very typical when a writer has an agenda and does not write a balanced article. You can always find people who had the surgery and say it hasn't worked for them when really they have not worked for the surgery! I see it all the time - people who tell me that the surgery did not work for them and then I watch them eat all the wrong things! Like everything else the surgery is a tool - but it is surgery and there are risks associated with surgery that we all need to be aware of.

What the articel failed to mention are the thousands of people that is has helped and who do not regret a minute of it! And all the good things it has done for people's quality of life..... Thank goodness for Dr Neil Hutcher giving some statistics that are hard to argue with. Life the curing of diabetes for many of us!

Lanette you will always find articles written like this - you just have to balance it with what you see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears. Are there some people on this board who have had a rought time of it - yes there are - but the majority of us have not and would not change our surgeries.

Read these articles Lanette but bear in mind the source.........

Jackie

Thanks Jackie, Being a newbie I just look for any info I can use for a preventive tool. Thanks for your insight. Have a Great Day Lanette