WLS'rs- Why do you do this to yourselves?

In all honesty, I don't think any of the surgeries are perfect.  I expect that improvements will be made to the surgical choices (and hopefully non-surgical choices) over time as research about obesity improves.  I chose a top-notch surgeon with significant experience and many positive outcomes in my area.  I appreciate the holistic approach of his bariatric center of excellence, that includes lifetime psychological, nutritional and exercise physiology follow up.  I followed his recommendation for the type of surgery, after much research.  My personal concern with the DS is the significant malabsorption involved and the complexity of the surgery.  That was purely my judgement about what type of surgery would work best for me.  I do agree that folks should research all the options to reach the best decision for themselves.  I don't object to the information DSers provide to the community about the surgery.  It is a real service to everyone researching their options.  I just think that some mutual respect is warranted.  

I couldn't agree with you more, Anne.

All of us make our choices according to our individual needs. I myself chose RNY because I had concerns about the complexity of the surgery as well as the increased malabsorption DS presents along with some personal reasons which I would rather not go into on a public post.   

I don't object to DSers providing information to those researching WLS.  WLS is a big decision no matter what type of choose.  Mutual respect is definitely warranted.  I respect those who choose RNY, VBG, Sleeve or DS and do not put them down for their decision and I believe all of us deserve the same treatment.

Info overload.
I know not blaming onself for behavior is self satisfying.  I hated blaming myself, but I could'nt find something or someone to blame it on. I was tested *****ed and probed at Hopkins for any reason why I was MO. It came down to a very unique and concise report.  To much bad food intake, not enough calories burned... My wife, the skinny type, is that way because she does the opposite and exercises.  Poor food choices did result in my poor health.
Since I had WLS I learned how to live with new food choices and it feels good.
I did most of my research on the web, world wide.
For me there was a human componet that was outside my well researched  clinical assesment.   WLS between the ears and the life long process that requires me to accept ownership, accountability and consequence for this choice.   As you stated its a procedure that redirects your plumbing.  A technicial re-route.  The rest is up to me, the owner.

My surgern has a major WLS practice in Baltimore and his WLS is falling off dramatically due to employees dropping WLS from their benefits and insurance companies raising the co-pays and deductables. He said many WLS  applicants are not high income earners and are delaying  WLS due to this.

 I have and still believe these forums are challenged for accurate facts and are more for my entertainment and long confusing rants while under the influence of something.

 I have always thought this was one of the best forum's for WLS support. But so often there are so many people that always have something negative to say about a surgery they did not have but promoting the one that they did have. I know many people are probably bias to the choice that they made about their surgery and they think that surgery is the best.  Maybe it was the best for them.  At the end of the day that should be what it boils down to their choice. Not everyone has the same issues that made them choose surgery in the first place. I did a lot of research as well and for me even though I am early out I don't feel like I am on a diet.  I keep hearing that over and over from people who had the DS that they can eat real food with full fat.. ok am I supposed to feel bad..I don't.  

 There are people who have been fighting obesity or weight loss their whole life.  I was not one of them. I was a thin child and did not even become heavy until I was 24 yrs old and had my first child.  Before then I could eat anything that I wanted and did not have to do anything to maintain at 115lbs.  Then everything changed.  Food was never my comfort or my best friend or some of the other things that I have heard people say.  I do beleive it was my fault  100% because it was.  I I can not blame genetics or anything because I come from a thin family..and I even have thin kids... I was lazy and did not feel  like excersing and that was because I never had to in the past... I did not have any co morbs not high bp not high cholesterol and no diabetes. I had this surgery for weight loss only.  So I did go into this surgery informed and just because I did not choose the surgery you chose so what. 

I have a really close friend that had RNY 12 yrs ago and she has kept the weight off for 12 yrs and also has not had any complications.  Please feel free to check on my surgeon's stats because he is really truly the real deal...

WONDERFUL post, Rockne.  I've bookmarked it so I can come back and read it again and again.

I am conufused.  I pretty much eat what I want just less.  I have had  no problems maintaining my goal weight.  My lifestyle sounds no different than yours.  I don't diet, but I also don't eat crap any more.  It was unhealthy fuel for my body when I was fat and still is.  I want to be healthy now, not just thin.

I did the research on all the surgeries and chose RNY.  I love it and am very happy with my results.  I made an informed choice and have no regrets.

What freaks me out is why you DSers feel the constant need to shove your surgery in other people's faces.  It goes beyond informing.  That alone would scare me away as a pre op.  Nothing is as perfect as you portray it.  That is one of the things that steered me away from you board.  It was just too rosey.  That made me suspicious.

I thought that the RNY board was more honest. 

Lets see now, you've had RNY for what 2 years? Sheesh, you're a beginner, lets see how great you think RNY is in 15 years or so.

Kerry

That was condescending...Sheesh, you are a beginner also, lets see how great you think your DS is in 15 years or so....

YOU ALL ARE NOT HELPING ANY ONE MAKE A DECISION....YOU ARE NOT RESEARCH...

Yea, well having lived with RNY for 28 years will do that to a person.

And as to being a DS beginner, yes I am, but I can tell the difference between what I have now and the RNY POUCH hell I lived in for 28 years.

People who want to know about WLS deserve to know what kind of life they're going to forced to live before they have their stomach butchered into a damn POUCH.

Kerry

YOU DON'T KNOW THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ON YOU!  YOU MAY HAVE BEEN A SLAVE TO YOUR POUCH, BUT NOW YOU WILL BE A SLAVE TO THE SUPPLEMENTS SO THAT YOU DON'T STARVE TO DEATH....WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET OLDER AND POSSIBLY HAVE TO  START DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF AGE...FORGETFULNESS, ALZHEIMER'S, DEMENTIA...WHAT A STRAIN YOU WILL PUT ON YOUR LOVED ONES FOR A DECISION YOU MADE.  

you havn't even had it a year....