ARE "WE" GETTING A BAD REP ON THIS ONE??

I really love and support "our" radio personality shows like Steve Harvey, Baisden and especially Tom Joyner's morning show.  As I was listening to the TJMS, like I do each morning, they start to discuss the health and well being of junior senator Jessie Jackson Jr.  He's reportedly suffering from dibilatating depression.  But according to the reports his "gastric bypass" surgery is the cause of this.  As reported on the show, because of the surgery JJJ, or (3-J) was not receiving proper nutrients.

This disturbs me because I feel it is sending an incomplete, if not inaccurate, message to the listening audience (which are largely African Americans) that deciding on any bariatric treatment will lead to depression and gastro issues.  These problems may very well be true for 3-J, but given his alleged involvement with the scandal of the sale of the President's senate seat, his affairs with his jump-off, his family and other issues, I would venture to say that the younger Jackson had a whole lot of other problems contributing to his ill health, including the major stress of all of those issue, that has added to his downfall.

Morbidly obese people listening to this program who were maybe considering weight loss surgery would be highly influenced, if not totally frightened away by this type of reporting.  No effort was made to show the positive side of how wls can save a life of those suffering with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other ailments.

I'm just saying.........!!

JJ

The senate seat sale was just another a right wing bull**** distraction as was the tens of millions spent on Ken Star & Whitewater to keep health care reform from taking place in the 90's. 

Unfortunately media is not impartial.  That died decades ago if it ever really existed.  There is not an outlet in existence that is not fueled by wl snake oil advertising.  Programs that promote the only proven healthy route to long term sustained weight loss are in direct competition with this multi billion dollar industry.  Anecdotal bull**** keeps sponsors.  The facts do not.  

See how long these folks will stay on the air if they quote results of long term clinical studies.  What advertisers are selling has a 95% failure rate accross the board long term.  WLS a less than 10% failure rate regardless of procedure in studies going out over a decade.  (Success defined as 50-65% of excess weight lost & maintained for life.)  How many folks really join weigh****chers only once or any other such wl program for that matter? Revisions are the exception not the rule for wls. 

It pays to focus on the negative.  Mis leading information still builds ratings and ratings attract advertisers.  Its too bad these hosts do not have the courage to come forward with the truth about wls.  I have yet to see one factual well balanced program on wls, the various types, pros, cons, and real statistically valid long term outcomes.  As long as advertising controls content, I do not expect to see this type of responsible programming materialize.   

I totally agree with this!  "Mis leading information still builds ratings and ratings attract advertisers."

It is all about the bottom line of ratings and income.  I understand the world of marketing and the need to compete for ratings, but these hosts just need to stay in their lanes on some topics and refrain from dispensing half truths and misinformation on wls and other health care issues.

It appears that the senators weight loss surgery will be the "fall guy" for all of his health and mental health issues.  It's unfortunate that they don't solicite the advice of medical experts on the subject to present a balance. view.

aside from all the politics involved, its 2012 and i am still surprised as to how may wls patients do not follow simple rules, dont do the research, didnt do the research and still hold on to old wives tales,   a lot of people in the community suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and all these diseases that can be treated with medication and in some cases lifestyle changes, and those who chose the WLS still have to deal with stigma from society and misinformation. we all eventually learn that WLS is not a magic pill ( definately comes with responsblitities), its still seen negatively and some people choose to be very secretive about it. it seems we wont know exactly whats going on until he speaks for himself and it looks like he is not in the position or willing to say anything about the subject.  in the mean time i hope it doesnt scare people away from the ds or any kind of weight loss surgery..

Hey girlie I totally agree with you!! His problems definitely came from his personal issues not a result of his WLS!! Gastric Bypass is and can be a healthy option, statistics have shown this!!

I head he got DS. I was confused because I know that severe nutritional deficits can affect the brain chemistry and someone who is predisposed to mental disorders may have a rough time if the nutrition isn't there.

However, I just heard about this political dishonesty thing today so that could also be the source of his depression if he's about to get caught for something.

I was listening to the TJMS yesterday and after they kept saying "gastric bypass" I just couldnt take them serious... I mean, he JJJr had the duodenal switch, first of all.... very different surgery....if you cant even get BASIC info right, where is the rest of your journalistic integerity
Second of all, Im sick of TJ & his cronies talking about their friendship with JJJr, it only leads me to believe they are trying to make excuses for him, much like they did for Kwame, the former mayor of Detroit....


JJJr is known for political dishonesty as well as his MANY marital indiscretions.... IF, and I place a heavy IF on that.... IF, he is depressed, I HIGHLY doubt weight loss surgery has ANYTHING at all to do with it

That's my thoughts exactly.  They lump all wls surgeries under "gastric bypass", so you know that the remainder of the story is filled with misinformation.

-JJJr had the duodenal switch, first of all.... very different surgery....if you cant even get BASIC info right, where is the rest of your journalistic integerity

It just rubbed me wrong to hear them blame wls for all of his problems.
Thanks Vogue!

JJ

JJ -

First of all, Jesse, Jr - known as Triple J by Chicago media - did not have a gastric bypass. He had a duodenal switch. His sister Santita also has the DS. Just like many of us " ordinary folk", over indulgence precipitated our contraction of the *disease* called severe morbid obesity.

I know this for a fact, because I worked as a radio news reporter in Chicago. I covered Jesse, Jr. just as he was beginning public life as a community and political leader. He was not obese at that time.

Actually, I credit Congressman Jackson and his sister for making me aware of the procedure.
I had my DS in 2009, and have lost approximately 240 pounds. (haven't hit the scale yet this week!) Unfortunately, two other diseases, lupus and fibromyalgia, made it necessary for me to leave the profession I loved so much.

If you do not take care of your body, bariatric patient or not, your body will eventually lay you down.
Being in the public eye, and the child of a prominent civil rights leader carries a number of major stressors that most of us cannot begin to fathom. I loved covering Jesse,Jr., because he was always respectful, and did not present the air of arrogance often attributed to his father. Reporters are often seen as adversaries by many in the public eye. Jesse, Jr. is the only news maker who *personally* thanked me for coverage of one of his first events. I still have that letter to this day.

Jesse, Jr. is a human being, just like the rest of us, and as many have seen on this board, can get a little sloppy in taking care of themselves. I have too, and I'm battling to get my A, K prealbumin, calcium and iron back to normal. I attribute that to the past six months leading up to my mother's passing. I'm not hospitalized, but if my surgeon's protocol for her DS patients was not labs every six months, I would probably be in the same boat as Jesse, Jr.

As for the TJMS, I personally text-ed a correction on the morning of that show, and got a reply, so I know the message was received by the Fly Jock himself.

Let's continue to pray for Jesse, Jr.'s swift recovery, and that he will learn the importance of DS nutritional maintenance from this unfortunate experience.

Thanks Jazzy for your input on the topic..........

"First of all"....Let's be real clear that the personalities on the TJMS were the culprits of labeling 3J's procedure as "gastric bypass", and that was one of the points of my commentary that they disseminated incorrect information by stating he had gastric bypass.  It's been well published that he had a DS.  The TJMS staff apparently thinks that there's only one wl surgery, and it's called "gastric bypass".

I've long admired the junior senator for his work in the community and wish him back to restored health.  As stated in my original post, my disdain lies with the reporting of his illness by the media as being totally caused by his "gastric bypass".  I think only his physicians can attest to that fact.

OT.....Jazzy.........(Can you add me to your friends list so that I can discuss something with you?).........Thanks!

JJ