RESPECT

Can we agree to be respectful to each other?

Disgreements and differing opinions are normal.  When mutual respect is included, that's called a discussion and we can all learn from it.

Being disrespectful, whether it is being rude or including inappropriate photographs or threatening legal action without having exhausted other avenues, is not acceptable.  Personal attacks are never acceptable.

I believe that most of us have bonafide reasons for being here and wanting to be here.  We will never agree on all points.  However, we have a choice:

   1.  We can agree to disagree and have interesting, education discussions which are polite and respectful towards one another; or,

    2.  We can have rude and disrespectful chaos where none of us gain anything positive.

I'm for #1.  Are you?

#1

 #1. Kate

 Excellent post!  #1 it is!! 

#1 and also to stop calling us trying to share our experiences, "band bashers". 

Although I regret being banded in the first place, I'm happy I had it done, because it gave me a chance to be compassionate to others with failures.

Absolutely! #1 all the way! Thanks!

#1 for me...just don't call me a "band cheerleader"...

 
Lap-Band "enthusiast"? 

 Not even enthusiast, Maria.  I appreciate that with the band, my quality of life is improved.  I still have a lot of weight to lose, bu I went into this expecting to lose about half my EW and that's exactly what has happened.  Having a brother who was banded a year before me, (-130 lb) I learned some of the "inconveniences" of being banded, and was prepared.

That said, there is so much more information available for those investigating WLS today vs 2-3 years ago, particularly with regard to complications of AGB, I don't think I would choose it today, for a variety of reasons.

1.  My reflux is back, I'm back on my full dose of PPI again.
2.  My grandmother had primary achalasia, which probably is a contraindication.  When I had my barium swallow last Oct, the barium moved through, though not as fast as it should have.
3.  My band is fickle...one time I can eat a food, the next time, I can't.  Stress, heat, hydration, etc, all impact my food choices from meal to meal.  I've always been prone to tummy troubles when stressed, so probably not a good band candidate.  I will sometimes make food choices based on consistency, rather than nutrition, to avoid problems.

All that said, I don't regret getting my band, but I do think that VSG would have been a better option for my situation.

I don't think it's appropriate to attach labels to anyone in the context of offering information, support, etc.  it stops the reader right in their tracks and the message gets lost in t.
Just my own opinion.

 Typing on iPad...can't see what you're writing once you exceed the size of the box. Pardon the errors