Can't decide how I feel!

Obesity and MORBID Obesity isn't a badge of HONOR and should we applaud those who have struggled for 30 years?  What's the magic number for either.  If you've struggled for 5 years and "only" 50lbs is that OK??

While I sat at 300lbs, I often thought things like I'd NEVER "let" myself get to 400lbs...why didn't they stop at XYZ?

I applaud those who KNOW the struggle and want to do something about it BEFORE they have suffered...my 2 cent.

Ms Shell

Oh I agree. Look back at my reply to Layla. My concern is with the "this is a quick fix" approach by people who don't understand that no wls is completely quick or a complete fix. If people have really tried and failed with non-surgical methods, then wls is sensible.

I know how I feel about it. I think we're going to have myriad damaged people. In a decade's time, there will be specialists who cater to ONLY gastric banding complications. I'm so positive that there will be a huge influx of nerve damage, gut damage, and esophageal damage, that medical professionals will be going into the "gastric banding complication" field. And they're going to be rich.

People in their 20s who get the band today are setting themselves up for a lot of pain and suffering ten years down the road. Say their bands last until they're 30 (and it's not likely, statistically speaking,) what happens when the "lifetime" of the band is up? Do they simply have them removed and try to not regain? Revise to another WLS?  What if they have damage like so many of us do?  If they end up with the damage I had, they can expect to spend a year sneezing to the point of passing out because of the damage to the diaphragm. They can stock up on medication for the gastritis that is bound to happen, too. Plan to have acid reflux that is painful, too.

Insurance companies are going to say, "Hey, you had your chance and you chose the band. Tough tootles." So, even if they are able to revise, they won't be covered.  It's only a matter of time before most insurance companies implement this clause. And, it's because of the people who didn't do even the most rudimentary research before hopping onto the operating table. We can all still do with our bodies whatever we choose, that's true. And I'm glad of it... but so many people go into this completely ignorant and unaware of the consequences. We see it on this board every stinking day. "Don't say that. Stop bashing." People who have BEEN through the bad stuff are the ones you should be listening to. It's all funtimes until the complications start happening to you. Then it's very lonely and scary.

We're going to have a LOT of really damaged people unless doctors start doing the right thing, in my opinion. And this includes ALL WLS options. People absolutely need to be aware of the ins and outs before undergoing something so life changing... and I'm not convinced that's the case most often. 

Nic, although I specifically mentioned bands, my uncertainty actually includes all wls. I was not cosidering the pros and cons of the procedure but the way in which people use surgery, any bariatric surgery as a first rather than a last resort.

A bit like trying morphine for a headache without trying ibuprofen first.