Re: Memorial Page Post from Friday
Sorry for the late reply. I haven't been on since Friday.
This is in response to a post I had made Friday afternoon. I wanted to clarify my reasons for posting a previous thread regarding the memorial page. In case some may have gotten the impression that I was thinking along the lines of “how dangerous the surgeries are”, this was neither my intension nor original thought.
Here was my post:
“Wow. I have heard about it but never looked for it until now. I decided to check out the memorial section on OH. I don’t even know what to say. One thing I do realize, if ever anyone claims WLS is the easy way out…tell them to check out that section.”
I do know that the surgery (whichever type) is extremely safe and the odds are getting better all the time. I take my life in my hands every time I drive to work or cross the street or even work in my back yard (yesterday some guy around here was using a bobcat to clear some trees and one fell over on him killing him). It just REALLY pains me to see those who are making the effort to try to live longer and unfortunately meet their end because of a choice (however few it may be)-ESPECIALLY when they have kids. As a pre-op, I give everyone who has gone through a WLS all of the credit in the world. It clearly is neither an easy task nor an EASY WAY OUT as many ignorant people say.
Take care
God Bless
BIGGS
Chris, The "Easy-Way-Out" discussion comes up often. Just the phrase offends many Post-Ops. But I’m not sure that Everyone who thinks that WLS is "The Easy Way Out" is ignorant. (sure, some are clearly not at all informed when they make comments about it, but others are) For me? It Was ‘The Easy-Way-Out.’ I had tried Everything else and those didn’t work. I couldn’t Diet and Exercise my way past the years of inertia and extra weight. WLS made it far easier to achieve a Normal BMI which is something I was never able to do without "the tool." Lord knows, I have a fairly realistic idea of the possible complications and ‘trials’ of having Bariatric Surgery. -(my profile) But, even though my experience was a bit like a horror movie, it was one with a happy ending. I still feel that WLS was (for Me) The Easy Way Out, because it’s the only one I’ve tried that I was able to succeed at. (and that’s yet to be determined as I come up on year 4 with nearly 3 years at goal.) Success is something I’ll be able to claim, maybe, at 5 years+. So Far, so good. And since getting past my rocky ‘Take-off’ It’s been an easy path to health. For me? It Was ‘The Easy-Way-Out.’ For others it was SO Freakin’ Easy I’m jealous still!! Maybe it’s not about ‘Easy’ per see, but about ‘Possible’ and ‘More Likely.’ The stats on Obese and Morbidly Obese folk losing and maintaining the loss Runs at approx. 1 out of 200 succeeding using Diet and Exercise alone.
The stats on Obese and Morbidly Obese folk losing and maintaining the loss Runs at approx. 140 out of 200 succeeding using Diet and Exercise supported by Bariatric procedure. If I have to place a bet, the choice seems Easy. Knowing All the Odds helps I think. Even reading through the Memorial pages…. Best Wishes- Dx
"Easy way" and "ignorant" may have been the wrong choice of words. I hope I did not offend anyone. The problem is I often get annoyed when people almost deem the surgery as cheating, and when I mention that I am planning on it, I quite frequently get the "why don’t you just cut down on your carbs" or "it's all about will power". I am sure many here go through the same thing and often keep the surgery a secret for that reason. I did not mean any disrespect to anyone.
No Offense at all.
Some do think of it as "Cheating."
I think a lot of folks think of Bariatric Surgery as ‘Cosmetic Surgery’ and equate it with Lipo-suction or getting a face lift, just on a larger scale.
Those folks? Completely ignorant.
I’ve even over heard one person wonder out loud about a local gal who had WLS-
"She said had the surgery
but it was months before you could even see any huge change!
I think she just said she had the surgery and dieted the weight off!!"
Like she though they just "cut off" the fat during the surgery….Duh....
Not a Clue…
It is odd that when I had my Heart Valve replacement,
No One thought of that as "Cheating" my way past Cardiac Problems….
It is very odd how WLS is perceived….
Best Wishes-
Dx
