Discussion: What is the best WLS Myth you have heard??

So lets discuss all the urban legends and myths around WLS? My favorite one is that for every 30 pounds you lose your "johnson" grows 1/2 inch in length. I have to admit that mine is about 3-4 inches larger than before. But after losing 235lbs, using that formula I could be the next John "The WAD" Holmes starring in ***** movies with my massive "throbing python of love". I do have to say that at 48 years of age it is interesting to be woken up most mornings by a raging "woody". Just one of the many perks of WLS in my opinion. So what urban legends and myths have you guys heard??

Hey Tim.... We had support group, and a new Lap band Chich was in there, her new carpet bagger surgeon, had filled her head with some stuff...just to get the business... When we were talking, and she found out that some of us had RNY, she stated very loudly..."why in the world would you ever have that surgery????..with my Lap band....My doctor said I will never be hungry again"...... I was quite vocal in in response..."There is a difference between feeling full, and not being hungry!!!!" That is a good legend.... Russ

Tim To me the biggest myths is that how WLS is taking the easy way out.   What a joke that is, but is usually said by uninformed people.  Like you I have lost 235 lbs and it has not been easy.  But the hard work in making long term life changes and sticking to them. Dan

The Dan's agree here. This is my "favorite" myth also. My response to it now is: "No, the easy way out would have been to just lay down and die."

Hi Tim, I can think of a few. One is the notion that being obese is a moral failing because fat people are lazy. There's a big difference between being physically inactive or limited and being lazy. Another is the way people who have never been really obese simplify a complex problem: "Oh, losing weight is simply. Just cut back on calories and increase your activity. I know what I'm talking about. I once lost 18oz." The last one I'll mention is the goofy notion that some of us "choose" to get fat to avoid sex, romance, whatever. (Wait!  Now that I think of it I DID DECIDE back in junior high school to put on the pounds when the hot bades begged me for . . . you know what . . .) Don't know if these qualify as myths and urban legends, but they're notions I've encountered too often on my trip through obesity. Interesting question. I am looking forward to seeing what other guys have to say.

Oh gee there are so many I've heard. Here are my top three: 1. You'll never be able to eat "real" food again. Well then, my "pretend" chicken breast is going down fine for lunch today thankyouverymuch. 2. Related to number one, "So you throw up pretty much all the time now right? Nope not since August of last year have I dumped and even then I've probably only done it 5 times since surgery. Used to do a lot more than that a month when I was a heavy drinker. 3. "I know somebody who had the surgery and now is trying to/has already gained all of the weight back." Dunno if this is a myth or not, but people say it to try to be discouraging/disparaging. I flick them in the forehead and explain that everyone's different and who are they to judge? They just got flicked in the forehead.  

One of my favorites. "After WLS your wife will divorce you, or you will divorce your wife. It happens to almost everyone."

Myths? I don't know. But it's amazing how many people know someone who's had the surgery and either 1. Died or 2. gained everything back plus.  In my experience, there seems to be an amazing amount of ignorance, and even contempt, for WLS.  I feel, It's our job to educate people to the effectiveness and viability of surgical weight-loss.  We all know that if a lie is repeated often enough it will gradually become accepted as truth. I'd hate to see the millions of people who could benefit from this surgery scared away by ignorant, vindictive, rumours. DD  

Biggest Myth: WLS (RNY in my case) doesn't really work or makes people look emaciated. There's a stigma about WLS where I live so I even make use of this myth when someone gets suspicious about my weight loss. "Do I look like someone who has done that? - I mean nothing really works long term, right? And look at these muscles...those people can't absorb protein, right? There's no way they could get muscles like these."

Dave