Question:
Phil Donohue show

Hi: Did anyone watch the Phil Donohue show last night? What did you think? Love Grace    — Grace H. (posted on November 30, 2002)

November 29, 2002
Like Donohue, I found the show very average. He showed several sides of the story but nothing in depth. He had people that were both pro and con WLS but never really got a dissucsion going. I would have liked to heard the people on each side talking in depth about their believes.
   — barbara A.

November 29, 2002
What bothers me was that man on the phone, who is a PHD not MD, who called this a money maker for the hospitals and without it they would have to close. How dumb can one man be. First he is calling all of us connected to this fools. Second, he is not speaking from good research. Many hospitals give up their bariatric unit because it is causing them to lose money. 1 in 200 deaths is true. But if you were to eliminate from the count those that were near death when they had the surgery, the odds would greatly improve. So many doctors won't operate on these desparate cases because it will ruin their statistics. There are so many possible side effects from having this surgery, that is why it is only for the morbidly obese and is not a cosmetic surgery. If you rearch our pages, you will read so many horror stories from people who have had problems. Many who post here are still in the honeymoon phase of their post op so they use terms like 50lbs gone forever. This surgery takes a lifetime commitment, nothing is gone forever. You will alwys have to be vigilent and make the right choices. And exercise will help ensure your continued good health. People get a few years post op and think they are are immuned to problems. If you don't keep up with your supplements, many terrible things can happen. Malnutrician , bone loss etc. If you don't keep up with your fluids, dehydration can kill. What I am saying is that the know it alls that talk about this surgery like it is the worst thing in the world, only concentrate on the above possiblities. But, fortunately for most of us, the bad problems don't occur. We go on with life so much healthier than before with new found energy and hope. My husband and I are over 60 years old, 14 months post op. We had the easiest surgery and recovery. We are so healthy now and have become high functioning human beings.
   — faybay

November 30, 2002
I didn't see the show but I agree with Fay totally. I am one year post-op (yesterday) and I really messed up a couple of weeks ago and got very dehydrated - and it didn't take long. I make sure I drink now whether I eat or not. My surgery and recovery were very easy but the effort will continue for the rest of my life - which promises to be much longer since my RNY. And the great news is that it isn't so difficult to make the right choices now. Someone just offered me pancakes for breakfast and I declined - had som yogurt with Grape Nuts instead.
   — Patty_Butler