Question:
LOTS of ?'s/Dr./Post/Eatting/Failure/Pregnancy

BMI 48%. I like in suburbs of Chicago. My mom succesfully had surgery with Dr. Franzides, how do I know he is right for me? Adult life always losing and gaining weight, who is to say this is permanent. I know I am an emotional eater. Thank you. Denise    — dresnick (posted on March 21, 2008)

March 21, 2008
If he did a good job for your mom and has a proven track record then I'd say that's about as good as you can get. No one ever knows for sure about the future, we just base it on past experience. I had my surgery Jan. 14 and although I had a very well-recommended doc I was scared to death. I think THAT'S normal. WLS is a big thing. Being morbidly obese is a tough life to live for most of us and the surgery has made my life so much better and I'm now a very happy woman. Good luck.
   — cjjordan

March 21, 2008
Please check into the DS forum. If you're an emotional eater DS might be better for you. Emotional eating can cause weight regain with RNY years out. Good luck on your journey. God Bless you!
   — Ambitious

March 21, 2008
Forgive me for asking, but what is the DS forum?
   — Jeanne Aldrich

March 21, 2008
Who is to say this is permanent? Nobody, probably. Who is to say you are ready to make the changes you need to make to be successful with weight loss surgery, whatever one you choose? Only you. Get as much information as you can and then you will have to decide for yourself. I know for me, I had ENOUGH and needed another tool to get the weight off and keep it off. Good luck in your search.
   — Shirley D.

March 21, 2008
RNY which I had, DS which someone else had, and Lap Band which many have, are their choices because they did their research. Chicago, is a great city for good hospital and lots of WLS Doctors to go to seminars at. That is the way to find your doctor. Your mom made her choice, but do your own research, and ask all the questions you want in advance. If the doc does not want to freely answer in a seminar or a free consoltation, move on to the next Doc. Find the Doc that you like, you beleive in and you can trust. Talk to his patients at support group meetings. No yoiu do not have to have surgery first to go to a support group meeting. I chose RNY from Dr. Marema, because he had the same surgery and was a walking example of a great body after surgery. I also selected him because he was frank about my options and what I could expect after surgery. I also found the support groups in three cities talk highly of him, so I made my choice. You live with it for the rest of your life, and as someone that went up and down on every diet known for the past 40 years, I would do it all over again the same way. Don't let any one person tell you which way to go. Educate yourself and then deside. You are not going to get that much more heavier while you learn the facts. Write me if I can help or if you need to be pointed to any reference materials. I am glad to help someone else take the next step. Many good people help me and are supporting my decision, and there are lots of us here that are glad to do the same for you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

March 21, 2008
Hi- What the person was refering to about the DS forum was the Duodenal Switch weight loss surgery. You can see more at duodenalswitch.com or at the top of this window under FORUMS click on Duodenal Switch. HTH
   — SameButDifferent

March 21, 2008
Hi Denise. You have some valid concerns. I am an emotional eater too. It is difficult. Surgery fixes the body and gives you a great tool, but it does NOT fix your head. Obesity is a head issue with a body consequence. If you are willing to take the challenge to work on your head, the tool can be great. If you expect your tool to fix your mouth, it will not work for you. Those that are successful with wls usually mourn the loss of food at some point after surgery. We make changes, and "break through" the anxiety of eating. We find ways to make it work for us. I am able to eat anything I want, but I choose to not eat for periods of time, eat small amounts of what I want, and am careful about what time of day I eat. If I eat in the morning too early, I eat all day, yesterday, my first meal was at about 3PM. I wasn't hungry until then, and it works for me. You will find something that works for you too, if you look, and if you perservere. If you don't, you will eat your way back (maybe not all the way back, but believe me, some do eat their way back and beyond) to right where you are now. It is a serious surgery. You are right to take it serious in your research and decision. Some people really need and use the surgery. Others need to accept their obesity and live as healthy as possible. Surgery is not for everyone. If you choose surgery, then you choose a new life style of eating and food change. You can't back out once you have surgery without serious consequences. The choices are yours, and so are the consequences. You are wise to choose carefully. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P