Thank you all for watching the show!

We are prepping season two as we speak and we would love to know what your opinions are about season one so far.

We want to make season two even better.

We look forward to your thoughts.

Regards,

Darryl Silver & Stephen David
Executive Producers
BIG Medicine

I love the show and have learned allot about the Docs side of it. But I want to know more like what happens if you don't take the supplements-what is a revision for a gastic patient or a blockage.

And allot more of the mental side of the gastric surgery. I had this false dream that my life owuld be so much better if... What a load of whatever. Mentally the change I went thru was challenging. I think you do a diservice if people think this will solve their issues with the body image or the scars. I was just so glad to get rid of the weight and feel like I had some control- I never dreamed that there would be a negative side to losing the weight or I would have more eating issues then before. I just never thought my family role would change- now I am the skinny one and that has affect my relationship with my family.

What are the different issues a person faces that is single as opposed to being married.

I actually would love to be on the show to share what I have been thru- while it may seem negative the outcome becomes more postive daily.

I hope there will be follow-ups with the dramatic cases on the show like Allen and Marc. I want to see how their lives have changed now that they are able to get up out of bed. I know they post on the boards and are doing well but I'd like to actually see them and how they look several hundred pounds lighter. I too would like to see some of the downside of this and the struggle. Getting skinny does change a lot of things in your life both good and bad as jamiecar says. It would also be nice to see some of what people go through to get to the point of having surgery since it seems we pick up right as they are ready to go. I want to end by saying YAHOOOOOOO to the second season. I can't wait.

In season two we will be going back to the patients in season one and checking in.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Love the show! I have to second what Jamie says. The physical part of the surgery was the "easy" part for me.

(And, by the way, thanks in advance for a second season! I can't wait!)

I think the insurance companies that deny these patients coverage ought to be named, and someone from their benefits office should be asked to speak on camera and explain the reasoning behind their decision.

Right now, it seems like the insurance companies are being pretty capricious and callous. There's two sides to every story and it would be helpful to see who's saying no and why they're saying it.

It would nice to show the aftercare. the diet the nutritional aspects the NEED for therapy or at least support groups. The effect on relationships dating etc.....

It would be nice to see some of the other procedures as well. the DS, one of the better option, IMO or the VSG, not hugely popular no it will be the most popular in 5 years. I know this hard since these Drs don't do them but you can shows other Drs occassionally. not every show has to be Big and lil D. Sorry guys

I absolutely enjoy the show. Im going to have WLS really soon and the show really helps me and helps my wife even ,understand what the process intales. I find it really accurate with the interview process. I would like to see more of the father , son team and the operation it self being on TV. I have to admit...I think you show alittle to much of the plastic surgery. I would prefer to watch more of the WLS stuff..lol

All the "stuff" that you have to go through to get insurance to approve. Talk to some of the girls in the front office about all the paperwork and some of the ridiculous requirements that some insurances have.

I agree with the person that said - talk to employers that have exclusions and why they choose not to have coverage for WLS on their policy - how much does it really cost to add WLS coverage????

I work for a huge company - you hear about our profits every quarter all over the news and they have narrowed coverage down to one of the 3 insurances that you can choose from and they have a cap on it. I have a feeling in the next couple of years the coverage will be non-exisistent and I can promise you that my premiums won't be going down. They spend huge amounts of money on programs to try to get employees to be healthier - when in fact, I know very few people that participate in those programs.

Sorry - didn't meant to get on my soapbox.

Are you going to release this to dvd when the series is over? I'll take a copy!

Can hardly wait for the second season of BIG MEDICINE. I have absolutely enjoyed it and some of the patients are so dear to me....it's as if I know them.

I wish them all the best, especially Kim, Allen and of course Rosa. I look forward to seeing them and the progress that they've made over the months.

We love the show in Canada, can't wait for season 2, I hope to hear updates on previous patients.

I enjoy this show very much and look forward to seeing it every Monday. I really like both doctors, they seem so caring and genuine and make the whole show fun to watch. I thoroughly agree that the insurance companies that deny coverage in the extreme cases should be named, that might make them change their tune!

I'm a thin person but I'm particularly interested in the show because my sister-in-law has battled with her weight for years and had the lap-band surgery recently. I think it's important for people on the "other side" to see how people who are obese feel. Perhaps more sessions on the show with Mary Jo or a psychologist/psychiatrist specializing in obesity or eating disorders so the public can learn more about the inner lives of these people not just the physical risks and complications. I like the way Garth Davis expresses his empathy for patients who are obese. I don't see that so much from Robert Davis. He seems more removed not just when talking with Mary Jo and Garth but a little insensitive in dealing with the patients directly. It would be great if the show could draw or excavate the good bedside manner that I am sure exists inside of Robert Davis.

I have really enjoyed the show. Although I have had only minor weight issues (gain 25 lbs after tennis injury, then lost 30 lbs) I could not imagine what these wonderful people had to go through in their everyday lives until I started watching the show. Thank you to the Dr. and to the patients for sharing their stories and lives, and look forward to seeing the patients of season one revisited.

Also, I think it is important to keep with the side of the show where they address issues with insurance. Go Big D!!!

Why are you changing the time from 9 to 10 Eastern? It is so hard to stay up so late...

Please reconsider putting it back to 9.

Thanks, love the show!

I would really like to see you do a story on someone who has had complications to the extent they had to have their surgery reversed, i.e., the Lap Band. I am someone who experienced that and I think people who are considering the surgery need to know ALL possible side effects or consequences/results.

I would also very much like to see more concentration on the emotional aspect of the people who have the surgery and how they deal with the feelings they probably used to stuff down with food -- are they going to therapy? Do they have a support group they attend? Do they just not talk about it? Does their insurance cover the therapy?

I would like to see exactly what the patients eat immediately after surgery and then in each stage as they are able to incorporate solid foods into their diet and how they tolerate the different stages.

Lastly, I would especially be interested in seeing stories of people whose insurance would not cover the surgery and who then elected to go outside the United States for the surgery and their experiences with the process and the aftermath.

Thank you for asking for opinions!

Love the show. I'd really like to see the guy with all the bariatric fitness support on the program, Jeremy Gentles. He wrote a great article on how to approach training: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/fitness/cmsID,1611/mode,content/
on obesity help and seems to know how to put fitness with bariatric patients and seems to have the credentials. Mary Jo is great. I'd like to see someone with a fitness education that has developed for bariatrics. Commentary with the docs would help, or educated commentary on fitness levels for these patients from someone with all the credentials would be great!

I agree that it's important to show aftercare, the good, the bad, and the ugly. I also think that although everyone loves success stories (myself included) the show should not be an advertisement for the surgery. I for one would like to see a story on someone who had success and then regained weight by going back to old habits, as we all know can happen. I think that would help to keep me and other post-ops on the straight and narrow.
I never miss the show and can't wait for season 2.

yeah. I think that trainer that Allen uses is O.K., but someone with a history of working in bariatrics, with credentials, etc. would be great for a news forum like Mary Jo's. This guy that works with Obesity Help, Jeremy, seems to really know his stuff and has a great forum on their website.

The trainer that Allen uses, Austin Davis, is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and has worked with a number of morbidly obese people and gastric bypass patients. He does amazing work, which has not been shown well on the show at all. In fact, the importance of exercise after gastric bypass surgery has not been explored much at all, which I think is a tremendous gap in covering what is involved in being a successful weight loss surgery patient.

Austin is my trainer as well, and I cannot begin to explain the quality of work that he has done with me. I've carefully watched other trainers and have even been a client (or should I say victim?) of other trainers previously, and I can assure you that Austin is a top-notch, high quality trainer. He has helped me make my body stronger than I ever imagined it could be, and he has an understanding of the bariatric patient and their issues that never ceases to amaze me.

I consider his guidance through the fitness journey to be a blessing. I frequently tell Austin that my first "best decision" I ever made was going to Garth for surgery and my second best decision ever was getting him to be my trainer.

Long story short...Austin is an amazing, competent, caring trainer who does excellent work with bariatric patients.

The show is awesome. I am so glad there is going to be a season two. But I agree with one poster that the 10:00 time is a little late. 9:00 is much easier - but I will still watch. I am having surgery in 26 days and this so is so helpful. Keep it going. I am glad to hear there will be updates on some of the patients (Mark and Allen)
Thank you for such a great program.

Kim,
Nothing against Austin. I'm sure your time with him has worked very well (as evident!), but there are many levels of certification and when I see the level of education and training of Mary Jo and the doctors, I'd like to see a forum on this site similar to Obesity Help with a fitness specialist with the level of certifications and experience with bariatric patients that I see with someone like Jeremy Gentles. When we see patients having problems like Marc and patients that are still on oxygen like Allen, it isn't evident that the same level of experience and education exist there when you read about the differences in the two. Each trainer would bring different things to the table. Where I could see that Austin would be a motivator, I really enjoy the forums, etc. that are lead by someone like Jeremy. An ACE is a basic. When I see someone bedridden like Allen, I'd feel better if his trainer was also an RN or paramedic. It would be great to have someone discuss on this forum the medical with the physical. Many of the guests on this site have lots of the medical to go with the physical.

Sorry to continue my own post, but as with my first post, the forum doesn't have an "exercise" forum. I think the physical is important, also, and would like to see a "physical forum mailbag" and would like to see someone answering the questions that has the credentials and medical experience to go with the physical knowledge. Austin may be great to have physically train you, but I'd like to see a forum (as the producers asked here) with a knowledgeable medical/physical trainer specialist to answer questions.

I love the show and it has helped me a lot during my wait for my first appointment. I would like to see more pre op information. I think people should know this doesn't happen over night. I have to wait 6 - 8 months just for the first appointment. Also, show some group counceling sessions. There are some very valid concerns we don't see on the show like being very thin after surgery but people still see themselves as fat. I know some people with complications but the I am yet to see patients with complications other than Kim the daughter and that was minimal. What about the one's that get hospitalized with hernia's and such? What