We are offered the opportunity to apply to be on the show, my question, why bother? I did apply, just yesterday in fact. I spent hours pouring my heart out in type and rehashing the story of my struggle to lose weight. I attached 5 recent photos of myself, and with the support of my husband pushed the send button of my e-mail. Now I wondered, would I get a response, how long might it take? So you can imagine the surprise when I opened my e-mail to see one addressed from the show. Oh boy, ok open it I told myself. I read the words in front of me in horror. Sure the first sentence started great but then I read with disbelief. This is what I saw…”Thanks for writing in, you have a lot of heart and determination and would be great for the show. However Big Medicine does not pay for any
of the surgeries on the show. It also sounds like you already know how
to lose the weight as you have done it in the past but then have given
up. Good luck”. Good luck, good luck are they kidding?? First let me set a few things straight, I never asked for the surgery to be free and I was never questioned if I have health insurance. As far as it “sounding” like I know how to lose weight, I find this statement to be a complete insult. What are they saying because I understand the concepts and workings of “how to lose weight” means that I don’t have a problem. “GIVEN UP”, how dare the person or persons that sent this insulting, degrading, humiliating, judgmental piece of type tell me that I have given up!! How dare you, you should be ashamed of yourself/selves. You don’t know me. You start your e-mail telling me how much heart and determination you think I have and would be great for the show, only to turn around and make me seem like someone looking for a handout and also a quitter. What a slap in the face. Do you realize that reading something like this could potentially push someone over the edge, sure you got heart kid, but you’re a deadbeat. Go take a long walk off a short pier. But hey, “good luck”.

I'm at a loss for words. A simple "thank you for your email if we are interested we will contact you", would be so much better.

I am sorry you had this experience, but mine has been just the opposite. I have an nothing but postive interactions with the people who make these decisions.

You have to kind of put yourself in their place- all of the people who watch the show want to be on it. Or at least inquire. They have to find the cases that will teach the audience the most. So to support my case read what people want the producers to show us. If we all said the easy cases then how would we see what can happen and needs to be considered when thinking of the surgery?

I know it doesn't help you and I am sorry the reply was not good but write that person back and tell them how you feel or their response made you feel.

Not all of us have had that interaction experience and people like me want to be on the show because I want people to know there is a reason Docs warn you about this or that. Any one who has sent an email to me was very professional.

thank you for the replies to my post.
I cannot tell you how utterly disappointed I was to receive such a response from the show.

Jamiecar, I would have written back or better yet called however, the mail was not 'signed' by anyone, no introduction no signature what I posted is exactly the way the mail arrived.

You mention being in the shows place, okay agreed, but, don't tell someone they have heart and determanation and then turn around and tell them no. Was that just merely the old trick of let's start out with a positive before we hit them with the negative, if so that is blatenly wrong. I'm not too sure what you are saying in your last paragraph but if you are thinking I don't have a real reason in wanting the surgery you are mistaken. I don't really get into my personal business because as we all know, the obese know they are obese and for the most part don't usually discuss there personal information but I will do so just to give you a bit of insight as to what my mail stated to the show. I am a 44 year old woman, I have struggled with obesity, (not just being overweight like their response makes it seem) since the age of 15. I have dieted, like I am sure many other obese people have. I have tried over and over again to attain goals that have just never happened. I have never manage to maintain a consistant loss. Throughout the years my most sucessful weight loss was when I was combining diet and exercise with Meridia. Quite frankly I don't want to do the "pill thing" I feel it is just not healthy and the long term side effects risks just plain scare the hell out of me. So, now here I am once again I reached out for help to a show that pretty much has me in tears at the conculsion of every episode, only to be made to feel inhuman. I am 5'4" and my weight this morning was 262 pounds I think that is pretty real.

please don't take this the wrong way, but I would let you choose which fingers you wanted to cut off either of my hands if I could ever get back close to 262lbs. I would love to be in the 3 hundreds. I weigh over 650lbs(apprx) for sure over 625lbs, no scales to weigh on right now. Be thankful your no bigger than you are.

Hey guys, dr. Garth here. What in the world kind of response did you get?! Is that really what it said?! Please let me know ASAP. It is true that TLC cannot pay for any surgery. You must have insurance or be able to pay and you must go through the program. But a letter saying you "You already know how to lose weight. Good Luck" That just cannot be!!! If this is happening let me know ASAP!

Hey all! My name is Jessica and I, too, just applied to be on the show. I can honestly say that when I read SC62's post, that I was very disappointed in the response to his/her application . Yes, very disappointed. The response given was very unprofessional and I am VERY surprised that it was worded that way. Wow. I can only imagine what I get in response to my application.

However--- SC62--- if you truly desire having the surgery done then do not let that email discourage you.... which by all rights it would have discouraged any of us.

My philosophy is to NEVER let someone else stand in the way of my goals. Never. If you want something then GO AFTER IT. Don't let some email stand in your way, no matter how bad it was. Life is full of obstacles. Some easy, and some not so easy. While I have never had weight loss surgery, I have had MANY obstacles in my short life. I am only 31 and have just in this past year had 4 surgeries due to health and injuries. All of them were tough. All of them were learning opportunites, and that email you recieved should be chalked up to just one of the many learning opportunities that you will go through in your process of trying to have weight loss surgery performed. It's not an easy process from that I have read and from the few people I know who have had it done. But, if it's your goal then the only person standing in the way of achieving your goal is YOU. Ulitmately you are your biggest obstacle... or else you would not be in the position you are in today. None of us needing weight loss surgery would be if we hadn't in some way let ourselves get so big.

I hold myself 100% accountable for the size I am today. No one did this to me. I did. I can place the blame on others, or situations I have gone through... depression, having children, when I quit smoking, my lack of proper eating habits, lack of proper exercice. The list is endless.

But tonight I watched the newest episode of Big Medicine and I must have had some epiphany or something... because I had EVERY excuse in the book as to why I am the size I am now. Placing blame is so easy to do. But, tonight I realized that I can only blame myself.

Now, my goal is to lose this weight. I have expected obstacles that I will face. I know this going into it. I did apply to be on the show. I don't expect to be because in reality there are people out there in need of it more than myself, BUT, I do need it to save my health from further decline. If TLC decides I am not right for the show, then so be it. I will understand. I may not agree with but it is television and ultimately they need people who's stories will get the ratings. I may, or may not, be the right person for the show, BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP on my crusade to lose my weight. I will not. TV show or not I will do what it takes to either lose the weight with or without the surgery.
And I have no one to blame for my failures other than me. Or my successes for that matter.

Just as you should... your #1 priority is YOU, and if getting the surgery done is what you feel in your heart of hearts is what is best for you, then keep going after that goal! You don't need a TV show to do it.

I wish you all the best and please keep us posted during your journey.

*BIG HUG!*

Jessica from Ohio

Yes Dr Garth, that is exactly what my e-mail stated, I copied and pasted it word for word. I would be more than happy to send you the entire original e-mail, including the response from the show. Please just let me know how I can do this.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write.
Sandy

to sc62,
i'm sorry you weren't accepted for the show and i certainly don't know for sure but maybe you just aren't "big" enough for the shock factor for the show?
maybe you have to be 700 pounds to be accepted?

I am very sorry you took my comment that way. Everyone does deserve the chance to go thru the process for this surgery.

I am not sure what your situation is. But I am sure that whoever wrote that response was not aware of what the tone was. That is why sending email is sometimes so bad because you can't se or talk to the person you sends it or receives it.

My only reason for stating my experience is that I just believe that you reap what you sew. So negatives brings negatives. I want to be postive and caution people about being negative that's all. Nothing more or nothing less.

And just to let you know- I have been told things by the show that hasn't happened but I am just trying to be positive and take it for what it's worth.

To Jessica,

Thank you for the kind words and support. It was nice to read caring words on such an emotional day.

I agree with you I hold myself and no one else accountable for the way I am today, because at the end of the day I was the one putting food into my mouth. That being said sometimes we need help in attaining our goals. I will not let some negative impersonal e-mail stop me from getting what I want out of life, and that is to be healthy and grow old with my husband.

As far as the show goes, I understand "The show must go on" and it will with or without me. I just felt very passionate about the way in which they chose to notify me of their decision. As you have written in a positive, caring way I think the show should also, for they were the ones asking people to apply. A bit of kindness goes a long way in this world. Perhaps the responses should read a bit like this. “Thank you for contacting the show. We are in the process of reviewing a large number of e-mails. If we are interested in telling your story, we will contact you within 30-45 days. If you do not hear from us within this time scale, we wish you all the best for your future. Sincerely XXXXX".

I hope what I've said hasn't been taken the wrong way, I would never begrudge anyone having WLS. It just breaks my heart when I see people who can walk and get around and maybe are only 100lbs over weight getting surgery and then there are people like me and Tiffany and many others that can't have the surgery because the state or our insurance company won't pay for it. I feel like if you are 200lbs over your healthy body weight there should not even be a decision process, it should be automatic. I'm at least 400lbs over my healthy weight and I can't get my insurance company to pay to save my life. It just tears me up inside, that they don't care about nothing, but the money.

quote:

Originally posted by robbiejones:
I hope what I've said hasn't been taken the wrong way, I would never begrudge anyone having WLS. It just breaks my heart when I see people who can walk and get around and maybe are only 100lbs over weight getting surgery and then there are people like me and Tiffany and many others that can't have the surgery because the state or our insurance company won't pay for it. I feel like if you are 200lbs over your healthy body weight there should not even be a decision process, it should be automatic. I'm at least 400lbs over my healthy weight and I can't get my insurance company to pay to save my life. It just tears me up inside, that they don't care about nothing, but the money.

Dear Robbie,

Just my 2 cents (for what they are worth)... Per your post above, it should not matter the exact weight of a person needing or even desiring WLS based on poundage. For example, you said "It just breaks my heart when I see people who can walk and get around and maybe are only 100lbs over weight getting surgery and then there are people like me and Tiffany and many others that can't have the surgery because the state or our insurance company won't pay for it. I feel like if you are 200lbs over your healthy body weight there should not even be a decision process, it should be automatic. I'm at least 400lbs over my healthy weight and I can't get my insurance company to pay to save my life."

In my opinion, you referencing people who are 100 pounds overweight should basically be at the back of the line. The truth of the matter is (and perhaps people will disagree with me on this) is that ANYONE who has an unhealthy BMI percentage should be approved.... not based on how many pounds overweight they are. That is just an uneducated way to say that because a 6"4 person can be 100 pounds overweight. Take that same 100 pounds and put it on someone who is 5"2.... BIG difference in BMI percentage.

And, saying "only 100 pounds overweight"???? If a 100 pounds puts someones body mass index in the levels as being unhealthy, what difference does it make? Having weight loss surgery is not a contest for the fattest. And placing blame (or exhibiting what is coming across as jealousy because you cannot get approved by insurance or that state) is not fair to people who have the surgery because they may not be AS fat or heavier than they should be. Also, who the insurance companies approve and does not approve has no bearing on whether someone is 100 pounds overweight or 500 pounds overweight...ultimately it is decided based upon the BMI percentage and health complications that have arised because of the weight someone is at--- and their particular policy coverage. And it's not the fault of someone if they are 100 pounds overweight if their insurance approves their surgery because they may (and I hate to say this) have better coverage than someone like you. Your insurance may be denying you for other reasons.... some don't cover it AT ALL, no matter what health risk the patient is at.

Also per your quote "I feel like if you are 200lbs over your healthy body weight there should not even be a decision process, it should be automatic. I'm at least 400lbs over my healthy weight and I can't get my insurance company to pay to save my life." I think if ANYONE with a certain BMI percentage (whatever it is based on their weight and height) that determines that they are at an unhealthy level should be a candidate. But, I am also torn in saying that too, because if that were the case and we had "automatic approvals for WLS" then it would be "quick-fixes" for a lot of people who in essence REALLY NEED some "health food/ Nutritional" education. It seems like more and more people are using WLS as a crutch. It's becoming almost too easy to get for some people and if it continues then EVERYONE will get it and it's making people even lazier. They will eat, eat, eat.... gain a ton of weight, then because they are 200 pounds overweight (according to you should be automatically approved for surgery) so they go get surgery? That does not make sense. The surgery should be a last ditch effort. People need to treat their weight as a problem and get TREATMENT and use the surgery only when medically neccessary. Otherwise it will get out of control and be the next "hollywood cosmetic surgery" craze. Everyone will do it because they can, and it's the quickest way to lose a ton of weight. Then no one will WORK for it... they'll just do the surgery cause it's the easy way out, and I don't agree with that logic at all.

In Big Medicine, both of the Dr Davis' EDUCATE their patients. They have to learn to live a healthier lifestyle, and exercise, etc..... What I am interested in knowing (outside of the success stories we see each week) is a percentage of the patients they do the surgeries for that fall back into their old habits and gain the weight back. I think they should show some of those patients on the show to say "look, without proper diet and exercise you will look like this again" and then show some of the patients who have gained weight back because they were not diciplined in maintaining the proper after surgery regime.

In essence, WLS is a BIG step and a HUGE decision. It takes ALOT of dedication before and WELL after the surgery is done, and I don't think it's right for everyone. I don't agree that there should be an automatic weight (like you mentioned at 200 or 400 pounds) that once someone hits that mark they should be automatcially approved because it's taking advantage of the system.

People need to quit being lazy (yes that is harsh, and I am right there along with you all.... and my weight is my own laziness), quit eating the junk that most of us eat, and CUT back and utilize portion control. It's so simple in words, but in reality it's so much tougher... and I have been there and done that and have struggled with my weight for almost 12 years now. And alot of it is because of MY eating habits and being somewhat lazy.

I have begun to change that. I have altered my eating habits in the last 2 years and have excersied just about daily for the last 2 years. I still cannot lose weight (WHY????), and at the weight I am now (which is not really that bad compared to others) I am seeing a DEFINATE decline in my health. I have a hard time breathing, I have circulation problems, I have problems with my hormone levels, injuries from being more clumsy, being diebetic on and off, etc..... and because I am not over 100 pounds overweight, does that mean I should not get the surgery if I can because someone else out there weighs more?

I should get it because I HAVE changed my diet, I do exercise, and I still have health problems that continue to get worse. I would get the surgery in a heartbeat to help improve my health. That's it. My health needs it and I am not 400 pounds. 100 pounds overweight, or even 50 pounds overweight (Which I am... 50 pounds overweight) sounds like nothing but it's affecting my health and well-being. I KNOW that if I had surgery I would do ANYTHING it takes to keep myself healthy because I am sick and tired of being so unhealthy all the time. I want to have the energy to play with my kids, and be more social, and not have to worry about checking my sugar levels 3 times a day, and not having all that extra weight "weigh" me down. Yes, I may only be 50 pounds overweight, but for my height it's put me at an unhealthy BMI-- and that is what matters. Not the exact poundage.

Robbie, I did not mean to sound harsh or anything. I just want you to realize that everyone is different... we all have different bodies and who should be a candidate and who should not be should be a "case-by-case" basis determined by a trained professional... not based on some numbers and calculations.
I wish you all the best in the future and hope things work out for you hun.

Jessica

Jessica,

I have just one word for you.

BRAVO!!!!!!!

I knew this would happen if I voiced my opinion, people always jump on me and try to make me out to be the bad guy. I stand by what I said because everyday I wake up thinking this could be the day my heart finally gives out. When you can't take a deep breath and all you can do is take short little breaths and there is a surgery that can help you lose weight so you can breath normal again, so you can sleep, so you can wipe your own butt with your hand and not a device then I think the insurance company or the government should help pay. We spend billions of dollars every year on things that should never come before a human life. Tiffany can be educated on what to eat and how to take care of herself, so her not knowing everything about nutrition and WLS is no reason for her not to have the surgery if she thinks it will help. Think about this, when a ship is sinking, or a building is on fire do you ever hear anyone say "Ok all the strong healthy people out first", no you don't so I stand by what I said if you are lbs. or more overweight you should never be denied surgery. I'm not saying if your under 200 or under 100lbs you should be denied either. I think you should be able to do with your body as you please. I just don't understand how people like me can be turned down from a life saving procedure.

I was not happy at all when insurance turned me down for the surgery, but I did what I could to find the way to finance the life-saving WLS procedure that I had. Do I wish that my insurance would have paid? Of course I do. Do I think it should have been a covered benefit? You better believe it! Do I find the financial burden of paying for the surgery difficult? Yep. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. If the financing had not come from one source, I would have found another. When you are truly in need of surgery and dedicated to getting it done, you find a way to make sure you get it. It may not be easy, but neither is the road to health after the surgery.

Please don't take my comments as being unsympathetic or in any way supportive of the insurance companies. What I'm saying is that we cannot allow roadblocks thrown at us from all directions to stop us from getting what we need to be healthy. Hang in there and use all of the creative energy you possess to help figure out how to get to what you need.

Robbie, I understand your frustration on many points, but why are you hijacking many other posts and trying to change the subject to your issues?

I have read 3 (off the top of my head) posts from you about your issues on other peoples posts:
I am thinking of going to Mexico....
I am trying to start a genetic study.....
I have bad credit....

If you want to ask these questions then start a new thread titled with your question, you will find that you will get more answers. Also this is good forum etiquette as people like me that want to read about applying to the show don't want to read your unrelated topics.

I wish you well in your quest for finance to pay for your many trips to Mexico and I really hope that you get all you need to progress your weight loss.

cc_ranger, I never said I was thinking of starting a genetic study, I made an observation based on my life. I read what the doctor had posted about genetics and I just threw in my situation. I'm sorry if I mad you mad, hopefully I'll learn the message board etiquette before I upset anyone else, thank you for pointing out my rudeness.

sc62, please see my post above-"don't get your hopes up..." they did the same thing to me, only they strung me along for a month!!! they were VERY unorganized and the woman (you'll read about in my post) was snotty toward me & rehashed all sorts of things from my past (miserable time in my life!!!) trying to "come up with a good story for their show." please know that you are not alone, as they seem to be treating more people than i thought in an unprofessinal manner. good luck to you & keep your head up!!!

Hi sc62, read your post and it sounds like something you would get from a reality show. That's what some people forget, it's a reality show and they run it to make money, no other reason, in my opinion. sc62, you have more patience than I do, I hope you emailed them and told them where to put their camera! Do you all believe that Dr. Garth is really posting in here? Please, give me one good reason why he would bother. Perhaps I sound bitter, and I am. I am not obese, but I live with a lady that is. I do not believe in this surgery, it is dangerous, rearranges your entire digestive system and you are severely constricted on what you can eat and how much for the rest of your life. Do research and you will find out that 70% of your immune system is in your digestive tract. They pretty much remove that, or bypass it. Not a good idea. My heart goes out to the people who are over weight, I wish them all well. I think the show The Biggest Loser is a good example of not having the surgery done. I know, on the show they have the trainers, etc., but there is no reason you cannot join a gym and get on a program with them. The natural way is the way to go if at all possible. Take care.

It really is Garth that posts the stuff from him...he's just that kind of a person.

How many of The Biggest Loser contestants maintain their weight loss when they return to the realities of day to day life?

Lots of research shows gastric bypass to be safe and if the program set forth by the doctor is followed, nutritional issues can be avoided.

Believe what you will. I said it was my opinion. Biggest Loser contestants were on the other night because it's airing again with new shows this coming week. They were able to find about 6 and they came back and were thinner than when they left last year. Dedication is what it takes. Kvalera, I know you just had your surgery and believe me, I wish you only the best and I hope you reach all your goals. Take care.

Tootbuc,

You clearly have opinions about WLS. But you admitted in a post elsewhere that you've never been obese. You don't get that the vast, vast majority of MO people who do manage to lose weight with diet and exercise also will regain that weight (often with a few more pounds) within five years. The Biggest Loser people - trust me, they "found" more than those six. Larry King Live found a few more who had regained a great deal of their weight, but BL of course didn't want to show that.

What did they have to do to lose all that weight? Work out several hours a day? Eat very restrictive diets? Yup. Do YOU have time to do those things? Do YOU like being hungry ALL THE TIME?

It's true, some MO people do just scarf down tons and tons of food. But Dr. Garth points out, this also points to something different with their bodies. YOU couldn't eat as much as they do. Your body would reject that much food. These people seem to have serious hormonal imbalances so that they constantly feel hungry and never can feel full. I guarantee you don't have the discipline it would take for them to keep fighting that hunger day in, day out over the next 30 or 40 years. And there are also MO people like me. If the average person eats 1600-1800 calories, I can't eat like an average person and maintain weight. On that level of calories, I gain weight. The only way I have ever managed to lose weight and get skinny was when I was in college, I ate 600-800 calories a day, walked at least 2 miles a day, and attended a dance class 1.5 hours three times a week. I got out of college, got a desk job, don't have time to spend 2 hours a day working out (though I do try to work out at least 1/2 hour daily), and I got sick of feeling hungry all the time, so I started eating like a normal person. I now weigh 282 lbs.

Morbidly obese people are struggling with things that normal weight people never have to deal with. The ONLY thing that has proven effective for long-term weight loss for these people is surgical intervention. If they don't go this route, they face huge health challenges and a much shortened life span.

Shows like the Biggest Loser, IMO, just perpetuate the lie that if these people could just suck it up and get some discipline, they'd be able to do it without surgery, and that dooms more people to obesity-related health issues and early death. It dooms the rest of you all, too, to higher insurance rates because of the increased costs for treating obesity-related issues.

There was a time when the genes that cause MO were a benefit to those who had them. The ability to store calories as fat and a sensitive metabolism helped people survive when the lean times came and food was scarce. They didn't get too fat because they had to walk and work at physically demanding activities. Now, we spend our days sitting at desks, and in the US there is no scarcity of food, and those genes are killing people.

So stop with the judgment of people who decide that they're going to do what they need to do to get healthy. This is what works, according to the evidence.

Thanks for listening.

Hi Tonksmom - I looked at a couple of my posts, I don't think I've been judgemental to the people, perhaps about the show I have. As I said, in all my posts, that is my opinion, and that's what I'm giving just as you are. I do believe one can diet and exercise and get and keep the weight off. You, yourself said you did it in college. I would think that would be hard with all the classes and stuff, but you did it. Believe it or not, I enjoyed your post, you tell it like it is. I try to do that too and perhaps sometime I may come off as judgemental. Don't mean to, I don't think anyone can cast the first stone. I wish you luck in your weight loss. It's not easy, I know, because I have a room mate who weighs 500 pounds. She has tried all the diets, etc. She's trying to get down to a weight so she can have the surgery, the lapband is what she is hoping for. Well, hope to talk to ya again. Take care.

Hi, Tootbuc,

I did not say MO people can't lose weight. But statistically, they cannot lose and keep it off. Again, what we would have to do to do that is nothing like what you, at a normal weight, have to do to maintain. Our bodies fight to cling to every calorie and every pound. In order to maintain the weight loss I experienced in college, I would have to work out at least 2 hours a day, and eat less than 1k calories. I'm hoping WLS will help me stick to that low range of calories without feeling miserably hungry all the time. I don't have time to work out that much, but I'd be happy if I was just overweight (amazing how perspectives change when you look at that from the other side!).

Once again, the ONLY method that has been scientifically proven to help most MO people lose and keep weight off is surgical intervention. Only 3% who lose through diet and exercise will be able to maintain long-term - and I worry for them as they age and have no choice but to become less physically active.

Ultimately, if diabetics could be cured by a quick, safe and simple surgery, nobody would fault them for choosing that over a lifetime of rigid dietary structure, exercise, and insulin injections. (And by the way, there's an awful lot of interest in bariatric surgery as a possible cure for diabetes, as a great many diabetic bariatric patients find that they no longer need their meds after the surgery - even before they lose weight.)

With regard to your roommate, I hope she does a bit more research. The Lap Band isn't particularly helpful with people who have high BMI. She might want to consider a Vertical Gastric Sleeve, if she wants a strictly restrictive procedure. It's sometimes done for very high risk patients (like those who are super-obese). She may need at some point to add a malabsorptive component, though, if she wants to get down to a healthy weight.

Sorry if I misjudged. I just get tired of hearing people harp on diet and exercise. I guarantee you that most MO people have tried that, and beat themselves up every time it doesn't work. It's time to do what actually works and help these folks get healthy.

L

So glad you wrote back. You are really informed on the different types of weight loss topics. I have never heard of a Vertical Gastric Sleeve, Google, here I come, LOL! However, my roommate's problem is commitment. I fear that even if she has the lapband, that is what she wants, because it's reversible, she will not stick to a planned weight loss regime. I feel badly for her, but I told her, it took 30 years to put it on, it will not come off in 30 days. Yes, I think it's great that people that have had the surgery no longer have diabetes, heart problems, etc. Are you waiting to have the surgery? I think that's one of the problems with the MO, like my friend, they want the surgery done yesterday. Was it Charles that was so angry, that he fired the doctors? I think so, because they said he needed to lose more weight so they could do the surgery. Then he called them back. I guess we'll find out in the new season. BTW, tonight Big Medicine is on, I'm assuming they will do reruns for a while, I think the new shows start in January. Thanks for writing. I'm Italian, and we hug alot, so (((((HUGS)))))) Take care.

Your friend should visit www.obesityhelp.com. They have a great deal of information about the pro's and con's of each surgical option, and message boards for people who are considering or have had these surgeries. The pro's of the Lap Band are that it is reversible and adjustable, definitely. But the weight loss is much less for a Bandster than for either the sleeve or bypass, and for someone who is super-obese (500 lbs would be that), the weight loss probably won't be enough to achieve optimum good health.

I also worried about the foreign object in my body - the surgery itself is pretty simple and has fewer complications than the bypass, but the band is much more fiddly - has to be adjusted a lot - and there are long-term complications, like slippage or the band eroding into the stomach. Nuisance side effects include the feeling that something is lodged in your throat all the time, sliming (gross), and blockages, which can be quite painful. Plus I think the jury's still out whether the Band will hold up long-term, even if nothing else goes wrong. I hope to live another 30-40 years, and I don't want a procedure that pretty much guarantees that I'll have to have more surgery in the future to repair or replace the parts.

The sleeve is most definitely NOT adjustable or reversible. They actually remove part of the stomach. The good news, though, is that the part they remove includes the part that manufactures ghrelin, the hunger hormone. Patients who have the sleeve report less hunger and less sweet craving than bandsters. Immediate side effects include a small risk of leakage along the staple line - but once the staple line is healed there's pretty much no problem. There is no dumping or malabsorption as with bypass. Also, VSG patients can take NSAIDs, which are denied to bandsters and bypass patients because of the risk of ulceration. Some studies show similar weight loss to bypass, others slightly less. The jury is still out whether the smaller stomach will stretch over time (Dr. Garth believes it will), and weight will be regained, but the studies thus far show dilatation is no more of a concern than with bypass - and I recently contacted some docs that started a long-term study in 2002, and they're still following those patients, and report that the weight loss has proven durable so far, so those concerns seem to be dying down. The part of the stomach that remains is not the stretchiest part, and that, together with the fact that the patient's hunger is greatly reduced, may diminish the risk of dilatation. Plus, tubes will be less stretchy than pouches. VSG is a far simpler procedure than bypass, so there's less risk of complication, shorter time in OR and in hospital. It's about midway between a band and bypass in those respects.

I am enrolled in Kaiser's surgical weight loss program. They tell me that if my surgeon agrees that VSG is for me, then Kaiser should pay (though I've been told by some that Kaiser only pays if there are strong medical reasons to preference it over the bypass or band, as they still consider it investigational, since it hasn't been out there that long). My mom and aunt have Celiac disease, which means I'm at risk for the disease myself - I really don't want a malabsorptive procedure, as I think if I were to develop CD on top of that I could be in a real fix in terms of long-term health issues. I'm hoping the docs agree that's a good reason for the VSG to be a preference in my case, because unless they could lay my concerns about RNY to rest, I would rather self-pay for VSG. Anyway, I just got accepted to the program. I guess it'll be another 4-6 months before I'm invited to start meeting with the various professionals they want to consult, and taking weight management classes to prepare, and then it'll be about 6-8 months for the surgery itself. I would love to have it over with sooner, but I appreciate the time in some ways - it will give me a chance to get my treadmill fixed and start walking to build up my heart, start blowing up balloons to build up my lungs, and I think the classes will help me prepare for the huge changes to come. I've never been a binge eater or a gorger, but I probably do have some psychological issues with food that will need to be dealt with once I can't eat more than an ounce or two at a sitting. It's best to start before they shrink your tummy, so you don't have so many habits to break. So I'm trying to be patient and look at this lead-time as an opportunity to get ready.

WOW thanks for all the info. Darla, that's my friend, is going to that website. I looked up the disease you are talking about. Have you checked with the doctors to see if you can have the surgery, with the possiblity of you getting the disease. The page I went to said it runs in the family. I'm sure you know more about it than I do. Sounds like you are going for the sleeve, do they rearrange your digestive system with that surgery? If they don't, you should be able to tolerate it. I hope, after all the waiting you have to do, that you get some financial help. Hopefully, if they have not turned you down, perhaps they will pay. I doubt if they would put you thru that and then tell you they will not pay. The months will go by soon enough. Believe me, they go by faster the older I get, I'm a young lady of 68 years of age. Sheeeeesh, that sounds old, just writing it! Hopefully, I can get Darla started on some kind of program. Her problem is committment. Very bad with that. Talk to ya later. Take care.

The people I've spoken with thus far seem to agree that VSG might be a better option given the possibility of getting CD. But there are Celiac patients who have had bypass. I guess they don't really know enough yet to really say how the combination may affect people. Just logically, though, if you have a procedure that bypasses some of the parts of your GI tract that are meant to absorb nutrients, and then you get a disease that can erode more of the small bowel's villa, which absorb nutrients, that can't be a good thing. It does run in families, and with a parent who has it, my risk is about 5-20%. The last check indicated I don't have it, but it can come on late in life, and can be brought on by trauma like surgery. (Which is one good reason, I think, to avoid the band, since it seems like the band can result in multiple procedures to repair, replace, and correct the position.)

If Darla is close to your age, she should get hopping. I don't know what the rules are in Europe, but 70 seems to be the cut-off for bariatric patients in the US.

As you probably see on Big Medicine, many MO people have a big problem with compliance. Darla is not unusual. This is a huge life change, and she will need to be sure she wants this, and sure she's motivated, because it doesn't fix every part of the problem. She's still going to have to work hard.

Good luck to you both!

Well, first I hope you don't get the disease. I wish you all the luck with the surgery and hope it will be a success. No, Darla is not close to my age, she's 43. That's why I wish she would get it together, she has so much life ahead of her. She has to make up her mind, but that is easier said than done. She tried to go in the chat room of the obese website you told me about, but it was so crowded, she said she couldn't appreciate what anyone was saying, it scrolled down so fast. The views on that band surgery and the possible side effects is nasty. I never gave thought to all that you described. Don't know if you've checked any other threads in here, but they have one where they discuss having the lapband AFTER they already have had the bypass. I couldn't believe that. Some threads in here are just not to be believed. This thread was interesting and it was nice meeting you. Hope to see you in other threads, maybe I can add my two cents. Talk to ya later. Take care.

She might have more luck on the message boards, which are more like this (you post and then check back after awhile to see who replies). On the VSG forum, hardly anyone goes into the chat room.

I saw that where the person wanted a band. The concern was they felt they were losing the restriction, but I think there are treatments for that. More often, though, I see banders wanting to "unband" and go with a different procedure after they get tired of the side effects or are disappointed with the weight loss. It works well for some, but not everyone will tolerate it well.

Hey everyone, it's me sc62 sorry I have not posted in such a long time. I needed to take a break reassess my life, my future plan. I am happy to say that the denial from the show has not stopped me in my quest. I had a consult with a surgeon this past Wednesday and am now jumping into the insurance ring. Keeping fingers crossed.

Thanks to all who have kept this topic alive!!!