"I take issue with anyone who represents themselves as a healt
Dec 31, 2010
That's fine. This is a short response, for now, because I am currently in a state of rotting, and before I shove a coat-hanger down my throat to pull out whatever is causing my pain and distress, I figured I would get a few words in, you know, in case I die.
I understood the sentiment perfectly, even with the misspelling.
I don't believe I represented myself as a healthy bariatric patient, ever.
In fact, I would say that I spend quite a bit of time explaining that I am unhealthy. I would go so far as to say that there are PAGES AND PAGES of CATEGORIES to POSTS outlining the difficulties that I have had as a bariatric patient in the last seven. years.
- Addiction
- Advertising
- Allergan
- Anemia
- Baby Stuff.
- bacon
- Bariatric Boot Camp
- BBGC
- Becoming Barbie + Ken
- Bitch, Moan, Complain.
- Blogging
- Body Image
- Books
- Caffeine!
- Celebrity
- Celebrity Weight Loss.
- Childhood Obesity.
- College
- Conferences
- Cross-Addictions, Transfer Addictions.
- Current Affairs
- Daily Photo
- Daily Weight, Nutrition, Exercise.
- Diabetes
- Diets, Nutrition, Food.
- Duodenal Switch Sistahs
- Eating Disorders.
- Events
- Excess Skin
- Exercise.
- Family.
- FDA
- Film
- flickr.
- Food and Drink
- Food, Drink, Product Reviews.
- Fried Spam.
- Games
- Gastric Banding
- Gastric Sleevers
- Health.
- Helping Others.
- Holidaze.
- Housewifey.
- Hyper Hypo(glycemia)
- I like funny.
- If it's free, it's for, well, you.
- Inspirational.
- Jobs.
- Knocked Up.
- Life in General
- Living With A Band
- Mama Stuff.
- Melting My Family.
- Memories.
- Move my ass!
- Music
- Natural Living
- Not really pending anymore issues.
- Nutrition
- Obesity Help Dot Com.
- Obesity.
- Other People's Secrets.
- Photography/Art/Design, etc.
- Plastic Surgery
- Plus Size Clothing
- Protein
- Protein Powders
- Psychological Issues
- Random Spew.
- Real Estate.
- Recipes.
- Regain
- Religion
- Revision
- Sarcastic.
- Science
- Seize you, seize me.
- Sex
- Spending those dollars.
- Superficial.
- Surgical Weight Loss Methods.
- Survey Says.
- Television
- Travel
- VBlog.
- Verbal diarrhea.
- Vitamins, Supplements
- Web/Tech
- Weblogs
- Weight Loss Peers.
- WLS Complications.
- WLS Deaths.
- WLS Horror Stories.
- WLS Revision
- WLS Success Stories.
- WLS Support
I would go further, to say that this blog, is pretty much built on the fact that I am PERFECTLY IMPERFECT. I am NOT a 100% picture of post op perfection. Christ, nobody would read my drivel if I were! This blog is successful because -- I am NOT okay, and because "I AM YOU." And, it scares the shit out of people, makes them stop, think, and react. Love it or hate it, it is just the way it is. Deal with it.
As for the product? (More on the product in the NEXT POSTS, I must go to bed, but...)
But, you don't think it's okay.
WE LOVE IT. DEAL WITH IT. If you can MAKE a better product? Put your money where your mouth is. Chances are, we'd buy it. I won't promote it.
Obesity Help Houston Photobooth Photos! Ooo!
Dec 27, 2010
It appears that nobody got naked, so the video actually got posted! Win!
I don't see your pretty face in here. Did you bribe someone to get it off the memory card before we left Texas? Huh? HUH? I know you did. :P Considering my bird made the cut, I know your purdy mug should be there. You must have flashed.
These booths are so fun, doncha wish you had one at your PROM and your WEDDING? I mean, seriously -- can you imagine the photos you'd be gifted with? SO MUCH FUN, so funny.
Resolve to NOT. Giveaway #1.
Dec 26, 2010
~Anaïs Nin
I have a suggestion for this year: No resolutions. No silly diets. No "pouch tests" on Monday after the first of the New Year. Let's start 2011 without the usual drama of body-hate, loathing and drama.
Keep reading for the GIVEAWAY!
Broken WLS
Dec 16, 2010
Broken WLS.
I am a fence sitter regarding weight loss surgery, still. I've been on the fence forever. My ass hurts.
Why?
WLS worked for me. It did what it was supposed to do. "Hooray." I could very well be your perky post op poster girl, go me. I'd do a kick ass job at it as well. I am a born saleswoman, as much as I hate it.
I am dealing every day with the aftermath of maybe-related complications that have left me homebound.
For the very concrete-minded me, I HAVE to know the answers to why my body is screwed up and playing tricks on me before I form a solid opinion one way or another about gastric bypass, yes, even at seven years post op. Even then, I am not certain I would.
I cannot logically say, "WLS IS A GIFT FROM GOD FOR THE OBESE!" if, in fact, it broke me. I can see that it's a magical thing for those whom are dying from obesity.
There are times when weight loss surgery is absolutely the answer. I do not doubt that.
It makes me twitch to read brand-new baby post ops describe weight loss surgery as, "The most precious gift,"+ "Thank you baby Jesus for guiding my surgeon's blessed hands and giving me this tool, I will never again be obese!" and several months later the same post ops are posting in tears about what happened to them and "Why didn't anyone tell me?" and they are "Regretting the surgery" and full of the drama.
It also bothers me very much when people in our community paint such a positive picture of weight loss surgery and life thereafter that makes it seem like a storybook ending for everyone. "And they lived happily ever after with vitamins in hand!" Surgeons don't even go that far! Those of us who speak more realistically, are called haters, or bullies because we choose to share what ACTUALLY happens, as opposed to the cotton-candy coated life sold to you. I don't begin to understand WHY one patient feels the need to sell this lifestyle to other potential patients.
I mean, are YOU... Living The Lifestyle? Were you living it for a while at least? Is it over yet? Can we talk now? You have to admit, you were pretty unlivable for a while there. Phew.
People change, very quickly, when something happens to ...them.
They become outsiders. Misfits! They don't want to be outsiders.
Not wanted. Shushed. Shoo-ed out. "Stop talking." Outsiders aren't looked upon favorably at support group, or in forums.
"Be quiet about your issues, someone might get upset if you talk about it. You don't want someone to think they might get the bowel obstruction
you know."
Yes, that was asked of me, and it's a large part of why I am not involved with a local support group. I have a hard time sitting in a large group setting and not getting involved at all, or keeping it perfectly positive. I have extended family that is super involved in a local group, but I think she'd implode if I went to the group, because "I have problems." The most obvious issue now, is that my "issue" also keeps me from GETTING to a support group.
This methodical "shushing" started happening to me long ago -- back before I even had seizures and still had a brain that functioned -- as I was posting realistic issues about things that I was going through as a post op. I was banned from a message board forum: the reasoning was "You're too negative about The Surgery, and you link to an anti-WLS website." (This site. Um, okay.) Obviously I got over it -- and never shut up -- ironically my issues increased 100%.
The misfits, those who have "broken their surgery" somehow, either because it physically did not function correctly or for any other reason -- are shunned by their community.
Add here the regainers. You guys, totally fit in the misfit category, because you "broke your surgery" too. Oh, and revision patients!
And, and... those of you who develop eating disorders! And, transfer addictions. You all are at fault. (Next post.)
It's your fault. You know that, don't you? (As your intestines are imploding, you're getting a transfusion, diagnosed with OMG, etc...)
It's implied that -
- You did this.
- You didn't take your vitamins.
- You didn't take your _____.
- You ate too much.
- You ate too little.
- You ate ______.
- You did this too soon.
- You took a NSAID.
- You broke your tool.
- You disregarded your doctor's advise.
- You didn't listen!
It kills me to see the reaction of some of my peers on forums and face-to-face when confronted with someone who has either regained, revised, reversed, developed disorders, addictions or had a life-altering complication or ten.
Somehow these patients aren't as good as you anymore?
Honey, "I AM YOU."
"Well, you should have listened, then maybe you'd have..."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? This person is being TUBE-FED. She might DIE OF MALNUTRITION. We are concerned if she'd been compliant 5-10 years ago, NOW?
People. Get. Sick. Sometimes even without the benefit of non-compliance. Wrap your head around THAT.
These post ops might have been dealt a crappy hand and maybe they don't get the chance to lose the weight (or maybe they have, maybe they get to be 85 lbs... isn't that so sexy?) and be fabulous like you and you can't support them anymore? "But, they are rare, don't listen to her, people don't usually get sick." I know. It is rare for life-altering issues to actually occur. But, they do.
I have many WLS'er friends that fall into this category. Many that started their weight loss surgery journey with huge goals and plans that have had even bigger complications. I seem to have a dramatically high number of people with problems -- is it because I write more about them -- or because they feel comfortable SHARING?
These people still deserve your support, even if they end up UN-ALTERED. Even after complications, or more surgeries, some might have the wonderful benefit of dealing with the initial issues that the WLS caused PLUS! more issues that crop up. Sometimes the fixes do not work.
Don't most of us start out with the same basic goals anyway?
Wouldn't you expect the same of us -- support from people who DO understand at least the most basic of what you're going through? WLS can break people. Broken people exist in droves here. They are in your support communities looking for support. Deal with it.
The number of eligible WLS patients may soon DOUBLE.
Dec 03, 2010
New playground taunts -"Your mom has a Lap-Band. So? YOUR MOM HAS A BYPASS!"
Under a new proposal to the FDA, Allergan, the makers of the Lap-Band, requested that the weight guidelines for gastric banding surgery be lowered.
"To win approval of the lower threshold, Allergan sponsored a study in which 149 of these less obese people had the band implanted. About 80 percent of the participants achieved the goal of losing at least 30 percent of their excess weight, meaning the amount by which they were overweight, after one year. About 70 percent of patients experienced a side effect, like vomiting or pain. The F.D.A. indicated on Wednesday that it had questions about how meaningful the weight loss was and whether the results of the study would be applicable to people other than the white women who made up a large portion of the participants.
Some doctors are dropping the band, in part because some older studies suggest that up to a third of patients eventually have the band removed because of side effects or ineffective weight loss. While about one in 1,000 patients die within 30 days of surgery, a survey of members of the bariatric surgery society suggested that deaths occurring later are under-reported.
But, this is a big deal!
"Under the proposed lower threshold, that person could weigh 30 pounds less, or 186 pounds."
This means my mom can have weight loss surgery, sounds like a put down doesn't it?
"Yeah, WELL, YOUR MOM HAD WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY."
In this case, I ALREADY did, so go ahead and SAY IT. As did my mother in law. And, now my mother can, too! (This is where my own mother threatens my life and never reads my blog again, and returns the kid's Christmas gifts.)
But, it makes a point. My mother.
The woman would QUALIFY FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY. This woman, who was stick-thin as a young adult, and a solid average 14/16 for most of her middle age, now a few pounds heavier thanks to life (woooohotflashesFTW) and half-caff afternoon 2% Peppermint Mochas? Eek!
Perhaps, if she were also dealing with a severe co-morbidity like Type II Diabetes AT her BMI, it might seem more attractive to consider a surgical option to help put the 'betes in remission. But, she isn't.
Lap-Band Medical Considerations -
- You are at least 18 years old.
- You have been overweight for more than 5 years.
- Your serious weight loss attempts have had only short-term success.
- You are not currently suffering from any other disease that may have caused your excess weight.
- You are prepared to make major changes in your eating habits and lifestyle.
- You do not drink alcohol in excess.
- You are not currently pregnant. (Note: If you become pregnant after having this procedure, the band can be adjusted for the duration of your pregnancy.)
- Health Risks Explorer at Lap-Band Site
There are millions of Americans at an elevated BMI that this lowered threshold would encompass.
Millions of I'm-almost-morbidly-obese individuals getting in line for gastric band surgery. (Honest reaction: I WOULD TOO.)
The ASMBS says that this over-load isn't likely -
Even if Allergan’s application is approved, perhaps a small fraction of the new candidates are likely to opt for surgery because many people avoid operations. “I don’t think it’s enough to overwhelm the health care system,” said Dr. Bruce Wolfe, president of American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, whose executive council unanimously endorsed Allergan’s proposal.
“That’s not happening with the people who are heavier and need it even more.”
The society says that 220,000 bariatric surgeries of all kinds were performed in the United States last year. That is more than twice as many as in 2003, but represents a small fraction of the potential pool.
Still, some less obese patients do want the surgery. Some online discussion boards tell of people who purposely gained weight to qualify, and some messages give advice to others on wearing hidden weights.
Look in your own household or extended family.
- Who would qualify based on BMI under the lowered standards?
Basically, my whole extended family would qualify, if this goes through! Go us!
I will have content forever. And ever. (Tongue-in-cheek - You do realize that was my aim when I started this blog. I had one post op to write about. Me. I know have FOUR in the immediate family. 2004, 2004, 2006, 2007. Now everybody could join us.) Every-body. Including, at least 50% of my own children in a few years. "Super."
Oh, stop, BE REALISTIC. My kids, born to TWO SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE PARENTS, with SUPER MORBIDLY OBESE GRANDPARENTS ON BOTH SIDES? "WE WIN."
We WILL have at least one child with a weight loss surgery procedure in the future. I guarantee it. The BMI charts told us this at 18 MONTHS old. Two of my children are already taller and heavier than I am now, at ages 11 and 13.
NYT -
Doctors have already started to operate on extremely heavy teenagers, not just adults. And some experts are recasting weight-loss procedures, known as bariatric surgery, as metabolic surgery, saying that it might be justified to treat diabetes, even in people who are barely obese or not obese.
I'd like to start with my father and a duodenal switch first, however. No band. He could rock a DS, he's already taking his vitamins. He is vehemently shaking his head "N-O," but he doesn't know about the DS. He only knows that Beth Has A Twitch Problem that she didn't have before a gastric bypass, even if she is 170 pounds lighter, and he too, could be. But, I digress.
WIN - NIH Image
What say YOU?
-Beth, who is 165 lbs and 5 ft 3-4 inches this morning, considering gaining up to 190something to get a Lap Band to get restriction of her intake for the long term. Just saying.