1/2 Ton "Family" Tonight on TLC

I haven't seen any of the shows, but I'm compelled to respond to your comment about the "life-threatening" surgery.

WLS *IS* life-threatening.  If your surgeon didn't or doesn't tell you this beforehand, you should find yourself another surgeon.

There are risks with all surgeries.  Possible death is one of those risks.

Granted, I'm sure they are playing up that angle for the show, and given the comments I've read about the woman dying, I'm not surprised that that's how they chose to "play" it.

But everyone considering WLS should know that it is a life-threatening surgery.

~wendy

The surgery was "life-threatening" for her - she was 900lbs!!!  Any surgery would be life-threatening for her.  But I understand you're disgust at the angle that they took.  I watched this show a couple of weeks ago with my 9 yr old and was talking with her when it came on about mommy having the same surgery.  Would have never let her watch it if I knew the mom died!!!  Had to have LOTS of conversations about that with her. 

The newer shows looked like "vanity" productions on behalf of Renaissance Hospital and its surgeon.  Did you notice that a relative of the surgeon (his son?) was the producer?

TLC will also have an update show tonight re:  Nebraska's half-ton nan celeb, Patrick Duell,  who is apparently back in the hospital after a major regain following his RNY ..

I didn'****ch the older show last night, because I think I saw it about a year ago.  Wasn't Patrick Duess a kind of holy terror with a terrible temper?  If my memory serves, his wife/concubine/enabler seemed to be a virtual prisoner of spousal abuse.  I will have to Tivo this follow up show.

/Steve

  I think you're on the right track, Foo, re:  Patrick.   Seems I remember back when he had his RNY (2-3 years ago?) that his wife was STILL bringing him pizzas as soon as he was able to eat them again.         (in fact, one commentator on the article opined that maybe SHE should have her HANDS stapled together   )   He did manage to eventually get down to 370 lbs. or so from his 1,000+ starting weight, but I heard he had a major regain problem over the past year or so.  

  When I heard Patrick was back in the hospital, I searched online and found an article about him from last August.  Seems at that time he was back up to 540 lbs.(re-gain of 170 lbs., 100 of it within a year).      No telling what he's up to now.