Surgery wars

I'm so thankful for those "wars".  It caused me to research more, and not just trust what my surgeon or the program was saying.  Not once was the DS ever presented as an option.  Why?  Because they don't perform that procedure, so why would they present it?

A lot of people like to believe they can trust their surgeons and medical advisors to help them find the right path.  Fact of the matter is, you must do your OWN research.

Thankfully, I was pointed to dsfacts.com, and I had the DS about 2 weeks ago.  I feel bad for those who will miss out on this information.

As far as 'rude' people... sorry, but they are present in life anywhere.  I guess I have a thicker skin or something, because it never bothered me much.  Sometimes after you've tried puppy dogs, rainbows, and kitten routine for years, only for the info to fall on deaf ears... tough love is the route that works.

 I hope that your recovery is going smoothly.  Be easy on yourself and have a Merry Holiday!

LyndiaIN said:  Which is more effective - being told drunk/texting while driving is bad so don't do it, or seeing graphic pictures of the consequences of such activities? 

It's funny how many people complain and whine about the wars, but yet they know all about the posts and who said what.  And why?  Because the surgery wars threads garnered the most hits, of course, and especially from those people who complain the loudest!  Everyone slows down to see the wreck, and everyone wants to see/read/participate in the heated threads.  If it was all lovey-dovey and nice and neat, no one would pay any attention.  When you see two people in a parking lot talking, do you really pay any attention to them?  What if they start yelling?  What if they start punching each other?  The more graphic and violent the more attention is paid and the bigger the crowd. 

So yes, the surgery wars were a good thing if they made even one person stop, look, listen, research and get the surgery that is best for them regardless of what path they eventually chose.

And as an adult, I've learned to put on my big girl panties and roll with the punches.  If I can't handle it, then I don't participate.  I never will understand people who want to whine and cry about the meanies.  Just stay away from them if you don't like it.

I'm beginning all of my posts with LyndiaIN said in case my account is deactivated then you'll know who said this.

Notice: 2 years ago today I had my D/S surgery...I think I have reached my goal of putting just a little spice back into OH by my anniversary date. Let the Wars Begin !!!!

P.S.   WE all know that the D/S is hands down the best surgery !!!!

Time for Christmas vacation now ?????????

Codlover---would you share with us exactly how you came to decide that the DS was the right WLS for you? How did you learn about the DS?

I'm asking this because I really think a LOT of newbies benefit from the 'surgery wars' threads. I was already scheduled for an RNY when I learned about the DS. I see you chose to the DS, too--how did you learn enough about the DS to choose it? Could it have been from one of those 'surgery wars' you despise?

I'm so damned happy with my DS that I take every possible opportunity to 'pay it forward'. This means I talk about the DS every time I can, and I always  encourage every newbie to research ALL their options. Yes, I DO think that much of the time the DS IS the superior surgery, the superior choice.  That does  NOT mean that I 'hate' on people who, having all good info about their choices, chose something else.

I DO. NOT .CARE. which form of WLS you choose. I DO care whether or not you make that choice based on COMPLATE, ACCURATE info.

Knowledge is power. Gather all the power you can,

Codlover---would you share with us exactly how you came to decide that the DS was the right WLS for you? How did you learn about the DS?

I realize this is addressed to Codlover.  However, since I did not benefit from a surgery war, I'll share my story.

In 2005, I was on the track to get an RNY.  Long story about why I was denied and how my employer lied to me so we'll just fast forward to 2008.  I had a different insurance and yet another doctor telling me I needed WLS.  That brought the total up to 5.  So I decided to pursue it again.  Quite frankly, I had forgotten all about this place. 

The  bottom line is that I just went to Google and searched for WLS.  I found so many sites by doctors and scientific articles.  Going into the research, I thought there was just the band and RNY.  Band was automatically a "no way in hell" for me.  (Please note, I'm just saying that it was no way in hell for me.  If you have one and love it, good for you.)  Yet I really didn't like the RNY.  I guess I was just hoping that there was something else.  And much to my delight, I found there was.  The other options just didn't sound like something I wanted to deal with.  As crazy as it sounds, the DS seemed more "normal".  Well as normal as it can be when slicing and dicing the innards. 

I had wanted to go to Centennial for a lot of reasons, again too long for just now.  I had heard a lot of good things about Dr. Houston.  I got my approval and made an appointment to see him.  He asked, "Band or RNY?" I said, "Neither, I'm thinking about the DS."  He did a double take and told me he had just been down in Atlanta observing Dr. Smith.  He went over it with me and we agreed to go for it.  No, he hadn't done a hundred.  He hadn't done 50.  He hadn't done a single one.  However, I had no doubt he could do it and was a good surgeon.  While I fully respect the idea that one might want an "experienced" surgeon, I know I had one

I know that I have either directly or indirectly have influenced people to choose Dr.Houston.  It's something I can live with.  I respect those who don't want to be "guinea pigs" and only ask that those of us who are in the first 100 be respected as well.  However, I will not lose sleep over those who don't respect that.

Any one with as little compute savvy as I have can do similar research.  It's not magic.  It just takes hours and hours and an open mind.  Yes, I have a background in health care so I have a little bit of an edge with anatomy and medical terminology, but it is a skill that anyone can acquire.

Like Ms. Batt, I do not care what surgery you get, just that you have complete and accurate information and make an informed choice based on your needs.  That goes for the type of surgery as well as the surgeon.  Every doctor has to do his first DS,and if that surgeon already has a bad reputation for other things, he isn't an ideal choice.  Dr. Houston has a sterling (if not "platinum" reputation) and I have no, nada, zip regrets.  It wasn't fun seeing him or my choice attacked when I came back to this site after my surgery.  Yet, I was so confident in my decision I was able to ignore a lot of the attacks.  If you cannot  defend your choices with 100% confidence, you need to do some more thinking and researching.

You're making me really ashamed of you.