My 600 lb. life

I watched this show in the first season, and they did show more of the pre-surgery parts then.  In fact, I am pretty sure that the premiere episode was 2 hours and that woman ended up working for him as a patient liaison.  The show also followed them for 5 years, I think.

I think now, it's very edited and they also have people on who fail, or have people sneak them food.  

I don't understand why the hospital allows people to bring in food to the hospital bariatric area.  

It would be difficult for the hospital to prevent people from bringing food into the bariatric area.  There are hospitals that don't allow food to be brought into the psychiatric unit, and in order to control what comes in, the door to the unit is kept locked and a staff person has to open the door to let people in.  Visitors are usually asked not to bring purses or bags of any kind with them.  If they bring things for patients, the staff goes through it very carefully before giving the items to patients (they are not just looking for food, of course, but drugs, medications, any kind of sharp items, anything like mouthwash that might contain alcohol, anything in a glass container like cosmetics or perfumes, etc).  They don't search visitors' clothing so I guess someone could still sneak in a candy bar or something in their pocket.  But staff also goes through patients' belongings regularly to make sure they don't have anything they shouldn't.  They might search patients' belongings once a day or even once a shift.

I'm thinking, though, that patients on a bariatric unit would really object to that type of treatment.  Don't you think so?

I don't really know what to the think of the doctor.  Like someone else mentioned, I think it's commendable that he's willing to take on patients that nobody else will. I think for some of them, he realizes that they are not ready to make the changes necessary - but they are in such a bad place physically that he figures, "Might as well do surgery on them even though it's risky because they are probably going to die soon anyway" - of course, he doesn't SAY that but it seems like surgery truly is a last hope for some of these people.

I really, really wish they insisted on counseling. I realize some people say, "Well, maybe they do it and don't show it on TV. Or, maybe they suggest is but the people refuse on they don't show it" - well, I would think that the doctor would want to appear responsible on TV - so they should show the suggestion of therapy and let the audience see that it is being refused. Why not - they've done it with suggestions to see a NUT. I don't believe they are suggesting or requiring therapy - and that is my biggest issue with this show. I've only seen ONE patient get therapy and that was from her own doing.

Although I find the show somewhat entertaining, like most shows today they add drama.  I can't remember the exact show, but the one where the woman was coming home from the hospital and picked up a box of fried chicken was a little unbelievable.  I am 4 months out and I couldn't eat that now even if I wanted to.  I was 561 pounds when I started the process and found a doctor in Ohio that would work with me.  The doctor on the show when in the real world, not television I am sure he is quite good to work on people of that kinda of weight.  I often wonder how much more people have contacted him since the show went on the air.

HW 561

SW 512

CW 420

Although I find the show somewhat entertaining, like most shows today they add drama.  I can't remember the exact show, but the one where the woman was coming home from the hospital and picked up a box of fried chicken was a little unbelievable.  I am 4 months out and I couldn't eat that now even if I wanted to.  I was 561 pounds when I started the process and found a doctor in Ohio that would work with me.  The doctor on the show when in the real world, not television I am sure he is quite good to work on people of that kinda of weight.  I often wonder how much more people have contacted him since the show went on the air.

HW 561

SW 512

CW 420

Big Medicine did a much better job of showing the preparation with psycologist and personal trainers.  There was less drama and more personal interaction with the patients.

I posted before that I have significant concerns about what kind of psychological evaluation they undergo before surgery as well as what kind of psychological help they get post-op.  People who become SSMO clearly have psychological issues that need to be addressed in addition to having the surgery, and -- even when I keep on mind that they are editing for a television show -- it just doesn't seem like he places any emphasis on the psychological aspects.  Even what they DO show on television raises huge red flags for some of the people he does surgery on.

I think it's great that he's willing to perform surgery on people that most other doctors will not take, but I think he does a disservice to both those patients AND to SMO or SSMO people who may be watching the show by not having anything about counseling/therapy.

Lora