Grammo
A Goddess Restates an Important Message
Jul 12, 2010
Clearing some old e-mails and a link took me back to his post I made a couple months ago. The message is so relevant I decided to put it here on my profile page. Heck, I may repost on the main board!Post Date: 4/20/10 9:12 am
Why do DSers persist in posting on other message boards? Why the Surgery Wars?
I agree with Jilly that DSers don't usually start the fight, just intend to finish it! But as to why do we bother to comment in other forums to start with? Because we know how hard it was for us to initially find the information on this glorious surgical option and we want our fellow sufferers of MO to be informed of ALL the options not just the ones that some profit driven corporations are touting.
I attended a WLS seminar at the very "prestigious" Vanderbilt Hospital Nashville, TN last summer. I chose this seminar specifically because they advertised that the DS was included in their bariatric program. NOT!! Big ol' bait and don't switch. DS was completely passed over in their discussion program and when I specifically asked about it in the question and answer session at the end of their presentation, they were suddenly "out of time" and the seminar was abruptly concluded. I subsequently learned that the surgeons who had previously done DS there had since moved on to greener pastures and they no longer had a qualified surgeon in their program, but that did not stop them from advertising it and then trying to sell something else.
But at least they "advertised" it, which is so not the case in the majority of programs across this country and you read here on OH every day of potential WLS patients who never even heard of the DS before.
Personally, I have known of it, and looked into it, off and on, for almost 20 years. (But, even if you know it exists, you still have to really work at ferreting out the pertinent info.)
All I can say now is WHY did I WEIGHT so long? I had some issues inside my own head related to the notion that having WLS would mean I was of weak character or something because I was a failure at doing it "on my own." It took science a while to catch up and prove that it is not all my own darn fault that I ended up SMO. And I was finally in the care of a compassionate PCP who recognized my metabolic malfunction and finally nudged me toward WLS. But even he was totally unaware of DS and he is excited now (and totally impressed) to follow my progress.
I have been given a magnificent gift and I want to share. Sometimes it is all I can do to keep from approaching total strangers that I can see are suffering because they are SMO. But here, on these forums, I know the sufferers are actively seeking a solution and I just want to know that they have been presented with ALL the options. I do not think the DS is the be-all end-all holy grail for everyone. (There are a few exceptions, hah!) But I think everyone seeking WLS deserves to be informed of all procedures before making such a huge life altering decision.
Obviously, I LOVE my DS. My PCP's goal was for me to lose 100 pounds - DONE! My surgeon's goal for me did not involve numbers - he just wanted me to have improved health and improved quality of life - DONE! My personal goal is to have a "normal" BMI and I am still working on that but I am only 8 months into my journey. I believe I will make it to goal. I want that for all of you, too, no matter which procedure you ultimately choose.
Love y'all! Regards,
Grammo!
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About Me
Nashville, TN
Location
18.4
BMI
Surgery
08/11/2009
Surgery Date
May 17, 2009
Member Since
