Search the Community

So I know I probably sound like a big whiner, but I am feeling really frustrated at the moment! A week and a half ago I got the call that I was approved (this was a Friday). I was so excited! On Monday I went to my PCP to pick-up the original referral (I have *** insurance) and noticed that the referral was just for the consult appt! Talk about the wind getting knocked out of my sails! Then there was some run-around with the surgeon's office and my PCP regarding the referral. The bariatric program that I am using normally has you see the surgeon, bariatician, nutritionist and psychologist all in the 1st appt. so since my referral was just for the surgeon my insurance required a letter from the surgeon's office stating how exactly their program works. OK fine. I called yesterday to verify and I have a referral for the surgeon and an EGD to be done. I guess I have to complete all of the "clearance tests" and then if the surgeon recommends that I'm a candidate for surgery then my insurance will approve me for the surgery and refer me to see the other specialists. I know this is all formalities, but I'm frustrated because I am afraid I could be denied. Thinking I was approved already was such a great feeling and now I feel like I am in limbo! I feel very fortunate that my insurance covers WLS and I will jump through whatever "hoop" they tell me to, but it just stinks when you're so excited and then you feel discouraged! I am just so scared that something will go wrong and I won't be able to have the surgery. Financially I can't afford to go to Mexico or be a self-pay.

Thank you for the reply. I actually went to two different seminars one for True Results whom offer financing through credit care the total cost there is 15,000. Then one seminar at southwest bariatric in Austin they specialize in the REALIZE band. They where not very helpful once I was denied by my insurance, so now I am leaning more toward True Results. I'm just worried about all the steps I have to take and of course I am continuously second guessing myself.:thumbup:

I was told to use the M and M as a guide too for the first 10 days and after that I could swallow them whole. I didn't have any big pills except calcium citrate and they were easy to cut in half. The calcium chews at bariatric advantage are delicious so I don't have to take those horse pills anymore.

I appreciate the encouraging words @@Jefferyc79 and @Shellbell619. I will definitely focus on the positive feed back. @jefferc79 I also have a BMI higher than 50, but insurance still required the 6 month supervised visits. May I ask where you will be having your surgery? I am doing my surgery with Lenox Hill Bariatric Center NYC, surgeon Dr. Yatco.

I saw my PCP in January. He referred me to a dietician, who saw me for the 6 months supervised diet. around month 4, the dietician recommended that I contact the surgeon. I happened to have an appointment with my PCP at that time, so his office made all the calls to set up the initial surgeon, the bariatric dietician (different than the one I had been seeing for the 6 months) and the psychologist. Those appointments were in June plus an upper endoscopy. Then I only had the mandatory classes given by the bariatric team before the pre-approval request to my insurance. I took the boot camp class (3classes in one day) on Aug 2, but there was a little delay in submitting to insurance because I needed to change to COBRA coverage. Everything was submitted last Monday the 12th so hopefully, I'll hear soon. After approval, they will set the surgery date. I'm expecting it to be sometime in September. Before surgery, I will meet with the dietician to go over the liquid diet and other issues. Then all the typical pre-surgery appointments and another appointment with my surgeon. Back in January, I thought it seemed like 6 months was a very long time. Now, I realize that it was time well spent. I originally wanted a lap band thinking it was less invasive. Now I am very ready and willing to have RNY. I was able to slowly change my eating habits, so many of the things I must do for the best outcome are now so much a habit that I don't have to remember, I just do it. I've had time to research, join forums, go to support group meetings and to prepare my family. I've made freezer meals for my family, so early on I won't have to cook for them. Good luck on your WLS journey! I hope that you also find the six months fly by and are helpful. Molly

I had a hysterectomy 7 years ago. I take the bariatric advantage multi vitamin with iron and my blood work has been fine. The only other thing I take is the calcium chews.

I never crushed them, either. Classically, that has been something of a bypass thing as they feared that pills could get stuck in the stoma, but as you can see from catwoman, that is far from a universal thing. Some practices really go overboard on their instructions on how long things need to be done or avoided, maybe to inspire their patients to go along with it rather than see it as just a short time thing that they can skip. Sometimes it may be a matter of ignorance, in that they say that something needs to be done for a year, and that works well, but they really don't really know from experience how long it needs to be done as they never experimented with it. For instance, I have seen a couple come through these forums that were surprised when their doc advanced them to the next eating stage earlier than their published guideline; when asked about it, the doc simply said that they had found patients cheating on the progression and not suffering from it, so they advanced it (they'll change it next time they print up more guidebooks.) You will find a lot of things like that in the bariatric world - some crush pills or use chewables while others never do; some are on a liquid diet at the same point that others are having steak, some have liquid pre op diets and some have none.... There is a lot more experience and habit than science in this game.

Your insurance may mention something about a multidisciplinary approach through a bariatric program for weight loss, in that case mine said it only had to be three months... "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them" Einstein

Welcome. I was fortunate in that my PCP referred me to an outstanding surgeon at a Bariatric Center of Excellence. I highly recommend that you put together a notebook (if your surgeon's office doesn't give you one), to keep up with all of the paperwork, educational information, and appointments. Write everything down!

Hi Ms. Thompson.... Thank you for replying. I also felt the same way...Thinking maybe it's a sign from God not to get surgery. But it can also be a test as in to see how committed we are to get our surgery. About the yeast infection..yea it's terrible. Antibiotics fix one problem and give you another one. You should definitely look into speaking with you bariatric office to see if you need a second test, that way you don't waste anytime. Wish you good luck and hopefully we both come out ok ???? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi! I need to renew my passport, so it will be sometime for me in March. I know that he is associated with Dr. Bettencourt, and people have not nice things to say about him on here. I also have read some infections and whatnot have occured. One lady spoke about a punctured bowel that was swept under the rug by their organization.. I'm just praying everything goes ok. You'll find people that have been very happy with him. I miss Jo Ann, my Dr. Kuri coordinator. She was wonderful. Anyways, good luck to you!!

Okay, so background first before I get to my question: I was sleeved 10/22/2014 and, as of January, had lost 105 pounds. Which was great! I wasn't quite at my goal weight, but I was getting there steadily. I had absolutely no complications after my surgery; everything healed beautifully and I stuck to the diet. My surgeon always talked about how I crushed the statistics and how impressed he was. Then, just after the first of January, I got sick. Like, really sick. It started with just nausea and some abdominal pain and I wrote it off as a stomach bug, but it just kept getting worse. Basically, I've been unable to eat anything solid for over a month now. Eating or drinking ANYTHING causes extremely sharp pain in my upper left abdomen, which is worse with anything that has a sugar/fat content. I've lost 18 pounds in less than a month because I can't eat anything aside from broth (sometimes) and sugar free jello/pudding. I have to drink the Zero Carb Isopure (clear liquid) for Protein because I can't keep down regular shakes. I have to crush my pills and Vitamins again. I'm constantly nauseous and extremely weak despite the fact that I'm getting my protein and vitamins. I can't even get down my one flight of stairs without having to rest in the middle. After about two weeks and a trip to the ER for IV fluids, I went to my surgeon because I knew it wasn't a stomach bug anymore. He promised he'd figure it out and scolded me for going to the ER because they would have "no idea" how to treat a bariatric patient. Thinking it might be a blockage in my common bile duct from a stone, did a gallbladder ultrasound and a CCK HIDA scan. Both came back normal, even though the HIDA scan was absolutely excruciating. He referred me to a gastroenterologist for an upper endoscopy (which he was present at) and a barium swallow to make sure my esophagus was functioning correctly and that I didn't have ulcers or a stricture or something along those lines. Both came back normal. Basically, since then, his office has been telling me that I need to speak with the gastroenterologist in regards to everything, as it has "nothing to do with" the surgery. The gastroenterologist told me today that I needed to follow up with the surgeon, as he was "out of suggestions". In essence, both my surgeon and gastro have thrown up their hands and told me that they have no idea, so it's not their problem. Neither will give me the paperwork I need for work. I am in danger of losing my job and therefore my health insurance. My question here is how should I tell the office that I will no longer be visiting them for follow ups or for any other reason? Should I write a letter? Call them? I refuse to give them my business and what little money I have if they are willing to just give up on me and say 'it's not my problem'. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

As frustrating as it is, I have come to the conclusion that the supervised diet, etc., is a good thing. I chose to do the 3 month intensive as prescribed by Aetna. I've had some helpful diet counseling from some nutritionists, a four hour class about what to expect and what to do before, during, and after surgery. I've attended some exercise classes with bariatric trained leaders. It has all been valuable. I feel very ready to move forward and get this done. While I've been waiting, I've dropped 37 pounds since January, 24 of which came off since my first dietician session in early March. I was already doing a lot of things right, but she helped me tweak it, and the results have been great. I looked at it like this: Sure, I'd like my band yesterday, but in the meantime, I can do my best to lose 1-2 pounds per week just as if I were already banded. And I have most of my good habits in place in preparation for the band. My paperwork has been submitted, and I'm waiting for news. This is the hardest part! Orea

You need to follow a special diet before and after surgery, and you may need Vitamin supplements. Some patients limit their special products to the bare minimum, with maybe a few Protein shakes and powders for the pre-op and post-op liquid diets, and some Vitamins to prevent deficiencies. Others find it easier to follow their WLS diets when they buy a few more bariatric products. You might depend on specialty products such as low-carb, high-protein oatmeal, Pasta dinners, and Snacks, for example. Or you might choose only those vitamins labeled as specially formulated for bariatric surgery patients. Which bariatric products do you buy, and where do you buy them? Do you find them at your local grocery store? Maybe they’re at a supplement store. Online stores are definitely popular, too. How do you decide where to get your items?

Exactly what she ^^^ said. I am 5yrs out (today) and have been taking Vit. D, B12, B complex, Calcium and a Multivitamin ever since and will continue to do so. Not a bad sacrifice for all of the rewards I've received . Call your bariatric team about whether a surgery postponement will be necessary. Only they will know what's right for you and your hubby. Keep us posted. Prayers going up.

Hi all, Im a 27 year old female, happily married for almost 4 years to the best husband there is. We just had our first son in January--so he is almost 6 months old now. I have been interested in bariatric surgery for some time now, I have been overweight my entire life. Its to the point now where nothing seems to help me lose weight, and this is my last option. I am quite embarrassed to admit that I need surgery to have a chance at losing weight. Surgery is such a drastic move on my part. But its the only chance I have to see my grandkids, and great grand kids...Its the last resort. I am 5'10.5" and weigh 330#. When I met my husband I weight 272 and was almost even happy at that weight believe it or not. Then when I got pregnant at 290, then gained 60 pounds with him, Ive been miserable since. My back is the biggest problem. I have back pain all the time. i cant stand for long periods of time without it starting to KILL ME. I have hip and joint pain which makes being a nurse very difficult. Sooooooo. Im working on the approval process right now through my insurance company. Its in my hands right now, I am working on getting my "case" together for them...keep your fingers crossed! Ive heard it can be a rather bumpy ride!! I went to my surgeon back on June 6th, I received information about the Lap Band and what I had to do to get approval from insurance. I have Great West, and therefore I have to have 6 months of Dr. supervised diet, blah blah, everyone knows the routine. I have contacted my PCP and OBGYN to get letters of medical necessity from them. My PCP will be writing one this week, my OBGYN hasnt responded to my letter yet. Hmmmm, I wonder if he will. I really need more than one LMN since I dont have the 6month recorded diet. I also went on the 26th to have my pulmonary function test--boy was that fun. hehehehe. The Dr. tried to get me to have a sleep study, because I have been known to snore in my sleep, am tired all the time, wake up sometimes with headaches, and have no sex drive. I responded by saying "I dont believe its sleep apnea--these seem to be the symtoms of being a mother of a 5 month old" HAHAHHAHA They always say that nurses make the worse patients. hehehe. Oh! I had the 'ol PSYCH eval yesterday, the results...(drum roll please) IM NOT CRAZY!!! hehehe. You'd think I would be working in a Long Term Care facility for so long. :Dancing_biggrin: She asked me stupid questions like "True or false, I have flown overseas 45 times in the past year" or "Ive had 20 toes for my entire life" I was like, what does this have to do with the Lap Band??? LOL, anyhow, she basically made sure I wasnt overly depressed, that I knew what I was getting into, and that I had lots of support. I also wrote a letter to the Insurance company it was 5 pages long. Im not sure if it will hurt me or help me! I just wanted them to know how hard it is to be an obese child, an obese young adult, and obese mother and wife. I wanted to explain that I dont want the burden of my weight to impact my son at all. I dont want to be known as Garretts FAT MAMA. I want to be healthy so that I may live a long happy life. I want to be able to fit in the roller coasters, go to the movies, go to the beach, play ball, ride bikes, etc. I have to make some change. My To Do List: Dr Bilson--letter of medical necessity Dr James Smith--letter medical necessity Dr Randy Smith--letter medical necessity Dr Barina--letter medical necessity Dr Nolte--Psych Evaluation Dr Miars--pulmonary function test Letter from me to Great West Lab work including CBC, BMP, and TSH Current pictures and mesurements of me at 330#

I'm on day4 of the liquid shakes, Bariatric Cream Soup, I put 4 Oz of pure Protein bonless chicken in soup at night and I'm good. My nutrients said ok but my Dr said liquid. Anyway it's mother as bad as I thought. Surgery Jan 31. I lost 7 lbs already. 2 lbs by myself and 5 since tuesday. ????sonkat5355???? Typos sorry! ????sonkat5355????

I use Weight and Inches protein powder from Familybariatrics.com. It has 29g of protein and 200 calories. I add two tablespoons of PB3 to it, which adds 55 calories and 5g of additional protein. I drink two each day to get in 68g of protein. I have one day left on the liquid diet and begin purée food. Has anyone else used Family Bariatric?

I’m 62 pounds lighter since my May 28th LAP-BAND® surgery. In eighteen weeks, there has been such significant weight loss and, more relevantly, so much positive change in my health that I can hardly remember the time when I was medically obese and “lost.” First, let’s dispense with the formalities. Need to know exactly what LAP-BAND® surgery involves? Click on The LAP-BAND® I : "Entering the zone" | Babyboomers.tv. Want to know how civilians react to news that I’ve elected to have surgery? Click on http://babyboomers.tv/content/LAP-BAND®-zone-ii-dealing-civilian-response. Interested in hearing about my status and what happens next? Read on. In addition to monthly post-op visits with Dr. Gellman, my bariatric surgeon, -- click on www.northshoresurgical.net -- I’ve lived through 4 months now as a post-operative LAP-BAND® patient. It doesn’t feel that much different than following Weight Watchers, Atkins, and other weight loss programs. Except … I’ve had laparoscopic surgery to help cure my lifelong addiction to food; There is this device inside of me banding the upper portion of my stomach; The LAP-BAND® is a “tool” to help me cut down on food consumption; While my 62-pound weight loss has been sensational, the doctor reminded me this week that the band was inserted for a reason and it’s time to tighten it now. So, this is a different reality for me. The band will be tightened in a few days by injecting saline solution into a port which has been surgically inserted on the inside of my stomach epidermis. The net result is that the band will be tightened and my little stomach pouch (the “stoma”) will feel full with less food. I’ll have to go back on a liquid diet for a few days to allow the stoma to adjust to its new tighter reality. Aside from my regular visits with Dr. Gellman, I also attend a monthly support group with other post-op patients. These groups are enormously helpful for both the camaraderie of those who have been through my same experience as well as for the practical advice I get from participants. At the last group, the topic was “How have you changed for the better or worse following surgery?” I believe life is drastically different (and better) since surgery. However, I’m still a LAP-BAND® rookie so I asked the group “do you all tell people that you’ve had LAP-BAND® surgery?” Interesting responses: “it’s none of anybody’s business”; “nobody has to know”; “they don’t understand”; and, “I only tell my closest friends and relatives”. I understand. Even though I’ve gone public on this website for the entire world to know my story, there are specific people in my life who don’t know about my decision to go through with LAP-BAND® surgery --- most importantly, my mother and father-in-law. They are in their 80’s and they just wouldn’t understand the surgical procedure (or the need for it). Mind you, they are each thrilled to hear about and see my weight loss progress. The best advice to come from the support group, however, has been “If anyone asks how you lost the weight, tell them you’re on Weight Watchers.” This echoes a similar sentiment from Dr Gellman, who reports: “so many of the patients in our practice simply default to “Weight Watchers” when asked how they lost the weight. There is logic here … the final phase of post-operative eating adjustment encompasses a diet that is very much like the Weight Watchers protocol: Eat fruits and vegetables liberally; Follow portion control: 1 ounce of meat = size of a matchbox; 3 ounces of meat = size of a deck of cards; 3 ounces of fish = size of a checkbook; Medium apple = size of a tennis ball. [*]Use little, if any, sugar; [*]Choose lower fat foods; [*]Avoid fried foods; [*]Eat 3 meals a day; [*]Exercise regularly, preferably 3 or 5 or 7 times per week (I walk 4 miles every day;) Who, among us, has not seen this movie before? And yet it really is unlike the thousands of diets I’ve previously been on. I think it has a lot to do with my commitment to a new way of life once I agreed to the surgery. And, I strongly believe in my ability to do this. Also, there is the reality that the little stomach pouch won’t hold the huge quantities of food I had become accustomed to eating. But, if we’re honest, I believe it’s that I don’t want to betray the promise I made to myself: this time, it’s for good and will be different than before. At our tender age when death and illnesses are dodging us, who is gonna argue? I’ve learned from my support group that the post-op fellowship strongly resembles Alcoholics Anonymous: it’s critical to keep sharing your feelings and to report any incident(s) of falling off the wagon. Fine with me, so far. But then, I’ve never really had a problem losing weight --- it’s maintaining my goal weight that has always done me in. For now, I take it one day at a time. The weight loss has been thrilling and I’m extremely grateful for my newfound health and mobility. I’m off blood pressure medicine, I don’t need the sleep apnea machine and my knees have magically stopped hurting during my 3-4 mile daily walks. As for the outside world and how to respond to the queries about “how did you do it?” … I smile like a Cheshire cat and reply that my answer lies in a renewed commitment to exercise and a diet of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. I guess my real shorthand answer can be “I’m going to Weight Watchers.”

Hi I can certainly relate, I am not sure how many calories you are now eating their is something to the fact that if you are working out you may need more calories, I find also that I have to eat lower carbs to get the scale moving. You may want to go and talk again to your Bariatric nutritionist to try and get some advice. My weight has been stable up and down like 10 lbs for the last year or so. I am scheduled now for a body lift on Nov 1st. Part of me says I am still too heavy but my Bariatric Dr etc says I am close to their goal and the PS says that I am close enough that this should be the final push to get me to goal. Also the seems that the current thought is that the goal should be a Healthy weight you can maintain. So I will still maybe 40 lbs over the Insurance rate and still in the overweight but that will have to be ok. Take Care ROSS

Interesting. I was absolutely NOT interested in the shots, just hearing things about them and generally the disgustingness of how it sounded.. lol. This one was something new, and my bariatric coordinator included a pamphlet in my pre-surgery class packet. So I asked her about this, and she said yes it is whey protein and a good choice. She also had Isopure, but that bottle was 40oz! I MIGHT get that down in a whole day. LOL! So I went to GNC to ask about it, but they didn't have it. Only found it online. I hope it's good and healthy! If not, I only have a week left. I much prefer my powdered unjury whey protein, but it doesn't fall into the clear liquid category. Chocolate shake anyday I'll take! lol.... neat site btw, comparing proteins! thanks!

i am happy with my results also . But this is sure tough . I dare anyone to say bariatric surgery is "the easy way out ".... Are you exercising? I am walking but not as much as I should. Im just tired when I get ho from work. I did swim today for 15 minutes . I feel like I should be all up into some kind of big workout ! Feeling guilty about NOT

The Lap Band Zone II: "Dealing with civilian response" By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv staff writer, "More Salt than Pepper" I had Lap-Band surgery six weeks ago. Since then, I’ve lost 45 pounds and my doctor has eliminated the massive dosage of blood pressure medication I was taking. For more information on what Lap-Band Surgery entails and my reasons for opting into it, click here . I’ve encountered mostly positive reactions to my decision of taking the somewhat drastic step of bariatric surgery in order to arrest my compulsive overeating. Actually, I’ve encountered only overwhelmingly positive feedback to my significant weight loss. That’s natural: I look better; I’m starting to resemble the person I used to be before I blew up into a medically obese creature; and, my sunny demeanor is returning in place of the cynical, clearly frustrated persona I had adopted during my long descent into “fattitude.” However, there are other reactions with which I find myself contending. Most commonly, there are many folks who just don’t know what Lap-Band surgery is. Or, others who mistake it for full-scale bariatric bypass surgery. My surgery was laparoscopic -- 5 small incisions used to insert the Lap-Band itself along with a “port.” Once explained, they silently nod their heads and I can hear them thinking … “Why would he choose this invasive technique just to lose weight?” Or, “What’s the matter, he can’t stick to a diet?” These observations belie the more extreme reaction which I have actually had said to me personally … “Surgery? That’s the easy way out of dieting.” In fact, there are just such reactions to news from Australia that the government is considering paying for Lap-Band surgery for morbidly obese patients who can’t afford the procedure. This, in an effort to forestall the exorbitant medical insurance costs of the consequences of obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac conditions, strokes, etc. Click here for more details. But, when you dig a little further or just Twitter reactions to the news from Australia, there is a range of vitriolic (anonymous) email responses: • “Why can’t these fatties just stop their whining and shut their mouths?” • “This is such a f_ _ _ ing easy way out and a waste of taxpayer money for those of who really should lose weight by shutting their traps.” • “Why are governments looking at lap band surgery for obese people? Why not start by censoring what they put in their mouth first???” The diet / fitness / healthful eating discourse has never been serene. Witness Oprah Winfrey berating herself for her recent weight gain in the January, 2009 issue of O: “I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?" There are many of us who were born into the “lucky gene club” --- they eat as much as, if not more than, the rest of us but their metabolism burns white hot and they go through life without fat (or guilt.) There are others who successfully work hard at achieving the balance of sensible eating, a fitness plan and a moderate lifestyle. However, Reuters reported in January, 2009 that “the number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.” • Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Speaking for myself, I had reached my personal point of ‘no return.’ I had been on too many diets only to gain the weight back. While I knew I was capable of great discipline and had spent thousands of hours in the gym, the lure of food as an anesthetic to life’s woes had proven too great for me. After much research, attending numerous support groups and speaking with many post-operative Lap-Band patients, I concluded that the surgery would be right for me. The notion of inserting a tool which could physically signal that I was too full to eat more food resonated with me. So, off I went. To those who say it’s the ‘easy way out,’ here’s my reply: I went through both abdominal surgery and the attendant recovery from its unpleasant discomfort; I no longer drink coffee, carbonated beverages or distilled spirits; I will probably never again eat hard, crusty bread, well-done meat or anything else that can’t pass through an opening the size of a toothpaste cap in my ‘new’ stomach; if I do overeat, I’ll get sick, nauseous or vomit; in the worst scenario, I’ll be hospitalized from eating the wrong food or the wrong amounts. This is the ‘easy way out?’ On the other hand, in 6 short weeks, I’ve lost 45 pounds and have eliminated virtually all of my blood pressure medication; I can walk 6 ½ miles without getting winded or having to stop from joint pain; and, I am happy to do chores around the house again. I achieved this, in no small fashion, with the love and support of my family and, yes, relying on good old fashioned discipline to consume the right foods in the correct proportions. At the end of the day, Lap-Band surgery has empowered me to take control of my food intake and regain my sense of self. It has not always been easy and it is definitely not for everyone. But it’s working for me right now. The very best part … and it didn’t happen as a result of the ‘easy way out’ … is hearing friends and loved ones tell me “Welcome, you’re back again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said “There are no second acts in American lives.” He was wrong – I’m living it right now.

The Lap Band Zone II: "Dealing with civilian response" By Aaron Grossman, Babyboomers.tv staff writer, "More Salt than Pepper" I had Lap-Band surgery six weeks ago. Since then, I’ve lost 45 pounds and my doctor has eliminated the massive dosage of blood pressure medication I was taking. For more information on what Lap-Band Surgery entails and my reasons for opting into it, click here . I’ve encountered mostly positive reactions to my decision of taking the somewhat drastic step of bariatric surgery in order to arrest my compulsive overeating. Actually, I’ve encountered only overwhelmingly positive feedback to my significant weight loss. That’s natural: I look better; I’m starting to resemble the person I used to be before I blew up into a medically obese creature; and, my sunny demeanor is returning in place of the cynical, clearly frustrated persona I had adopted during my long descent into “fattitude.” However, there are other reactions with which I find myself contending. Most commonly, there are many folks who just don’t know what Lap-Band surgery is. Or, others who mistake it for full-scale bariatric bypass surgery. My surgery was laparoscopic -- 5 small incisions used to insert the Lap-Band itself along with a “port.” Once explained, they silently nod their heads and I can hear them thinking … “Why would he choose this invasive technique just to lose weight?” Or, “What’s the matter, he can’t stick to a diet?” These observations belie the more extreme reaction which I have actually had said to me personally … “Surgery? That’s the easy way out of dieting.” In fact, there are just such reactions to news from Australia that the government is considering paying for Lap-Band surgery for morbidly obese patients who can’t afford the procedure. This, in an effort to forestall the exorbitant medical insurance costs of the consequences of obesity: high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiac conditions, strokes, etc. Click here for more details. But, when you dig a little further or just Twitter reactions to the news from Australia, there is a range of vitriolic (anonymous) email responses: • “Why can’t these fatties just stop their whining and shut their mouths?” • “This is such a f_ _ _ ing easy way out and a waste of taxpayer money for those of who really should lose weight by shutting their traps.” • “Why are governments looking at lap band surgery for obese people? Why not start by censoring what they put in their mouth first???” The diet / fitness / healthful eating discourse has never been serene. Witness Oprah Winfrey berating herself for her recent weight gain in the January, 2009 issue of O: “I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, "How did I let this happen again?" There are many of us who were born into the “lucky gene club” --- they eat as much as, if not more than, the rest of us but their metabolism burns white hot and they go through life without fat (or guilt.) There are others who successfully work hard at achieving the balance of sensible eating, a fitness plan and a moderate lifestyle. However, Reuters reported in January, 2009 that “the number of obese American adults outweighs the number of those who are merely overweight, according to the latest statistics from the federal government.” • Numbers posted by the National Center for Health Statistics show that more than 34 percent of Americans are obese, compared to 32.7 percent who are overweight. Speaking for myself, I had reached my personal point of ‘no return.’ I had been on too many diets only to gain the weight back. While I knew I was capable of great discipline and had spent thousands of hours in the gym, the lure of food as an anesthetic to life’s woes had proven too great for me. After much research, attending numerous support groups and speaking with many post-operative Lap-Band patients, I concluded that the surgery would be right for me. The notion of inserting a tool which could physically signal that I was too full to eat more food resonated with me. So, off I went. To those who say it’s the ‘easy way out,’ here’s my reply: I went through both abdominal surgery and the attendant recovery from its unpleasant discomfort; I no longer drink coffee, carbonated beverages or distilled spirits; I will probably never again eat hard, crusty bread, well-done meat or anything else that can’t pass through an opening the size of a toothpaste cap in my ‘new’ stomach; if I do overeat, I’ll get sick, nauseous or vomit; in the worst scenario, I’ll be hospitalized from eating the wrong food or the wrong amounts. This is the ‘easy way out?’ On the other hand, in 6 short weeks, I’ve lost 45 pounds and have eliminated virtually all of my blood pressure medication; I can walk 6 ½ miles without getting winded or having to stop from joint pain; and, I am happy to do chores around the house again. I achieved this, in no small fashion, with the love and support of my family and, yes, relying on good old fashioned discipline to consume the right foods in the correct proportions. At the end of the day, Lap-Band surgery has empowered me to take control of my food intake and regain my sense of self. It has not always been easy and it is definitely not for everyone. But it’s working for me right now. The very best part … and it didn’t happen as a result of the ‘easy way out’ … is hearing friends and loved ones tell me “Welcome, you’re back again.” F. Scott Fitzgerald famously said “There are no second acts in American lives.” He was wrong – I’m living it right now.

Is your brother, or your brother's doctor, a bariatric medical professional? If no, don't take their advice. Most non-bariatric physicians I've encountered know next to nothing about bariatric surgery, and what they do claim to know is ass-backwards.