Horrified at Australian surgeon

[kimaly 57]

All I can say is I wish I had been able to do this well before my BMI got to 40, Each and everyone of us has our own reasons for getting it. I just don't think I will ever understand why it bothers some of those with a high BMI that someone would take control before it gets that bad. I say more power to them. And just a little advise my Daddy gave me: Beleave none of what you hear and only half of what you see.

[BetsyB 9]

I meant this post to be more of a complaint towards doctors doing this surgery to people who havent seriously tried dieting and who look at this as a quick fix.

I would find it problematic, too, if I believed it to be the case.

However, when my BMI was 33, I already had years of experience with diet failure. I would bet the woman you've decided didn't deserve banding also has a bit of experience under her belt.

Do you have reason to conclude that the doctor you're speaking of did not thoroughly assess his patient's readiness for surgery and understanding of it as a commitment to lifelong lifestyle change rather than "easy fix?"

If your complaint is against doctors who don't prepare their patients for the reality of the surgery, then BMI is a distractor; if you read enough posts here, you'll learn that there are scores of very-high-BMI bandsters who were very ill-prepared for postoperative realities.

And I agree, that's wrong.

[AnneGG 0]

I have a BMI of 35.7 with co-morbidities, and I would give anything to have heard about the band years ago; I would have been self-pay if I had to. All of us know our own personal struggle, and I would have loved to have the support when my BMI was less and I had no co-morbidities. I know the life of gritting my teeth and sheer willpower- I don't wish that on anyone. I know that post-band I will continue to have to operate on willpower but not to the same extent, and there will be help once I get to restriction.

That said, I'm sure doctors in the field run the gamut just like doctors and people everywhere. And I think it's useful to not judge and make assumptions- they usually don't pan out.

[Tropicana 0]

I really wonder why people concern themselves with matters that have absolutely nothing to do with them?What other things do you take on as your own personal headache, I wonder?