Big Medicine Last Night

[Daisalana 33]

Did anyone else watch it?? This is my first time seeing it, I tivo'd it, so I'm not sure if it actually came on last night or the night before..

It was really depressing..

Rose has a BMI of 73, and DENIED approval due to the psychological evaulation. I thought, wow.. they all admitted her next stop is death.. so instead of helping her, they deny her because she's depressed.

I would have been depressed too if I was 73 BMI :cry

[fabfatgrl 10]

I remember that episode! I watched it on TLC a few months ago when it started. I couldn't believe that Rose was denied with a BMI of 73. Do they really think her health is going to improve without WLS? Or are they hoping she dies before incurring costs equal to the amount of the procedure?? Just made me mad.

All we hear about is the "obesity epidemic"... yet why are insurance companies even allowed to deny the ONLY treatment that has been proven effective long-term for weight loss?? That baffles me.

[Daisalana 33]

Yeah, and I guess it's unethical, but if I was the psychologist lady I wouldn't have made a stink about her depression and denying her. She's depressed because of her weight.. it's a vicious cycle.. they needed to HELP her.

[fabfatgrl 10]

On 99% of the episodes, Mary Jo has really bugged me. I don't really think she understands the psychological effects of morbid obesity. From what I can tell from her profile, she has no formal training in addictions, eating disorders, or anything to do with bariatrics.

TLC :: Big Medicine :: Bios

The Dr. Dad seems to be more knowledgable than she is... probably from having done bariatric surgery for xyz years. He's always like... patient X will feel better and be less depressed once s/he begins to lose weight. Duh! I like him. He gets it.

Personally, I'd like to strap a 150 pound fat suit on Mary Jo and let her wear it around town for a week or even a month. Then let's see if she's depressed.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

YES! This is one of my favorite shows, I think they are on hiatus right now and are showing re-peats. If you TiVo you might want to record all the episodes. It is so worth it. There are some real success stories on there, and many people showcased who also have post WLS PS.

Another show I suggest (I think from the same channel) is "Brookhaven Obesity Clinic". Very good show. It really gets you to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if that is how you want to end up if you continue down the neverending obesity lifestyle. They have some successful people on there too, but it seems more of the residents there are not following the rules.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

On 99% of the episodes, Mary Jo has really bugged me. I don't really think she understands the psychological effects of morbid obesity. From what I can tell from her profile, she has no formal training in addictions, eating disorders, or anything to do with bariatrics.

TLC :: Big Medicine :: Bios

The Dr. Dad seems to be more knowledgable than she is... probably from having done bariatric surgery for xyz years. He's always like... patient X will feel better and be less depressed once s/he begins to lose weight. Duh! I like him. He gets it.

Personally, I'd like to strap a 150 pound fat suit on Mary Jo and let her wear it around town for a week or even a month. Then let's see if she's depressed.

I totally agree, sometimes she can come off as being really insensitive. Like, "why are you so fat???" "You just need to deal with your issues." She always seems to want to be negative toward all the patients and say they will never succeed, when most all usually do. Even the ones who were up into the 900-700 pound ranges.

[Daisalana 33]

That's the thing.. Maybe she would eventually screw up, but at this point, at a BMI 73 YES SHE IS DEPRESSED! NO SHE CAN'T CONTROL HER EATING! So.. it would be a chain reaction. I don't think a single person who has had RNY has NOT lost SOME weight initially. So lets say she drops 60lbs in the first couple months-- all of a sudden she's motivated, and she isn't depressed.

We all feel in a rut at some point, like nothing is going to work. Even after being banded I have those days. Then the scale moves, and I'm motivated again.

But I was very disappointed in the psychiatrist, to say the least. I felt so bad for Rose.

I am recording all episodes of Big Medicine.. I'll have to check out the other one.

They're my private indulgences.. I was watching this one, I like to see before & after of these things hehe. Husband came to bed and I quickly turned off.

Still afraid he's going to wake up one day and go 'I have a fat wife!' shhh.. don't tell him.

[juliegeraci 7]

How sad is that. Poor thing.

[TracyK 3]

I think she needs WLS too, BUT....(and please don't skin me alive for this comment)

they put her on a liquid diet and she gained a pound! she admitted that she cheated during her liquid diet. If I were told that part of the insurance approval rules is to show some weight loss during a liquid diet phase...you can bet you rear end I would have done what I was supposed to do! I know about the whole depression factor, been there and done that, but my God, if you are given a chance to do something, DO IT! IMHO

[fabfatgrl 10]

I think she needs WLS too, BUT....(and please don't skin me alive for this comment)

they put her on a liquid diet and she gained a pound! she admitted that she cheated during her liquid diet. If I were told that part of the insurance approval rules is to show some weight loss during a liquid diet phase...you can bet you rear end I would have done what I was supposed to do! I know about the whole depression factor, been there and done that, but my God, if you are given a chance to do something, DO IT! IMHO

I totally understand where you're coming from... and I'm not trying to flame you. I was never ever to stick to any diet for more than one day prior to WLS. Never ever. (Guess it's a good thing I was a self-pay :car: ) My Band was the first time I ever felt full and satisfied in my life. Also, I think they recently did a study that showed whether or not a patient went on a pre-op diet had no bearing on success. Some people cannot stick to diets, but can still be very successful with WLS. KWIM?

The only thing I would wonder about is whether or not a Duodenal Switch might be more appropriate for somebody with a BMI that high. She'd be able to eat more normally... but the greater absorption would still let her lose weight. The only concern would be whether or not she could be vigilant with Vitamins.