I overheard a conversation about weight loss surgery the other day that just irked me to no end, so I decided to start an "Untrue Myths About Weight Loss Surgery" thread to ease my frazzled mind!

Untrue Myth #1: WLS is the easy way out. Okay, who thought of that one? What numbskull truly believes that getting cut open, (or having holes poked into you so the laproscopic instruments can fit) and having a device implanted around your stomach or voluntarily getting your guts cut up and rearranged is easy? Not so easy in my book!

Untrue Myth #2: The weight will magically melt off. Yep, WLS makes it easier to lose the fluff, but trust me on this one, it doesn't just melt off. You have to work the tool, no matter which tool you have. You gotta eat right, you gotta exercise. Period.

Untrue Myth #3: The pounds are gone forever, or conversely, the weight will pile right back on. Sheesh. Again, you gotta work the tool. Unfortunately, the weight isn't necessarily gone forever. Ask Carnie Wilson. (I'm so proud of her BTW. She's a brave woman). Just because you lost it, doesn't mean it's off forever. If you don't keep working the tool, you can gain weight back. On the other hand, the particular conversation that started this rant was about a person who gained all her weight back, therefore all WLS patients will gain weight back, because these idjits apparently know everything there is to know about WLS. Just ask them!

Untrue Myth #4: You wouldn't need WLS if you would just push away from the table every once in a while. Bullpucky. Most of the people I know who have had WLS have more willpower in their little fingers than the naysayers will ever have in their whole life! It seems to me that most WLSers I've met have always been able to get some weight off, and in fact have lost impressive amounts in the past, but they can't keep it off. I know that's my MO (stands for modus operandi, not morbid obesity in this case). Thank God for my band!

Untrue Myth #5: If you have a lapband, you have a horrible foreign object in your body and have to have fills like every five minutes for it to work. Whatever! I read somewhere (so it must be fact!) that most lapbanders generally need from 3 to 5 fills to get good restriction. That's not too bad folks. As for the whole foreign object, I personally don't get it. If I needed a knee or hip replacement, I'd get one. If I needed a new heart valve, I'd get one of those too. If a foreign object is that helpful, I'm all for it. I met one person who was going on and on about how horrible having a disgusting foreign object placed in your body is. I had to laugh because this lady was heavily tatooed and pierced. So I guess it's okay to have foreign objects placed through the body, but not in it, and apparently various colored inks injected into the skin are also not instrusive. Again, whatever!

Untrue Myth #6: You will never, ever be able to eat/drink (fill in the blank) again. Okay, so maybe there is a little truth to this one, but not as much as some knowitalls like to think. I've heard people proclaim that bandsters can never, ever have another grain of rice again in their entire lives because it will block the stoma from here to eternity. Or that bypassers can never have a single smidge of sugar again or they'll end up dying a nasty, horrible dumping death. Okay, so I'm taking a little poetic license with this one, but you all know what I mean. I have found there are very few never, ever again foods. It's what works for the individual and what their surgical team has advised them to do. I don't think there are any absolutes here.

Untrue Myth #7: (and this one might be controversial!) You can never have another carbonated beverage as long as you live if you've had WLS because it will cause the stomach to explode. Oops, I had some club soda last night. Am I going to die now? Really, if there's a hole at either end of the stomach doesn't it make perfect sense that the gas from the carbonation has to escape out one of them? If the stomach were a closed off balloon-like object, I could see some truth to this rumor, but it just doesn't make much sense to me. I do know that the carbonation can cause uncomfortableness (is that a word?) in some people, so they shouldn't drink it and I also know that if the carbonated beverage is highly caloric it can't lead to any good, but the whole exploding stomach think makes me crazy.

Does anyone have any other myths they'd like to challenge? This really was a lot of fun and I'm sure there are others of you out there who get sick of some of the things you hear, so come on, add to my list!

Later,
Chickadee

Although I never considered WLS because I knew I could do it without it, I am a staunch supporter of the procedures because they truly save lives. My sister is morbidly obese and I've come to the conclusion that the only way she'll ever lose the weight is through surgery (that I'll eventually pay for).

I have a question that might be a myth: Do the majority of WLS patients lose weight REALLY fast? I see the most of you girls on here are dropping pounds like mad. And the ones I see on tv lose most of their weight in a year to a year and a half. And they are losing hundreds of pounds. I've always been envious of the speed of their weight loss, and I would have liked to lose my weight that fast, because losing it at the 'normal' rate, I've got enormous amounts of loose skin.

I don't think it's fair to say anyone works more/less hard whatever way they decide to lose the weight. It all takes work and dedication. As you said, it's a tool - and if you hold a hammer by its head, it just doesn't work.

I think your post will be helpful to all of us non-wlsers who whine and complain that you guys have it easier. There are downsides to surgery and there are benefits. It's still a struggle.

geeezzz chickadeedeedear!!!! i read this post while eating some dark chocolate gelato!!! [maybe i shouldn't confess that??? it was GREAT - and about 1/2 cup - well, maybe a little more than that.]

it's fascinating that all of those 'myths' are about eating habits, and there's not a single one about exercise and vitamins!!!! good heavens! does anyone actually believe that this weight just comes off and then either stays off or comes piling back on without any work on our part?????

i've run into several people who feel cheated because they didn't lose as much weight as they thought they should have. When they start talking about their eating and exercise habits, it often turns out that they're not eating right and they don't exercise. Don't get me wrong - there are some people that this just doesn't work for, but in general, if we do the work, we get decent results.

and then we have to do the same things that everyone else does.

as for your question - you Marx Bros fan, you! - most of us DO lose weight fast, especially during the first few months. right after the gastric bypass, we're unable to consume more than 500 calories a day, and little of that is absorbed. so the loss IS fast.

but the skin? oh my goodness. it's ugly. there's a lot that goes into the development [or lack of!] saggy baggy skin, and it's not always about the speed of the weight loss.

good luck to you and your sister.

Do the majority WLS patients lose weight fast?... well I have the band and I am not losing it fast, I've lost approx 50 lbs, that's about 1 lbs a week... pretty slow and steady which is why I wanted the band and not GBP (it was a personal choice). I do have friends who have lost double of what I have w/the band, and I have friends who have lost a lot less than me....so you see, its really an individual thing.

Myth #1:
What most people don't realize is folks that choose WLS have gone thru heck and back with their weight issues and that WLS IS the last resort. Most people have struggled with their weight their entire life, not just a year or two, throw their hands in the air and say I can't do it anymore.... ut uh.

I was 300+ lbs in high school (that's 17 years old). By the time I hit 25 years old, I lost 150+ lbs on my own (really starvation) and struggled to keep that weight off for years. I started gaining the weight back after my sister died in 1998.... I gained over 100 lbs back and for years and years and years struggled to try to get it off again, only to have my weight keep creeping higher and higher.... to the point I couldn't play with my DD anymore. My BP was extremely high, my joints are shot and that's when I finally decided to have some one slice me open. This is/was my last hope.

If anyone says this is the easy way out then I challenge them to do it. I challenge them to go through the mental torture of being cut open, to think about never opening your eyes again because you could die during surgery, think about leaving your children motherless (or fatherless), or to sit back on the sidelines and watch your child's faces when you say you can't play with them (because you physically can't move) ??? what's worse?? .... do you still think its the easy way out.... walk a mile in my shoes and tell me what you think.

Dems be my 2 cents

Well I'd like to chime in because well most of you ladies have had similar struggles to myself. I do lurk on this forum because I understand the frustration and not getting anywhere with your weight. Like Leenie, I weighed 300 lbs in High school. I've been a diet ever since I was 9 years old. The struggle is hard. I even considered WLS myself, more than once. Since I am in reasonably good health, I decided I could do without. I did join a weight loss program a few years ago with my health insurance. The weight loss program was interesting because it was required for anyone that wanted WLS with the insurance, but was also open to everyone. I liked sharing my struggles with those that decided to have WLS and those that hadn't.

I would love a world where WLS was uncommon, where the diet industry doesn't make billions of dollars every year, and where the majority of people aren't obese. I have been trying to figure out where my own obesity came from but unfortunately it happened when I was so young, I can't quite figure it out. I know I have two parents prone to obesity and I know most of my weight gain started at puberty (age 9) which could be attributed to my PCOS. The things I'd blame modern society for such as fast food restaurants, unhealthy processed foods, etc weren't really in my child hood experiences. I know that I ate a lot and I would sneak food, but I don't remember if I was hungry or if it was something else emotionally. For some reason, I think if I discovered the cause, I could fix me but I don't think I really can.

Anyway, for everyone out there that has struggled with a major weight problem, has tried everything to lose weight with little progress, I understand. I remember starving myself, I remember exercising like a mad woman only to lose a few measley lbs and then gain them back later on. I hope I've found the formula for myself to lose weight. It seems to be working so far and even if I don't lose any more weight, I know I'm in a better position than I was 2 years ago near my highest weight.

I think if WLS is your formula for helping you lose weight, then that is a good thing. It is unfortunate that we need something like WLS in our society but it does give hope to those that had no hope and it gives help to those that need help.

But are there people out there who get the surgery inappropriately? What is the litmus test for knowing you need to have surgery as opposed to pursuing other options?

Of course there are people out there who get surgery inappropriately.

Fortunately, most surgeons have pretty tough criteria their patients have to meet. And, most insurance companies insist on psych evaluations. But, I have read posts on other forums about people trying to gain weight in order to qualify for surgery. I've read posts from people who are totally clueless about the process and who live in la-la land and don't understand that this is a huge, life-changing decision.

I think the majority of WLS patients are people who have tried everything under the sun to lose weight and were at the end of their rope. They have pursued all their options. I also think there are people who totally misunderstand the seriousness of weightloss surgery and unfortunately somehow get through the whole screening process. I believe they are by far the minority.

Chickadee

bumping this thread up. i keep going back to read it - and it's fascinating!

Is true, is not an easy way out and is not for everyone. My cousin have a lapband and she just eat food more often, but crappy food, she haven`t lost weight, i think that she is even more fat.

About the phsycological evaluation i have one, they need to see that you are strong enough to deal with everything that comes. Is not that easy

My insurance company needed to me to also have asociated diseases like fat in my liver, and glucose? intolarance. It also ask for an imc equal at 40 or more. Luckily my insurance paid for the 90% of all, but most people in my country can`t get it. The public sistem don`t cover it and most of the private insurance won`t pay for it. Also you can`t get it in a public hospital, have to be in a private one

Okay My two cents worth.... I guess in some small way I thought WLS would KICKSTART me into being a healthier person because I'd HAVE to be. Now after being taken off any restrictions in my diet, I've found out that I can't eat meats (most of them just won't stay down) or most dairy either. And what do they tell you that you'll have to do for the rest of your life?? Eat the protein first and get enough calcium... (can you tell the fun I've been having with the dr??) But a couple of weeks ago when the urge for chocolate was overwhelming I opened up a jar of chocolate fudge frosting and took a finger full of it. And wouldn't you know I didn't have any problems with it. I thought for sure that I'd pay for that one slip of slef control. As for carbonated bev's... I used to drink walmarts flavored waters that are carbonated, and now I have such horrible GAS PAINS from them that I've stopped completely. I did all the searches online for what to expect after having WLS. I had thought about it for more than 3 years before bringing it up to my primary dr. I decided for multiple health reasons that I NEEDED to do this to have a full life. Now I don't know what kind of life I'll ever have.I eat almonds, refried beans and peanut butter like it's going out of style b/c I know my protein intake is too low.... and I still get sick daily. (Can I share with you how weak it makes me feel to get sick each and every day... I mean I didn't like being 'sick' before WLS, but now to think that it's something I'm just gonna have to LIVE with... it's down right depressing). I can still only walk around the block a few times a week b/c I'm so weak/fatigued. And to hear my dr tell me that I may NEVER get back to 100% of my pre surgery strength... Let's just say that if the sceptics of WLS think this is the easy road, they may need to come over here and sit by me for a while and let me share my story with them. I don't know if someone had shared MY story with me before surgery if I would've done it. But all I DID hear was how everyone had no real issues as long as they followed the dr's diet... and how it was the best thing they ever did. My mind, however is not made up as of now.

Hugs to all,
Sharmel

Is it also a myth that with lap band surgery you'll have hair loss? I emailed my surgeon and asked him, and he said he's never had a patient experience hair loss.

Has anyone else? Kinda worries me. But not as much as carry around this extra load of weight worries me.

I've spent a lot of time on -- ahem-- another support message board--that's just for lap banded people or those thinking about it. The hair loss question has come up. Some people say they started losing some hair around 3 to 6 months after surgery. They were sure they were getting enough protein -- that's the BIG thing. You've got to get the protein. Several mentioned taking Biotin, which is a B vitamin very important for skin and hair. Some have used Nioxin and been very pleased. The consensus seems to be that the hair loss doesn't continue and that it grows back, better than ever in some cases.

I'm with you, Witch Hazel. If it's a short-term tradeoff for getting this weight off, I'm there! I'm going to make sure I eat enough protein and I've already bought a bottle of Biotin!

Melanie M.

I don`t know aboud the lapband but with the gastric bypass i lost some hair, but you get it back soon with the right supplements