Regrets

Elvis comes to mind " Regrets I have a few, but then again to few to mention...." I know Frankie boy sung it first, but Elvis did it better LOL
Ya know what hurts? I just got an e-mail, it is the 5th one of it's kind. The person states that "you almost had me convinced that the RNY was better for me, now I regret not listening".
I don't try and convince anyone, what I do try and do is make a person look within themselves.
I am truly blessed with a gift of insight into personalities. (and it is a gift, something that cannot be taught) I am not bias , although I've been accused of that. Yes I do believe RNY was the right surgery for me and NO I do not believe the Band works for everyone. I feel there are certain personality types that need to stay away from the Band. Sometimes I just want to scream at member of the team and say "NO, it won't work for that person" but I know they are the best and it is not up to them to chose what surgery a person will have. Even if they know in their hearts that it isn't the correct surgery, they have to go along with what the person decides is best for them. I guess it's as it should be, but so many people regret their decision when it comes to the Band. I have never heard anyone with RNY say they wish they had chosen the Band.
I'm not sure people really listen. We are told from day one that the band is slow going, you will lose one to two pounds per week. We are told that eventually the Band loss will equal that of the RNY (I don't see that happening) in about 5 years. When a person sees people in the group melting at a rapid rate and they are 5 pounds down in a month...it really doesn't matter what they were TOLD or how much patience they believed they HAD, it is very disheartening.
There ARE those people who do very well on the Band because they chose it for all the right reasons (the least of which was mortality) and they are patient enough and understanding enough to know that they will eventually lose everything they need to lose. There are also those people who are able to work with the band, but the band can't work for them...some bodies just don't LIKE that foriegn object hanging around. Some bodies just tense up during stress and the Band does not work well.
It hurts me when I hear regrets, when I see a person facing yet another surgery that could have been avoided if they had only stopped to think of the long term ramifications.
Again I say...The Band does work, I've seen it, the proof. But it does not work all the time and it is not for everyone. That is not to say RNY isn't without it's problems...I just believe they know more about RNY and how to fix the problem faster (usually stuff due to mal absorption)
At this point I have stopped losing, but I've also stopped moving thanks to a bum foot. I am sure I can drop another 20 pounds with exercise and I will do so once this foot issue is cleared up. I have no regrets. I lost more weight then I have ever on diets, I feel better then I ever have and I'm happier then I've ever been. I guess I am bias, when something works this well, it's hard not to be. There are still those who can do it on diet alone. Surgery is not for the faint of heart that's for sure...but I truly believe it is the only solution for someone who suffers from the disease of obesity. If you are more then 100 pounds over weight and have been for more then 5 years...Stop kidding yourself, you are obese and you need help and you certainly need more then a diet. Do your homework, talk to people, research all the surgeries that are available and pick the one that fits your lifestyle....Don't play mind games and don't fear the unknown...Obesity will kill you faster then this surgery will and that's the truth!!!