Concerned for a friend - Obesity Message Board

GertieMae · 11-29-2003, 04:42 AM

Hello-

A wonderful friend of mine is considering Gastric Bypass.She has a referral soon with a Doctor that specializes with this Surg.

She is relatively young with a slew of health problems.Please do not tell me the Surg is best compared to her current health and long term Medical conditions,I already understand that.

My concerns are that she may have probs from the Surg,probs arising from not resting and taking it easy like she must.She is known for not staying down convelescing after Surgery.

I love my friend dearly and want her to be happy and healthy,however she has bought diet books,diet aids(pills etc) planning to use them but never did.There is not a doubt in my mind if she would only try she could lose the weight.She has had good intentions but never tried.

Its not so much how much she eats..its what she eats..She cooks alot of fast processed food and dont exercise.She cant exercise much due to her mobility.

Please dont get me wrong,but I almost hope the Doctor refuses to perform the Surg on her...at least for awhile longer.To my knowledge these Surgeries are for people who have tried everything under the sun to lose but couldnt.

You may think Im a mean nasty person,I cant help but feel the way I do about this.There is nothing preventing her from losing except not following thru.

She tried Xenical never having the lovely side effects it causes because she doesnt consume alot of fatty greasy foods..AND it didnt work!

I do wish her the best,but how can I be supportive of her decision when she is searching for an easy way to lose after not trying?

peaches123 · 11-29-2003, 06:58 AM

Thats a hard question... really you need to support your friend in whatever decision she makes. She is going to need you. She is still going to need a friend to walk with after surgery to put everything back to where it ought to be and tone it up. It is good that she is young.. she will have a chance at toneing her skin too.. The Drs. will be rough on her makeing sure mentally that is what she can handle. they HAVE turned people down before and will continue to do so for fear of being sued. that is why they test so much. Support your friend if she does get turned down for not having the right attitude then she will need you... can you help her follow thru??

GertieMae · 12-30-2003, 02:19 PM

Hello all,

Thought I would update you on my Friends plans for Surg.Well she was referred to a Surgeon...has had 1 Psych eval,watched 1 movie,had minor physical exam and nothing else.Has been scheduled for Surg a week or so into January.

In the past several weeks she has had an increase in hlth probs(BP at Stroke level and Heart rate low).I would of thought before putting her under the knife the Surgeon would evaluate her more thoroughly.

This is all blowing my mind!"Kirsten"my Friend doesnt take care of herself now..never has and totally believes the Surg alone will make her lose weight.She continues to eat what she so desires.

Peaches I cannot support her.I love her to bits but I have no empathy or pity.She isnt a spring chicken...she is older than you think she is.Obviously the Doctor does NOT have any plans on making it rough for her if they already set her a Surg date.

All I have to say regarding turning down ppl for suing is:This Doctor doesnt know what he is messing with here.If for any reason she dies on the OP table or has serious comps she and her family WILL sue.