Now ye're talking - to someone who's had weightloss surgery

AttentionBebe · 21-06-2021 10:27pm

Did you tell many people beforehand or was it easier to wait until after it was done? I'd imagine it's still a very misunderstood surgery (the likes of My 600lb Life on TV don't help)

I've had weightloss surgery, AMA · 28-06-2021 12:00pm

farmerval wrote: »

On a slightly different to the surgery, does the OP think that the general HSE/ Medical profession's advice or strategy is fit for purpose.
Is our advice in the food pyramid etc correct for the modern world.
In my opinion some of the issues we have are around the types of food we eat and the constant grazing /eating habits of modern society.
Yet I feel that the responses are somehow formulated by people that believe that we are still eating three square meals per day, as our parents would have done.

Walk into any small shop or filling station and most/all of the shop is given over to coffee and snacks/sweets. Stop at a motorway filling station and you have probably 3 or 4 choices of fast food.

I believe we have moved to a vast proportion of processed calorie dense but nutritionally poor food. I don't believe that the response from health authorities reflects the realities of modern society.

It would be interesting to get the OP's opinion having been through the system from both sides.

I'm not an expert on nutrition but I think you're right that it is a systems problem. Our environment makes it really easy to eat high-calorie food and it can be a battle to make good choices. The healthcare system mainly deals with the consequences of these problems and educating patients can only do so much. I think it's particularly difficult for parents to manage what children eat as they have so much more access to junk food now.

I've had weightloss surgery, AMA · 28-06-2021 12:04pm

Galbin wrote: »

Prejudice against obese people really is the last socially acceptable stigma. It's so sad. I hope such people are not your loved ones. Given that things like atypical anorexia exist, your colleague sure is assuming a lot. Both fat and thin people can eat really well or really badly.

Thankfully my family and friends have been great. Most of my colleagues have also been very supportive. I think we all have our blindspots and as you say it is one of the few major acceptable social stigmas. I have a friend who is very thin because of a chronic illness and she finds it tough when people are constantly commenting on her weight. She would love to put on some weight but she can't. We never really know what is going on for people so best to be supportive and not judge or assume.

I've had weightloss surgery, AMA · 28-06-2021 12:16pm

AttentionBebe wrote: »

Did you tell many people beforehand or was it easier to wait until after it was done? I'd imagine it's still a very misunderstood surgery (the likes of My 600lb Life on TV don't help)

I told very few people beforehand as I was still quite ashamed of it all at that time. I was also worried that it might not work and then I would be even more embarrassed.

It is so harmful stuff how the tabloids and glossy magazines portray it as somehow cheating or being distasteful. I remember seeing a magazine cover showing a before and after of a celeb and accusing her of having a gastric band in the same tone as you would accuse someone of a high crime!

On the plus side more and more people are being offered the surgery through the public system here which benefits their health but also society in the long run. Hopefully as more people have it done there will be more acceptance of it as an option.

noplacehere · 28-06-2021 12:25pm

What was the hardest part of the surgery and run up/aftermath?

What was the easiest?

Was there anything unexpected that you really weren’t ready for?

I’ve heard there is a high risk of transfer addiction, is this accurate do you think?

I've had weightloss surgery, AMA · 28-06-2021 12:29pm

I had planned to do the AMA for just a few days so I've long overstayed my welcome. Thanks to everyone who asked questions and I hope it's been helpful. Be kind to yourselves and others, and you only get one body so explore all options!

Boards.ie: Niamh · 28-06-2021 12:37pm

I've had weightloss surgery, AMA wrote: »

I have a friend who is very thin because of a chronic illness and she finds it tough when people are constantly commenting on her weight. She would love to put on some weight but she can't. We never really know what is going on for people so best to be supportive and not judge or assume.

Reminds me of a friend who recently bumped into someone he knows professionally but wouldn't have seen in person for quite a while. She told him he was looking fabulous and she'll have whatever he's having...when he leaned over to her and told her quietly it was the 'chemo diet' she nearly died

You just never know what is going on with people.

Thanks so much to the OP for this great AMA! If anyone else would like to try their hand at one with their own story, please PM or email me

Now ye're talking - to someone who's had weightloss surgery

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