Originally Posted by MiladyB

John, I agree with you 100% on this. One of the reasons support groups are so vitally important. We need to care enough about ourselves to get the help we need and admit that we need the help. If we honestly want to change our lives we not only have to change the outside but really more importantly, in my opinion, the inside. It isn't easy. It is all part of the healing process. Just like all of us lost weight at a different rate the inward healing also happens at a different rate.

I personally am very pro this type of procedure because none of us really know the future. Like I said, I have gone into my wls with the mindset that this is it. This is a tool to help me to do what is right for myself and the rest is most certainly up to me. But I don't know my future. One day something huge and traumatic may happen in my life. I pray that I won't fall back into food for my security and comfort but I AM a food addict and I would only be fooling myself to say it NEVER will happen to me. I could mess up. I could relapse. I could do things that stretch out my anastomosis. If that happens no matter how hard you try to use your tool correctly you may honestly be looking at a losing battle. In a very real way that wonderful tool would not be functioning like it was created to function and this procedure would be something that repairs your tool so that it is able to function as it was supposed to.

Now that being said I do hope surgeons will not freely do this procedure without looking at the entire picture. Why did this person regain weight? Where is their head at? Are they just looking for a "quick fix"? Are they doing all they should be doing to lose the weight they may have gained? Is their anastomosis really stretched out or is their weight gain due to bad habits that continue? I honestly think there needs to be a lot that a surgeon looks at before he will even do this procedure and be strong enough to refuse to do this on a person who is not of the right mindset.

BUT if someone does find themselves in this situation please don't be embarrassed. There is help BEFORE you become MO once again and this procedure most certainly is a means of help. Please care enough about yourself to get the help that you need because there is help out there. Each and everyone of us is worth it.