The easy way out??

I've heard others talk about how people in their lives have commented that this surgery is the "easy way out" because they didn't have to diet/exercise to lose the weight post-op.

That makes me mad. There's nothing easy about this surgery,  Since when is having most of a major organ completely removed from your body, irreversible surgery, easy?  This decision to take this step is a forever one.  There's no going back.  They can't put your stomach back.  Having surgery you have to deal with the mental part of what this does to you.  You have to deal with the anger at yourself, the disgust that you couldn't do it the "normal" way, that you've had to resort to these lengths just to lose weight and keep it off.  You have to deal with head hunger, negotiating using your new sleeve, pre-op and post-op liquid diets, being on baby food for weeks on end, having to take multi-vitamins, B12, for the rest of your life because your diet will no longer supply what your body needs due to the restriction. You have to deal with portion sizes for the rest of your life... only being able to eat a few spoonfuls of food for a month or longer.  Having a stomach that's only (as much as) 6oz for the rest of your life and learning how to eat all over again.

Then there's the surgery itself.  The pain from the gas they put in your belly to allow them to see while they work.  The tests.  The IV fluids and nothing by mouth for a day.  Having to negotiate a shower with 5 incisions in your stomach and a drain hanging out of you. The pain from the drain hanging there.  The awful disgusting vile liquid they make you drink when you have your leak test.The bloating for days. The exhaustion for weeks.  The pain when you try and take the tiniest sip of water and realize you have to get 64oz in every day.  The fear over the choice you've made and wondering if you made a bad decision.

Lastly, you have to deal with other people's opinions of your own weight loss efforts.  It amazes me how people seem to feel they have the right to have any involvement in what your diet should consist of or what you should be eating.  Even now, 3 weeks post op, I have people at work shaking their head at me asking if that's all I'm going to eat... (they don't know I had this surgery and they're not going to).  Some people admire the lengths you've chosen to be healthy, others simply say they couldn't do it, yet others have an opinion that you shouldn't have done it and then pull "facts" out of their ass about a person they know that had gastric bypass and had this or that happen.  Firstly, I didn't have gastric bypass... completely different surgery.  Secondly, my body. My choice.  Keep your opinions to yourself thankyouverymuch.

ok I think my rant is over ... for now :)