TLC - My 600 pound Life

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was so furious in the last episode - Pauline - who made NO efforts, and in complete denial. I Googled her, and it appears she'd made somewhat of a living by selling her story to tabloids, and being proud of her morbid obesity.

I wonder why they allowed her on the show?

I understand that it's very difficult to make changes and commit to new habits, and feel second hand pride when the people they feature overcome their hurdle - it's incredibly inspiring. But that last episode... I feel so bad for her son. His morbidly obese and stubborn mom has stolen his life and made him her slave, pretty much. It's heartbreaking.

If you think Pauline was bad - and she was; I'm not disagreeing at all! - you have to see Penny from last season. Oy vey.

[Anonymous]

Henry Foots died in a shuttle bus accident. Someone said he had a medical problem while driving, he hit and killed a women on the street.

It was sad.

I watch because I want to see everyone succeed. When you're given a free opportunity to have a better life, you should try hard to change that life. Some do, some don't.

[Anonymous]

Just saw the Pauline episode. Horrible. So sad for her son! I wonder how she is now, and i wonder what is happening with her son.

[Anonymous]

Not a doctor, but my understanding is that patients being considered for gastric bypass need to demonstrate a will to change their lifestyle and diet before getting cleared for the surgery. Otherwise, they will just make themselves ill after they have it (it's not a silver bullet). If these are people that have been rejected by reputable doctors then I'm surprised that this doctor is willing to be filmed doing these high risk surgeries.

[Anonymous]

It's interesting that so far, everyone featured this season has been female. Is this deliberate by TLC? Surely they've had similar morbidly obese male applicants, or are they airing it by gender?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting that so far, everyone featured this season has been female. Is this deliberate by TLC? Surely they've had similar morbidly obese male applicants, or are they airing it by gender?

There were men on the previous season so I'm sure there will be some this season too, but the majority does seem to be women.

[Anonymous]

I am obsessed with this show.

Pauline and Penny were the worst. They were very similar personalities. VERY manipulative and good at saying what they thought everyone wanted to hear. Both kept tearing up and talking about how they are doing it (weight loss) for their son. Bullshit, neither of them did anything but be a burden on their sons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a doctor, but my understanding is that patients being considered for gastric bypass need to demonstrate a will to change their lifestyle and diet before getting cleared for the surgery. Otherwise, they will just make themselves ill after they have it (it's not a silver bullet). If these are people that have been rejected by reputable doctors then I'm surprised that this doctor is willing to be filmed doing these high risk surgeries.

The doctor does require the patients to lose weight before he does the surgery, to demonstrate that they can stick with it afterwards. Most of those on the show have been successful (I don't know how many they follow and then do not air as an episode).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watch this show too. My doctor relatives are disgusted that doctors would operate on thee people, they are disqualified at nearly every hospital in the country. They all go to the one doctor in Houston, who is one of a handful who will see them.

What does this mean? That they are too obsese to be operated on by most standards of medical practice?

Their size makes them a huge liability. You have to have proper equipment, an anesthetist willing to take them on, staff trained in how to treat them. Many hospitals won't allow bariatric surgery b/c insurance companies (covering the hospital) won't allow it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watch this show too. My doctor relatives are disgusted that doctors would operate on thee people, they are disqualified at nearly every hospital in the country. They all go to the one doctor in Houston, who is one of a handful who will see them.

What does this mean? That they are too obsese to be operated on by most standards of medical practice?

Their size makes them a huge liability. You have to have proper equipment, an anesthetist willing to take them on, staff trained in how to treat them. Many hospitals won't allow bariatric surgery b/c insurance companies (covering the hospital) won't allow it.

You're right about the super-morbidly obese (600 lbs) but not about bariatric surgery in general. Most hospitals want to do bariatric surgery on "normal" obese people - 300 lbs range.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know where I can watch the most recent episodes online, preferably for free?

We downgraded our cable, and that apparently got rid of TLC :-\

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know where I can watch the most recent episodes online, preferably for free?

We downgraded our cable, and that apparently got rid of TLC :-\

Try here: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=ELGSP0ciShZ8SjgRRNrPP8Ew

[Anonymous]

^only do it on your computer, since I just got an error message that it's not available on a mobile device.

[Anonymous]

Something else has occurred to me about this show. No one ever seems to have a job--not the obese person or the family member. I assume the obese person is on Medicaid? Would that pay for the gastric bypass surgery? What about skin surgery--I wouldn't that be considered elective?

[Anonymous]

Medicaid pays for the bypass. It's life saving.

Skin can be paid for in these circumstances because it is also a medical necessity. It's not elective to have skin hanging down to your knees removed.