I was set to have the gatric bypass Monday, 4/21, but changed my mind a couple of days before and canceled. I finally had started really researching things about it on the internet, as well as speaking w/ people who have had it, and doctors, too. I decided that, in my opinion, there were too many risks, and the permanence of the surgery and resulting restrictions were not warranted in my case, because I “only” need to lose about 80 lbs. I’ve never had surgery, and was afraid about things like having to blow in some thing because anesthesia can make your lungs collapse, or getting an infection, etc. I know people who’ve had serious complications from it. My blood pressure is only a little high, but controlled by medicine. No diabetes, but I do take pills for GERD. I am finally determined to work hard at losing the weight through more exercise and healthier eating habits. I had trouble signing the acknowlegement form that said, among other things, that I had tried diets, and nothing else had worked (I’m paraphrasing). It has worked for others, and that’s great. But when it’s my body, I naturally have the perogative to say “Wait! What was I thinking? I must really try to take off the weight the old-fashioned way, rather than have my intestines chopped off and stomach made to hold 1-2 ounces.” I am also learning a lot from a book called “The Fat Fallacy,” by Dr. Will Plower, a neuroscientist who studied the eating habits of French people. I think this country could learn a lot from the ways of leaner, healthier societies. Someone here mentioned the recent Discovery channel series “I Can Make You Thin,” by Paul McKenna. I saw some of that, and he suggested similar things as the book I mentioned, above, such as eating much slower, staying away from “faux foods,” (junk food, full of chemicals) and even that some healthy fat will satisfy you sooner, so that you stop eating sooner. Anyway, I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. Thank you, Leslie, for putting this story on 60 Minutes.

I feel that medical science has another 100 years to fully comprehend the procedures being done at the present time. We need to know fully the extent of the purpose of the organs we are removing. As for the persons that now have diabetes and are critical, this procedure will be very informative to the future generations. To

My husband had the surgery in San Francisco last year. It saved his life. He lost 170 pounds this passed year. No more diabetes. No more sleep apnea. He is happier, healthier, more alive. Our insurance company did not pay for it but would pay for all the medication he needed while overweight. They would pay for the heart attack he was working toward. But they wouldn’t help us save his life.

I am disappointed to see wowOwow used for commericals for CBS. I am a 60 Minutes fan - or was. My old analog TV broke and I have found that life is good without - hey, I have this net connection. Still, this DSL is too slow for most streaming video, in-clud-ing CB-S’s we-b sit-e. Now that it has been broadcast, could Ms. Stahl give us a link to a transcript or a summary?