Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 Dear Friends, Apologies for the major cross-posting. I wanted to share these thoughts with all of you. SUMMARY: I have been back to work for 2-1/2 weeks, and I note that I am much more open about my surgery (DS, Lap on 5/2) than beforehand. Must mean that I am feeling much better about me. I recall quite lengthy exchanges of feelings that many pre-ops had several months ago on the topic of whether " to " tell, or not to tell " [various people] about the fact of one's WLS. I noticed that I really did not want the whole world in which i operated to know, mainly because of a fear that something (who knows what?) could go wrong: insurance denial, postponement of surgery, complications, etc. I felt that it was very private. I did share the information with several friends and family members well in advance of my surgery, and also sent a long informative e-mail, complete with URL pointers to Dr. Baltasar's paper and Dr. Gagner's video of the lap DS, to quite a few friends, family and colleagues just days before my surgery. But, by and large, I still did not want too many casual acquaintances to know. Again, it was just too private to blast out to the whole world. Well, that has changed. I feel healthy. I feel that my DS has been successful. I am almost 50 pounds down after 2-1/2 months (a bit slower loss than many, but, I'll take it!). I am wearing clothes that I had saved on the way up, never losing the faith that a magic pill (well, the DS is no pill, but maybe a magic bullet) would come along and re-unite me with them. And, I find that I am more than willing to talk in detail to anybody who asks for information. Over the past three days, I have been at a conference with quite a few international attendees with whom I had worked over the past decade. Also, U.S. colleagues whom I had not seen for quite some time. Many noticed that I was looking " great, " " healthy, " had " good color, " etc., but nobody zeroed in on weight loss per se (I have about 125 pounds to go to reach my goal, so that is not surprising--I am still a fatty). But, I was astounded when at least two colleagues questioned me about the surgery and had a close friend or sibling in mind who had been searching for information about surgical alternatives. I expect to be contacted by them. Also, the " clock doctor " paid a house call on Tuesday evening (adjustments needed to some antique clocks), and we got to talking about surgery, and he sought out details for his wife (on the basis of info from him, her BMI is about 42). So, I wonder if my need to close-hold information before surgery was also liberally tinged with embarrassment about my own super-morbid obesity (BMI was 51), and has now diminished as I cruise through " morbid obesity " toward just plain old " obesity " (25 pounds away) and beyond. This must mean that I feel much better about myself (and that I had been denying how bad my self esteem had fallen as my weight had climbed) now. [had to pause...am teary-eyed as I type this to share with you all] For the first four or five weeks, the journey was rocky, but I was buoyed by the good folks on these lists who gave me reassurance and perspective. Now, I feel that I am on the other side of the first mountain, and it sure feels good. Bottom line: sometimes things get better! I hope that some pre-ops reading this might get a boost in confidence as they face their own decisions about WLS. Thanks to so many of you who have been there for me and who will continue to be there for us all, Steve -- Steve Goldstein, age 61 Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001 Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51 BMI on 07/17 = 43 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2001 Report Share Posted July 18, 2001 Dear Friends, Apologies for the major cross-posting. I wanted to share these thoughts with all of you. SUMMARY: I have been back to work for 2-1/2 weeks, and I note that I am much more open about my surgery (DS, Lap on 5/2) than beforehand. Must mean that I am feeling much better about me. I recall quite lengthy exchanges of feelings that many pre-ops had several months ago on the topic of whether " to " tell, or not to tell " [various people] about the fact of one's WLS. I noticed that I really did not want the whole world in which i operated to know, mainly because of a fear that something (who knows what?) could go wrong: insurance denial, postponement of surgery, complications, etc. I felt that it was very private. I did share the information with several friends and family members well in advance of my surgery, and also sent a long informative e-mail, complete with URL pointers to Dr. Baltasar's paper and Dr. Gagner's video of the lap DS, to quite a few friends, family and colleagues just days before my surgery. But, by and large, I still did not want too many casual acquaintances to know. Again, it was just too private to blast out to the whole world. Well, that has changed. I feel healthy. I feel that my DS has been successful. I am almost 50 pounds down after 2-1/2 months (a bit slower loss than many, but, I'll take it!). I am wearing clothes that I had saved on the way up, never losing the faith that a magic pill (well, the DS is no pill, but maybe a magic bullet) would come along and re-unite me with them. And, I find that I am more than willing to talk in detail to anybody who asks for information. Over the past three days, I have been at a conference with quite a few international attendees with whom I had worked over the past decade. Also, U.S. colleagues whom I had not seen for quite some time. Many noticed that I was looking " great, " " healthy, " had " good color, " etc., but nobody zeroed in on weight loss per se (I have about 125 pounds to go to reach my goal, so that is not surprising--I am still a fatty). But, I was astounded when at least two colleagues questioned me about the surgery and had a close friend or sibling in mind who had been searching for information about surgical alternatives. I expect to be contacted by them. Also, the " clock doctor " paid a house call on Tuesday evening (adjustments needed to some antique clocks), and we got to talking about surgery, and he sought out details for his wife (on the basis of info from him, her BMI is about 42). So, I wonder if my need to close-hold information before surgery was also liberally tinged with embarrassment about my own super-morbid obesity (BMI was 51), and has now diminished as I cruise through " morbid obesity " toward just plain old " obesity " (25 pounds away) and beyond. This must mean that I feel much better about myself (and that I had been denying how bad my self esteem had fallen as my weight had climbed) now. [had to pause...am teary-eyed as I type this to share with you all] For the first four or five weeks, the journey was rocky, but I was buoyed by the good folks on these lists who gave me reassurance and perspective. Now, I feel that I am on the other side of the first mountain, and it sure feels good. Bottom line: sometimes things get better! I hope that some pre-ops reading this might get a boost in confidence as they face their own decisions about WLS. Thanks to so many of you who have been there for me and who will continue to be there for us all, Steve -- Steve Goldstein, age 61 Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001 Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51 BMI on 07/17 = 43 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2001 Report Share Posted July 20, 2001 No, thank you Steve. Your message was very inspiring. And, I am so glad that you are feeling better about yourself. My name is Sheryle and I too have been helped, inspired, and informed by this group. Your message is just the kind I need to hear, as I wonder if I am doing the right thing. Self-esteem is everything. And I am tired of being the fattest person I know. So, if 21/2 months can do so much for your self-esteem, maybe just maybe it can work for me. Again, thank you Sheryle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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