Re: Why did I get so upset?

[Guest guest]

It took me a *long* time to come to this understanding, but there are MO

people out there who, for whatever reason, aren't willing to make the

changes we who have had WLS were willing to make. (I have a sister-in-law in

this camp.) They are always ready with stories about people who gained all

their weight back or had horrible complications, etc.

Bottom line: you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. I do

still feel that sadness when I see MO folk...but I also know it's highly

unlikely that they don't know about WLS.

Kimba

Re: Why did I get so upset?

Dear Sharon,

I so certainly know how you feel. I am currently working with a

woman who is close to 500 lbs. Her ankles and legs are huge. It is hard

for her to walk from one side of the room to the other (about 10 feet).

It is even harder for her to get to her office from the parking lot. I

cry everytime I see her. We have already discussed the surgery and see

is under the misconception that the surgery is a failure because " all of

her friends who had it have gained back their weight. " She also admits

that their eating habits have not changed. It is soooo sad. I want her

to have what I have. I wonder if that is why you get upset. It

certainly is a contributing factor for me. Thank you for sharing your

story.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

SRVG 7/16/01

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

On Thu, 15 May 2003 16:59:52 -0000 " Sharon H " writes:

> One of the things that I notice more than anything now is overweight

>

> people struggling to walk or get in their cars....I want to run up

> and say " Hey, I have the answer " . I know that I can't. I know what I

>

> would have done if someone did that to me when I was overweight.

> Yesterday, I had the weirdest thing happen. My team from work was

> out

> of town doing a " TEAMBUILDING " and we were at lunch. I was looking

> out the window and saw this REALLY OBESE lady standing in front of

> the window leaning up against a poll resting and I started to cry.

> My

> team thought I was NUTS. My friend sitting next to me must have seen

>

> the lady out the window too and said " She is just have a THANK YOU "

>

> moment. Several of the team members went " WHAT?? " and she said

> (Thank

> Goodness she did, cause by this time I was BALLIN' LIKE A

> BABY) " Sharon has just been reminded what her life was like this

> time

> last year and is Thankful for what it is now " . Why did I get so

> upset

> this time? I have seen lots of people who are overweight or OBESE in

>

> the last year. I have thought to myself many times, I wonder if they

>

> know about WLS....Why this time? And Yes, I am truly grateful for

> WLS

> and what it has done for me and my family.

>

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is the second time I have replied to this thread and for that I

apologize. I just remembered something that happened to me about 6

months ago. I had been called for jury duty and was actually waiting for

my case to reconvene. I was sitting outside the jury room and a woman

started talking with me. Now keep in mind that I am still about 335 lbs.

She finally asked me if I had ever heard of weight loss surgeries. I

had to smile. I told her that not only had I heard of them but had

already had one. I then proceeded to show her my before picture at 479

lbs. She said that she had hers and was just so excited with it that she

had to tell everyone. She said that she should have guessed that I had

had the surgery because I was such a truly happy " fat " person. Ya know,

when you stare death in the face, it becomes a very strong motivator.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

SRVG 7/16/01

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

On Thu, 15 May 2003 15:58:08 EDT kimberlyoconnell@... writes:

> I feel the same way. I want to tell everyone how I ended my

> suffering from

> obesity. I have a bumper sticker advertising Obesity help on my

> car. I look

> for opportunities to tell people how my life has improved since my

> surgery.

> I never just come out and say " you should look into this

> surgery " .....you

> never know where someone is in their journey. I just talk about

> mine when I

> get the chance. Kim O

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, I think many people have to hit bottom before they'll

concede that surgery is a option.

in NJ

**************************

> It took me a *long* time to come to this understanding, but there

are MO people out there who, for whatever reason, aren't willing to

make the changes we who have had WLS were willing to make. (I have a

sister-in-law in this camp.) They are always ready with stories about

people who gained all their weight back or had horrible

complications, etc.

>

> Bottom line: you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it

drink. I do still feel that sadness when I see MO folk...but I also

know it's highly unlikely that they don't know about WLS.

>

> Kimba

[Guest guest]

My sister had almost decided to have surgery about the same time I was

having mine. I did not know she was even considering it at the time.

After seeing some of the problems I was having, she decided to wait.

Several months ago she started researching the surgery again. She had

decided on the RNY. I specifically asked her if she was aware of the

amount of supplements she would HAVE TO take each day. I asked if she

was committed to have lab work done regularly (more then once every two

years like she does now.) I sent her website after website about the

pros and cons of all of the wls. I wanted her to go in with an educated

decision. She decided that maybe that isn't what she wanted to do. She

has now gotten a personal trainer. She asked me if I had tried to talk

her out of the surgery on purpose. I had to laugh. I explained that

this was not a decision to enter into lightly. I would give anyone this

same information. I also explained that at the point of my life when I

had mine it was literally a matter of life and death.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

SRVG 7/16/01

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

On Fri, 16 May 2003 05:52:11 -0700 (PDT) Gayle Spitzley

writes:

> I feel compelled to comment on the topic of

> encouraging MO people to pursue WLS.

>

> Recently a friend of mine (age 40) died from a blood

> clot two days after WLS. He wanted to improve the

> quality of his life and be here a long time for his

> three children.

>

> I had followed my usual practice of not encouraging

> him in any way in this decision. If I had not, and

> suggested this surgury was the thing for him, I would

> never have been able to forgive myself or look his

> wife and children in the eye again.

>

> Be very careful when discussing WLS with the MO. Not

> all stories have a happy ending.

>

> Gayle

>

>

>

> ____________

> " One of the things that I notice more than anything

> now

> is

> overweight

> people struggling to walk or get in their cars....I

> want to run up

> and say " Hey, I have the answer " . I know that I can't. "

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>