Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 My mantra lately when I find myself on the verge of losing control (like almost everytime I order lunch or go to the refrigerator) is " remember where you came from " . Works most of the time. Deanna Why did I get so upset? 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 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 > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 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 > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 I think there are a good number of people who will *never* concede that surgery is an option. Not until docs start presenting it as such...like chemo is presented to cancer patients for example. Sadly, it still isn't mainstream. We are getting there, but there is still much to be done. Kimba Re: Why did I get so upset? 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 Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 15, 2003 Report Share Posted May 15, 2003 You know, my dad has been in/out of the hospital & so I get to see lots of his roomies. Unfortunately, we are now regulars there. The nurses all know about us. (my dad is very proud of us--and introduces me to everyone as The Vitalady--like that's gonna mean something! LOL!) Anyway, his last roomie was clearly one of us, diabetic, bi-pap, the lower leg thing going on--clearly miserable. He (big surprise) overheard our conversation with one of the nurses and then dismissed it with a wave. His brother had it 20 yrs ago and never lost any wt. sigh. What procedure? What program? Did he change anything? I mean, 20 yrs ago........? He was nice enough & all, but clearly easier to him to deal with flat lungs and non-functional body parts than consider surgery. Thanks, Vitalady, Inc. T www.vitalady.com If you are interested in PayPal, please click here: https://www.paypal.com/affil/pal=orders%40vitalady.com Re: Why did I get so upset? > > > 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 > > > > Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG > > Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2003 Report Share Posted May 16, 2003 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. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2003 Report Share Posted May 16, 2003 I totally agree. I have family members who observe me, but I never recruit. Well, I *tried* to recruit once, but those of you who have approached strangers about WLS know what peril lies there. I'm sorry for your loss. in Austin RNY April 1998 Why did I get so upset? > > 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. > > > Gayle > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2003 Report Share Posted May 16, 2003 In a message dated 5/15/2003 3:36:13 PM Eastern Standard Time, techverse@... writes: > > > I think there are a good number of people who will *never* concede that > surgery is an option. Not until docs start presenting it as such...like > chemo is presented to cancer patients for example. This is why I love my PCP so much. SHE brought it up to ME. I was in her office in April of 1999, crying about my terrible arthritic knees and plantar fascitis and GERD and how I couldn't stand to be in pain all the time any longer, what could I do? She brought out my charts (she's seen me for 12 years) and said " You have to lose weight; your body is unable to sustain what you are doing to it. Every diet you have been on (pointing to various times in my chart) has resulted in a higher weight for you in the long run. You have dieted yourself to morbid obesity. I'm sending you to Rosemarie (who became my wls) and we are going to fix this once and for all. " She's my hero! hugs, Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2003 Report Share Posted May 16, 2003 The only " recruit " I ever had was my mother...and she was already " observing " while I went through the process of getting approved. She read all the literature I had, and held my hand that first year. Then, I got to hold hers. Her only " experience " with WLS was long before mine. She has a cousin who had an intestinal bypass WAY BACK. THAT surgery nearly killed Patsy. And I can't begin to describe how horrible she looked for years afterward. I haven't seen her in over 20 years, but I believe she had some kind of reversal and revision done later. I saw a new gastro-interologist this morning. I really like this doctor. He at least seemed to listen to me. He was very impressed with the long-term success, overall, with my surgery, and when he began to question the type of procedure I had, was impressed again that I had my surgical records with me. His practice is at the hospital where my surgery was done, and he's going to get his own copy of them, and add them to my file. He told me (not in a critical manner) that there has been some progress since my surgery was done (duh!), and so the first thing he wants to do is get a EGD done, and take a look at what I REALLY look like inside. So, next Tuesday afternoon, I go back in to have that done. And he told me to quit being a 3rd year medical student. LOL. I told him, " Darn. They made me quit practicing jail house law, too! " He assured me that he appreciates my questions, welcomes them, and will discuss every single issue with me. Since his specialty is digestive diseases, I'm pretty sure he will find a way to get me fixed. Jac Life is not a spectator sport. http://members.cox.net/xxxfarmpaints http://www.pictureitdigitaldesigns.com/ mailto:jholdaway@... http://hometown.aol.com/jrandjrholdaway Re: Why did I get so upset? I totally agree. I have family members who observe me, but I never recruit. Well, I *tried* to recruit once, but those of you who have approached strangers about WLS know what peril lies there. I'm sorry for your loss. in Austin RNY April 1998 Why did I get so upset? > > 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. > > > Gayle > Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2003 Report Share Posted May 16, 2003 <<Be very careful when discussing WLS with the MO. Not all stories have a happy ending.>> I never recommend gastric bypass to anyone. I discuss my experience, and my husband's. I talk about what I see as the pros and the cons. I offer up my little file of really gruesome things that can happen. I share my web site and how transformed I feel. And I stress my belief that you really do need to make sure you are at *rock bottom* and have truly tried every other option before taking a step this drastic. If someone chooses to undergo surgery based on what I've said to them, then they do so at their own peril!!! Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2003 Report Share Posted May 16, 2003 Pre-surgery the counselor that I was seeing for depression asked me if I had considered weight loss surgery. Not seriously, I said. Why not, he asked. Because what if I gain all the weight back again after losing with the surgery, was my answer. I had heard all the stories about stomach stapled patients regaining all their weight back again, I told him. But, he asked, what if you don't? Uh, oh- something I hadn't considered. If I did regain I would certainly not be worse off than I presently was and what if I *didn't*? That was the start of my research into gastric bypass surgery. So the next time that someone tells you that they won't have surgery because they *might* regain just ask them, What if you don't? Alice The Loon RNY 12/28/00 .....They are always ready with stories about people who gained all their weight back Lori Owen - Denton, Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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