Re: Feeling down about slowdown in loss

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/24/01 5:38:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

duodenalswitch writes:

> quit sniveling

You are right, I was sniveling. But I should clarify that I fought for 18

months with my insurance to get surgery. From the time I started researching

until I had surgery was 3 years. The only way I got insurance coverage was

by changing insurance companies during open enrollment and working with my

regular doctor trying to lose weight for 6 months with Xenical. I know a lot

of people on this list would be very happy with where I started, but at

5'1.5 " , 213 is a lot. I also tended to carry it all in my middle and I had

lots of co-morbidities. I guess all I am saying is that I was in the same

spot a lot of people who are fighting insurance are in.

I think my biggest problem is that the weight loss can be addicting. Having

so many people tell me how good I look is hard to turn down. My close

friends are all very worried about me and my surgeon is watching me very

closely. I have been told by my surgeon that if the loss doesn't slow down

soon I would have to start taking an enzyme with my food to absorb more. I

could never understand people who would have a hard time eating enough food

until now. After having weight problems for years, it is so hard to make

myself eat more. In my case, surgery is working a little too good. As much

as this may make some people feel like they wished they had the same problem,

it isn't as good as it sounds. I obsess over everything I eat and have

nightmares if I eat anything without nutritional value. Last night I had 1/2

biscuit and was upset all night about it. Now that I have seen a slowdown in

weight loss, I feel even stronger that I need to control everything I eat.

My brain knows slower weight loss is better, but the rest of me just isn't

listening. I think at this point I may need to see a counselor to work this

out. It seems I have traded one food problem for another. In my case it was

correct to say my weight problem was due to an emotional issue.

I am sorry if I upset anyone. I know my problem isn't common and when you

are overweight it is very hard to sympathize with someone who is losing at a

fast pace. It is even harder to understand when the loss gets to a normal

point and I complain. If you are pre-op, please understand that this can

happen and you need to prepare yourself emotionally for it. I figured it

would be great to lose really fast and at first it was. Now the reality has

hit and I need to re-evaluate.

Kathy M.

DS 7/19/01

213 pre-op

154 today

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

You know, I didn't feel you were sniveling or doing anything other

than what you said, venting. I have to tell you that someone got all

over my case who was SMO. They felt that because my BMI is only 40,

I have NO business getting the DS and that I was taking the surgical

place of, or possibly ruining the opportunity for a SMO for surgery.

I think its pretty damn pompous for anyone to compare their pain, or

their struggle, or the amount of weight they have to lose as being

more critical, more difficult or more " Valid " than yours.

No one has walked in your shoes. Just the amount of pounds that need

to be lost do not define the entire necessity for surgery. You are

very petite and that 100 pounds probably puts as much stress on your

frame as 200 pounds would for someone who is 8 inches taller. You

met the NHI qualifications for BMI. You are fighting your battle, and

I respect so highly that you are introspective enough to realize that

your perseptions right now, may just not be healthy for you. Thats a

tough one, as all of us have been at affect of our weight our whole

lives. Now that you seem to have a handle on it, you want your

battle to be over, but it seems you have no less fear than anyone

else.

The hardest part of this surgery to me, is that those with a lot more

weight to lose, tend to reach goal much faster than those with less

weight to lose. Its an interesting paradox. You, on the other hand

were losing weight at an alarmingly fast rate, and I am so thankful

that your body is stabilizing and that you are slowing down. It would

be great if you could reach goal in six months and have this struggle

behind you, but its not the healthiest way for you. Please remain

strong, pray for patience, and do follow up with the therapy just for

your own peace of mind!

Sending hugs in your direction.

Remember, there are a lot of us here who will support you, even if it

is just to hear what you are saying...and then kick you in the bumm!

grins

Theresa

> In a message dated 10/24/01 5:38:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

> duodenalswitch@y... writes:

>

>

> > quit sniveling

>

> You are right, I was sniveling. But I should clarify that I fought

for 18

> months with my insurance to get surgery. From the time I started

researching

> until I had surgery was 3 years. The only way I got insurance

coverage was

> by changing insurance companies during open enrollment and working

with my

> regular doctor trying to lose weight for 6 months with Xenical. I

know a lot

> of people on this list would be very happy with where I started,

but at

> 5'1.5 " , 213 is a lot. I also tended to carry it all in my middle

and I had

> lots of co-morbidities. I guess all I am saying is that I was in

the same

> spot a lot of people who are fighting insurance are in.

>

> I think my biggest problem is that the weight loss can be

addicting. Having

> so many people tell me how good I look is hard to turn down. My

close

> friends are all very worried about me and my surgeon is watching me

very

> closely. I have been told by my surgeon that if the loss doesn't

slow down

> soon I would have to start taking an enzyme with my food to absorb

more. I

> could never understand people who would have a hard time eating

enough food

> until now. After having weight problems for years, it is so hard

to make

> myself eat more. In my case, surgery is working a little too

good. As much

> as this may make some people feel like they wished they had the

same problem,

> it isn't as good as it sounds. I obsess over everything I eat and

have

> nightmares if I eat anything without nutritional value. Last night

I had 1/2

> biscuit and was upset all night about it. Now that I have seen a

slowdown in

> weight loss, I feel even stronger that I need to control everything

I eat.

> My brain knows slower weight loss is better, but the rest of me

just isn't

> listening. I think at this point I may need to see a counselor to

work this

> out. It seems I have traded one food problem for another. In my

case it was

> correct to say my weight problem was due to an emotional issue.

>

> I am sorry if I upset anyone. I know my problem isn't common and

when you

> are overweight it is very hard to sympathize with someone who is

losing at a

> fast pace. It is even harder to understand when the loss gets to a

normal

> point and I complain. If you are pre-op, please understand that

this can

> happen and you need to prepare yourself emotionally for it. I

figured it

> would be great to lose really fast and at first it was. Now the

reality has

> hit and I need to re-evaluate.

>

> Kathy M.

> DS 7/19/01

> 213 pre-op

> 154 today

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> -

>

>

> Kathy:

>

> There are thousands of people reading your post who wish they had

> such problems. You need to keep in mind that there are people who

> want this surgery so bad they can taste it, but their insurance

> companies won't pay for it and they can't afford it on their own.

Be

> thankful for the opportunity that you have been given and quit

> sniveling. I am sorry to be so bitchy about it,

To iwillbethin2000

Yes, that was bitchy, and unkind. There's a difference between

informative " fights " and just being mean spirited. I haven't had the

surgery yet but I can certainly understand what Kathy must be

feeling. Please try not to let your emotions cause you to take your

sadness out on others. Thank you,

Tracey in San Diego