| October 29, 2004 |
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| POSTED ON TMB:
I was reading a post on the main message board and it got me to wondering. Before you had WLS or started looking into it, were you ever approached by a stranger about WLS? What was your reaction? Did them talking to you help you decide to have the surgery? Would you ever walk up to a total stranger and tell them about the surgery if you thought that it might benefit them? Within the last year and a half I have been approached three times by perfect strangers about this surgery. I know that I am overweight and being approached upset me. I guess that it also could be because they all used my favorite line� You have such a pretty face, but you would be beautiful if you lost weight�. I finally decided to have the surgery because my doctor suggested that it might be best for me. Once I have the surgery, I want to share how great it is with everyone but I don�t think that I will approach total strangers people about it. Shawna Surgery date 11/08/04 MY RESPONSE: No one ever approached me about WLS prior to my having it done. In fact, I'm usually so oblivious to the world, that I didn't really realize that so many people were having the surgery until after I had already decided to have it. I'm remember hearing about Al Roker, but it seemed like such a "hush-hush" sort of thing. When I was in elementary, my sister approached my parents about wanting to have the surgery (she was in high school); she ended up deciding not to have it, but that day has been firmly stuck in my memory b/c I knew that I would have the surgery when I got older. About a year ago, I casually mentioned to my gyn that I was thinking about having WLS and wanted to know how to go about doing it. She informed me that a friend of hers had just had the surgery. My gyn gave me the lady's name and number to talk to her. It took me a couple months to actually call the lady, but she is the one who gave my Dr. Naaman's name and number. Everything just kind of snow-balled from there. I would NEVER approach a stranger out of the blue telling her that she needed to have the surgery. I would have been mortally offended if someone had done that to me. I am like Cheryl in that I have no qualms about sharing my story and experiences with WLS. Right now, I'm working on convincing my mom to have the surgery b/c I want her to live long to see any children that I may have in the distant future. Mickey 229/180/??122?? OTHER RESPONSES: 1. I was never just approached on the street or anything like that, but one day when I went to play group with my son another young woman who had recently had WLS was sitting next to me and was talking to me about it. She didn't just offer the information to me, a friend said, "Hey this is Amanda, she just had gastric bypass surgery," and that's how the conversation got started. If it wasn't for her I would never have even considered the surgery. But she was my age and she had come out perfectly healthy. I want to share with people about my experience just because I can see the hurt and the sadness that obesity causes in people's faces, but I don't think I would do it unless they were a friend. It's too much of a touchy subject and I am very nonconfrotational (to me that's confrontation). Curious to see what everyone else has to say! Angelina open 253/207/140 2. I was approached by a stranger about WLS and it changed my life. I had been thinking about WLS for quite some time, but would never take the next step to talk to a doctor or go to a seminar. Fear kept me from doing anything else. I was traveling a lot at the time and happened to be going to the same place for 6-8 weeks, so I would see some of the same people every week on my flights. It was my last trip to this site, so I was excited to be going home. On the flight I sat next to a gentleman I had see on my flights many times. He started talking to me and although I am not usually chatty after being with clients for 3-4 days, I followed along in the conversation. After a few minutes, he proceeds to tell me that he's been wanting to talk to me, but didn't know how to approach me. I didn't know how to take this, but listened to what he had to say. He pulled out his wallet and showed me a picture. He said the picture was taken of him almost a year ago. I couldn't believe it. The picture was of a man weighing at least 100 lbs or more. He then tells me about how WLS changed his life. I burst into tears. I was hoping for some sort of sign from God that what I was thinking about doing was the right thing for me. This man was the sign I was looking for. Hugs, Jenny 3. My Mother was one of the first people in the state of Texas to have a RNY done, almost 12 years ago. A few years after her surgery, she talked to me about it. I just brushed it off. When I was working in Houston a few years ago, there was a co-worker there that had a VBG done. She tried to talk me into having the surgery. I was appauled, but appreciated her concern. It was not until I hit rock bottom that I decided to look into the surgery. I can remember going to my chiropracter to get adjusted and he was not there. The massage therapist made up for it by giving me a back massage instead. Her and I began to talk and my weight came up. I told her that I was considering WLS, and that is when she told me that she had WLS. She shared her doctors name and phone number. The next day I called...and well, the rest is history. I am like you, I would LOVE to share my story and journey with others I see struggling...but I am not sure how to approach them. I have talked to a few people, who have asked me. Sometimes I feel like having a shirt made that says "I lost over 140 pounds...ask me how I did it" But I know people would think I was crazy then! Have a wonderful day! Heather 327/185/170 -142 pounds, 15 pounds from goal 4. I have never approached someone who is obese to tell them about the surgery. I decided that I would have been horrified, pi$$ed off, and crushed if someone had done that to me. Two friends of mine had it done. Neither of them forced information on me or anything - they answered questions if I had them. My best friend Pam and I were going to a diet doctor and she said, "Ya know, I think we should have weight loss surgery together." That's when I started talking to one of my previously mentioned friends about it, started researching, etc. I tell EVERYONE who asks how I am losing weight / lost weight how I did it. I have NO qualms about it. Some of them are shocked. I've only had ONE man say it was the easy way out and after I explained to him how it was SOOooooooooooooooo not the easy way, he told me he had no idea how complex and intense it was. I choose to tell everyone who asks - and you know how word travels.... many people have approached me and asked me about it, who my surgeon is, etc. Cheryl N. |
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