Comments on: Wish I hadnt said a word

By: Britt Arielle

Britt Arielle — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 11:50:33 +0000

Oh Brenda, that sucks.
My surgeon told me that having WLS is abit like adoption (or pick any
one of those life changing things which people sometimes undertake) -
til you have LIVED it you have no idea what it is like to DO it, let
alone consider it.
This was in response to my saying I was not telling many people I’d
decided on WLS. I told my best friend because I needed SOMEONE to talk
to about what I was discovering on this journey and she tries very hard
to be supportive but she really doesn’t “get it”.
I contemplated telling my Manager because obviously I’ll need some time
off work. Instead I decided to simply tell him I was going to see family
when I booked the annual leave. He didn’t question it and I wont have to
put up with any stupid comments / jokes.
To get the day off to see the surgeon originally, I told him and my
colleagues I was going to see a therapist / hypnotist to assist me in

wl. The next day I got back to a box of chocolates open on my desk to
“tempt me” .. to test the work that had been done the day before. All
the people I work with are thin and always have been. I was not
surprised but I was abit more resolute to not say a WORD to any of
them!!
I’m sorry your lot are so negative. I believe it IS out of genuine
concern and also ignorance. Concern for you because any surgery has
risks and because WLS is seen as “drastic” and ignorance because they
don’t realise how much you have gone thru to get to this point. You
can’t UNsay it but you can simply smile serenely (whilst gritting your
teeth!) when you get the “oooh don’t do it, try diet xyz” and say
“thanks, I have made my mind made up.” then try and change the subject
perhaps?
And of course the ultimate “take that” will be when you’re melting
pounds and feeling sooo much better then you can say “hey check this out
.. as you show off your new self ” to all the naysayers!
Dont give up. This is the decision that will change the course of your
life. You made it for a reason/s. Find those reasons again and reaffirm
it in your mind then set to ignoring the negative people as best you
can.
Joan
(who is even more determined not to tell another living soul about her
WLS!)

By: Carissa Kristian

Carissa Kristian — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 03:43:07 +0000

Hello Brenda,I had my surgery on July 29, 2002. My boss tried to talk me out of
having it askiing ‘are you sure that you don’t want to try another diet first
before you make this drastic change’? I said, no more diets, I am 535lbs and I
have to do something else, I am 41 years old. Our Human Resources person went
as far as to tell me that he knew 3 people that had this surgery, two died, one
during surgery, one of infection and the other is doing ok so far… ok. I went
forward with the surgery thinking, ‘ they will see, in a few months when I have
lost the weight, they will all be telling me how great I look and what a good
decision I had made. WEll, it is May now and I have lost 160lbs so that puts me
at 375lbs and you know what they say to me? Well we see you every day so it is
hard for us to tell a difference! OMG, it is hard for people to eat there own
words sometimes and suck it up and admit they may have been wrong. Well, I have
to tell my self on a daily basis, ” I did not do this for them, I did it for
me!” So that is what you tell yourself, do it for yourself no one else because
in the long run you are the one you have to live with, not them… dede

duncanlewisville Tx

By: Alexis Jolynn

Alexis Jolynn — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:39:54 +0000

Brenda, Almost all of you have been there at one point or another. Must be
human nature for people to be so inclined to be negative about subjects they
know little about. I had many friends and relatives that “knew someone who knew
someone” with a bad WLS experience. They were scared for me and thought a I
might be a touch crazy to even consider it. You know, my two year anniversary
is coming up in a couple of weeks. I’m so healthy, so happy, and so “normal”
that you couldn’t get one of those former naysayers to say anything negative
about my surgery if you held a gun to their heads. It is so easy to be
influenced by other’s opinions, but you must trust in yourself and your own best
judgement. Keep reading everything you can and make your own decision. You are
the only one that has to live your life.
Best wishes,Lisa Bennett
open rny 5/23/01Dr. Alison Clarey, D.O.- 118 lbs!