Girls who are on the heavy side.

1 in 200 die from ANY surgery. It is just that because this surgery has become so controversial that it gets a bad rap.

Here is the bottom line. Society has no tolerance for overweight people. I have been called a slob, lazy, fat, disgusting my whole life. Heavy people are viewed as people who are at a loss of control and do not want to do anything to help themselves. It couldnt be further from the truth. Sometimes there are just reasons why a heavy person cannot lose the weight. to this day, I do not, cannot and will not tolerate any derrogatory insults hurled at overweight people. The painful memories of being teased in childhood are way too vivid.

I have been heavy and thin in a very short period of time and people DO treat you differently. This has been MY experience.Suddenly, everyone wanted to be my best friend when I lost weight. It stinks. It is then when I found out the true nature of people.

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Posted by june262004

What you just wrote is so TRUE! Mike and I started dating when I was 14. For my 15 birthday He bought me a necklace that had our names and date on it (you know the ones) Well the kids in school made fun of me and said I bought it for myself! Thank god he loves me for ME and not my weight or what I look like. But kids are cruel and ADULTS are just as rude if not worse. Its just you get to a point where you don't know where that extra 40-60 pounds came from and you can't get it off. And now YOU ARE REALLY OVERWEIGHT! Its not healthy. And I want to be healthy and look good.

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Kristin, I want to say I understand completely. I was a really skinny kid when I was little, I never wanted to eat, so they force fed me and I got heavier. In HS I was a size 14/16, but athletic and very comfortable with myself. Since my car accidents, and bad eatin habits picked up from FH, I'm an 18/20 now. All I want SO badly is to be a size 10/12. I'm only 23 and my metabolism, whch was slow to begin with has slowed even more..I used to work out and the lbs would drop off, and now nothing. It's so frustrating.

Everyone's storeis about their surgeries are really informative..thanks for the info and insight. It takes a lot of courage t talk about tat stuff, and goldi, you look fantastic.

I hate the fact that it's like 'WHERE did these 4 extra lbs come from' I know I don't always eat right, but I really am a health food nut..so sometimes it's just other forces at work.

I don't think I would have the surgery unless I was a lot heavier than I am now. If I gained another 40lbs I'd consider it. First, have you tried everything else? Even the wmen who have have huge success sories would probbaly say it's a last resort. You mentioned never having tried a nutirionist..you should! Also, have you had your thyroid checked? My mother lost a LOT of weight by taking thyroid meds and glucophage. If you're overweight, you're either diabetic, or at risk, so these drugs can really help. My doctor prescribed them to me, but I was afraid to take them. Now I think I will. I really need the extra boost. Maybe they can be the boost you need, rather and surgery.

I know the surgery seems like such a good solution, but considering the dangers, you may want to try something else first. i know losing weight too quickly can cause kidney an gall bladder problems and 'saggy skin'..so maybe losing it at a more steady pace would be good (as long as you're losing, right?). If your doctor isn't giving you the testing you bneed, my doctor is really good about that..they ahve nutritionists on staff, and they have all kinds of methods..they've shwne me picturs of people who have lost 100lbs by following the nutritionist and using some supplements or whatever. It didn't work on me because I didn't really try it. I found what worked best for me was WW, and Im going to try that again along with the glucophage and thyroid meds. My thyroid is withing normal range, but it's really on the low side...the thyroid has such a WIDE range, that it can often be boosted with safe, cheap meds that have been around for a long long time.

Anyway, if you want my doctor's number or any other info, please feel free to FM me. Best of luck making your choice. I know it's so difficult, and I can't imagine that you're going to this as a quick fix, it must be after years of frustration.



Also..I wanted to add there are other methods like acumpuncture. it's expesnive (some pans cover it) and I can't explain to you HOW it works, but it's helped me with so many things. I've been wokring on my other problems though and haven't tried it for weight loss, but it's worth a try. it's not invasive and it's relaxing and totally safe

Thank you Ambersmom and Marymoon.

Jen you are right. A person should exhaust all efforts before this. I was seen by a nutritionist and by a psychologist to make sure that I DID try everything and that I was doing the surgery for all the right reasons. You are also right in saying that you nevr know when and how those extra pounds add up or where they come from .

When many of my friends were having gastric bypass, I was not heavy enough to be considered. I also thought I never would be heavy enough. 200 pounds was what I considered to be my 'danger zone. ' Once I would hit that mark I would diet. Guess what, 200 became 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 and finally 260. I was stuck and my life wasn't getting better. My health was suffering tremendously.

I also know so many people who are no longer dependent on diabetic meds after surgery. For these people, surgery can truly be a life saving procedure.

I should also mention that I am a bit older than some of you and at a different stage in my life. At 34 years old now (just turning 32 at the time of surgery), I would never have considered gastric bypass ten years before. It is a very restrictive procedure for a young person who may have a higher metabolic rate not to mention 'youth on their side'. Younger people simply lose weight easier as a rule.

I NEVER recommend surgery. If people have questions, I gladly answer them and inform them to the best of my ability. If there are questions I cannot answer, I refer them to the surgical practice I used. They have three surgeons and a nutritionist on staff. I still use the services of my surgeon as I do follow up blood work every six months to make sure my vitamin levels are good.

Surgery is not a quick fix. People who have this must realize that it is a complete lifestyle change. If you cannot commit to changing your lifestyle, then surgery, (or any other weightloss program) is not going to work.