Why?

Good news first: I went to see my gyn today, to let him know that I was considering wls. He was supportive of my decision, asked me questions about the procedure I was thinking of having done, even showed me that he had documented at all our visits since Oct. 04 that we discussed weight issues and exercise needs. That was a good thing. The bad thing came when he stepped out of the room to see his nurse to get her to pull up my BMI on the computer. He must have told her what I was there for because I heard her say in a critical tone..."What?!? She doesn't need that! She's not big enough for that." When I heard her, my heart fell...I almost started to cry. I asked him when he came back in the room..."How much do I need to weigh before others think I need to have wls?"...Do I actually have to be 200#'s to 300#'s overweight before people will quit giving me that type of reaction? So, I am considered clinically severely obese...1.6 pts on the BMI from being morbidly obese, with high blood pressure and various other problems...but I am not big enough for wls??? When I left his office, the nurse avoided looking at me. I could feel her disapproval. And just maybe, she realized that I heard her. Oh well, that is her opinion. I will just have to not let other's opinions get to me. But it still hurt. Just venting...T--resa

Don't get discouraged because of what you overheard. She probably doesn't know what the criteria for the surgery is and she's just voicing her opinion. Apparently, she doesn't know how NOT to judge and she should keep her opinions to herself!!! Heads up, OK?

Actually, I would have thought that was a "compliment" --that you were not THAT large!! But, I know that what people say does hurt, and when they don't know what they are talking about they need to keep quiet, but I've voiced my "opinion" on things I didn't know about before, too!! Just let it go and continue to pursue the surgery. If the BARIATRIC SURGEON says that you are not a candidate, then you can be pretty sure that you are not, but until then, don't let anyone else influence you!! Hang in!! Pam

I know you are right, Pam. That is the same thing that my sister-in-law told me. I attended my first support meeting last night. I really enjoyed it and even learned a few things there that I think were why I reacted the way I did. I feel guilty for wanting to do this for myself. And, YES, I know I deserve it, I need it and definately I want it. I think about the money, the time that this will (at first) take away from my family and I can't help but feel guilty. And I have been trying not to acknowledge this feeling of guilt. I was nervous to speak with my Doctors about this and expected to face disbelief and denial of my need for wls. So, when I heard this comment, which probably was not intended to be taken in the text it was, my worries were proven true (at least that is how I felt at the time). So, to make this long story short..........My head is high, my hands are holding tight and I will not give up. Because I, and my family, deserve a healthy and happy me. T--resa

T, To heck with the nurse, she was only that ..... a nurse! Her opinion is not important, and frankly, she didn't really have a right to have an opinion on your business anyway. If she avoided looking at you, it might have been because the Dr. told her to keep her big mouth shut or her opinion to herself.......... how else would she know that you said anything. Otherwise, I would have expected her to be sneering down her nose............ I bet the Dr. told her to keep her comments to herself and not offend any more patients!!!