Are you ashamed?

...of your surgery? I can assure you I am not.

A few months before my surgery, I began telling family and friends that I was getting the lapband. It's no secret to me, it's merely a fact and one that I don't mind talking about.

Not long ago, a friend of mine commented on my slimming body in a suit 2 sizes smaller than I previously wore. She asked if I am losing weight and I proudly told her yes, I am. She asked what plan I'm following and I proceeded to tell her about the lapband surgery and how it benefits me.

She than asked, "Aren't you embarrassed to tell people that?"

"No," I assured her, "I'm not."

"You're better than me, because I would be ashamed to share that information with anyone." she said.

"Ashamed? Really?" I asked her, wondering why I should feel embarrassed or self-conscious.

"I mean that you had to resort to such drastic measures to lose weight," she whispered, I guess afraid someone would hear our conversation.

I promptly replied, "What do I need to be ashamed about? The fact that I was afraid I wouldn't live another year because of weight related health issues? The fact that I want to run and play with my young children and enjoy life more fully? The fact that I made a decision, albeit a drastic one, to make some much need changes with the help of a surgeon and a tool? No, I'm not ashamed of anything...except this discussion. If I had a broken leg, no one would question my needing a crutch...well, my band is my crutch. I needed the support and I got it...in the form of my surgery. No, I'm not ashamed at all."

She promptly began to apologize for what she said, feeling she had offended me. I explained to her she didn't offend me with what she said, she said exactly what many people think, but are afraid to say.

No, I am not ashamed...are you?


Von a.k.a.
  Anumrzvee

Amen...I have no shame in making my health a priority! 

Just as I'm not ashamed to tell people today how my lapband failed me, I wasn't ashamed to tell people I was getting it, either. I went on TV,even. Our local news channel did a human interest story on me... 2 parts... 6 months apart. I had people recognizing me in department stores, restaurants, etc. It was disconcerting and weird feeling, but it passed.

Of course, NOW I really wish that I could go back on TV and tell the true outcome, but no one wants to hear about that because it's negative. The TV station even contacted me and when I told them about my series of life threatening complications, they informed me that their producer didn't want to be part of any malpractice and that they really couldn't put the rest of my story on the air.

Sorry you haven't had a good experience. I hope things get better for you! Thanks for replying to my post.


Von a.k.a.
  Anumrzvee

Thank you. I wish you the best.

Nic

Wow, Nic ---- I think that the human interest in your story is so important -- I am sorry that they don't want to follow up with you.

It is so important for people to know all of the possible outcomes from any type of elective surgery.

There are so many 'band mills' popping up -- with the billboards and promises of a quick fix.

There is so much desperation out there --- and the misinformation hurts us all.

Thank you for always being willing to share your story here - and remind us all that the band is not perfect and certainly not for everyone.

If there was a 'perfect', permanent, quick fix for obesity, they sure would not be selling it for 10K dollars.

Sorry, Kath, I almost missed this message. Thank you for your nice words. You're such a nice person. I sure agree with you about the "perfect" fix... I know I'd pay for that any day of the week! Alas, Science has not found the perfect fix yet, doggone it.

Nicci

I'm not ashamed of my band either.  My friends, family and co-workers all know I have the band...and most of them know how hard I work to lose this weight even with the band.  I watch my calories, carbs, and fat grams.  I exercise 9 hours a week.  The reason I am hesitant to tell new people is because they assume that the band has done all of the work and I do nothing and I just sit there and lose weight while I sleep.   When people comment about my weight loss and ask how I am doing it...I replay I watch what I eat and eaxercise my ass off...because I truly believe that is why I am successful.  I refuse to give my Band all of the credit.  All my band does is control my portions...and even that I have to watch sometimes.  I love my band but to me it's like comparing it to a puppet.  The puppet doesn't do the work the hand under the puppet does.   

NO  SHAME at all with me. In fact, I wear my wedding picture on my ID badge (I got married prior to my lap band surgery) and people ask me all the time why I have my "sister" on my ID.  I proceed to tell them that WAS me... and tell them I had the lap band surgery.  Then people say, "wow you are a walking billboard!"  then I say yup and that's how I got my new job as a Bariatric Surgery Coordinator .
My pre-op and current pictures are on my hospital's Bariatric Brochure!  I also tell my store on our Bariatric Brochures too.  I get a lot of inquiries and I tell them flat out that I got the lap band and I follow the band rules as if they were my religion!

I do see the jealously in people when I tell them how successful I was with the lap band.  I have a lot of co-workers who have had WLS who were successful for a year or 2 then regained some weight back.  I tell them it is the life long commitment I made for myself and I plan on having it in my grave!

Woo hoo! Good for you! I can't wait to have my success story! Actually, let me stop! I already do! I just have a lot more to add to it!

Congrats on your weightloss!


Von a.k.a.
  Anumrzvee