man has WLS for free

It is not just drug addicts the same thing goes on with alchoholics too.I know first hand ,thanks to my father in law, who I care for on a daily basis.He was diagnosed with diabetes 15yrs ago so he went on SSI and countinued to drink he has had numerous strokes and heartattacks he still drinks and is now on Dyalisis 3x a week,has had his leg amputated and still drinks.He knows he is dying because of the drinking but when my older sister asked him why even go to dyalisis if your going to kill your self drinking when some one else who truly needs it could use the time ,he said "why not medicare pays for it."Do I love my father in law ?Yes. Am I compassionate to him in his last days?Yes. Do I condone what he is doing NO! Do I believe that they(medicare) should keep paying for someones treatment who is defying the purpose of dyalisis?No. But that is my opinon.The same as if I were to have surgery and gain all my weight right back then I defeated my purpose to get healthy in haveing it in the first place. Joy

Hey Theresa, I do consider that I know you, and can count on your rants, humor, compassion, and depth of knowledge on the human condition. You tell it like you sees it, but never have you come across as anything but fabulous as a human being. Drawing an analogy with any meaning requires putting images and situations into words that do not necessarily reflect your personal feelings towards that person, place, or thing. I would take salt of the earth, heart of gold, true to your heart, you - to take care of my brain fried, on government money relative, any day. It was observation you were making on the disparity in coverage, not judgement on how that person should be cared for. I know it is all of us that are chipping away at the misconceptions of society as to what obesity truly is. Watching scenes in movies, and comments from people I know (that have no idea what ignorance they are speaking) that there is a long, long ways to go. I hope that our progress, at least can move some of the more legal issues like insurance coverage forward. I do not believe you can have a fat ass at 149. One of these days I am going to see it and judge for myself! Patty

Hi patty, big hug and smooch for you.. you brought tears to my eyes for what you said. THANK YOU!! now for this fat ass thing.. yes, honey you can have a saggy, baggy, fat ass at 149.. believe me.. a very tight pair of levi's and all is good!! but with out? I am dragging this thing on the floor!! and the sad part about that is that it's so crinkled and dimpled that it doesn't even make a good mop!! luv's ya Theresa

My Dear Theresa, I know it must seem I have fallen off of the face of the earth....but I do lurk about the board and I am very often touched by your humor, thoughtfulness, and kindness to others. Please don't let one person's misunderstanding of your rant stop you from speaking your mind. Most of the time you speak my mind as well....and it is good for my soul to see the words. Sometimes you speak them before they are even organized thoughts in my head and I find myself saying "Yeah! That's totally what I felt!"...or "Oh my god, I know what you mean girl!!". Anyway....you are a dear, dear woman. It is clear that caring for people is your calling, because you truley DO care! I miss talking to ya! Sorry I'm so scarce these days! -Mary P

MARY, you are still amoung us!! I miss you too!! and thanks for the kind words.. don't worry though I am not running away from my local board... I am alot tougher skinned than that. and stop speaking my mind? hell, no one has ever been able to stop me from doing that!! LOL I don't get to post as much or even read that much anymore becuase I am so busy with not only my biz but life in general.. I am gonna try to get something together for next month after the crazy season is over and put back away.. hope your up for it and make time to come out and say HELLO.. give me a call some day.. would love to hear from ya Theresa

Hi Theresa, I agree totally with you. I also think the way insurance companies handle weight issues is flawed. Our insurance will cover a drug addicts treatment but NOT weight loss surgery... It will cover treatment for alcoholics but NOT weight loss treatment, etc. RIDICULOUS!!!! I have been around addicts and drunks as well and have very little faith that they ever truly kick their habit, at least none of the ones I have known have dispite treatment. I find society to be VERY frustrating with regards to weight issues though. I recall one time I went to the doctors about an ingrown toenail or something and happened to mention something about wanting to lose weight. The next thing I know, I am getting a bill from the insurance because they considered the whole appointment to be weight related. I of course fought it and won but that is how paranoid some companies are. My husband is the one who gets insurance from his job and he works for a state college! We keep hearing all of the publicity about the better wages and benefits of public employee jobs but I just don't see it. His wage is definitely less then what the average family brings in and I know way more people who have gotten approval for surgery who have non-public jobs and get their insurance thru work. Anyway it is easy to be slightly bitter about this whole weight issue as a disease and the injustices of it. Best wishes, Teresa

Teresa - I'm a state employee and live in the WRONG area, but you live close enough to Salem where your husband should be able to get Kaiser during open enrollment. Kaiser covers wls for those with bmi's over 50. You should have him check into it! Dina