FAMILY SUPPORT?

ANYONE HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING FAMILIES TO SUPPORT THEM? MY FAMILY IS SO AFRAID THAT SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME THEY ARE NOT VERY SUPPORTIVE OF MY DECISION, ESPECIALLY MY BOYFRIEND. TO ME NO ONE SEES THE BAD THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN IF I KEEP THIS EXCESS WEIGHT? PLEASE SHARE WITH ME YOUR PLIGHT

Yes I had the same problem as you. NO one in my family except for my oldest daughter wanted me to go for wls. I got flack from my entire family including my husband. I thought it over, but I was determined to do it as my doctor had told me that if i didnt lose weight I would end up in a wheel chair within 10 yrs or so. I have very bad arthartis in my back and i need two knees. I could not possible accept myself being in a wheel chair and weighing 500 lbs...or what ever...I did what I had to do and I only once thought to myself...What did I do??? but it didnt last long...just a fleeting minute or so. I had my surgery 5 months ago and down 70 lbs...which really isnt a lot when you compare me to other people on here. I am a slow loser but I have to say, I feel good. My back doesnt hurt and my knees are much better. They still hurt, but I think I can hold out for a few more years before I have knee surgery. You do what you have to do to take care of yourself and be happy and healthy. Don't listen to anyone but your doctor and yourself, especialy yourself. Only you know whats best for you. Carol b

Thanks so much carol, 70lbs is great what are you talking about!! This forum has been so great for me so far, it's actually helping me turn some family members around by showing local people whao were treated by the same doctors and hospitals I plan to use. Every one except my partner is starting to warm up, but he's just afraid. I can't wait to see the surgeon and get started on my path, this is all that's on my mind lately. It feels like finally I can succeed thank sm

it may be a little too late for this, but i have an idea. take your partner to the Support Group meeting tonight. It's at 6:30 at the Gerry House on RIH campus. Arrive early to get a seat. directions are located on the RIH website. off the topof my head, i think it's www.lifespan.org/rih they have a 3d map thats really helpful in finding the gerry house and parking. If, after this meeting, your partner is still concerned - then i'm not sure there's anything else that you, and your power, can do. it's up to him to be able to make the leap of faith that this surgery really does work! good luck! kristen*

Hey Carol, As a sister-slow-loser, I have to tell you 70 pounds is fantastic at five months!!!!!!! I am a week away from 4 months and according to my scale I've lost 58 pounds. If I go by doctor Roye's scale (I'd start crying) he said I've only lost 50 and should be ecstatic. His office scale is different from the one that I was weighed on in the hospital prior to surgery. That one weighed me the same as my home scale, which I'd stepped on before I left for the hospital. I'm only losing between one to two pounds a week right now, and I believe I'm doing everything right. It bums me out a little because I figure I could lose that kind of weight on a regular diet, but then I remember that I've been on regular diets, and the weight would always either stop coming off, or come right bac****ep thinking that's still going to happen, I keep waiting to fall off this diet. It's kind of a wierd feeling. Any way, yeah for you losing so much so fast!! I know exactly how you feel though, when you hear how so many others are dropping pounds like crazy. To me, you sound just that way. Pam