The Media Has Me Pissed!!!!

Hi ALL, This is my take on this whole darn 1/50 mortality rate from WLS thing. When you are Obese the statistics say blah blah blah % of Obese die. They say we are lazy that we have low self esteem and that we need to just pull back from the table. So, what do we do? we go on a diet and start to loose weight spend tons of money on the weight loss crap. Then what? We gain it back and then some, they say we did not try hard enough, we have no will power. Ok then we have a more permanent form of weight loss which is what? the surgery and now they say blah blah blah % died due to complications from the surgery. I said all of that to say this, we are in a no WIN situation with the Media and their @#$$%&$!!!! Statistics. I say to hell with them all, because we stand a greater RISK of MORTALITY by being Obese than we do haviing the surgery. Complications arise in every facet of everyday life. There are people who die from a routine exploratory surgery, do we hear about that? No. There are women who die giving birth, there are people who die after having a tooth pulled. But none of these things are broadcast. It is just another way to TRY and I stress TRY and keep the BIG KIDS DOWN!!! But here on OH we got news for them, we are NOT backing down, we say have fun with your statistics and CRAP because we are finally going to do something for US and we are going to stand up for what we believe in. That is why this site is so vital and it is so important to support one another because we have so many odds against us. This is not the worlds fight this is our FIGHT and together if we stand TALL we can win this thing. Good Luck to all of the PRE- OPS and just know that although this is not an easy task you have a lot of support here for you when you cross over. You can email me anytime and I will respond I will even call you if you need to talk. Just no that you are not alone we are here to help. Love ya!!! Adrienne

Adrienne, What you say is so true. We are in a battle against the media and also society. There is nothing good to say about obesity. All factors are against being overweight. I can literally feel the taxing I place on my heart everyday. I am just at the early stages of this journey. I just got an appointment to consult with the surgeon and it is scheduled for Jan. 29th. I am both frighten and excited. I can hardly believe that I could one day face myself in the mirror again. I spent a lot of time trying not to see the mirrors! I have read your story also and it is an inspiration. I will look forward to communicating with you in future emails. Pray for me as I work to reach the post-op side of the journey. Just think, I could really be smaller. It is soooo hard to believe. I have read so many peoples' stories and what a help they have all been. Thanks and thanks to all the others that share their journey. There are those of us out there that use those stories as a lifeline. Odessa Wilson

Hi Odessa, Thank you for the support. I am glad that my words can be of comfort to you at this time in period in your life. I also wanna congratulate you on your consult for 2 reasons and that is because you have taken the first step to a happier, healthier you, and secondly your consult is on a lovely day and that is my 10th Wedding Anniversary. So I just know it was meant for our paths to cross. Lots of luck to you and we will stay in touch. Adrienne

You go girl! Did you happen to see Oprah today? I sat there watching just shaking my head in agreement, especially about how we are poorly portrayed by media. And then she asks the questions...do the problems you had before surgery, the ones that made you eat, disappear after surgery? Oh please, get real. Of course your emotional problems are not going to go away after surgery; some will improve, but not go away. That is what support groups are for. Well, I just wanted to add my "bit" to your soapbox!