Telling people about surgery...
Good for you! I'm sure it felt great to prove him wrong like that:) So far I've had no doctors react negatively when I mention the surgery. But luckily I go to a weight loss center through the hospital I chose and they are all in one building. The doctor I have to see every month, psych, nutritionist and exercise consultant. I absolutely love it there. They are really helpful and know exactly how to get people approved for insurance. I'd had a bad experience with another hospital before this though. They basically sent me out there to make all these different appointments with different doctors and I felt like I was just being thrown out there not knowing at all what I was doing. I almost actually gave up on the whole WLS idea and a year later decided to give it another go. I'm sure I'll be more than happy I did.
Before surgery, I followed a strict diet and exercise program for one year. I lost a total of 12 pounds. That happened several times and my weight loss always ended up being a pound a month and weight would come back when I went to normal eating.
The surgery took away my hunger, gave me more energy, and for the first time in many years the weight actually came off and stayed off.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
My Doctor didn't not want to fill out the referral for me. Stated that 'if everyone who was overweight got the surgery we would have an epidemic on our hands'. What? a health epidemic??
At a future appointment for something unrelated (flu shot maybe) she stated 'you are done losing weight, right?' in an almost accusatory tone. I stated that my goal was to reach a healthy BMI and I wasn't there yet. She shook her head and walked away.
I'm there now. Healthy BMI and never happier. Its almost 2 years post-op and I'm holding steady so far. I love my new life.
Oh, and p.s. other than the medical professionals I dealt with along the way, no one in my life knows I had surgery except for my husband. I found all my support through these boards and decided to keep it to myself in my everyday life.
Surgery Jun.2/17 at TWH ----- HW 215 - SW 197.2 - GW 125 CW 124.6
Pre-Op=8.8lbs --- Optifast= 8.4 (was on it for 9 days due to cancellation)
M1 - 20.6... M2 -10.2... M3 -8.0... M4 -5.8... M5 -9.0... M6 -5.2... M7 -7.0... M8 -2.2... M9 -0.9... M10 -2.6... M11-0.6... M12-2.0
WHAT AN ASSHOLE YOUR DOCTOR IS!
ANN 5'5", AGE 74, HW 235.6 (BMI 39.2), SW 216, GW 150, CW 132, BMI 22
POUNDS LOST: Pre-op -20, M1 -10, M2 -11, M3 -10, M4 -10, M5 -7, M6 -5, M7 -6, M8 -4, M9 -4,
NEXT 10 MOS. -12, TOTAL -100 LBS.
agreed, unfortunately there is a shortage of family doctors where I am so I'm kind of stuck with what I've got.
Surgery Jun.2/17 at TWH ----- HW 215 - SW 197.2 - GW 125 CW 124.6
Pre-Op=8.8lbs --- Optifast= 8.4 (was on it for 9 days due to cancellation)
M1 - 20.6... M2 -10.2... M3 -8.0... M4 -5.8... M5 -9.0... M6 -5.2... M7 -7.0... M8 -2.2... M9 -0.9... M10 -2.6... M11-0.6... M12-2.0