Milestones!!! Can you tell me your milestones???

Hello again friends! Last week I asked you guys to share experiences where the public had been insensitive to you regarding your weight. For anyone who didn't see that post - I am working on a lecture/article to lobby the insurance commissions, ADA and anyone else who will stand still long enough to listen on behalf of the obese. I genuinely feel like it's my mission in life to do everything I can to see that future WLS patients and obese people in general don't have to endure the discrimination and misery I experienced in the past simply because I was bigger than most people. You gave me enough posts and replies to fill a 37 page WORD document! I am STILL looking for stories on how the public mistreated you or was insensitive to you because of your weight but now I would like to follow the bad with the good and hear your milestones. I DO want to hear how many meds you were on and how many you've gotten off of but I also want to hear how you've begun to be more participatory in your life - I want to hear the wonderful, heartwarming stories. For anyone who might be concerned - I'm not using this info to write a book or make money or anything else! This information is strictly going to be used to help US - the ones who seem to be the last on earth who are still considered social outcasts. I'll share my milestone first. Here goes...........Before WLS I had Adult Onset Type II diabetes, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and was spiraling down fast! I'd begun to suggest that my husband and kids have a "boys day out" when they wanted to go to the park or Six Flags and such because I just couldn't do it. I'd become an observer in my life instead of a participator. When I had WLS I asked my husband what my prize would be if I lost 100 pounds. His answer was "Anything you want." So, being the romantic that I am, I told him I wanted him to take me to this scenic overlook and play "Could Not Ask For More" by Edwin McCain and dance with me. He agreed. (Can you believe it???) So I lost the 100 pounds and waited and waited to dance at the scenic overlook. One weekend Edwin McCain came in concert and Wade got tickets for us to go. When "Could Not Ask For More" came on Wade got up out of his seat and pulled me into the aisle and we danced while the song was performed live. Before WLS I NEVER, EVER would have considered standing up and dancing in front of all those strangers. I felt like 40 years of pain and misery from being obese just fell away and I was a normal person. It was joyous! A few days later I got a letter from Edwin McCain and an autographed photo telling me how proud he was of me. WOW! Since then we danced at the scenic overlook too. It was one of the high points of my life following WLS. In addition to the fun things - I no longer take any medication at all and can wal****il my hubby begs for mercy! Happiness and good health is so awesome!! Can I ask you post ops to share with me again? Can you tell me about the joys and health benefits you've experienced since WLS? I'm also happy to have more stories regarding public insensitivity toward the obese. You guys are the best and please know that I'm working hard to make the world a better place for all of us!

Hi Rona, I commend you for wanting to advocate for obese people. It's a much-needed area of expertise! I don't have any milestones yet because I am not having surgery until July 28th. However, I will share a story about being treated unfairly due to my size. I worked for a semiconductor company in Arizona for six years. During that time, I quickly moved up in the ranks until I landed in a senior coordinator position. I learned so much about the business that I found myself being the person that people came to when they had any questions about just about any area of the business my group dealt with. My performance reviews were all excellent and I was rewarded nicely with bonuses and a great salary. A product manager position was coming open in my group and my manager talked me into applying for it. He thought I would be a shoe-in because of my work ethic, performance, etc. He said he'd hire me for the position in a minute. But, I also had to interview with his boss, who was an executive V.P. I interviewed with him and was called into his office about four days after my interview. He danced around the subject for a while by telling me how qualified I am, how appreciative the company is for all my hard work, etc. He ended by telling me that while he thinks I would do well in the position, it entails a lot of vendor and customer contact, and he didn't think I projected the image that the company strives to project. Then he told me they had hired an outside applicant for the position. I, of course, was angry and crushed, and wondered what I should do. I eventually contacted the EEOC and was told by a gentleman there that they would like to investigate what happened. I told him I would like to think about it and I would get back to him. Well, lots of soul searching later, I decided it just was not worth it. I was going through a divorce and had a strong desire to return to college and obtain a social work degree. So, I called the gentleman at the EEOC and told him I had decided not to pursue any action against the company. I quit my job the next day and enrolled in school. This experience really proved what I had thought about for a long time... Despite all the diversity movements going on in the world today, size discrimination is alive and well. Best of luck to you, Rona! Shannon

Hi Rona, Lots of milestones, but this is the most recent that I posted on the March board: I'm down 70 pounds - but wait! That's not the exciting part. The exciting part is that the nurse took my bp with a regular cuff on the upper part of my arm. This is one of my major milestones. They always have to take my bp on the lower part of my arm or haul out the big ol' thigh cuff. I'm feeling positively svelte. Connie