Black Experiences

Hello ....I have some questions for you.....What issues or concerns are unique to the black community in regards to bariatric surgery? Do blacks have a different experience or the same experience to whites when it comes to bariatric surgery? What motivated you to have the surgery? Has having surgery impacted your relationships with significant others positively or negatively? What are some of the barriers or specific issues affecting blacks who get bariatric surgery? Did you have supportive people in your life through this process? Were there any conflict issues with friends, family, or significant others?

I am not the official representative for black people on earth so I can't answer for the black community as a whole.

But I can speak on my individual experience.

I can honestly say that 99% of the people disagreed with the surgery. They felt I should do it "the right way" since i've had success with dieting & exercise in the past. The fact that the success never lasted meant nothing to them other than to prove their point that I should have kept doing what I was doing.

People felt like elected surgery was to be avoided at all costs.

I was motivated to have the surgery because I wanted to increase my life span and also increase the level at which I was enjoying the life I did have.

The surgery has affected my relationship adversely because my hormone levels are out of control and I find myself wanting to have sex with every attractive woman I see. I fight really hard to control my impulses.

As far as barriers to surgery, I'll answer that generally by saying that for most people, insurance coverage and social/family acceptance are probably the biggest barriers to them having the surgery.

My process was a lonely one as I had little support since people didn't want me to have the surgery in the 1st place. But that was fine because I didn't do it for them, I did it for me. Their opinions were duly noted for the record...but then I went ahead and did it anyway.
 

 I don't think that the experience for blacks is much different than the experience for whites.  I do feel that the amount of support that you have is the key.  If your family, friends and love ones support you it makes the process alot easier.

As for me, my family supported me in their own way.  My mom is happy that I had the surgery, but is tell me should you be eating that much.  Can you eat this or that, and other rude comments, but that is somewhat her personality when it comes to me.  My boyfriend stated that he like me better when I was bigger.  He also stated that I look unattractive to him naked.  My son does not care one way or the other, he loves me regardless.

People will treat you totally different.  You will get attention that you did not receive in the past.  I have men flirting with me constantly, but it takes a strong mind to handle it.  

Thank you SGRAY1.....I find it interesting that your boyfriend said that he liked you better when you were bigger....I wonder about that, I wonder if it is because your turned less heads when you were bigger, maybe you got less attention, had less confidence...I have heard people say things like their boyfriends of husbands liked them when there were bigger, ....now that you are smaller, i wonder is he scared that you may leave him....i also wonder what he looks like, i mean if he is nervous that you may decided to pick someone more attractive then he is...i find this very interesting.....anyways, thanks. I wonder was he supportive when you were trying to get the surgery? Did he know the changes that were going to happen to your body?

I believe our experience is the exact same.  I will say that almost 95% of the people I know disagreed with me having surgery.  My primary motivators were myself, wife, and kids. 

I can't eat what others are eating and not any where near what I could eat.  So its difficult to go out to eat.  Half the stuff you can't eat anyway. 

My wife and kids are extremely proud of my progress and that's all that counts.