Meeting people contemplating this surgery

The WLS center that I go to has me as an assistant facilitator to two of their support groups now.  I am also on a panel of other patients that have had surgery that goes in front of people who are in the training classes to get ready for the surgery.  I did that for the 2nd time last night.  It is an interesting experience.  They put us at the front of the room and each of us tell our stories and pass around our "before" pictures.  Then we are open to questions from the audience.  I can get disappointed from time to time that I didn't get under 200 lbs (I'm 242 now) and I'm very close to 2 years out (my surgiversary is May 23).  Even though I've lost around 150 lbs, it is hard to feel like a complete success.  When I am sitting up there though and all the people waiting to get their surgery walk in, morbidly obese and some super morbidly obese, it helps me remember how far I've come.  They are so hungry for knowledge and really see us like "rock stars" (well, that is what our leader tells us the patients are thinking...) Anyway, it is fun.  It feels so great to give people hope.  And even though I'm not thin, I'm still a whole helluva lot healthier than I was and it shows.  I needed that. Lori

It is strange you posted this. My department just moved to another floor. So far 4 women have come up to me and ask  me am I Patrice. They wanted to tell me how good I looked and wanted advise on how to start the process. Like you I thought, I still have a way to go. Of course I gave them this website. I was shocked and flattered at the same time. I have never seen or heard of these ladies before.  But they found me.

Those are great stories from both of you, just goes to show what shinning examples you both are!

greetings lori! long time, no talk.  i'm sorry you continue to feel disappointment. i know i consider you a success story!  talking to pre-ops like you're doing sounds like fun to me...which if you really knew me, you'd know how amazing that statement is! i've spent SO much of my life trying to be invisible (yeah, a 463 lb. invisible woman, sure!) now i'm saying it'd be fun to talk to strangers...phew, some days, i kind of wonder who i am?? anyhow, i think it's really wonderful that you're helping people who are interested in surgery. i'm sure they're getting great inspiration from you. deb