Interesting Reactions

I took the day off from work today to do a bunch of doctor appointments. I had this strange wartlike growth on my face that I had removed. Thankfully it was only there a little over a month, but they are sending it off to be biopsied of course. While there the doctor asked me to remove my shirt so she could check for other "growths" or "abnormalities". When I did I felt compelled to apologize for the extra skin. I told her I had lost a good deal of weight in the past 8 months. She asked how much and when I told her over 100 pounds she asked, "where are your scars?" I was confused for a split second and then I replied "I didn't have WLS." She gasped and looked at me and said, "you did this all on your own?" I told her that I had. Suddenly she was far more animated and said how amazing that was. After leaving the office lo and behold on the bottom floor was a plastic surgery practice. I slipped on in and they were amazingly nice and the patient rep person took me in after about 2 minutes, even without an appointment. She also asked when I had the surgery and I told her I hadn't. She was also amazed at how I had lost it without WLS. She said that 90% of their surgeries done on weight loss patients were as a result of WLS. Of course I made an appointment with them too, for the 10th of April. I'm going to go broke just on consultations!!! But I liked that they were very close to me, not 2 hours away. Last but not least was the gynecologist, where I discovered I had a uterus the size of a 12 week pregnant person. Yikes!! Perhaps that explains the breakthrough every day of the month beyond my period bleeding I am having!!! So I also felt compelled to apologize for the extra skin when he was doing the internal and pushing down on the fluff. He looked at my stomach and said, "where are the scars." I really had to hold back a burst of laughter, it had just gotten that amusing. Told him the same thing and he was shocked and said that it was an amazing accomplishment. (I go to a large practice and don't see the same gyn the once a year visit that I make.) I am heading out to an ultrasound in about 30 minutes to figure out why my uterus is so large. In either case, I was really surprised by the reactions from all three people. I guess that WLS has gotten so commonplace that people just aren't losing weight in the way we have all become used to. So here is a ^5 to all of us that are doing this, and gaining the shocked responses of people even in the medical community!!!! Donna

That's awesome Donna! See... we are living breathing proof that it IS possible to accomplish what SO many (including medical professionals) are becoming so accustomed to beleive is impossible without the assistance of surgery. We should really do something with this... -CJ

Hi Guys, I had the same thing happen to me. 1st time was a****er aerobics. One of the ladies there told me that I was looking great and asked which surgery I had! Then at work I started my diet about the same time two people had WLS. So everyone assumed I had it too. When they found out I didn't for about 3 days all kinds of people were coming up to me and asking how I lost the weight. I loved it. It did make me feel very proud. Ann 306/222/130 Non-op

Hi Donna, I got some of the same when I went for my consultation. I think it is sad that even health care professionals are thinking that WLS is the ONLY way to loose. Lynette

Isnt that fascinating that WLS has become so common that people just assume that you have had it when you start to lose a significant amount of weight? Even in my own circle of friends, I have two that have had the surgery so I imagine the medical profession sees this often. I hope and pray that the "old fashioned way" will work for me. Nancy

WTG, Donna! I had a similar experience at a physician's office last year, when my PCP's new nurse, noting my weight loss, asked when I had gastric bypass. It's nice we can be the exception to the rule. Best of luck. Kasey 365/210 (nonop)