I know they mean well, BUT....

If one more civilian (meaning non-fat, non-dieting, non-wls patient) tells me this surgery is not a "magic bullet" and "you know, you are still gonna have to work at it" I am going to scream. I am in no way an expert on wls. However, I have spent the past year reading about i****ching all the shows and talking to people. I don't really need little cousin Bitsy who never weighed more than 110 pounds in her life and only read about wls in People Magazine imparting her "wisdom" to me! But.....I smile and bite my tongue (which isn't easy) and thank her and all others like her for their "help" and support. Sorry, just had to rant.

Hi Kerri, don't appologize for ranting, we've all been there one time or another. I don't smile and thank them anymore. I tell them until they have been in my shoes, and in constant pain, then they don't know what they are talking about. And if they can't support my decision, then I don't want to hear their negative remarks. Mom finally just backed off. I have a half sister that I met 5 years ago. Her daughter had the surgery and a very hard time of it. So my parents are afraid that I will have a lot of problems and that I'll die from it all. Oh ye of little faith. Don't be afraid to tell them how they are affecting you. You don't need the negative remarks, or the put downs, that only stresses you out. Tell them if they can't accept you and your decision to under go this procedure and to be positive, then you don't want to hear their remarks about your surgery, they can keep their opinions to themselves. Good Luck Kerri, Kathy

I am not having to deal with negative remarks from the family at all. BUT, the psychologist that I had to see for my evaluation was very negative about the surgery. He even went so far as to tell me that he didn't think people were trying hard enough on their diets and that he thought the surgery was over-rated. Excuse me!!! I didn't go for his advice. I just wanted an approval letter for my doctor.

I always wonder about those approvals from the psychiatrist anyway. Is anyone with even half a brain going to go into the psychiatrist and say, "I just know that my husband will stop beating me if I lose weight!" Or "All I care about is being pretty since I never have been before in my life!" I don't think any of the psychiatrists really believe in the surgery anyway - they just have to make sure we say the right things so they can fill out their little reports in order to get paid. I just read that over and while I'm not going to change it, I'm sorry it sounds so negative. I guess the fact that my visit was so stressful has affected my outlook on all of them. Surely there must be some that are supportive and positive?

I got a bad egg also, he turned me down flat said I needed extensive thearepy (spelling) then turned right around and gave me the file to take to my PCP so I took out only one page that said I was inteliant enough to follow Dr.s orders and submited that and never went back to him lol I think he just wanted money

Not sure where Greenville is, but I saw Dr. Amos in Memphis and he was fantastic. He attends our monthly support group meetings at Baptist Hospital. His fee was very reasonable, and is is very supportive of WLS. Ron

Sounds like you had a great eval, Ron. Greenville is in the area of Johnson City and Kingsport. Drove thru it yesterday on my way home from Johnson City. I don't like going to a stranger for a psych eval. He doesn't know me, and that stupid test they make you take, caused him to give me a neg. eval. Three Dr.'s in the Elizabethton/Johnson City, denied me surgery because of that eval. Be worned folks. Kathy

I didn't take a test, we just talked for about an hour. This was my first visit with a Psychologist, I was apprehensive at first, but Dr. Amos was great. It may be worth a visit to Memphis. His fee was $150 + $45 for the report for the surgeon. Ron

I have a friend in Bean Station *****ally needs the surgery. I know it would be a stretch, but do you happen to know Marilyn Bacon who lives there?

I actually (thank God) got a very good and supportive psychiatrist. Her name is Dr. Linda Pitts in Clarksville, TN. She realized the the pain and problems I have gone through and she told me it would be work but she supports all of her patients 100%. She even stays home and on a beeper the day her patients go into surgery in case we need her to come calm us or even go into surgery and give positive thoughts throughout!