Question:
Not really a question... just need some support

I had WLS 9/11/00 and lost most of the weight the first year. I was maintaing my weight at around 145 and am 5'7". This past August I had a bowel obstruction that I had emergency surgery for. After I got home from the hospital I noticed that my weight dropped to around 130. Though I still had a normal BMI, I did feel uncomfortably thin and I've since regained to 138 (wearing a size 4) and like where I'm at. Little did I realize the reaction I would get from friends/coworkers/family. My mother is now under the impression that I'm aneorexic though I politely asked her to research the topic thoroughly before offering a "motherly" diagnosis. I also found out through the work grapevine (don't you love those) that other people think I'm aneorexic as well. Though I'm very hurt by people discussing me behind my back, I'm wondering if any of you are going through the same thing. I checked the library and found similar topics and answers but I can really use a hug right now :( Seems that only WLS people can understand me right now.    — Mary A. (posted on October 27, 2003)

October 27, 2003
You got it. Here is big hug from me to you. As if you haven't been through enough already. Seems as if people don't have enough nerve to ask a question, so they make up answers. Maybe they were just concern. Makes you want to stand up and yell---I'm okay, leave me alone. The main thing is that you are okay. Next week the work grapevine will be talking about someone else. Hang in there. I hope it gets better.
   — june22

October 27, 2003
I see people throw around those terms as if they know what they mean. They mean "too thin" or "thinner than you were" and yet label it as a killer disease. ??? If you gained 10#, they'd be all over you for "even surgery failed for her". I'm not sure why MY weight is of such great interest in my lil personal world. I swear if I swing more than 5# in either direction people need to know exactly what I'm eating and AM I eating. Like they have any clue what I SHOULD be (or not) eating. WEll, here's a hug and a sympathy pat. 9 yrs I've been hearing people how much I should (should not) weigh. LOL!
   — vitalady

October 27, 2003
(((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Don't you just love it when people are so jealous or envious of someone's new figure that they have to cheapen it by telling others that you have to be "sick" or "crazy" to get it? Keep your head up high and let them see you eat. If they still say you are anorexic, then they are just ignorant. Let me share this one piece of advice that my blessed Grandmother(God rest her precious soul) left to us in my family.....The only opinion of you that REALLY matters is yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I work with people who like to do and say things to hurt people too and my husband and I have decided that if anyone asks a stupid question about my weight loss, then they are going to get a stupid answer. We are going to tell them that I tried everything to lose weight and finally decided to take up "smoking crack" and boy did it work!!!!!!!!!! LOL
   — CAMFR

October 27, 2003
I lost down to 160 by a year post op, wearing 12's and I felt that I looked heathy and was happy where I was. I had to have surgery to remove an ulcer at 1 year post. Because of that surgery I lost down to around 125-130 and looked sick. ( 5'7" )I tried for several months to put the weight back on and now a year later still weight 130. sigh. Anyhow, at the time I worked in an office with 200-300 women, many with weight issues of thier own. Everyone quickly found out about my surgery, thats the nature of an office of women..and I became the topic of everyones discussion for about a year. I didn't really care as that just isnt important to me. Basically I'm of the opinion 'screw you and your opinions'. Sad, but gossip just isnt my cup of tea. Most of the talk was generally positive until I had that second surgery. Then all of a sudden the talk went to how awful this surgery is, how dangerous it can be, that I almost died, and now I am anorexic, mentally sick, and that I didnt see it. No one but the people that I worked closly with even bothered to ask me anything about what happened, or about the surgery in general. Those close to me knew the story and were honestly the only ones that I cared even knew. Let them talk....next week it will be somone else. As far as your mom is concerned, explain to her what you feel, explain to her what anorexia actually is and that you are doing everything you can to be healthy. Don't worry about the coworkers, your mom is the only one that you truly need to 'educate'. Giant hugs. --Becky
   — RebeccaP

October 27, 2003
We are going to tell them that I tried everything to lose weight and finally decided to take up "smoking crack" and boy did it work!!!!!!!!!! LOL-------------------OMG!!!! Can I use that one?!!! That is too funny!
   — RebeccaP