Question:
DO YOUEVER FEEL LIKE A FAT PERSON TRAPPED IN A THIN BODY ?

I am where I need to be weight wise. BUT , I had a real flash back last Wednesday. I had to go to a cardiologist for an echocardiogram. I was explaining some of my medical history to the tech. about WLS and she was obviously quite ignorant and said well, I just don't understand how people can let themselves get that way. (obviously she didnt see the morbidly obese person lurking inside of my 135 pound body. ) I did my best to talk about hormones, heredity, other health issues. etc you know the story. she says to me well THEY just need to exercise more. I said it is awfully hard when your knees, feet, back etc are in awful pain when you do. Then she says well then THEY should jus t stop eating. I in my usual beating my head on a brick wall mode tried to explain, and she says - well I eat 2500 + calories a day and *I* dont gain all that weight. All I could say was well then you are very lucky, BUT it may catch up wth you someday. and shut my self up. You know - leaving I felt like the old morbidly obese person I was before instead of the healthy looking beautiful person I am.... My self esteem was in a rat hole. I felt my self moving slow and heavy and felt just HUGE. I had to really look at my self in the mirror to see if the 125 # were back. Then I had to go buy myself a brand new black leather coat size Med and some med petite sweaters. At least I didn't go on an eating binge and I feel pretty again. I feel like saying something to the cardiologist about his employee when I go back tho.    — **willow** (posted on January 18, 2004)

January 18, 2004
wow willow, i am glad i was not there, she would have gotten a ear full, i honestly feel you should report her to who ever is her supieor...what she was doing is abuse, and she is a judgemental you know what..bet if you went in her closet she would have lots of imperfections. be proud of your self, you have accoplished sooo much, its so hard to not once in a while feel that way..i have lost 87 pounds and sometimes feel like i have lost nothing alt all sounds weird...but sometimes i jsut feel so big lol...keep care and big hugs to ya
   — sweetdarling_ab

January 18, 2004
Willow ~ I def agree with the other poster...She needs to be reported to her superiors and also to your physician, who referred you to that office. I can completely relate to your post tho. I def feel like a fat person trapped in a thinner body. I still have that intense protective mechanism to protect the integrity of all of us who have struggled with our weight. Just because we're in a smaller size now, doesn't mean we have forgotten what it felt like to be in those larger sizes, for most of our lives. Shame on that nurse for taking such an insensitive approach to individuals struggling with their weight. Incidentally, GREAT Choice of attire for a 'feel good day'!! You'll have to post pictures of your new leather coat! And a size Med Petite!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!
   — chelle3081

January 18, 2004
I'm not at goal yet but I have lost 100 pounds, and before WLS I felt the opposite there was a thin person deep inside, trying to get out and get free. And even though I have lost weight I still wonder if people still see me as MO,ie... But I dont get the stares like I did 9 months ago before surgery. Its too bad some people, like the tech you were speaking of are so ignorant about obesity, sometimes I just want to say ITS A DISEASE dumb a?? but I refrain and keep my mouth shut, but on occasion I have gotten a little nasty back if it warrented. I guess those people shouldnt judge others until they walk in our shoes. :0) enjoy the ride!
   — wizz46

January 18, 2004
I have had people forget where I came from and joke with me about someone overweight...I'm always quick to defend that person and always add a "boy I wonder what you use to say about me"...shuts most folks up real quick. But yes, I *am* a fat person in a smaller body...I'm just really afraid that some day she's going to take over again. I fight her back pretty good, so far. When I'm with overweight people and over eaters and we all start that frantic discussion about our favorite food, I'm right there in with them with the most gruesome fattening food thoughts oozing out in the conversation. I say, see, don't let the body fool you, I'm a fat girl at heart. Unfortunately that is who I have to contend with every day. Whew, it's a full time job trying to keep that fat girl down. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 282/140/125
   — KimBo36

January 18, 2004
I'm with Dawn on this. Let me at her!! I for sure would report her. (my BP is up now)
   — ZZ S.

January 18, 2004
If you ever go back, bring a caddle prod.
   — mrsmyranow

January 18, 2004
Oops that's cattle prod. Someone didn't have their vitamins today.
   — mrsmyranow

January 18, 2004
Willow ~ Sorry to hear about your experience, and glad that you still recognize yourself as both pretty and worthy! I know what you mean about the fat person inside. I'm far from thin, but look fairly normal now. I am often conscious of the thought, when meeting someone new, that they just don't know that I'm fat. Not "they didn't know me when I was fat", but I truly think "they don't know that I AM fat". I don't know if that feeling ever leaves, but it certainly doesn't need to be reinforced by a medical tech.
   — Vespa R.

January 19, 2004
I would have at least let someone in that office know about her attitude - I am in the medical field and unfortunately, some areas do NOT teach professional manners. However, there is no excuse for ignorance - I once had to correct a potential doctor who told an obese client that he could not draw her blood due to her weight - I had no problem drawing her blood because it is about anatomy and which I studied well. Some patient have moving veins or deep veins and could weigh 100 or 300 pounds. Also, I recall an incidence where someone had had WLS and now hated anyone who was overweight - go figure that?
   — Anna M.

January 19, 2004
Please report her to your doctor. I will never forget the people like her in the medical professions who dont understand and really dont care about the obese, from the mamagram tech to the lab tech, doctor, dietician, etc. No not everyone is like this maybe about 20% in the field are though..they should find another job. Obese stop seeking medical treatment because they are frustrated, embarrassed, etc. "been there done that"...Thank God still alive to talk about it!
   — debmi

Click Here to Return