Question:
Does anyone else feel nervous/embarrassed?

I went to my new PCP yesterday after my other one withdrew and the new doctor is an absolute gem. The two docs are different as day and night. This board gave me so much support and I found him through a recommendation from here so I must start by thanking you all! The doc was warm and caring and spent over an hour with me, went through my medical history thoroughly, talked about the surgery and my weight loss efforts and he is familiar with the surgical teams I am considering. He went over the criteria and found that he could list 3 significant co-mords for me which will improve my chances since I'm just at 40 BMI. He is a doll. One of my brothers died of a massive coronary so upon reading that, he did an EKG on me right in the office. First doctor to even consider this as an issue for me. (no one really knows why my brother died, but no doctor ever really questioned it like this one did). Like I said, thorough, competent, suppportive and caring. I struck gold! My question is that he was concerned that my pulse was 106 when I was there. We talked about it racing and racing and he thought I was nervous because of my experience with the other doctor and to think about it, I was. We waited a while and tried it again, and I was 102 the second time. All day long (afterwards) I could feel my heart racing and I realized this whole process makes me so anxious. Today I'm not thinking about it and feel calm. Then when I was reading other posts about being in the hospital, I realized that part of my thing with this wls thing is that I am embarrassed as well as anxious. Sometimes reading the posts on here makes me anxious. I am so afraid of working so hard through all of this and not being approved. I am also a very proud person and very assertive who feels embarrassed and shy when dealing with medical professionals around this issue (other issues I'm like a bull in a china shop). Anyone else? How do you overcome it?    — susanje (posted on November 28, 2002)

December 1, 2002
I can totally relate to your feelings. I'm the exact same way. I've been struggling with chronic back pain since my WLS almost 8 months ago, and I've been to many doctors. I find that I'm very shy with them, and won't question them or tell them what I really want. I haven't really overcome this problem yet, so unfortunately, I don't have any advice for you. All I can say is don't be embarrassed!! You have a right to be valued for who you are, regardless of your size. Just remember that, and you will do fine. Good luck!
   — Christine L.