I just thought this would be a fun way to vent!

Today I saw someone I haven't seen in awhile. When I told her how I was losing weight (after she commented on it and asked), she said she knew someone who had "that" surgery and gained all the weight back after a year. Then she said she didn't know how anyone could really be happy not being able to eat normally. My response was that I was happy and I love my sleeve. Some people!

It's the same way when a person hears that you are even thinking of having the surgery. I am not known at times for keeping my mouth shut and have told people that yes i am having it done. I don't see a need to hide anything from people. They are all seeing me lose the weight anyway. I keep having people I work with come up and tell me that I look great. After such a wonderful comment, they will turn around and tell me that I don't need to do anything else, surgery wise. These people look at me and see someone who is proportionate. I look ok, just big. They don't realize how big I am, I just hide it well. Why do skinny people think that losing the weight, and keeping it off, is the easiest thing to do? No one believes me when I tell them i will gain it all back by the time we return to work in August without some kind of help? I am not going to go by what they think, I am doing this for me. I don't want to lose my life because I am afraid to do anything to make it better.

When I told my brother what I was going to do, he questioned me and said things like this: Well you will still have the same bad habits. Just don't eat as much. You don't need sugery to do that. You've lost weight before.

I told him "Since you are my brother and have known me my whole life, when have I EVER been able to lose it and keep it off? and as for the bad habits, well work on your own before you tell me about mine, and then we'll talk."

I listen to me and my research and my doctors lol.

My husband was pretty against it when I first decided. I remember when I first brought it up and I ended up taking off for a couple hours in tears because he pretty much told me that I could lose weight if I followed regular diets properly. I had told him about all of the diets and meds I've been on since being a kid and he was like, well obviously you weren't doing it right. I pretty much told him that it's my decision and he can either support me or not and if not then we're done. We were both pretty heated. I couldn't understand why he was so opposed. I figured out he was super scared of me volunarily getting a "big surgery" and I could have complications and die. I figure he was more scared than most since both of his parents recently passed away from cancer and felt like he couldn't lose me. We eventually went to counseling and agreed to disagree. Since my surgery he has turned around big time and is glad to see me happier and feeling healthier!

Heather,

My hubby was like that too. He wouldn't talk about it, he refused to listen. He even went as far as calling me when I was at my mothers and had me hand the phone to her. He tried to get her to talk me out of having it done. My mom surprised him and told him that she would not talk me out of it since she was for it to be done. it took a while and a lot of talking, and it turns out he was/is scared. He wasn't afraid I would leave him for bigger and better things, but that he doesn't want to see me sick. I am glad he was able to get his fears out early.

My mother said also that she knew some one who gained it all back. If I had it done she would Never speak to me again! I think that once she sees me she will Also want one!

I was chatting to one of very few people who know about my surgery, and announced that I was going to have a week back on liquids to help me get to my easter goal and shake things up a bit.

She looked horrified and said "OH, did your operation not work then?"

Did it not work????? I have lost 44lb, you can see it has worked! Plus I had a smaller stomach made, I did not have my mouth sewn shut! I still have to put the right stuff in to get the right results out - ARGH!!!!!!!!

I'm not ashamed to say that for a moment I considered punching her square in the mouth to vent my spleen, however I am her boss, and that sort of thing is frowned upon!

SEE!! That is the VERY reason that I have chosen not to tell anyone (except husband) about the surgery!

People that do not research about it are SO IGNORANT about the surgery and really PISS ME THE $(&$ off!

I would like to punch people in the face too!! LOL

Kelly

Couple of weeks after my surgery, a friend's mom literally verbally lashed out at me at a dinner at their house. I simply mentioned I had weightloss surgery done in Mexico, and she was extremely rude with comments such as "One of my friends had weightloss surgery and she DIED within a year! DIED!!!" I don't remember the other ones, but that's the one that stuck with me as extremely inappropriate. It was literally a barrage of insults. I didn't have to respond to any of it as she stormed out of the room. TBH, I think she has a drinking problem and she was super-cranky that day, so I suspect she wasn't all there mentally. But still, how outrageously rude!

P.S. Saw her about a month ago, having lost >60 lbs - not a WORD about how I look, btw.

Why do skinny people think that losing the weight, and keeping it off, is the easiest thing to do?

By the way, isn't it funny how people expect you to lose weight and effortlessly keep it off forever if you do it "the old-fashioned way," yet if you tell them you are gonna have WLS, you start hearing all this doom-and-gloom about how "you'll gain it all right back!"?

Amen BlackBerry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kelly

One of the ladies I work with was trying to convince me this is the wrong surgery for me (she was for the lapband but nothing else). So she says "Dawn, The stomach is a vital organ!" and I replied "Actually you can live without it entirely". And she replied "But it's important to digestion." and I said "I agree, that's why I"m not getting a bypass".

It was funny and she meant well. Several people were uncomfortable with the idea of me having surgery but it all came from concern for my well being. For the most part everyone's been supportive. (less than 48 hours til surgery!)

ughhhh!! ppl sometimes can be not PEOPLE! even animals have better emotions! and way of expressing their love and care! sorry for my harsh comment but I stand by my decision I Will never share my journey EXCEPT with strangers who UNDERSTANDS!!

am sorry about her comment and anyone who hurt someone like us who is just diagnosed with a disease called obesity!! I wish we can be mean to someone with other diseases but too bad we are the good ppl!

Loved reading all the responses. I am just so glad to have this fun and supportive forum. We are the only ones who know what it's really like!!!

About six weeks post op a co-worker who is obsessed with weight loss asked how much I had lost so far. I responded with whatever the loss was at the time. Her response? "Well, look at you! You're getting closer to beautiful everday!" WTF? So, overweight makes you ugly?

The look I gave her must have said what I was thinking because she quickly amended, "Not that you aren't already beautiful." Nice try, lady. The damage was done.

Fortunately, I have a solid self-image but the enchange still left me shaking my head.

I've heard some awful things and some great things about my decision to have surgery. I personally have kept this as quiet as possible from most; just personally don't want to hear their opinions. I decided to have my surgery in Mexico and I feel as if those of us that chose to have it out of the country get a full helping of very discourging words. The worst comment I can remember came from my own mother, of course I'm sure she meant it from the concern in her heart, but it still hurt. She said "When they ship your body back to me would you prefer to be buried or cremated." Since I have come back alive she only has new grips about it, yet I just believe the ones that love us the most can hurt us the most. I made this decision for myself and am grateful to have so many of you to help me through it. Thank You