I have my surgery in 8 days and this morning I went to get my final labs. I've been wondering how I would handle people asking me questions regarding my weight loss after the fact, and haven't completely made up my mind. So imagine my suprise when the woman behind the counter asked me what I was having surgery for, and out my mouth pops "bariatric, or weight loss surgery". I didn't think twice, I just answered her.

Now comes the look of disbelief and the raised eyebrow. She stands up and looks me over head to toe. Says no way, you aren't big enough. Then she asks me how much I weigh and my height. I tell her - 5'-7" and 228. She laughs at me and says proudly, well I weigh 350 and I would never have that done. She continues to persist in questioning me, even asking me at one point to "show her my belly". I politely declined. Ten minutes later, there are 2 people in line behind me getting pissed off, the conversation has turned to her and her inability to not lose weight, what she eats daily (2 eggs and sardines for bkfst - nasty!) and she has shown me her stomach and arms and won't shut.up.ever.....

Here I've been worried about what people might think after, never once did it occur to me that I would be looked down on by anyone who deals with weight issues themselves. She must have told me I was crazy at least 5 times, and that I just wasn't fat enough to have this surgery. She insisted I needed a second opinion that my Dr. Was just trying to "take my money"..... REALLY!???! WTF?! You've got to be kidding.

I don't know... As to the ops situation, I think it was meant as a compliment? Perhaps the person just didn't have the right words to express the plethora of feelings she might have been feeling right that minute?

If I were significantly bigger than a person that just told me they were having weight loss surgery? I might feel...

Envy "well you know that's dangerous" or I'm trying the old fashion way"

Or embarrassment? "Well you don't look that big" or "I'm trying to eat better and exercise"

Then maybe Camaraderie?

"Girl I know I've been eating smaller amounts but I'm hungry'

Like I said, I don't know.

But really we are doing this for us. The best I can say is try not to trip out on others too much.

I would hazard a guess that by saying the word 'bariatric' you held up a mirror to her own predicament.

Consequently and as a means to rationalise' date=' she went on her highly personal interrogation to compare and contrast your positions because she sees you as the same (hence the 'let me see your belly' comment). Apart from some people being unable to censor some of the things they say in the real world, most of the time and when it's 'gut shot' like that, it is rarely about you, the recipient.

It is just an outpouring of their own sensitivities just being projected onto you and your situation. It is coming from someone who is in her head trying to justify why a) she's overweight, knowing it has impacted her life significantly hasn't been approved for/cant afford/is scared of the surgery and c) is probably a bit jealous of your courage or position.

Take it for what it is.. The outpourings of someone who's probably a little lost, a little jealous, a little vocal and with limited social awareness.[/quote']

**** while I was hen peck typing you said pretty much the same thing, except written with a certain.... Ummm... Lets see.... Oh yeah! A "je ne sais quoi" that I do not possess

I don't feel good today and I don't have a drop of Je ne sais quio in me anyway. I reread paragraph 2 from the OP and there is not a blasted thing that reads compliment or a remote possibility of a compliment to me. Jealousy, check. Socially inept check. Embarrassed, Serious doubts ( at least when I am embarrassed I try to escape a situation, not wail " show me your belly" in a Dr's office, with a growing line no less!) Camaraderie, Don't buy it. I still see nothing but a woman that is likely jealous and has no personal filter (unprofessional employee). She has probably created similar issues with other patients of a similar BMI as the original poster.

I don't feel good today and I don't have a drop of Je ne sais quio in me anyway. I reread paragraph 2 from the OP and there is not a blasted thing that reads compliment or a remote possibility of a compliment to me. Jealousy' date=' check. Socially inept check. Embarrassed, Serious doubts ( at least when I am embarrassed I try to escape a situation, not wail " show me your belly" in a Dr's office, with a growing line no less!) Camaraderie, Don't buy it. I still see nothing but a woman that is likely jealous and has no personal filter (unprofessional employee). She has probably created similar issues with other patients of a similar BMI as the original poster.[/quote']

Lol! Are you by chance a month out?

If you are, I'm walking away very slowly....

I had a similar experience with the woman who registered me at the hospital for my pre-op testing. When she started asking me info and realized what kind of surgery I was testing for, she went on and on about how I really don't need it, and she used to be bigger, but lost weight due to a depressive incident and not eating because of it. The whole time, I was thinking "Ok nutty lady, you can stop any time now." People always have a tendency to tell me their life story, but this got really awkward. I thought a medical professional should be just that... professional. Geez.

Lol! Are you by chance a month out?

If you are' date=' I'm walking away very slowly....

[/quote']

Is this common a month out? I need to prepare. Not so much myself but maybe those around me

Lol! Are you by chance a month out?

If you are, I'm walking away very slowly....

Why yes! Does it show?

Is this common a month out? I need to prepare. Not so much myself but maybe those around me

What this? What did I do?

You could have just looked at the positive side of it. She paid you a compliment when she stood you weren't big enough. Lol. But thats exactly why I refuse to tell anyone other than a selected few. Good luck slim lol.

Very inappropriate. In the medical professional, does she not understand her limits. There's a federal law that protects your "personal health information." In no way should she have asked you anything about why you were there. I would report her ass!!!!!

What this? What did I do?

Nothing love. We're just gently teasing you. With love. Personally I liked how you were totally decisive about your opinion. I'm usually like that even wait benefit of surgery.

Is this common a month out? I need to prepare. Not so much myself but maybe those around me

Why yes! Does it show?

What this? What did I do?

On my! I'm just having fun! Don't hurt me!

No really at about a month out some of us experience the "anger" part, of the 5 stages of grief after going through surgery...

Do I have that? Maybe. I am pretty cranky. I just feel sick and very weak. My surgeon is far away and doesn't call me back. I am so frustrated trying to stuff enough protein and water in to make it go away so I feel stronger but it isn't working yet. I am on my forth huge jug of water for the day which will give me 80oz but its half water and half gatorade with 2 dashes of fiber shaken in just for FLAVOR!

On my! I'm just having fun! Don't hurt me!

No really at about a month out some of us experience the "anger" part' date=' of the 5 stages of grief after going through surgery...

[/quote']

"Blah, blah, blah" still resonates in my brain from my one month postop self. Sigh....

Do I have that? Maybe. I am pretty cranky. I just feel sick and very weak. My surgeon is far away and doesn't call me back. I am so frustrated trying to stuff enough Protein and Water in to make it go away so I feel stronger but it isn't working yet. I am on my forth huge jug of water for the day which will give me 80oz but its half water and half gatorade with 2 dashes of Fiber shaken in just for FLAVOR!

A. Cranky

B. Emotional

C. Short tempered

D. All of the above