Attitude

MeganA · September 23, 2003

Wow, did I have an interesting experience.

I went to my Dr.'s information session last week. In the waiting room (the session was supposed to start at 1:30, it actually got started at about 3) I met two women. Let's call one Kay and the other Nancy.

Kay is 18 and had the band 4 months ago. SHe has lost 24 pounds in 4 months. She now is wanting the doctor to take out the band and give her an RNY. She has a ton of medical problems and seems to be a real mess emotionally. I talked with her for about half an hour and all I kept hearing from her were excuses as to why her band hasn't worked. She blamed everything from her health (which I'm sure is a real battle) to her mom's cooking. She has been throwing up "everything" and says that the doctor tells her she must eat slower and chew more (he also said that she must be eating something because she's not dehydrated or loosing weight rapidly). Kay blamed her troubles on everyone else. She took no responsibility for her situation or her choices.

After Kay went into her appointment, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was hard work talking to her. I felt like she was so down on the band that I was beginning to wonder if she was right. Then I met Nancy.

Nancy had a brightness to her face. I wanted to talk to her. We chatted for a bit and she has had the band about 4 months too. She's thrilled with it and said it's the best thing ever. She said that the day she decided to have the surgury she decided that she was going to think of the whole experience as being "great". It is a miracle procedure and so she's going to act like it's one. She was so excited and enthusiastic. Guess how much weight she's lost...35 pounds!

After talking to these two very different women, I decided to take the same attitude as Nancy. This journey is going to be great. It maybe hard once and awhile, but it will still be great.

I also decided that I'm going to make sure to get rid of any negative person in my life. I also am going to work really hard at seeing the positive things myself.

Megan

Alexandra · September 23, 2003

Megan, what an inspiring story! My heart breaks for Kay who will probably get her RNY. She's so young! To live the rest of her life with the side effects caused by bypass surgery is really unnecessary, and from what you say about her attitude she'll probably be no more than 25 when all the weight has come back on. I'm really sad for her already.

Nancy was probably older, right? And clearly wiser. She personifies my mantra that the band is the thinking person's WLS. Thank you for sharing your impressions of these two women, and I know you're another Nancy in the making!

princess_n_thep · February 8, 2006

I am bumping this. I am bumping this for me. I am bumping this for you. I am bumping this for everyone. I needed this story and I can't believe I found it. This posting was back in 2003 when Alex and Megan were baby bandsters! But the story is truly what I needed. Maybe it is what some of you need to.

the best me · February 8, 2006

Excellent bump. I needed to hear this one, too. Thanks Princess...and Megan and Alex!

Alexandra · February 8, 2006

Princess, where did you find this? I've been trying to get back to 2003 posts to see if MY attitudes have changed at all. But I can't seem to go back that far.

What am I doing wrong? (Some moderator, huh? )

princess_n_thep · February 8, 2006

I did a search on "attitude" and it came up. I was looking for a booster and I found this! It was far back in the pages of posts that came up, but I still found it!!!

Also: Do a search for "lap band beginning" and click all the way back to the last page, has a ton of 2003 postings.

Remember this one? http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=94&highlight=lap+band+beginning it was one of your first postings here at LBT