Re: Scars????- Body image

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/29/2008 3:25:34 P.M. Central Daylight Time,

moobabies@... writes:

Mel...I think the whole issue for you becomes harder when you are not

experiencing HEALTH. It becomes easier to embrace the faults when you

are able to just LIVE life at a higher level of activity. You have my

heart.

Hugs

Jo

__________

I agree about health making things worse. I left the Infusion room today,

thinking I felt better and expecting a HGB more compatible with human life(LOL).

My Hgb was just up to 9.4. I asked the nurse point blank why it wasn't

rising more than this(dropped last week) and she once again said those initials

MDS. So unless a miracle occurs and I don't have a dramatic rise next

week-after 6 weeks of iron- If Dr Parmar does as he said, I expect him to order

a bone

marrow biopsy. Or that was what he vocalized last visit after 3 weeks. The

sob and weakness is better, I think the steroids I am getting weekly with the

infusion might be helping. I can't think of why itt might be otherwise. I

actually went up stone Mountain Sunday on the tram and walked around the

top(104 degrees) It took longer than normal because I had to rest a lot but I

didn't fall out. If I felt like doing things, It would be better. So we will

see

what happens. In a way a bone biopsy would probably be a relief because it

would rule out the problem I am scared of now. I just know how much this

procedure is supposed to hurt.

Mel-

“For six years I have been suffering an incurable affliction, aggravated by

imprudent physicians. Year after year deceived by the hope of an improvement,

[i am] finally forced to contemplate the prospect of a lasting illness,

whose cure may take years or even be impossible...â€

– Ludwig van Beethoven, the “Heiligenstadt Testamentâ€

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[Guest guest]

Mel

No...I don't think any group does a good job in preparing folks for the

post-op body. I don't think they actually CAN. The info is out there

if your willing to look at it. But how we internalize it as individual

people is such a vast range that is simply can't be addressed in a

group setting. Most folks that I talk to say a version of " oh, I don't

care I'm doing this for my health " I say " yes, of course...but

somewhere along the line the health issues get better and vanity kicks

in "

Ya know..it's hard just getting older and watching the youthful

appearence disappear...then wls creates a situation that everything is

excellerated and we are changing daily and we become body image

focused. We begin looking at ourselves as if under a microscope and we

SEE all the faults.

You are soooo right, some of those cloths we hoped to wear..normal

things like a nice sleeveless summer top...just doesn't look good.

Doesn't make us feel good about ourselves. Sigh..we still have

wardrobe limitations. But if you really, really think about

it...everyone does. Some things look good on some but on others it is

hideous. We just have to find what works best for our own personal

body flaws, or just not give a hoot. Sucks...but what else can you do.

I used to be very self-consious at water aerobics. After all I had to

get to the pool with those saggy, wiggly, flopping about thighs and

while doing the arm exercises I felt like my bat wings would fly out

and slap me at times. But time and time again folks would be surprised

that I had lost weight. They thought I was naturally that size. THEY

didn't SEE what was right in front of their face. lol...they were too

worried about their own body flaws and they saw the First impression,

they didn't look at the details.

I understand how you felt when you put on that nightie...but remember

sexy comes from the inside...hubby doesn't give a hoot what I have on

or off or how much my arms and thighs flop about...if he sees " heat " in

my eyes.

Nope...I don't think body/skin damage issues are addressed enough at

support meetings...but I don't think it can be as it would take a

lifetime of therapy and still folks would Hit that place where they

were disappointed and still have to " work on their heads to find

acceptance in their own minds "

Mel...I think the whole issue for you becomes harder when you are not

experiencing HEALTH. It becomes easier to embrace the faults when you

are able to just LIVE life at a higher level of activity. You have my

heart.

Hugs

Jo

Jo,

> You've been to a lot more support groups than me. Do you feel

the

> docs(all bariatric, not just ours) do a good job of preparing people

for the post

> op experience of Skin, scars and baggage or am I right in feeling

that a lot

> of people( me for one) were never quite prepared for the post op

body?

[Guest guest]

Jo,

I agree, no one can prepare another. However, I have found that at 6

years post op I have very little concern for my flabby skin or scar.

I am no longer a size 8 but a 12. Still, I am " normal " ... just an

everyday mom .... and this was my goal. I guess if someone had a

different goal they wouldn't be as content. One's expectations will

determine their satisfaction.

hugs, cindylee

> No...I don't think any group does a good job in preparing folks for

the

> post-op body. I don't think they actually CAN. The info is out

there

> if your willing to look at it. But how we internalize it as

individual

> people is such a vast range that is simply can't be addressed in a

> group setting. Most folks that I talk to say a version of " oh, I

don't

> care I'm doing this for my health " I say " yes, of course...but

> somewhere along the line the health issues get better and vanity

kicks

> in "

>

>> Mel...I think the whole issue for you becomes harder when you are

not

> experiencing HEALTH. It becomes easier to embrace the faults when

you

> are able to just LIVE life at a higher level of activity. You have

my

> heart.

>

> Hugs

> Jo

>

>

>