Reality check: Melting Mama

Not sure if any of you follow her, but Beth (Melting Mama) is one of the most down to earth, honest WLS patients around - and 7 years out.  She started an awesome post this morning about her 7 year journey.  Raw, brutally honest, and one of the best reads I've had in a long time.

Link:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4368806/You-may-regre t-THIS-one-The-longest-post-Ive-ever-written/#36089779

I read all of her post. I didn't get anything from it nor do I understand why people think it's a great post. I appreciate honesty and I believe she was honest but I found she was saying a lot of nothing but anger. 

You're right - she does have anger.  And in her position I believe I would too.  I think being several years out, I have a different perspective on post-op life, I guess.  It's easy to live the sunshine and roses for the first couple of years - then reality and "oh.  now I have to live the rest of my life." sets in.  Maybe read it in a couple years. lol

Agreed. I have had a relatively uncomplicated 'trip' so far. I'd like to understand more about what is is exactly you mean by "now I have to live the rest of my life".
My first thought was... o.k. now I'm slim, but I still have to deal with my life and the issues that got me overweight...or is it wow the weight is gone but I still can only eat a cup of food and will for the rest of my life or is it something else? I honestly would like to know so I can prepare myself. I am at the wonderful stage now, the omg I have my life back! I feel great.  Does that change and why?

Excellent question (that I was secretly hoping this thread would spur lol!).

Don't get me wrong - I still have those feelings wonderfulness, got my life back, WOW!, etc.  When you get a few years out, you realize that you don't get the same comments you used to from people, you don't get the same compliments, encouragement, support.... life simply "goes on".  Sometimes I've had the feeling of, "Okay.  Lost all the weight, got healthy.  Ummm... now what? Is this it?!" Because....... life simply goes on.  No fan fare (damnit!). 

Some people, like myself, start to suffer some health problems that could be related to WLS and the malabsorption issue.  Or might not be.  In MM's post, I'm sure you read about the myriad of health issues she now faces - that may or may NOT have been spurred by WLS.  From experience, I can tell you that going through health problems, after feeling SO F'ING GREAT for a few years,  and after feeling so f'inf bad for several years of being MO, is really frustrating and disheartening.

But, life does go on. :)

Exactly.  And it can be a bitter pill to swallow after a few years of accolades and sunshiney days.

Hi Karen,
You hit it right on with this post.  I was at a family function this weekend, with most family having seen me since my wedding, a very long time ago.  Many had saw pictures of me at my heaviest or had actually seen me.  I had moved away after my surgery and in October, I moved back.  At the function, all I heard was compliments and my Uncle said that I looked like a supermodel!!!!  HELLO! me a supermodel?!?!  All 5"2 inches of me.  LOL.  My dad said that he went on and on about how beautiful I looked.  I hadn't had that for along time and I have been energized all this week.  There are so many highs with this experince- especially when you are continually losing.  When you stop losing and maintain, the compliments slow down or stop and that "thrill" can also leave.  I hope I'm explaining this correctly.  It's just part of the process.

Jeanetta

Funny, one of my uncles said the same about me. LOL
It's a different story when you're 5 years out.  You're just "you".

 "Exactly.  And it can be a bitter pill to swallow after a few years of accolades and sunshiney days."

Would one rather be 300 lbs again?  And I don't really see the accolades and sunshiney days of wow's, how they are so important to your own happiness. Sure, they do feel good, but what's grounded in reality is people will always give attention if you're seeking it. If you rely on people always complimenting you, you will find dark days where noone compliments you. Seems like a hollow way to be "happy".


is it "Damn, I'm normal.. just like everyone else" ?  I'm trying hard to see how that's a bitter pill.

You seem to have missed the point.  Just as you obviously didn't get what MM was saying in her original post. Hollow? I think not. Go reply to MM's response to you where she asked you why you were judging her so harshly. Then take a look at yourself.