In Our Own Words

M
Victora

Posted Jan/07

My ‘why’ letter…

You never asked me personally to write this letter but I’ve been on your website and know that this will be your next request so I’m jumping ahead and providing it to you now.

I can’t remember a time in my life where I was not overweight, actually there wasn’t a time in my life where I wasn’t overweight. I have been overweight my entire life. I’ve always been very active, playing every sport as a child as well as participating in many different activity classes. Even while participating in all these different activities, I still remained overweight.

I started having health issues when I was about 17 years old. In order to correct them I had to go on high doses of steroids and gained a bunch of weight. I was on and off of that medication for 3 years or so before I had the surgery that cured me. Once I had my surgery I worked super hard to lose that ‘extra’ weight that I had gained from the medication. I lost about 50 pounds but hit a plateau and couldn’t drop anymore weight. I was steady until I got pregnant with my daughter and of course gained weight while pregnant. I was up about 30 pounds (from my norm) while pregnant. My daughter is now a pre-schooler so I can’t figure out how I still have those 30 ‘extra’ pounds hanging around!

I have no underlying issues except for the fact that I happen to like all the food that is bad for me. I don’t eat breakfast and eat too big of a dinner. I try to eat the best that I can and exercise but nothing seems to work. I’ve tried all different diets as well and weight loss ‘trends & pills’ and nothing has worked.

I have a lot of support from my husband, parents and some friends but I also deal with a lot of negative remarks that some of my friends have to say. I have this one friend for example that seems to think that I am ‘dwelling’ on the one thing that isn’t perfect in my life (being that I’m overweight) and doesn’t understand how I could go to such drastic measures just to ‘lose a few pounds’ as she would put it…well, the thing that people who don’t have weight issues don’t understand is, is that weight controls everything I do, every minute of every day that I live. It controls how I engage with my husband, daughter, family & friends…how and what I do at work, who I choose to hang out with etc. etc. She seems to think that just because I have a great husband, family, job, house etc. that I should be happy with that and not worry about being overweight and maybe I should just try a little harder to lose the weight on my own. Some people just don’t understand and I’ve come to realize that the people who aren’t supportive, usually aren’t supportive for the wrong reasons (jealousy or otherwise, not because they are worried or afraid).

I’ve been waiting for surgery for over 2 ½ years and I know that this is what I need if I ever want to become healthy and live a fulfilling, happy life with my family. I want my daughter to grow up and not ever have to wonder if she will become fat like her mom or when she starts going to school, gets teased because she has a fat mom. I want her to grow up knowing how to eat healthy, and live an active lifestyle…I want so badly to be a part of that.

I’ve done all my homework and I am certain that this is my one cure and am damn committed to make this surgery work!

I NEED this surgery in order to live the kind of life my family and I deserve.

Just waiting on you Dr. A.

Michelle W Victoria