Hi Trish - I've only known you online, but from the moment I "met" you I knew you were a special, dynamic individual. I admire the work you've done as a coach for people with disabilities. It takes intelligence, patience, compassion and more to do what you've been doing. Your energy, your knowledge and your caring nature are gifts that shine through the cold hard computer screen. I KNOW you're a very special person and am sorry you're having a tough time right now.
I'm touched by your comments and wanted to reach out. I don't have any personal experience with weight loss surgery, but have read stories and seen various people talk about it in interviews over the years. There seem to be several new advances and some less invasive procedures available now that weren't available before. It would seem like research into the pros and cons of the various options would be very helpful, and I see Tina has provided some help to get you started.
You've been through a lot of losses. Diabetes is also a major loss in that the "you" that existed before the diagnosis is gone, and now you're in that stage of getting to a new "normal." Major losses, as I'm sure you know, often bring about depression. If that's the case with you I'd seek help and support for that first, and I would also delay making any major decisions - such as having major surgery - until you can be sure the decision is not being made because of the depression. Does that make sense?
I have several friends with diabetes. For them the diagnosis has turned out to be a blessing in ways they didn't expect. They were forced to learn about nutrition and diet and healthy eating, and to change their patterns. They've told me that when they first gave up their "old favorites" for healthier foods they thought it would be really hard but that once the sugar cravings were gone and they had gotten into healthy eating habits they found their desires changed significantly and they actually started liking healthy foods and their new eating patterns.
I don't mean to sugar coat (pardon the pun) having diabetes, just to suggest that there are many ways to view what happens to us in life and how we handle unplanned medical conditions. You have such a positive, coaching outlook for others and I hope you can use some of that same coaching attitude to take another look at the diabetes diagnosis and your weight, and see if there are other ways you could tackle this problem in addition to surgery which is expensive and, like any major surgery, carries a lot of risk.
Trish, I didn't mean to go on and on, but I care about you and your health, and wanted to give you some additional ideas to think about. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you and hoping our members will also join the discussion.
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Hi Trish - I've only known you online, but from the moment I "met" you I knew you were a special, dynamic individual. I admire the work you've done as a coach for people with disabilities. It takes intelligence, patience, compassion and more to do what you've been doing. Your energy, your knowledge and your caring nature are gifts that shine through the cold hard computer screen. I KNOW you're a very special person and am sorry you're having a tough time right now.
I'm touched by your comments and wanted to reach out. I don't have any personal experience with weight loss surgery, but have read stories and seen various people talk about it in interviews over the years. There seem to be several new advances and some less invasive procedures available now that weren't available before. It would seem like research into the pros and cons of the various options would be very helpful, and I see Tina has provided some help to get you started.
You've been through a lot of losses. Diabetes is also a major loss in that the "you" that existed before the diagnosis is gone, and now you're in that stage of getting to a new "normal." Major losses, as I'm sure you know, often bring about depression. If that's the case with you I'd seek help and support for that first, and I would also delay making any major decisions - such as having major surgery - until you can be sure the decision is not being made because of the depression. Does that make sense?
I have several friends with diabetes. For them the diagnosis has turned out to be a blessing in ways they didn't expect. They were forced to learn about nutrition and diet and healthy eating, and to change their patterns. They've told me that when they first gave up their "old favorites" for healthier foods they thought it would be really hard but that once the sugar cravings were gone and they had gotten into healthy eating habits they found their desires changed significantly and they actually started liking healthy foods and their new eating patterns.
I don't mean to sugar coat (pardon the pun) having diabetes, just to suggest that there are many ways to view what happens to us in life and how we handle unplanned medical conditions. You have such a positive, coaching outlook for others and I hope you can use some of that same coaching attitude to take another look at the diabetes diagnosis and your weight, and see if there are other ways you could tackle this problem in addition to surgery which is expensive and, like any major surgery, carries a lot of risk.
Trish, I didn't mean to go on and on, but I care about you and your health, and wanted to give you some additional ideas to think about. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you and hoping our members will also join the discussion.
Take good care, Pat
April 9, 2010 - 5:22pmThis Comment
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