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Testimonials: Sharon's Story

Let me introduce you - a glimpse into the world of the fat person as I experienced it...

Summer time - Oh how I loathed the summer. Too hot, too humid, life revolved around talcum powder, creams and trying to stay in the shade. How to choose something that would keep me even a little bit cool without clinging to every part of my overweight body. What's the saying? Pigs sweat, men perspire but ladies merely glow - I disproved that!!

How many showers can a fat person take in a day - well far more than you would believe possible. How far is too far for a fat lady to walk on a hot summer's day? Well for me 'any far' was too far. How can you explain to someone slim that your legs are sore where they rub together? How can you explain to someone who is slim that you get sore under your boobs? It is different world and for many somewhat of a disabling condition to find ourselves in.

Winter time - Thick knits - a 'no no' for me. I was already a barrel on sticks and to add even more depth was to hinder my movements - so it was thin layers. My legs would freeze because thick trousers also hampered my movements.

Flying - having bumped into most everybody on the way down the aisle and then attempted to get all I need for the journey I would hope and pray I wouldn't have to get up again and cause further disruption. 'That fat lady again'. "A seat belt extension please" - how embarrassing. Everyone else can flip down the table for their drink to rest on - but for me - no way would it fit.
Loos on the plane - thankfully I could fit into them but I tried to drink very little so that I didn't have to get up and walk down the aisle again.
Long haul flights - I guess I was even more at risk for DVT.

Car journeys - I would try to get as near to where we were going as possible - otherwise I would have to walk and that would be a disaster for me.
I can't remember when I found it difficult to turn to reverse the car and I certainly had to sit much closer to the wheel to allow my feet to reach the pedals. 

Day to day life - I can't remember when I couldn't scratch my own back anymore. I can't really remember when my shoulders started to ache with the weight of top half and the grooves in my shoulders that formed from heavy weights and bra straps. I can't remember when my back started to hurt when I stood for too long or stood to do the ironing. All of these things and many, many more just became part of the norm for me.
I can't remember a door being held open for me, someone offering to help me with my shopping or to carry my excess luggage. People seemed to view me as 'thick', uneducated, lazy or someone who sat all day stuffing her face with tubs of ice cream or other food.

Clothing - What is it about clothing for obese women - or was it my odd size? Large sized clothes don't need large sized arm holes and low plunging neck lines. Large sized clothes didn't seem to cater for shorter apple shaped people of my age. Large bras, large knickers large everything takes so much more room up in a case. I had to pack more things because I had to change more often. My clothes wore on the bust so quickly and stains were ever appearing as any food dropped - well .. it couldn't miss really!

Oh goodness I could go on. I thank God for the day I heard about the band - I wonder where and what I would have been like now without it? Thank you to the surgeon who operated on me. He was probably one of the few medical professionals who treated me with unconditional positive regard - even though I was fat. I didn't realise how different life could be. Thank you for the anaesthetist who anaesthetised me - some just do not want to do this with the obese. Thank you too to all those fellow banded people - we couldn't have done it without supporting each other.

Living with a band IS a long term commitment and for me worth every minute.

Me to my surgeon the night before the op:
"I am very frightened."
Reply:
"...but you must know that you will live longer with the band than without it."

Contact Sharon

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