Diana

I believe you are a strong woman who is not afraid to speak her
mind. That might intimidate and scare some people. That does not
justify anybody sending you hate mail or posting negative comments
about you anywhere. Nothing you've ever said at meetings I have been
to has ever seemed unimportant or invalid. And, if it did, I would
hope we are all grown up enough that we challenge you there and
discuss it and talk it out. That's why we have the support group. I
haven't been going, for my own personal reasons but I try to stop by
every few months because it makes me feel like part of a family.
Where everyone's gone through something similar to me and I know
people will understand almost everything I am going through.

I know it's hard when you feel attacked and those people who've made
you feel that way should be ashamed.

If the group has helped you at all and you feel there's value to
it's existence, don't stop going.

Take care and hopefully I'll see you there the next time I get my
butt off the ground and make it to the meeting.

- Syl(vie)


--- In baltimorebariatrics@yahoogroups.com, vitkauskas5568@... wrote:
>
> I am struggling with the decision as to weither or not I should
continue to attend Dr. Roes support group. Other than a few people
that speak up I am really feeling bad that I appear to be doing all
the talking in the group. I am not making this statement because I
am unwilling or uncomfortable to speak up in group but it is because
I am being "attacked" by people for acting like I am in control of
the group. I have over the years receieved the occasional hate email
and have even read on obesityhelp.com about the tall redhead who
acted like she knew it all at Dr. Roes meetings. I was alwasy able
to brush those comments off because they were either annonymous or
from soemone who never showed in group again. Lately, However,?the
comments have been more frequent & cruel?and?I believe I have had
enough.
>
> I am extremely proud of the decision I made to have Dr. Roe do my
gastric bypass. I like most of you would do it again. I also believe
I have kept myself well researched in medical knowledge and in the
weight loss surgery community. I have always offered my help and
experieneces and talked freely about my post of life, not because I
like to hear myself talk but because of he thought that I might say
something that helps someone. For several months now I have tried
very very hard to not speak up at group. I intentionally did not
attend last months group because I was afraid I would cry through
the entire meeting. There are times when I am literally biting my
tongue so that I dont do all the talking?but when the group goes as
it did this month and there is alot of silence I find that so hard
to do.
>
> I am begging for those of you who have been unable to make it to
group for whatever reason to PLEASE make a huge effort to show. Also
I am asking for anyone who is there to speak up......I dont think
that Dr. Roe has the group so that we can listen to him make a
speech., he has said many times that he doesnt even need to be
there.?Group is offered as support for us, a plae were we can voice
our questions, concerns, joys or just whatever is eating at us in
that moment. ?
>
> I see Dr. Roe tomorrow and I am sure he is gonna smack me around
(ok not literally)?for this email but at this time in my life I dont
have enough energy to keep defending myself for talking in group.
>
> I feel I need to say to those of you who write me with emails I am
unable to respond to or make up names on Obesityhelp.com that are
made just to harrass me....I need our support group but I also no
longer need to be made to feel bad about using group as an
additional tool.?
>
> Diana Vitkauskas
>