Please delete.

Moderator please delete.

I'm receiving too much hate.

Beth, it's your choice, totally.  But I think you're a fantastic advocate for yourself... for a bunch of reasons.

 Thanks, I have definitely got to work on it.

In a totally different context, I learned that being an advocate somehow will make you a target.  It is always hard work and sometimes, you just have to let it go to take care of yourself.

Wishing you much strength and more happiness.

 Oh, for certain.  Standing up for other causes - will automatically trigger it.

They are afraid of you - both that you are a threat to their jobs (because you are likely to be better at a LOT of things that they are fumbling around trying to figure out how to do to become successful at what they are doing, and just plain smarter than them), and conversely, that your story is a "downer" that will take away from their RNY- and Lapband-centric "rainbows and puppies and unicorns" bull**** that they are hoping will sell their product.

They are like sellers of cheap suits - idiots might buy because of the price, but once they get to know them better, there will be no repeat business.

By the way, I find the premise of this event, as I understand it - raising money for a few needy people to get bariatric surgery - cheesy, maudlin and horribly exploitive - like "Queen for a Day."  The REALLY needy already have access through Medicare and Medicaid. 

What is needed is insurance reform, not bariatric sweepstakes.

Yeah...while I like many of those who support the project...I don't support the project.  

Put the effort...and the money...into putting into office people who will see that laws protecting all of us are enacted....polio immunization for everyone, not just getting the one kid in the leg braces a new ball.

What the hell is going on here ?

 Yes, Diana - much of the response I have receive is that I really shouldn't "be part of the visible community" because I haven't been entirely rainbows and sunshine.  That's what got me banned from this website back in 2007, a moderator got angsty over my posts about complications.  

*raspberry*

I really hate the "vibe" I get when people think I shouldn't share my complications and issues.

****** me off.