Knowing what I know now I would say DO IT ASAP! If I had the knowledge and the option when my youngest was 6 - they are now 23 nearly 20 and a couple of days from 17 I would have gone for it.

My kids have seen me fat, chubby, fat again, and have always been supportive but when they are young it's so difficult. Like you Chris I prepared my kids (especially when they went to secondary (high) school) to come back with a better one-liner than had been thrown at them. Some days I feel like the kid in the family cos they keep telling me how proud they are of me and how well I am adjusting - hope I can keep it up and not let them down he he.

There is lots of great advice on here and just ask any questions you have there is a wealth of knowledge on this site - they have kept me positive and I will always be grateful.

Hi Nicole
I know what you mean, as my daughter was taunted about my being fat when she was about 6 too. I explained to her that it wasn't very nice to comment on other peoples' appearances, no matter what they were referring to, so the bullies weren't being very nice - but then I added that I knew that I was fat, and there was no need for her to get upset about it, and even managed a little laugh. Like you, though, I was not happy that my weight had caused her to be teased. However, as geeky said, they would have found something else.
As this was the straw for you and enabled you to make the decision to go ahead, I don't think you could have been far from making that decision anyway. Good on you, and go for it.
Good luck.
Chris

Good on you for making a decision.

I wont lie a big part of my decision to have surgery, was so that my daughter wouldn't get teased at school, because she has a fat mum (of course the health benefits were right up there). Kids can be cruel and I didn't want Lily to suffer the way that I did.

Hi M23K,

I can totally understand where you are coming from, it must be really hard for you to have had your son bullied like that, but remember that if you hadn't been big then they would have found something else to bully him about - bullies are like that. You just gave him an easy target, but it could have easily been the clothes you wear, the car you drive, the colour of your hair, your height (either shorties or tallies), calling him a sissie or one of many forms of abuse kids can come up with.

Having said that, I'm so glad I had the sleeve and wished I had it done sooner and good luck with your surgery.

No more reservations.. (sorry bit of a vent and emotional burst post)

My eldest who turned 6 last month didn't want to go to school today. He is in Prep or preschool before starting grade 1 next year.

He has been so upset today and crying and was quite difficult to get out, but one of the boys who has been giving him a hard time - yes even at SIX years old... said to my DS1 yesterday morning that "your mum is fat"!



My sister is bigger too and is a teacher and has said that kids say mean things to her etc and my niece who is at the same school with the same thing - your mum is fat, but if I was ever in denial (which I have been) about how big I am I'm not any longer.

I am so sorry that my little boy has been teased because of me! I guess the one good thing is that with surgery helping me to achieve this weight loss when the band couldn't this will no longer be an issue but my heart breaks for him that this little boy can say this to him when he obviously thinks I'm horrid as I went up to them when he and another little boy where hitting my DS with a soft cricket bat on the playground and my DS was on the ground trying to get away and they kept hitting him. I went up and said to the boys that it wasn't very nice playing and I they nearly shit their pants that they actually got caught..

So this is probably where the little boy is now saying stuff to my DS but it still hurts the same that I can't hide behind my weight any longer.

And if I could get the op tomorrow I seriously would - I can just feel my emotional eating side and starting the Opti stage a little lets face it confronting cause again it's the lack of food and the mind games - but I feel more focused and more driven to succeed to myself but for my family..

who knew bulling was so apparant as 6!

Thanks for the vent..

Nicole xx