Valentine's Day 2005

Got my date about a week ago. Valentine's Day - so perfect! What better way to say you love yourself! I started looking into WLS just after Carnie Wilson had her surgery (wow, that was way back on August 10, 1999!), tried to avoid surgery with some last ditch diets, then finally decided to make the leap and submitted the paperwork November 2004. So, it's been over five years coming around to this, but I figured it would happen when it was supposed to. Been going to monthly support groups for the past year (excellent ones run by the hospital w/ pre and post-ops), so feel well prepared. Looking forward to sharing this adventure w/ all of you!

Good luck and Happy Valentine day to you. My date is 2/8/2004. I also have been attending support groups and plan to take stress management so I can handle stress without reaching for something to eat. The support groups are wonderful. I have gotten so much information for pre and post surgery.

Congratulations on your date! Yes, Shirley, I hear you about stress management. I'm planning on some pre- AND post-op counseling to get me past the first humps. It's only practical! I'm lucky to have a supportive spouse. Heard that a support structure is one of the 3 MOST important things to have before surgery, and if you don't have one, create one! I think online counts too.

Online is wonderful. It's real supportive to read about people that have and will be going through the same life change as me. I've reseached for two years but the online testimonies were more informative about the things that concern me the most. I also have a supportive spouse. My son and husband have gone through this journey step by step with me.

That really is a great way to welcome in valentines day and say that you love yourself!!! it is an awesome gift to give yourself and your loved ones. Congrats

And I see you also have a 2/08 date, same as Shirley. Keeping those surgeons busy!

Happy Valentine's Day to both of us!! I'm scheduled for the 14th too. My first thoughts about WLS were when Carnie had hers also. I have had a few bumps in the road along the way. But I cant wait to be on the losing side. We need to keep in touch since our dates are the same. We can help each other along the way. I love this web site and this message board. I am surrounded by skinny folks that dont have a clue and cant relate. Thanks to you all!!

Yes, us 2/14-ers should definitely keep in touch! Re: surrounded by skinnies - well, we'll see what happens when I break the news to fellow co-workers. So far I've just told my boss and 2 co-workers (all skinny). They've all been very positive, however. My boss has a friend *****cently had the surgery and is doing very well. One of the two co-workers has a little idea of what it's been like for me being heavy; she has the opposite problem and has trouble keeping weight on. But I expect to run into some opposition from skinnies along the way (especially those who are always complaining about their extra 10-20 lbs. Hah!) But I don't feel it's my job to educate/convince them and I'll try not to let people's ignorance annoy me! I did "educate" my father and sister, but that just took one phone conversation and then they were on my side. (Just had to get past the initial knee-jerk, 'oh, that's so drastic' reaction.) Oh, and my husband too, of course. He was a little harder to convince, but he's come such a long way over the years. Way back, he used to ride me about my eating and my weight, but now he's completely understanding and supportive. And he's worked with cardiac post-ops for 3 years at a hospital and is a nursing student right now, so he'll be a wonderful post-op caregiver.

That is a great day to have surgery. Good luck, I just got my date of 2/9 today and I'm still doing the happy dance. Janice