Getting to know each other...

Hey all~ Since we are going to forever share an anniversary, I thought it would be nice to get to know each other a bit better. This might help us support and encourage each other too!! Here are some questions to get us started. 1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? 3) Who are you biggest supporters? 4) What is your favorite color? Here are my answers: 1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? Almost 3 years! It was after my first child was born. Because I wanted to RUN and be healthy for him!! 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? I am honestly not sure. I HOPE it isn't bad enough to warrent it, but I have a feeling I am dreaming. So, I would consider it. But, after having my issues with my WLS I would be pretty scared to try another surgery! 3) Who are you biggest supporters? My dh, family and friends. Honestly, I have EVERYONE in my corner and that is a huge blessing!! 4) What is your favorite color? PINK!

I thought about it, then put it on the back burner for over a year. Then when I did make up my mind things kept happening to put it off. So almost two years before I did it. I would love to get my bat wings fixed. The rest I can hide in clothes. I am not able to pay for PS Biggest supporter....MY HUSBAND.....worst supporter....MY MOTHER but she has come around a little. It really doesn't matter. Whats done is done. PURPLE HAZE hah hah hah

1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? My PCP suggested the surgery in July 2004. I finally made the call in July 2005 and had surgery Dec 2005. 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? I had this talk with DH before I had the RNY. I wanted his support, both in time and money, if I need it. I will lose the weight first, then decide. I agree the arms and thighs are the most visible, but that looks like the tougher areas. 3) Who are you biggest supporters? DH, friends and co-workers. I don't have nay-sayers to my face, thank goodness. 4) What is your favorite color? Pink to admire, greens and purples to wear. Although my closet is full of NEON colors and all black! I wonder what my new wardrobe will be????

1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? About 4 years. 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? Probably at least a tummy tuck and a breast lift if not removal of thigh wings. 3) Who are you biggest supporters? Cindy, a friend who had surgery last June and has lost 95 pounds. My husband and my daughter. My sister and the local support group. 4) What is your favorite color? slate blue - like country blue - jeans plus pink.

1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? I had my stomach stapled back over 10 years ago....I was successful in losing and maintaining 70 pounds, give or take 10=15 pounds. Then 2 years ago, my daughter had the gastric bypass and lost 175 pounds...wow, I thought...maybe you can have that. I was still morbidy obese and I wanted to live free of the fat. I went to Dr. White in April of last year and he had me diet (I struggled to lose 13 pounds) and finally he said he would set it up for me. Since I had previous stapleing I had to have mine done open and had to keep the "G" tube for about 6 weeks after surgery. I have completely healed and have managed to lose 40 pounds! I am thrilled with the results. 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? I am not sure...may have to use some duct tape...hehe 3) Who are you biggest supporters? My family and my OH VA board. Without them, I couldn't have made it. 4) What is your favorite color? Mauve.... Hugs to all my new life freinds. Betsy Anitahug (Guill)

I have considered weight loss Surgery for 9 years. I was denied by an insurance company 9 years ago and did not know about appeals and that so gave up for a long time. I will have surgery to remove excess skin if my insurance will pay or I can find the cash. My biggest supportes are my best friend Pam and my daughter (grown) Kristin. They were great. A big surprise is another good friend *****aly was aginst it for spiritual reasons. She felt that I should surrender to a higher power and stop over eating. It has damaged our relationship. She did come around in the end but I still have some hard feelings. Blue is my favorite color. the color of the sky and jeans and robins eggs and the ocean and it make me feel warm and calm and safe.

I like your idea, Becky! Here are my answers: 1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? I thought about it for around 2 years. I sent for the information packet from the hospital nearby that does the surgery then, but just sat on it til the next summer. I thought I would just give Weigh****chers one more shot. I thought that I should be able to do it on WW but again after a few months of success, I gave up and again gained all the weight back and more. 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? I really don't want to. I don't like being in the hospital and unless it is just unbelievabley disgusting, I will try not to do it. 3) Who are you biggest supporters? My good friend Vickie who had the surgery 2 years ago has been the best support. Also, people I work with have been supportive too. And my husband is supportive and very helpful. 4) What is your favorite color? I love RED.

Great questions Becky. 1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? Probably at least 3 years but just kept putting it off. 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? I'm not real sure but think my DH will be very suportive if I decide that is what I want. 3) Who are you biggest supporters? Most everyone in my life. 4) What is your favorite color? It is just too hard to choose just one. Sherr

1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? I considered the surgery for about 2 years before actually having it done. 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? I know I will need a tummy tuck, which my insurance will cover. Hopefully the rest of my skin will not be too bad and I will be able to live with it because I can't afford to pay for PS myself. 3) Who are you biggest supporters? My husaband and friend Tabatha. My husband was against the surgery at first because he thought I could do it on my own and wasn't trying hard enough. He has now done a complete 180 degree turnaround and is my biggest supporter because he has seen the positive changes in me from this surgery. 4) What is your favorite color? Green, but I wear a lot of blue and neutral colors like browns, tans, and creams.

1) How long did you CONSIDER having surgery before you actually did it? Probably about 4 years all together. I researched it a couple of years, chickened out for a year, then researched another couple of years before I took the plunge. I feel like I did a lot of research, but now that I've had it I sure could have learned more. 2) Do you think you will have surgery to remove excess skin when you are finished? There's one of the things I wish I would have learned more about. The odds aren't good for avoiding more surgery for excess skin. I never would have believed that it was so prevalent and how awful it can look. Then again, I never would have believed the frankenstein-like plastic surgery scars I've seen. I'm not sure which looks worse. 3) Who are you biggest supporters? Definitely my wife! Co-workers have also been very supportive. 4) What is your favorite color? I used to be a sky blue fan. I still like that but now I lean more to bright/day-go green.