Hi From Lake Martin!

Hello all! I'm new, and looking for the right WLS and the right surgeon.  I've posted on the main board and men's room, so thought I'd drop in to say hi to al the other AL folks! I'm 46, 6'1" and 370, and a dead ringer for John Goodman (but the pic is him, in The Big Lebowski, lest you be confused!). Dear Wife and I somehow woke up 25 years after God brought us together in college, and found ourselves with 3 teenagers at once! (Please, pray for us!) Our daughter is 18 and going to college on a full scholarship in the fall, Our son is 16 and doing JROTC and wants to fly planes (if his mama doesn't kill him first) And daughter The Younger is 13 and too smart for her parents' own good! ;-) ...all have individually chosen a path to follow Jesus, and are good kids.  I TOTALLY blame their MOTHER for this. So I saw the Gil Gerard/Buck Rogers thing and finally decided maybe I oughta consider WLS... Still learning/comparing/weighing my options, but leaning (today) toward DS based on all these enthusiastic folks.  Just scares me that the description says "this is a BIG surgery"... MGB? who knows.  Those who haven't had it say "Danger! Warning, Will Robinson!" RNY? I know I know. Gold Standard... LapBand? No, Gracias. I'll read up and pick whats right for me. I would love to find some support locally,  if anyone's either around Lake Martin (weekends) or Phenix City/Columbus (weekdays). Regards and WAR EAGLE! Dan

Well, ROLL TIDE, Dan!! Welcome to the Bama Board. I know nothing about DS, as I had RNY 2 1/2 yrs ago. However, I have been very fortunate in that I lost from 282 lbs down to 143 lbs..on a good day!! I fluctuate a few pounds..have had my TT, etc....... I know you will make the right decision for YOU!! Congrats on what sounds like a great family. We have 2 sons, ages 28 and 32, and 1 grandson who is almost 7. Good luck, do your research, and please keep us posted on your progress!!

Welcome Aboard. Had me thinking we had us a fisherman from Lake Martin.  My DH aka Southern Fisherman, was ready to talk fishing Glad to have you with us. 

 So good to have you on the Bama Board Dan!!!  ROLLLLL TIDE my friend, but we will forgive you for your "war somethingness"!  Whatever you choose...DS or RNY or whatever, we are here for you!   I too have all these teens I have NO IDEA just how I got them!  I too just woke up one morning and had them...our are 19,18,17,16 and about to be 12 in a few days.   Our 19 year old will go to Iraq June 1, 2009 for she is a MP.  She is in college full time too.  The 18 year old just finished high school.  The 17 year old is lucky to be alive!    Need I say more!!!    The 16 year old is surviving having 3 older sisters and is in high school.  The soon to be 12 year old is Autistic and the sweetest thing you have ever met...like her mother!  Please KEEP POSTING!!!  We would love to hear more about you! 

Welcome aboard..Do your research. Pick whats best for you and dive right in. You will do great.  I am the proud Mother of a 33 year old. Why am I proud. Well, the main reasonm is I didn't kill him in his teen years. If I had and I had gotten a jury of my peers(all parents of teens) it would have been labeled justifiable homicide and I would not have spent a day in jail.  Unlike ya'll I remember how I got them and how they got to be teenagers. But unlike ya'll I only had one, Did I learn from my mistakes. I always said I would consider having another child when I got Shannon  thru college or out of reform school, whichever way it went.  Again let me say welcome and you will probably survive teenagers. Government research proves 3 out of 4 people do survive teenagers and  nearly 10 percent of those  go on to live productive useful lives. Good Luck Miss Mary

Hello Dan and Welcome Welcome Welcome to our Bama Family!  I am Susan and I am on the road to having WLS (when the time is right).  I would research and research and research all of your options.  Feel free to ask questions here as most everyone here is a sweetheart adn is willing to help!  Glad to see ya and hope ya stay for a while!  I know I would love to follow your journey with you!  Have a great day!  Susan

Welcome to the board Dan!!!  I know God will lead you in the right direction and to the right surgeon.  I used Dr. Freeman and have had absolutely no problems.  There are many great WLS surgeons, but of course, he is my favorite.  I wish you all the best in your journey.

Hey Dan Have we "skeered" you off yet   Miss Mary hit it right on the bazooka as usual   I have a 40 year old step son and frankly I wonder some days just where he came from   I inherited my precious daughter when she was 9 years old so she trained me the way she wanted me.  Three grandkids later I am grey headed and off in the wild uhhh  what was this thread about anyway?  See what kids do to you

I had RNY  exactly eight months ago today and I have lost 92 pounds.  Dr. DeWitt in Birmingham was my doctor and I have had exactly zero complications.  I am thrilled with my weight loss and would have the surgery again with no doubts.  I researched the different types of surgery for several months but chose RNY because my insurance would cover the cost.  Maybe not the best reason but it worked for me. My husband and I have eight grandsons so we are glad that we let our four teenagers make it through.  It is a lively place a few times a year.  They all live at least a couple of hours away. To all who dislike a missing picture, I will work on that next week. Best for your Sunday morning. Allyson

Welcome to the board! I know that you will find the right surgery and here is a great place to learn! Everyone here has been in out shoes at one point! I personally had RNY with a WONDERFUL Dr and will be one year out in July I have lost 148lbs, Im 30 from goal. My husband and I are about 35 min from Phenix City/ Columbus I am there frequently shopping and would love to get together! (Were actually in West Point) Cristy