New here...Ready to start my journey but scared...

Hi everyone, My name is Crystal and I'm new to the group and thought it was time to stop lurking and start participating.I Hope to meet you all and gain some support and friends,Lord knows I will need those things to get through this time in my life!I've filled out just a bit in my profile but will for sure keep adding to it in the days to come so please bare with me on that! Now for a small Introduction...As I mentioned before,My name is Crystal.I am 25 years old and I live in the NorthEast part of Arkansas(Evening shade address even though I'm closer to Poughkeepsie or Ashflat)!I have been trying to get WLS for years now,Probably since the age of 17 or 18 if i'm remembering correctly?The PCP that I had back then was jacking me around,saying he was documenting everything and NEVER did and had to start all over....I was furious so this past year I had enough and switched PCPs...The ball is finally rolling!I've had labs,psych eval.all paperwork sent to Dr.Bakers office in Little Rock(The WLS Doctor that I've chosen)and his office said that all they need is my sleep study report sent to them and I need to get a seminar in also.The paperwork is being sent so I'm getting that taken care of and I'm Scheduled to attend a seminar at Baptist -March 18th from 3:30-5:30! Throughout the years,I've already attended two seminars but I will go ahead and get a new one in,certainly won't hurt.I'm sure Dr.Baker will require more lab work of his own and I was hoping I could get that done the day I am there also because it's such a long haul for us.about a 3+ hour drive there so I will be staying over night at a hotel,I can not tolerate a long trip without resting due to other issues I have.I depend on a wheelchair and have for years now..I need two total knee replacements but the Doctors want me to get this weight off before even touching my knees again(I've had 8 previous knee ops) I am so very ready to finally start this journey and take full advantage of this tool  that I'll be given.I've done years of research and know all the pros,cons,risks.I missed out on my fun teenage year due to being so fat and I'm sick of it,I am taking my life BACK!I would be lying if I said I wasen't scared of having such a major surgrey,I'm scared...nervous,But I'm even more scared to keep gaining weight and die from that.I don't want to go out like that so it is time....Let's get this on the ball Doc! : ) Other "worries"I'm having is actually about Dr.Baker...I have not met him yet so I can't say anything about him really but from some that I've read,he's a real tough cookie to say the least...I can stand tough but not someone who's going to be mean or arrogant.I've got a huge Job ahead of me and although I am READY for it,I don't need a mean Doctor.lol I'd like any feedback from those who've used him.Many would describe me as shy/soft spoken/soft hearted...So it doesn't take too much negativity to get me crying.lol Due to my disability,I've not had the chance to meet others who understand so I don't have many friends as you can imagine,I get loney sometimes and wish I could meet people for support and friendship and I believe I will here!I look forward to starting this journey and being able to look in the mirror and like ME....It's been a very long time since I could honestly say that I like ME. Alittle bit about my weight:For a couple years now it's stayed pretty much the same,I have lost a few pounds.I went from 420 to 406 but I haven't been able to weigh myself recently but it would be some where around those numbers.Also,I am 6 foot 5 inches tall!So yes,I'm a big girl,always the big girl! Anywho,I look forward to meeting you all and getting to know everyone.I will for sure keep adding to my profile here and there but I wanted to stop lurking and let everyone know that I'm here.Also,another question I had was about the OH Magazine.I've been debating on whether or not to subscribe but would like some feedback from those that do Subscribe to it.Is it worth the money?Thanks! Everyone:Hope you're having a beautiful day,just as beautiful as you all are 

Hi Crystal, Welcome to our little gang here, you're in the right place for all the support you can need on your journey.  Most of us are totally honest, and sometimes it might not be what you want to hear, but it's what you NEED to hear! I am a patient of Dr Gibbs, but I have met  Dr Baker and many, many of his patients. Not one of them can say a bad thing about him, even though he is strict.  What he requires of his patients he feels is what is best for them to have the most favorable outcome from their surgeries. I've heard many stories of what a caring and compassionate person he is. So, dear girl, let's get you going down the right road to get your life back. You need to get the weight off so you can have those new knees and be able to kick up your heels!!! You take care, anything you need, just let us know. Hugs

Crystal, I just met Dr. Baker for my consult yesterday.  He is very intense but I felt very comfortable and I have full confidence in him.  He is not mean....he is just real.  I posted a bulletin yesterday after I met him regarding my consult.  He asked some tough questions and made recommendations but I feel like he is helping me make the best health decisions for me.  He has high expections but it is for very good reason.  Good luck!!!

I'm so glad to see that you have a set date now.....I'm right behind you! I posted that comment about lupus and the lapbad...but not knowing how to use this site...i couldnt tell you where the comment is....

 

Mary

Hi Crystal........................so happy you are not lurking anymore.   I will be glad to help, if you have questions, please feel free to ask.  I am excited for you and your journey to begin.  Take Care

Hello, Don't be scared by Dr. Baker.  I was scared the first time I met him, I didn't know what to expect, and I even cried when I left his office.  But he is not mean at all, matter of fact he is very nice and only concerned about you.  When I met him at my first pre-op appt, my weight was 400 lbs even.  Because of my high weight, he required me to be on a pre-op liquid diet for 4 weeks instead of the normal 2 weeks, he also had me come back to visit him and weigh again before my surgery.  But it was all for my benefit and to make the surgery easier on me and easier on him.  I lost 30 lbs on the liquid diet, even though every other diet I ever did I failed.  I had my surgery last August, I went from 400lbs, to 370 on surgery day to weighing 270 today!!  Dr. Baker was there when I woke up from surgery, he saw me everyday I was in the hospital and everytime I have seen him since surgery he has always been very  warm and caring.  You will be glad to have him as a surgeon, just be very honest with him.  Let us all know how your visit with him goes. 

Crystal,  Doctor Baker is not to be feared - just respected.  According to my research, he is the best around.  I researched him with Baptist Hospital operating room nurses (they know better than anyone how good a surgeon is), other staff members at Baptist hospital, I also checked his track record with insurance providers as well as interviewing former patients.  NO ONE had anything but praise for him.   He is however, all business.  He is serious about getting you safely through this surgery and on the road to health but he is not rude or arrogant.  You will also get lots of support from his office staff.  His nurse, Addie, is WONDERFUL and very nurturing.    Best of luck to you and hope to see you soon at the post op support group!!!!    Marti  

I also heard that Dr. Baker was "tough" and it did worry me a little.  But my aunt used him a year before me and SWORE by him (she's an RN, so for any doctor/surgeon to impress her, he must do it on many levels).   I used Dr. Baker and I absolutely loved him.  I think some people think of his as tough because he doesn't really mince words.  When I went in for my initial consult, he asked if I was exercising.  I said no.  He said, "what are you waiting for?"  He asked if I had started trying to eat better.  I said no.  He again asked, "what are you waiting for?"  He says things like that that some people would think of as being hard or too direct questions.  I don't mince words either, so I actually liked that.   In his seminar, he will flat out tell you that he can fix the physical, but YOU have to fix the mental.  He also states in his seminar that he won't stand up there showing you "before and after pictures".  He states in his seminar that he cannot quarantee success, because each of us is a major component of whether or not WLS will work.  Some people hear that and assume he is being hard because he is being direct about stating facts.  I don't see it that way (probably because I am a no nonsense kind of person most of the time).   I loved him and would recommend him to anyone.  (I'm trying to get my own mother to have WLS with him this summer.)