newbie Looking for a support group in LR

Hello everyone! I am in LR. I am looking for a support group here. I am preop, hoping to have surgery sometime in July.

I see you are a patient of Dr. Gibbs. I heard that his office sponsors a support group that meets once a month. You could probably get info from the office. Welcome to the Arkansas site. I had my surgery 3/1 with Dr. Baker at Baptist. I'm doing great and am down 19 lbs so far. Best of luck to you! Joy

Thank you for the information. Well, I will call Dr. Gibb's office today and see what I can find out. Congrats on your surgery, 19lbs that is wonderful. How long before you can return to work? I heard Dr. Baker pretty much does open, did you have open?

Yes, I had open. It was not bad at all. Its been 2 weeks and I am walking a mile a day. He will release to go back to work as early as 2 weeks if your job is sedentary. Mine is, but it is high stress, and I had a hysterectomy at the same time. So I'm taking off as much time as they will let me (8 weeks). Joy

Ok, well that is not bad at all. That was my only fear about having it done open. Also, I drive a lot with my job, 150-200 miles per day. Anyway, it sounds like you are making an excellent recovery. I am needing to have a hysterectomy too, ummmm you have given me something to really think about (but I may want one more child, but fibroids are growing way to fast).

If you are serious about the hysterectomy I would definitely recommend doing both at once. From what I can tell, it has not added to the pain or recovery time at all. I'd hate to get over the WLS and have to start over with another surgery in a short time frame. My fibroids were causing me to stay anemic. I figured with WLS I don't need anything pulling me down. (Also, I am 52 and definitely do NOT want more kids!) Joy

Latonia, Hello my name is Debbie and Welcome to the group. I'm a patient of Dr. Baker, and I had my surgery 9/22/03. I've lost 146 Lbs. Of course I work out a lot and do water aerobics. I'm in Conway though. I was in the hospital 1 week after surgery, But I had bloodpressure problems. Everything else went fine. I'm not going to lie the surgery was very hard on me. But I'm doing Great now. And as far as a historectomy goes, I think I would do it at the same time. I didn't but several have and are thankful thay did. Well I gotta go do water aerobics. Good luck on the rest of your journey. Debbie Dr. Baker 9/22/03 354/208/147

Thanks for welcoming me Debbie. Wow, you have done very well. Congrats on your weight loss. I hope I have as much success as you have had. I am 315lbs, my goal is 145.

Latonia, You will do great! just remember to walk, Walk, Walk. And try to sip 1 0z. of water every 10min. I know that sounds funny about the water, But you will find out why I say that about the water. My pouch was so small that I had trouble getting in 1oz. every 10min. Now I'm fine with water, It's just one of those things. Hugs Debbie Dr. Baker 9/22/03 354/205/147

Hi LaTonia!! Welcome to the group!!! I am also a patient of Dr. Gibbs and will be having my surgery April 5th. Am anxious to get on the losing side and all these people are an inspiration to me. Dodie