Looking for a few new friends!!

Hi there my name is Heather and I'm 23 living near Parker. I was hoping to find some people who wanted to share their weight loss surgury experiance with me. Right now I'm waiting for approval to have a lap RNY. I'm starting to have second thoughts though, I think my biggest fear is what if I really can't handle the loss of food and how I eat it now. Has anyone delt with this feeling? I really want to have a new life and become healthy and I feel I can do anything I put my mind too, but what if I'm wrong about myself??? Well if you want to talk, I would really love some advice and reasurance

Welcome to the board. My name is Kris and I am having surgery on July 12th with Dr. Chae. If you ever want to talk or have questions you can always email me at [email protected]. There is a support group meeting in Arvada on July 18th at the Standly Lake Library from 2:30 -4:00 or 4:30. Everyone is welcome and there is no charge. I hope that you will become friends with myself as well as everyone on here they are all truly great people!!! Much Love, Kris

Hi Kris, thanks for the response. I'm using Dr. Chae as well. I bet you're getting pretty excited, seeing as though you only have 11 more days! Are you scared at all? I would like to go to that meeting, is there someone I should contact to get signed up and get directions?

Heather, Some of us are continually dealing with the loss of our comfort, our friend...FOOD in big quantities. I have a SW I see regularly, I think talking about it helps me. Also, I have feelings of deprivation. I knew all this going into the sugery. I am, and will continue to deal with it. YOu will do fine, as well. We need to stay focused, and remember WHY we chose surgery to begin with. All the best to you. Hope to meet you at the Arvada meeting on the 18th.

Heather, HI! My name is Susan and I had surgery 3 weeks ago. I find myself thinking about the volume of food I used to eat... it is actually starting to gross me out! My favorite was a $6 order of shredded chicken nachos with sour cream and guacamole from the little mexican take out near my house. Pre-surgery, I would eat that 3 times a week - in one sitting! Now, I can eat only about 1/4 cup of food, a couple of times a day... but it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NICE to actually be FULL & SATISFIED!! Strange but nice! We'd love to have you join our support group in Arvada! On the 18th, we are even having a clothing exchange. You could pick up some new things to "shrink into"! It is so nice to meet with people who know exactly what you are going through. Support groups are invaluable. From Parker, you'd take I25 north to I70 west. Exit at Wadsworth North. Take Wadsworth north to 80th. Go west (left) on 80th to Kipling. Go north (right) on Kipling, and the Standley Lake Library is about 4 blocks up on the left. We meet from 2:30 - 4:00...or so. Please come! Susan

Hi, thank you for the directions, I think I should make it, it's just kind of far from my home. We actually live in Elizabeth, about 30 minutes from parker, but the meeting sounds worth the drive!

I had a lap-band, but the problem of food loss is the same. The problem is I could eat sweets without dumping so I really have to watch it. You know, I swear the surgery turned off the food craving machine in my head. They told it might and it really did. I still have problems if I don't plan ahead, and I let myself get too hungry. I tend to eat to quickly and too much and yes, I see it again. However, as long as I am careful I do fine and I've lost 43 pounds since April. I do still get anxious, and I have learned to substitue eating with a walk or a phone call to a friend (does that like Weigh****chers or what?). But after the 1st time you make yourself sick, it is very motivating not to be sick again, so good behavior is self-reinforcing. Good luck in your choices, consider some counseling pre-op to figure out if this is right for you or not. I don't need the food so much, now I am lighter and I am so much healthier. Take care, I'm going to try to make it to the meeting on the 18th (I live in the Springs), but my family life is bizarre right now, so it might be tough for me. Eileen 253/210/???

Hi! My name is Staci and I had RNY surgery with Dr. Chae on May 3rd. I think I have lost either close to 50lbs or a little over 50lbs. I am not readable on a regular doctor's scale yet, so I don't know. I do know that my shirts are hanging off of me! I really believe that God prepared me for the changes that my mind and body were going to go through. I wasn't set to eat everything in sight as the mourning "last meal" like I did before I went on any other weight loss program. Not to say that I don't miss things, because I do. I miss LARGE portions the most and at the moment eating mindlessly (I have been feeling some anxiety over a personal matter and am trying to solve it differently than just eating... This is new for me). Despite missing LARGE portions and eating mindlessly, I don't regret having the surgery at all!!! It is the best thing I have ever done for my health. I think I am close to losing my cpap and oxygen machine I have to use to get a proper nights sleep. My lower back pain has diminished considerbly and I can stand longer, I felt like a winner when I first realized this and I still have a LOOOOONNNNNGGG way to go! I will share, however, that Dr. Chae had to do my surgery open because my liver was very, very large. I was upset about that afterwards but I have been talking with my counselor and I'm over it now. In fact, I'll show the scar to anyone who wants to see it!! I carry all of my weight in my stomach area and my counselor told me that when I have to have a tummy tuck that scar may just be cut away, or most of it anyway. I don't know if anyone else is doing this or thought of it, but I started reading Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weightloss book to help me with making goals and changing my thinking. I have had and sometimes still do have a bad image of myself. But as I see the pounds melt away, these bad images of myself are also melting away and changing. I walk with my head up most of the time now and I feel more confident about myself and feel that I walk with a little more confidence rather than slinking down the hall hoping and praying that I wouldn't be noticed. I might still get looks from people because I am still big, but that's okay, because that person is not going to recognize me in six months and I feel a little powerful that I have this information. I don't miss food a whole lot. When I see all the cakes and pies at the grocery store I just want to be sick. You will be so suprised at yourself for the foods you want to try and the foods you used to have that you might look at and just want to puke! You're going to do great!!! Staci

Hey, thank you so mch for the reassuring and kind words. I know I want this surgury more than anything, I'm just getting cold feet but my mom and my husband really help me alot, and my friends are great too! I just keep focused on being able to have babies and having a loooong healthy life with my family. Susie from dr. chae's office just told me that she submitted everything to my insurance on Wed. and they told her it takes about 5 days to get an answer. I have to say my insurance has been great so hopefully I will be approved by mid next week.

Hello Heather, My name is Leslie Bahr... and I am pretty new to the board myself.. only about a month... I have my consultation with Dr. Tillquist on July 8th... so im not quite where your at yet.. but will be soon... Having second thoughts is normal... I too have had second thoughts.. but knowing that I cannot continue at my present weight, I continue to pray that medicaid will approve me... I wish I could give you more advice.. but seeing as your further along than I am... Im just not much help... Sorry... But, if you ever need to talk im available... I too am looking for new friends... Hope you are able to make it to the meeting in Arvada on the 18th would be great to meet you.. Keep smiling, keep your chin up and have a great weekend... Leslie