No more "Fat Tuesday's" for me!

Hello Connecticut OH(ers), I've been out of circulation for a few months, having been challenged by what seemed like an apparently slow process. All of a sudden, week before last, everything started , and the next thing I knew, I had a date and an appointment with the surgeon. I go in on Monday morning, March 6th and from that point on, all I can hope for is the same level of success that most of you have had. I must confess, when things started happening so quickly, my head started , I started wondering if I was doing the right thing. Shorlty after I started questioning myself I looked at myself in the mirror, and considered all of the co-morbidities I have been dying with. I thought about my lovely and loving wife, our 3 children, our 3 lovely grandchildren, my pastoral ministry, and the desire to live a full and satisfying life without unnecessary complications, and then I KNEW THAT I WAS DOING THE RIGHT THING!!!! And while I don't look forward to the surgical procedure and the post-op challenges, I can't think of anything that I've wanted to do that was more necessary, healthy, and right. I am prayed up and ready for my anesthesia! I thank all of you for the counsel and wisdom that you regularly share on this website, you have helped me get this far, and I only hope I can help someone as much as you have helped me. After a week or so of recuperation, I'll drop another note to let you know how I fared. Ken P.

Dear Ken, It is great to see your name on the board again and let me be one of the first to offer congratulations on having a date for this next stage of your journey. Please accept every good wish for continued success and extend greetings to your lovely wife. (We met once at a group meeting). Having WLS post Fat Tuesday is definitely in the Lenten spirit. I wish you well and look forward to hearing about your progress when you are on the losing side! Mary M

Hi Mary, Thank you for your support and well-wishes! I trust that my journey will be a good and healthy one. It's good to know the consistent level of support that you and others on the board supply to one another. I am grateful to be part of this grand community. I just wish I was about 2 months post-surgical I am starting to get the pre-surgical jitters . But I am sure that I'll be just fine, regrettably, I started re-reading the information about how the surgery is done, and shortly thereafter I got freaked out . You'll never guess what I did then...I stopped reading! Peace, Ken

Hello Ken - Best of luck to you! It looks like we both said good-bye to the same fat tuesday - I'm scheduled for surgery 2 days after you! My thoughts are with you for a uneventful surgery and a speedy recovery....... Cheers to being on the path to good health! Best Regards, Tammy Count Down: 4 days!

Hey there buddy, Great to see you on the board. I want to wish you all the best on your upcoming surgery on Monday. Your on your way to an exciting journey to the losing side. Welcome to the family. We are all here for you and may God keep you safe, and my your surgery be successful and your recovery quick and easy. I will be thinking of you and praying for you too. You take care and be strong. Hugs KimC

Go Ken Go Ken!!!!! You are ALMOST There!!!! Good luck- and rest assured you will be in great hands. Dr Aranow and the whole staff from the admitting office to the pre-op/operating room, to the North 4 staff- are the GREATEST. ( I don't know about the PACU- I have absolutely no recollection of them but I am still alive so they must be great too!!!) Pre-surgical jitters are normal and spend the next few days doing something else other than thinking about this. There isn't anyone on this board who won't admit they would have liked to skip the immediate post op part of this journey- but when its in the past, it becomes less than what it seems like now. (does that make sense- what I am trying to say is -it looms large now- but when you are all better you look back and say- gee it wasn't so terrible for what I got out of it- kind of like childbirth- not that you would have a clue about that either- go talk to your wife she'll explain it) Remember nothing worth having is easily attained.

Ken you have made the best decision you have ever made before. You will be so happy and will have so much more time to spend with the family and tell those little grandchildren to get ready for Grandpa to be running around chasing them. Best of luck to you. You are in the best hands. The care that you will receive will make you feel like you are at the spa. See you on the loosers bench Lisa

Ken First of all I want to wish you well on your wls journey and I will be praying for you on Tuesday. I recently 1/23/06 had lap rny and I have lost a total of 35 pounds. I too was dying with comorbidities. Since the surgery I stopped taking blood pressure meds and my sleep apnea is getting better. Although you will be in for a BIG lifestyle change hopefully you will be healthier and happier. I would suggest taking a trip to GNC or the vitamin shoppe before your surgery so you can have all your vitamins and supplements on hand (but don't buy too much protein until you find one that you like). I like the isopure in a 20oz bottle for protein at GNC $3.50/bottle and 40g of protein. I also take the chewable calcium citrate I think its made by citracal and they sell it at target in Manchester. There is also another supplement called Nectar Fuzzy navel that kind of tastes like juice. The most important thing post surgery will be protein so make sure you find one that you can tolerate. Again I wish you well and please check back in and let us know how you are progressing. Regards tasha

I am overwhelmed with the continuing shower of love, compassion, and encouragement that I have been receiving over the last couple of days from the board. Thank you to all for your prayers and support. You are making this journey so much easier to take. Thank you one and all! Ken