re: March/April Hawaii bound

We will be in Kauai from March 18th thru April 1st. Then going to Waikiki from the 1st until April 8th. Any info re: Dr's or support group's I can attend while I'm there would be helpful. We'll have a car on Kauai, but not in Honolulu. I always worry when I travel that I might have an issue. Trying to be prepared just in case. Looking forward to getting a little sun and warm weather and to get out of the deep freeze here on the East coast. It's been in the low teens now for the past week. BRRRR. Thanks Elissa/DE 3 yrs post-op RNY

Hi Elissa, I live on Kauai and there is NO SUPPORT group here. I found a link to a support persons email address here on OH but they never responded after I emailed twice. Good luck and let me know if you find a group here. I'm sure Oahu has tons of support groups. Weather here has been beautiful!!When you are here, I'll be in SF from 3/25-4/1 for my VSG surgery.....can't wait! aloha, michelle

Mahola Michelle. Shame there's no support there. Maybe you could start a group when you get back. I attend 3/4 mtgs a month here in Lil Delaware. Helps to keep me focused & positive. Always something new to learn & share with others. VSG stands for???? I had laproscopic RNY. It's been 3 yrs and I feel great down 203 lbs. I do exercise 4-5 days a week. I'm having surgery this Wednesday. Female issues. Have you found a protein drink you like yet? I still use Unjury unflavored mixed in red grapefruit crystal lite. I drink 2 a day. My protein levels have remained high. Make sure you bring chap stick to the hospital. Lips are dry the 1st few days. All I got on day 1 was a wet pink sponge. Then day 2 was ice chips, day 3 cranberry juice and chicken broth day 4. (1 oz was all I could do at 1st). Takes awhile to build up tolerence for food. Imagine that!!! We'll be staying in Poipu at the Embassy for 2 wks. Maybe we could do lunch before you leave for SF. Let me know. We'll have a car so I could meet you somewhere. I'm a little familiar with Kauai. I know where the Walmart, Kmart, Safeway, the lighthouse and the airport are. ((HUGS)) Elissa

Hi Elissa, Well guess what?? You won't have to go too far to meet me. I work right where you are staying at! How funny is that??? The name of our resort changed though back in September. So there won't be any Embassy signs. It'll all say The Point at Poipu. If you look in my profile at my pics, you'll see a pic of me standing right there behind the front desk of where you need to check in at!! You are checking in on a Sunday which is my day off, so make sure you come down to the front desk on Tuesday. I work early mornings from 5:30am til 1:30 pm. I just ordered Unjury samples 2 days ago and haven't gotten them in the mail yet. I tried Nectar cherry flavored and liked it. I like the fact that there is unflavored protein so you can put it in virtually anything. I already have chapstick on my list of stuff to pack. VSG stands for Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. 85% of the stomach pouch is removed(along with the hunger hormone Ghrelin) leaving you with a 'sleeve' for a stomach. No rerouting of anything. See you next month!! aloha, michelle

Hi Michelle! Congratulations on getting your surgery date!!!! I sent you an e-mail back in January of this year. I had lap rny by Dr. Cirangle on January 10, 2005. He is the best!!! You mentioned that there was no support group on Kauai. I wanted to let you know that after your surgery, you'll have to fly here to Oahu for your post-op visits with Dr. Cirangle. Before he sees his patients, he has a support group meeting which lasts a couple of hours. Keep me posted on your progress!! I wish you all the best. Take care and God Bless you and your family!! Hugs and aloha, Pat

Michelle, I'm always up early. I'll be up to see you Tuesday morning. I love it there. It is the 1st time share we bought. We'll be there for 2 weeks. Do they still do the breakfasts and the ****tail hour? We usually ask for Bld #7 Rm 103. It's a handicapped room for my hubby. I need to call to request it. Will call customer service soon. I had a hysterectomy Wednesday and came home Thursday. I feel pretty good. I'll recoup here for 3 weeks then finish up there for 3 weeks. I'll be good as new. LOL. VSG sounds interesting. No dumping? How about absorption? I need to research it more. Always coming out with something new. When do you leave for SF? How long will you be there? Will you travel with someone or be going alone? If you need anything while I'm there I'll be glad to help. Let me know. Aloha, Elissa