new here

Hi there. I'm Stefanie and I'm the new kid. I'm currently waiting for my insurance to approve my surgery -- which I hope will then be scheduled for later this year (the holidays, preferably). I've been extremely selective in telling my family about this. Oddly, I have told all the men in my family (dad, brother) but not the women (mom, aunt, grandmother).. both dad and brother are supportive and want to be here for surgery day -- but mom will not know until after it's complete. Preferrably not until I can walk off the airplane and have her not recognize me.. None of my family is local, however. I live near Chicago and am doing this basically all on my own. I have friends who are near by that will be checking on me.. but basically, it's all me. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself. I battle between confidence and terror just about every other day.. but I can't live this way anymore and I know this is the right decision. Looking forward to getting to know you guys! Stefanie

No need for terror around here...we are all quite helpful..even if we seem crazy from reading earlier posts!!! Welcome!

Stephanie your not alone you found us.... a few of us are foul mouthed like biscuit and Jen but for the most part we are all nice... I"m alone too I have no family here except my 3 teenage sons but they dont count cause they never do anything to help out,,,, they dont even flush the toilet!!!! Lazy freeloaders!! So welcome to your new AMOS family!!! Debby ( the nicest one on the board )

Shiiiiiit...Biscuit Butt has me beat on THAT ONE!!! Where are you, BJ??? You're NOT alone, what do you mean? You got US, what else could a person ask for??

HI STEPHANIE!!! I'm in Oak Park too. I live over by Fenwick. Welcome to the board!!!! I have always wanted to sing opera. I think it's way fun! I just had surgery on Tuesday over at west sub. I have never heard of your surgeon. Don't let these chicks scare ya! We're lots of fun. We just have filthy mouths. If you don't like it, you don't have to participate. We like you goody two shoes too! Someone has to keep us in check. I know what you mean about not telling family. I chose not to tell my grandparents and uncle. I am going to shock the Sh*t out of them for Thanksgiving! LOL We have quite a mix here of newbies and old wenches....oh I mean pre and post-ops. LMAO You will make great friends here. It's the best support board in the world. I stay away from the main board. I don't do well with the "rules" and the "holierthanthous" WELCOME WELCOME Tell us your story! Biscuit aka Melissa

okay WOW.. you guys really ARE friendly! First of all, Melissa, I live over by the Austin Green stop -- been in OP for going on 6 years and I love it. Also a member of St. Catherine/St. Lucy parish when I'm in town (which will be more frequently now that I'm not in my drum corps anymore). oh and don't worry about me.. I'm mostly not foul when I write (I'm a writer) but I can be as foul as anybody.. probably moreso.. It goes in phases, though.. and I am CERTAINLY not offended by it (I'll probably start pokin' the fire here, shortly.. *heehee*) My story.. gosh.. got a few days?? I was born in NJ.. we moved around a lot.. landed in Arizona where I was raised by my mother after my parents divorced. One brother. Older. Single, cute and brilliant -- seriously, he is. Both parents have battled their weight most of their lives. I went through high school with a horrible self image -- and I now when look at the pictures of me then, I think to myself.. "what the hell was I thinking??" I wish girls at that age could see how beautiful they are. I would love to be able to do motivational speaking for teenagers someday.. (sorry.. I strayed already..) Mom put me on my first diet (weigh****chers) at age 7. Yes. Seven. I'm fairly tall and always have been.. the least I ever weighed was 115 at 5'7" when I was 12. I'm now nearly 6' and weigh the most I've ever weighed. I'm 35. I've been around the block, so to speak.. nutrisystem, jenny craig, multiple doctor-led programs, every fad on the planet, even Opti-fast! I never had any major co-morbidities until this past 12 months.. hypertension.. lethargy.. inability to be active.. A friend had told me about bypass a few years ago when she was preparing to do it.. at the time I thought it was for people who were lazy.. or didn't have the intestinal fortitude to do it "the right way." I admit now, I was wrong. I didn't know anything about it. I did start researching though.. I've been researching for over two years and when I finally made the decision to have the surgery, it was like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. Seriously. Someone in my office even asked me if I'd fallen in love! "something is so different about you.. is there someone special in your life?" Yeah! ME! So... that's brought me here. For fun, I have two cats who entertain me when I'm at home. I sing opera. I write. I travel. I volunteer with a youth organization and I play on the computer TOO MUCH!! I'm single (not particularly looking). There's the story.. thanks for the welcome!

wHERE'S THE BROTHER LIVE DOES HE LIKE FAT GIRLS, KIDS, AND DOGS... KIDS WILL BE GONE IN 4 YEARS AND HOPEFULLY THE DOGS TOO... IS HE AROUND 40ISH??? LOL

well.. he is, indeed around forty-ish ( yikes! that means I'm next!!) he lives in Arizona but is currently splitting his time between there and Carlsbad, CA on contract (he's a software engineer). He loves dogs and seems to like kids (as long as he doesn't have to clean up after them -- he is a former Marine and doesn't put up with anybody's ****).. unfortunately, he has tended to lean towards the anorexic waifs in terms of girls he's liked.. I'm sure it's a rebellion against my mother and me somehow.. His girlfriends have mostly been tomboys or atheletes.. which leaves girls like us a little out in the cold.. and yes, he's superficial when it comes to the women he dates. He's a great guy when you get to know him.. but he has a firm belief in the way a woman looks on the outside reflecting the way she looks on the inside. He rarely listens to his kid sister..

Welcome Stefanie! I wish you the best luck with your insurance approval and your surgery. This is a wonderful surgery and there is a great group of people here who provide support to each other. I hope you get everything out of this that you can. I spent a longggggg time lurking and researching before I ever said a word .. in fact I don't think I even posted until I was a post-op LOL. Be well! Cathy