Never posted

Hi everyone, my name is angie and I am new to the post. I really love all of the support from real people on here I think that just about every question that could be asked about the surgery and the aftermath has been answered here. I hope and pray that everyone will have a successful outcome. I am going to the informational seminar this month! I am getting excited about the thoughts of being a normal weight! I have thyroid problems and I seems that I can't lose weight no matter if I diet or not. I did have some success with mayo clinic diet but I started having severe headaches and high blood pressure and so I quit. I am 5'2 and weigh 230 and have a 15 month old who loves to be held so that is another 20lbs and it is taking a toll on my body. I gained 40 after marriage 9 yrs. ago and 30 after each child I had and I can't seem to take it off. I do get conserned with the risks and the risk of leaving my children here without a mommy and that is really the only part that terrifies me. I think that they are one of the reasons that I started researching this option. I want to be here for them. Anyway hello and good luck to everyone!

Angie, I'm glad to see someone new on here. I'm also 5'2 and my weght last May 20 was 389 now I'm down 200 lbs and still going, feeling great. I'm sure that everyone on here had some fears about leaving our families behind but I know for myself I believed if it was my time to go then I would go even if I was sitting in my recliner or driving y car. I knew the surgery was risky but so is obesity and I was not living at 389 lbs and now I love my new life. Take care and e-mail me if I can be of any help.

Hi, Angela! This is my first time on line with this site. I tend to shy away from bulletin boards, chat rooms, etc. However, I really would like to find one where I can talk to folks and not feel like someone is trying to sell me something! I am 49yrs old, and had my surgery at the University of Cincinnati on Nov 20, 2002. At the time, I felt that my surgery date would be the first day of my new life, and I am alive and well to tell you that it really was! I have been an RN for 26 years, with a Master's degree in Nursing. Currently I am a nurse manager. I tell you all of this to assure you that I was well aware of the risks involved in the surgery. I did extensive research on the internet before I even contacted a surgeon. I found that my first visist to him was a good review of what I had already learned, and I was ready to go! I made my first contact with UC in April. I had to wait until Nov to get a date. During those months I never once had second thoughts! On the day of my surgery, we were stuck in traffic on I-75, literally at a stand still. I'll never forget it, because my driver (and best friend) that morning was a wreck! Normally, I would have been nervous, too. But for reasons I cannot explain other than knowing in my heart of hearts that I was destined to have this surgery, I was at peace, sitting there in that traffic jam. I swear, I knew that I was going to get there and all would be well! I arrived 25 minutes late. I ran through the door, and they were looking all around for me! I was whisked into the pre-op area, and it seemed like only a matter of minutes before they wheeled me into the OR. I am grateful for my sense of excitement that morning! I never had a moment of fear, which isn't really a normal response to surgery! My surgery went very well. I did everything that I knew I was suppose to do. Believe me, we nurses don't harrass our patients following surgery for fun! I knew that I had to cough and deep breath frequently to exercise my lungs. I took my pain meds frequently the first 24hrs. I kept me comfortable enough to be able to turn myself and move around in bed. I was able to get up and walk the next day as expected. I walked twice as much as they told me to. I knew what I needed to do to get moving and start healing! My surgeon made me stay a total of 4 days in the hospital. I believe I could have come home in three days ( I had the open incision). .....I'm telling you all of this because as a nurse and as a recent patient, I truely believe that I made sure that I knew enough about the surgery to be able to totally commit to it. Once I did, I made sure that I did everything that I needed to do to heal and get to the other side of the surgery! ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING! Before my surgery I weight 257 lbs, adn I'm only 4' 10" ! I have been heavy all of my life. I could lose the weight (the most I ever lost at one time was 50#), but I could never keep it off. A few years ago I had to have a complete hysterectomy, and I never seemed to be able to lose weight after losing my harmones. 7 months later, I have lost 75 lbs, and I feel great. My biggest problem has been hair loss, which most people experience after this surgery. Prior to the surgery, I was dragging myself home from work every day and going to bed. I could no longer garden, or walk my dog, which was my biggest source of relaxation. I was losing everything that made me happy. I was on 3 blood pressure pills, one for my acid reflux, and was ready to go on a diabetic pill. Today I am down to one B/P pill, no reflux pill, and my blood sugar is within normal ranges. I'm not only walking my dog and gardening, but I'm riding a bicycle! I plan on learning how to Kyak this summer, and I will learn to horseback ride when I lose 30 more lbs (no particular reason that I need to lose the 30lbs, just a reward that I've set for myself). I can get down on the floor and play with kids again! I have lost my addiction to peanut butter and to chockolat, but I cannot tell you why that is. I am now addicted to oranges, and really any kind of fruit, which I never ate before the surgery!My change in food craves really make no sense to me, but I am grateful! The only other strange thing that has happened to me is that I find myself being angry sometimes when I think about being normal. I realized one day while talking to a friend that, for the first time, I must feel what "normal" people feel like...you know, quiting eating when I am full, able to control my food craves, etc. It is not difficult now, it's second nature. Before the surgery, not so! My anger comes from all the years of hearing people, even those who mean well, make comments that suggested I was doing wrong. Why else was I over-weight? I tell you, I want to live to see the world have to eat its words! Anyway, I have really rattled on! Sorry! My advice is do your research, and If you decide to commit to the surgery, commit all the way! You'll do fine! Keep your thoughts positive and do your homework! Good luck!