HAPPY BELATED FIRST SURGIVERSARY, ALLISON!!!

You go, girl!!!!!!!

Thanks for your friendship and support - even if you DO lurk more than you post!!!! 

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs,

Tia

Thank you, Tia!  You are too wonderful for posting this... just for meeee!

I try to post when I can... but work's been crazy lately.  Today is kinda quiet, hence the increase in activity on the board for me.

You are zeeee best!!!  One day soon, we'll have to meet up for lunch.  That is, if you're not chained to your desk

Aw, you're welcome, honey!!!!  Yes, just for little ole you!!!

I know everyone's not chained to their desk like me, who is SOOOO lucky to be on here all the time, but I like seeing your pretty face!!!

Yes, we'll get together soon.  Surprisingly, my bosses are okay with me taking an extended lunch, especially since I eat at my desk.

Just give a yell when things calm down!!

Tia

YAY lunch soon!  It'll have to wait til April probably since I have a good bit of meetings going on lately, which means I have a timecrunch to get other work done in a timely manner.

P.S. - I have a wedding date (Sept. 12th)!  I know you will be SO proud of me for finally setting it!  Tehehehe.  I'll let you know if I need any help or ideas

OH, HOW WONDERFUL!!!!!!! 

Can't wait to hear all the details!!!! 

Congratulations Allison on your first surgiversary! You look fantastic and happy!

Thanks, Debbie!  BTW - do you still attend support groups at GBMC?  I haven't been to one in a solid 9 months... mainly since the format was wacky.  And then I was doing exercise classes the same day of the group meetings and around the same time...so it just didn't jive out.

No, I have not been to a GBMC support group in quite a while. Although GBMC is still my hospital of choice (I live on the North side), I chose to follow Dr. vR since I work closer to his office there. When I attend support groups, it is the Dr. vR support groups that I attend. It is easier for me to arrive on time from this side of town, than to travel around the beltway and run into traffic probs on the way to GBMC. I did attend 1-2 support groups at GBMC after Dr. vR left but it seemed like they were still figuring out how they wanted to run them. They were being led by Counseling interns.I am sure by now, they must have a regualr format in place. I did like the session they had there with a plastic surgeon. I am not ready for that yet, but it helped me understand it a bit more.

The Dr. vR support groups are led by Ranesa McNally, who is terrific and has walked in our shoes! For 2009, these support groups are scheduled for Tuesdays. That is the same night as 2 of my pool classes at the gym - my favorites. So I go every 2-3 months to support group.

Makes sense.   Your logic/reasoning makes total sense!  The beltway sucks so I am with you on not wanting to hit traffic trying to get there.

I haven't experienced it, but I heard the new lady running the support groups is wacky.  The overall concensus when I hear the discussions about it while sitting in the waiting room for my appointment is that she doesn't know how to lead the group so well and doesn't let people casually bring up whatever topics are important to them.  She sticks to the topic and no straying from the topic is allowed.  Sounds like no fun :(

I am with you. I like a more varied format for the support groups. It is OK to have a particular area of focus, but some open topic time is also needed. I absorbed so much from those sessions before surgery. I liked hearing about the good, bad, and the ugly from all of the phases. It really helped me get my head around what to expect and how to prepare. And I still pick up ideas post op.

Of course in a lot of ways, this board provides the same on a daily basis. it is just sometimes easier to express thoughts and ideas in person instead of via the typed word.