MD Newbie here! Glad to have found you all

Just letting myself be known and to say I look forward to learning from all of you and sharing some of the wonderful events that some of you have already gone thru. 2006! I am just so ready!

Hi Jaimie, welcome to the group....based on your profile, I am going to assume that you are just starting your journey....I am approx 20 months out, lost 130 lbs, have been maintaining at goal now for about 6 months and I can't imagine life being any better.... It was an interesting journey.... At times it was... Hurry up and wait Patience Why don't folks do what they say they will do....(doctor office) and then the ride started....losing the weight.... If I could offer two pieces of info...not really advice, more like what I would think/do if I got to go back and do it again... 1. I would measure myself...thighs, arms, etc....I didn't want to know the numbers so I didn't do it...but it makes it difficult at times because although the scale didn't move everyday, my clothes were getting bigger by the day so I know that I was losing inches but I didn't have anything to compare the numbers to...you know, before and after.... 2. I would try and concentrate more on the AFTER surgery than the actual surgery....I have brought up the following idea at several support group meetings and I get a lot of head nodding.... Think of Weight loss surgery (WLS) as the wedding and the rest of your life after WLS as the marriage....it is so easy to get caught up in the wedding....the testing, the prep work, the doctor visits, etc, etc, etc....while the day after the wedding or the surgery, you are married for the rest of your life...and there isn't any chance of divorce.....your life is going to change after the wedding because you are married....but you are still the same person, the people in your life will still be the same people...your insecurities, THEIR insecurities are not going to change overnight....if I get one more family member tellling me that I am too thin...yeah right...I am ONE Point below overweight on the BMI scale...now I admit that I shouldn't lose anymore weight, I am in a size 6 and at 5'7 and being heavy boned I look good...but TOO thin? Please!! But that is about THEM....but my weight loss changed the way they see me, and the way they see themself.... I look forward to reading about your journey!! We are here to help you, support you, hear you and hold your hand when you ask for it... Have you selected a surgeon? RAE

Hello, What a wonderful surprise to see your message. I felt so all alone with this for so long it seems crazy. As a person who did not struggle with weight all her life and to know deal with it actually now see it, how strange it is. I went away and saw myself in a mirror and did not know it was me. My husband didnt say anything he knew I was unhappy but just said when your ready you will kick in. When he saw how little I ate and the weight still did not come off he started to worry. I guess my wake up was with my family asking me to get a checkup because my stomach was so large, I was not pregnant my child was two years old now and I was heavier now then when I was prenant. I also had pain in my stomach from time to time and some hard thing that moved around, and others felt it. I went to my general doctor who came out and said would you consider gastric bybass stapling? My mouth dropped because someone actually said it to me. I said well if you think so. She said I need to check out my stomach and schedule a Ct the begin to see a nutrionist. From there my head was full of thoughts and things I needed to know, but did not know where to go. I looked up the surgery and clicked on a link and found myself here. after a few hours I took a deep breath and realised I found a place for questions and answers. I am amazed at what I read on here everyday. Things I have felt and thought and just never said. I was afraid to say much because unlike most I did not struggle with this all my life, I actually blocked the weight out, like its not me or part of me. I now know if I want to be around for my child or even have another I need to open my eyes and see things as they are. I have not talked to a surgeon. My firt nutrionist appointment is thrusday.

Hi Jaime, very strange...I received an email from this site saying you responded to my post, but it isn't showing up....anyway.... I understand how you just noticed the weight one day....I never had a weight problem until about 10-11 yrs ago....I would see myself in the mirror and not recognize myself...now, I look in the mirror and think, gee, there I am...who was that "other person" who was stalking all the mirrors.... Feel free to email me privately if you think I can help...I can only offer you my experience, and I should tell you that I have experienced ONLY good things since having my WLS....I have NEVER thrown up, never experienced any negative medical issues, etc....I take my vitamins EVERY single day....any medical issues I have now I experienced prior to WLS. Feel free to read my profile...it will give you additional info about me and my journey... best wishes... RAE '

I am part of the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital support group. Although it is run primarily by Dr. Barry Greene, many, many of us are not Dr Greene patients but now live in Montgomery County. We meet 2nd Monday and 4th Sunday of the month (www.advanced wls.com). We've gotten together to have a "simple supper" potluck once a month. Everyone brings a dish and it's lots of fun. I'm hosting the January Simple Supper on Saturday, January 14th at 4 pm. I hope this is convenient for most of you. It'll be early enough that the youngins can go out afterwards and us, older folks can get to relax early and those of us Post-Ops (WLS and PS) can get off our feet! I'm right near Cabin John Shopping Center/Montgomery Mall. Email me off line for address and directions. RSVP with what you're bringing so we're sure to have lots of variety. Bring your favorite low carb dish and recipe. Pre-Ops and Post-Ops are welcome. Meet everyone, have fun, eat good stuff, ask all your questions and get helpful hints. Come One - Come All Gale