first time poster!

Hello. I am trying something outside the box tonight. I have really enjoyed reading what you all have posted. Very encouraging. I have met some of you at the new beginnings support group and am glad to see you here on the site. I had surgery 8-4-04 and have lost 215 pounds. I recently had a hernia repair and panniculectomy on 12-22-05. I have had some problems healing from the surgery. I have a 5 foot incision and he removed 28 pounds of skin. Most of my incision healed great. But an area on the bottom of my abdomen did not get the blood supply it needed and I have had fatty necrosis. It is much smaller now and I am on the mend. I just wanted to get to know you all and throw out a little about me. I am so thankful for the surgeries. I now have a new life. Prior to the RNY I was on oxygen and in a wheelchair. I am now independently ambulatory and do anything I want and without oxygen.

Hi Jean, I am SO VERY GLAD to see you on the Board! YEAH! I hope you post regularly. You add so much to our New Beginnings Support Group meetings that you'll be a great regular member to the Missouri Board too! We have such an awesome Board and now it's even better with Jean too! We have our own special daily support group meeting with everyone here on the Board. It is great! Jean, like I told you in my e-mail, you look great. I can't believe after all you've been through how amazingly you'll pulled through. I was so happy to see you at the meeting. I hadn't expected you'd be able to come so when you did I was so happy. I hope you are feeling even better than you were on Monday at the meeting. Take care and please keep us posted on how you're doing. As always, feel free to contact me for anything. Take care, Cathy ObesityHelp Support Group Specialist

Hello Jean. See posting is not so bad LOL. I am glad you stepped out of your comfort zone and made your presence known. I am glad I got the opportunity to meet you Monday night. Now that you have stepped out once don't be a stranger. Wayne