Interesting Events

Hello Good People,     I've been absent from the board for a few weeks.  I'm dealing with a loved one in hospice.  Enough said.  I just wanted to share two events with you.  First, I attended the Boston Freinds of WLS Gathering last weekend and had  a super-duper time.  I was the ONLY pre-op amongst 30 post-ops and so received a ton of attention.  I was given so much support and encouragement to say nothing of the education and advice.  The weekend will pay big dividend, I'm sure.  And waht a great bunch of people to relax with.  It was really very special for me.  Then, I got an email from Dr. Gens (my chosen PRH surgeon).  He was sending me a copy of EMMI.  EMMI is an interactive video tutorial about my WLS.  I think it is just great to be working with a program that really goes the extra step to give me tools and information so that I can be successful.  Maybe all of the programs do this but I was impressed to see it.  I can play it anytime I want and it has 40 minutes of valuable information.  Great stuff.    I'm looking forward to my support group meeting in Derry MOnday night.  Hope to see you there.  Treading

Great for you!  I also got the EMMI support emails as well and found them helpful - my DH and I sat and watched them together.  I am going to the Derry support class tonight as well!  I was just going to post up and see who would be there... How far along are you in the program?  I've seen Nancy once and have another appointment with her in 2 weeks.  Last Thursday I had a marathon day and saw Dr. Wagner, the NUT and PT.  I was so excited to see the NUT as she gave me an eating plan to lose the 14 lbs I need to lose before surgery...  So I am 5 days into that and hopefully have lost some weight.  I check on my scale at home, but that has always been off compared to WW scale, so I imagine it's the same with the one at the hospital. Do you know, do you have to lose all your 10% before you can see the surgeon, or can you make an appt with the surgeon when you have lost most of your weight?  I actually has a good weekend - I went to dinner with one of my best friends from HS and her Mom, sister(s) and brother in law all had gastric bypass and we're out 3-4 years and doing GREAT.  It was great to ask questions and stuff as well with someone I actually knew. Treading, what surgery are you looking at?  The band or RNY?  I have decided on the RNY after flip flopping between the two.  Even though there are more risks, I honestly feel like it is th right surgery for me... Talk to you soon!

Hi Jenn!    It will be great to see you tonight.  I think you and I are at about the same point in the program but I bet you'll get ahead of me pretty soon.  I've seen Nancy once and will see her again in early May.  My first NUT appt is on the 15th.  And I'll finish the behavior mod classes by early May as well.  But I have several co-mobidity type medical clearances that I have to get so those will take some time.  I don't plan on having surgery until Sept in any event so I am spacing out my appts in a leisurely fashion.  LOL.      Truth to tell, I am making the most of the program.  I'm actually enjoying the whole process.  I love research, love this forum, love breaking into my life-style changes slowly.  The slower pace suits me is all I mean to say.  I think you'll be able to have your first surgeon appt once you've got most of your weight off.  I think.  Others will step in and tell us for sure.  I'm going with the RNY.  It was a hard call but, like you, I felt it suited me better.  I'm working real hard now to do all I can to reduce my surgery risks.  I'm exercising, losing weight, taking supplements, getting educated.  All of this helps me feel confident going in that I can tolerate the higher surgical risk associated with RNY.      I met and talked at length to a bandster last weekend.  She loves her band and she's had great success.  In fact, every bandster I've spoken with loves their band.  And that is just great.  I hope I will be as happy with my choice.  I think I will.  Great chatting with you - Take care,Treading

Hi Treading!  (LOL!  I just realized who you were!) I liked the EMMI program too.  Very informative. I just weighed in on Monday, and have lost the 14 pounds I needed to lose.  My appointment with the surgeon is in two weeks, and from there, I will get the insurance process underway and then get a surgery date.  (I'm off for the summer, so that's when I plan to do it.)

Hello there,     It's so nice to have friends!  My goodness you must be excited?  I was thinking you looked as though you had lost weight but I didn't want to intrude.  Very good for you.  A summer surgery will be just grand.  I know we can't always arrange these things just so but recovery from a big surgery is just so much easier when the weather is good.  Plus, I've always found it so much easier to do the walking and the exercise in the beautiful outdoors.  Do you swim?  I adore the water so it is always an incentive to get my incisions healed and treat myself to a nice wallow in the neighbors pool (LOL) or the nearest swimming hole.  I'm excited for you.    I'm excited for me, too.  I'll be recuperating during my most favorite season, Fall.  What walks I will enjoy.  Something to look forward to, indeed.  Well, I'm putting my behavior mod class to work this morning.  You know the old 'hub and spokes'?  I simply must become a mindful eater.  I eat too quickly and while focusing on other things.  A very not good habit as my Boston WLS Friends hammered into me.  Oh, as a new post-op you pay attention and go slow because you have to.  BUT as time goes on, many people slip back to speed eating and thus over-eating.  It's a great trial run for my new behavior mod techniques so I'm gonna give it a try.  Must go and focus on bfast.  Take good care - Treading