Moving right along...

Update on my progress with "hoop-jumping": I met with my primary care and gained her support for the surgery and follow up.  Since I am from out of town, that was a critical piece.  I had my cardio eval complete with stress and echo and doc said all was well.  Two hoops down, two more to go: psych eval and support group meeting!  I am still having issues finding a support group in my area.  The only 2 support groups I have found are each directly linked to a specific surgeon and they don't open it up to "outsiders" like me.  Since I am a nurse, I sorta strong armed my way to get permission to attend one of those group meetings.  Wouldn't you know that my boss asked me to cover for her to do a presentation to a group that VERY NIGHT???!!  So, back to square one.  I am out of options on the pre-op support group meeting at this point.  I am sure you all can relate to how anxious I am to get this show on the road and make my way to the bench!

You have done a great job so far jumping through those hoops. Keep jumping and you will be joining us on the bench soon!

That is so sad.  For most of us we end up having major hurdles and all you have holding you back is the dang support group meeting and psych eval.  Arggghhh!!!!  I just wish they would go ahead and schedule your pre-op and surgery date so you would at least have a date to hang on to.

Cowboyonfire didn't do a support group pre-op!  He was in the Virgin Islands.  So how in the world did he get that requirement waived?  He did attend the SG 8 days after surgery but it was post-op.  Maybe you should ask about that!

Congratulations on your progress.  You're doing great! Hang in there - it's so worth it!

My dearest girls...

I was able to talk to the Doc and he allowed me to discuss these matters with THIS board to qualify to be able to have the surgery.  I was lucky since i beleive that I got WAY MORE information through this website than any presentation would have given me.  So it may be worthwhile to document your participation with these great guys and gals on the site to prove that you'vebeen active in the forums to facilitate your adventure....

Ahh....adventure....  I can't wait to get back to sailing....to swimming.....to skinnydipping...to..."oh my"....(censored)....

T.

Good luck to you. Maybe you could do one right before surgery here...or use us like Cowboy did..hmmmm

This may be out of the question....but can someone video tape the support meeting and send that to you...Maybe Dr. Keller would ok you to do that. I mean all I did was watch and say I loved the message board.....Oh and tasted the power bars! I mean maybe it's worth the asking....
Sherry....By the way you AND your sister are beautiful!!   Sherry

If your surgery date is scheduled either on the day of a support group meeting or maybe the night before, you would probably be allowed to do that. I have been to a couple support group meetings at WW where the patient was allowed to join the meeting the night of their surgery day. All was fine and when they got tired they just went down stairs. Don't know when you plan to have surgery, but I would think that would probably be ok with the docs. I went to my diet meeting and support meeting AFTER I had a date!

I truly think I get more information and support here than in a live group-cause, let's face it, some of our questions are not that easy to ask in a room full of people.