Eastern Oregonian and I have a SURGERY DATE!!!!!

I am new to the boards but not to all the success stories of the people here and a few close friends of mine have had the Lap RNY in Nampa, Idaho with Dr.Valentine just a year ago. It has taken a year for me to see their success and to decide that this is something I am ready to do. Just in the last 2 weeks that I've finally made up my mind, I have already had my Psych eval. and today I went for my consultation. Two of my best-friends, Bobbi and April, went with me and my date is November 23rd!!!! Bobbi will go to her 1-year check-up on November 8th and the same day I will have my pre-op appt and pre-register with the hospital. All is moving so quickly, because I am self-pay. I take care of my husband who is a T-6 Paraplegic (4 yrs) I have 2 teenage boys and I have Rheumatoid Arthritis (2 yrs) and just in June I was diagnosed with being Insulin Resistant and high blood pressure. I am already a Curves member and swim at our local Arthritis Aquatics class but can't seem to drop the weight and food habit. I hope to hear from others with Rheumatoid Arthritis and the outcome of this disease post-op. Thanx for reading and any encouragement is greatly needed.

Welcome Candis! I too am a Dr. Valentine sucess story, I know April she is great, as a matter of fact I just saw her at the store and she told me they were going with you! Dr. V is wonderful, he changed my life, I'm -80lbs and feel wonderful. People say I look 20 yrs. younger! I know I feel that way! I'm sorry I can't help ya on the disease questions, I did have high blood pressure and sleep apnea which are both now gone! I live up in Sumpter, no we don't have snow but the Greenhorns have 5"! Feel free to ask me anything, but you already have a great sponsor April called me 2 times in the hospital, and a couple of times after that. She is awsome and a great mentor! See there are some Eastern Oregonians Lurking but sometimes we don't sign on enough, I try to at least 2xs a week to help others as well as others helping me! Congrats on your upcoming surgery! Catherine 275/195/150ish 1/22/04