Grab a chair cause this update is long!

Thanks for the update, Val.  I'm so glad you finally have some answers.  I quit smoking many, many years ago, and it was the hardest thing I ever had to do, including WLS.  But you now have a very serious goal and I have no doubt that you will be successful.  I will pray that all goes well.

Hi Eileen! Thank you so much for the prayers!

I'm sure it won't be a walk in the park, it never is but I'm determined to quit so I'll be putting 110% effort into it and I will not give up until I've kicked the habit..This is probably the slap in the face I needed to wake up and finally do something about it.

Thanks again for the concern and for having such confidence in me!! I really appreciate it.

Valerie,

Sorry to hear that you are having such health issues and at least now you know what it is and how they will proceed to get you well and while it's not instantaneous, you know that your health should be taking a turn for the better now and you are in the capable hands of one of the best surgeons around.  I wish you a quick return to full health, as well as sending you my good wishes as you work towards quitting smoking, which is something I did on March 1 of 2003 and I have not had a real desire to smoke in the last 2 years.

Best wishes and hugs, Laureen

Hi Laureen! I hope all is well with you. Thanks so much for the well wishes.

You're absolutely right. This isn't going to be an instant fix but at least I know that I'm on the mend now and that's all I ever wanted. If it takes a year for them to fix me up, so be it... I'm actually fine with that. Not knowing can be one of the worst feelings in the world and then after a while you begin to feel completely helpless and t takes it's toll on you mentally.

I had kicked the habit for 7 years and swore I would never go back to it no matter what. If I was a little more limber I would kick myself in the ass for ever picking up that one stupid cigarette 3 years ago! Did you use anything to help you quit or did you do it cold turkey? I've been reading alot about people who go thru hypnotherapy to help them quit and I actually knew someone many years ago who had alot of success with it as well so I've been thinking about checking into that but I'm just scared of getting ripped off ya know what I mean?

Thanks again for the the well wishes!

Hugs!!!

 

Val,

I cannot wait to some day meet you.  I'm so sorry you're going through this but am inspired by your honesty, integrity and sheer "guts" (no pun intended, really).  Prayers, thoughts, positive energy and any other f'ing thing I can send to help is on its way.  Thanks for continuing to make lemondade and share it with us so we can 1) be there with and for you and 2) learn and grow.

Keri

Hi Keri,

I swear to you, I had to stop for a moment and read your post to John because I was sooo touched by what you wrote.. Thank you very much for the kind words.

Some might disagree with me but I feel like there is just sooo much that is still "unknown" when it comes to WLS and it's extremely important to share whatever we can with one another especially in situations like this. Of course I would never in a million years hold it against someone for not wanting to share their private health information because afterall it is information we really have no business knowing but I just feel like the more we are willing to share with one another, the better it will be for all of us in the long run.

Thank you again for all the support. I really hope we get to meet someday! If you're ever up my way in the Poconos just let me know and we'll make plans for lunch or something.
 
Hugs!!

Good, I'm glad it touched you, small return for all you've given the boards.

I totally agree.  Not only do we not know much, it's amazing to me how different it affects post-ops.  There are some trends and similarities sure but many times it seems very individual.  That's why I think it's incredibly important to share so when each of us faces something we can leave no stone unturned.

I might be up next month for a "vacation" and would love to meet for lunch!

Keri

Hi Val, 

I am so sorry to just be responding to your update now -- I am a little over a week behind on reading posts.  I hope you know how much and how often I've been thinking of you though.  Thank you so much for letting all of us know what has been going on.  I have all the confidence in the world that you will be able to kick the smoking and the NSAIDS and anything else you put your mind and heart into.  I will be thinking of you and wishing you all the best during the time leading up to your surgery, during your surgery and wishing you a complete recovery afterwards.  You sure have been through a lot and I know we haven't yet met in person, but you strike me as an extremely strong woman and I know you will come out shining on the other side. 

Thinking of you from Boston,
Lisa :)