Hi Laureen,
I loved your Facebook posts while you were in Florida. I am right there with you on the 'experiencing all life has to offer.' I had my surgery in '06. The next year, my daughter gave me my first grandchild, and my son got married. Now that I live near my grandchildren, I'm loving life like I never could have weighing over 300 pounds.

I am very grateful for Dr. Maymor, the staff at Barix, and all the people who used to post here then. I wish the PA forum were active like it once was.

Now that I live in Michigan, I am about 90 minutes from Ypsilanti where there is a Barix. I intend to go there for my annual visits. My sister asked me why I just don't find a bariatric surgeon closer. She doesn't understand us Barix Babies.

Hugs,
Trish

Good morning PA peeps,

     Just wanted to share my good news with all of my OH friends.  After 2 years of being unemployed I finally have a job.  I am not certain if the position begins in July or September.  Some of you know that for the past year I have been doing volunteer work and substitute teaching at my old school.  The principal who fired me left the school and the new principal saw that I was an organized and dedicated teacher.  She has offered me the position of School Secretary and I have accepted it.  Many of you know that experienced, mature workers are not appreciated in the business world today.  That is also true in the world of education.  After spending this past year subbing in grades 1 to 8 I realized that it was time for me to come out of the classroom.  I still will be tutoring Math and there might be some opportunities for me to work with some students one-on-one.  While I am happy there is a lot of anxiety inside of me.  I know that over the next few weeks that I will need to process these feelings and not eat my way through them. 

     I see my job as being one of helping people - parents, teachers, administration, students.  I still get to be around the kids but I don't have to put up with a lot of the BS that is present in the classroom today.  I bring many gifts to the table and I know that I will be an asset to the school.

     I would not have made it through these past 2 years without the prayers of support of my OH friends and my Barix support group.  Just wanted to share my good news with all of you.  Have a good day and take care of yourselves.

Love, Donna

I've looked and not found what you are looking for, however, the surgeon is probably giving you statistics on the patients he has seen and/or may have pertinent information that is not available to the average person. . .

Just let me say this to you, I had RNY almost 6 years ago, at that time I'm not sure there were a lot of doctors doing VSG, but it's become a good alternative for many and I've been a WLS support group facilitator for almost 5 years and as such consider myself privileged to watch people with the various surgeries performed do amazingly well, there are several factors to consider. . .  look honestly at yourself and know where you tripped up in the past, know what kind of lifestyle you are getting yourself into and whether or not you can be dedicated to that lifestyle and lastly, each of the many types of WLS will help us achieve our desired results, however, as with all things, eventually the job is totally ours, meaning the surgery gets us there and maintenance is where the road narrows and people have regain.  Be prepared to make positive, lifestyle changes that you can live with for the rest of your life and you don't have to be part of any statistics of regain.  I've experienced regain, but it was my doing and the good news is, I've still managed to maintain the major part of my weightloss and my tool still works, today I am healthy and happy with the results that the "tool" given to me by my surgeon.  It works if you work it!

Best wishes as you pursue your way to a healthier more active life!

Laureen

P.S.  I invite you to attend a support group at Barix in Langhorne, where you can hear firsthand from those newly and not so newly post-ops of just how life changing and happy they are with their newfound lives!

I went on vacation to Florida last Tuesday, not that that in and of itself is terribly unique, because I have been going there for over 30 years now, but last week, something was different. . .

I arrived in Orlando to spend some time with my two daughters, the older who turned 38 last Wednesday and she told me that we would be going to Disney the following day, me, her and her sister (my 35 yo baby).  We had talked about doing that last time I was there, so I was happy that she was able to get us in (the price was right (almost free)), she has a tenant in the apartment complex she manages that works there and he got us in. . .  anyway, I spent the entire day walking, taking photos and riding various rides. . .  not unusual you would think. . .  but a mere 6 years ago, I could not do such a thing, as my obesity kept me from enjoying such things.  You see it was 6 years ago in March that my then 9 yo granddaughter asked if I would go to Disney with her, she'd been there many times, since they live there, but she wanted to go with me and it was that request that ultimately sent me to seek out a surgeon I could have a consult with, because life was passing me by. . .  I was 51 years old and had stopped living a full life because I had become a prisoner to my own body.  One of the goals I set when I set up my profile on OH was to go to Disney with my granddaughter. . . well, while she was not with us, I am now able to say I have accomplished that goal and DAMN I AM PROUD of THAT!!!  

After Orlando, I headed to Pompano Beach to spend time with a dear old friend and while there we walked and walked, one day walking about 3 miles or more on the beach, me loading my pockets with coral that washed up on the beach, then the last day, she had a tennis match and they have a walking track at the park, it is a 5k track and I walked it 1.5 times in about 55 minutes and came home from vacation weighing 3 lbs. less than when I left.  I thank God each day for the gift of WLS and while I don't use my tool well each day, I use it well enough to be living a life that is fuller and richer than it was for a number of years. . . 

I'd like to thank the surgeons and nurses, the admins at Barix, as well as Shauna, Dennis and the many people who once populated this board and encouraged me every step of the way!  Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, I wish you peace, joy and happiness, you made me believe I could do things that for years I dreamed of. . .  TODAY I DO THEM!!!

So if you are considering this lifestyle, and like me you feel held back by your obesity. . .  be willing to live your dreams, because life is an interactive experience. . .

Laureen

I am so excited to finally be here ready for surgery. I am not afraid I am thrilled and praying time goes by quickly!!!!! I am moving this weekend so packing this week and unpacking next week, that will get me closer to my surgery date quicker. But then I'm afraid time is going to slow to a crawl as I wait for my surgery. I have been struggling with my past surgeon for a year now to get this surgery and I'm terrified something else is going to go wrong with my new surgeon. BUT even if I had to start over, I am Happy with my decision to get a new surgeon. I really like him and his staff. Soooo 20 days and counting :D