Hay everyone who went to tonights meeting!!!!!

Hay All!! It was so great seeing you all face to face! I do have to say I sure wished I had been going to these meeting right along. I really enjoyed listening to other people experiences with their "journey." I hope they don't change the format of the meeting at all because I personally feel as a pre-op there is so much to learn from all you post-op people. Like the one lady said, just cuze the text book said "xyz" would happen doesn't mean I'm going to deal with "xyz" in the same way Terri would or Kristen and Kristen would. Ya know like the rice story, where would you read that? Or the pasta issue? I'm not going to get info on that in a pre-op class. Nobody there would have that info. So when that issue comes up for me, and I'm sure it would, where do I turn? Call Dr. Royes office a trillion times a day? Please, Annett would kill me! Then there is the info that GNC takes crap back! Who knew? How would we know? In pre-op group nobody would really be going over the topics of protein shakes they can't tolerate cuze nobody would know yet. Again more info only post-ops would know or learn. I dunno in my opinion it's great the way it is. What do you guys think? Big Hugs!! NaDene

I agree with u Nadene, I like it just the way it is because u get all the questions and answers from the beginning to the end. I was sitting accross from u guys with my husband. I did not recognize u at first because ur hai ia a lot shorter and it is permed but it was a good change. But it was good to finally put faces to the names. Shannon

Hay Girly!!!! I wished I new it was you! Me and Kristen (the one having surg tomorrow) was saying you looked familiar to us (not that I can remember if you have a photo in your profile or not..lol) But we both just knew we knew you from somewhere... So a belated Hi Ya!..lol Yeah I hacked of the "do" but I'm going to grow it out (I think if I can deal with it) but it's not a perm, it's naturally wavy and in this weather it's its own identity..lol I just get to ride along with it when it chooses.. Other wise it becomes a hat day I plan on going to the next meeting. At that time I will post-op!!! I hope I get to see you again and this time be able to give you a great big hug just like all the rest of all you great people!!! Till then this will have to do (((((((Shannon)))))))) See Ya! NaDene

Hi Na, I was across from you too. With my daughter and her friend. Just wanted to chime and and agree with you. I also think that if the group were full of newbies everyone might be like me, too shy first out to talk. Betz

Hay Betsey!!! Ya know we gotta come up with a code word or something so we know who's who..lol Like when they do the "Hi I'm NaDene and I'm pre-op" Like maybe an ear pull or a fake sneeze.. lol Or just say I belong to the "O" group and my name is. Just so we know who's who. Glad to have seen you and next time you'll be getting a hug too missy!!!! Till Then (((((((Betsey))))))) See Ya! NaDene

Nadene- I do not have a pic yet because I do not know how to put one on the site. I was at the last meeting also but I arrived late and I was in nursing scrubs because I work in a hospital. Thanks for the hugs!!! Shannon

it was great to see you, and everyone!! So cool to finally put some faces with names.. I wished I had time to stick around after the meetng, but i had to scoot! i think they need to change the format a little bit. keep the big group, but also offer a secondary group, more like an informational session for newbies/pre-ops. but who knows if they're going to do anything. it sucks to have to change it.. but just imagine a year from now, when 100 morepeople have had the surgery.. just how how big that group's gonna be!! hope y'all had a fun night. see you next month! kristen*

Hi NaDene, Can you tell us about the rice story and the pasta issue. Sorry I missed the meeting. I will try real hard to go next month. Claudia

NaDene, I forgot to ask you, what do they want to change at the meetings? Claudia

they want to change the set up because the group is getting to be 50-60 people. in another year, that could double! so the group can be difficult to manage. they aren't sure how they're going to change it.. we got to fill out a survey for our opinions.. so who knows. personally, i think they should offer a few different groups.. 1 meeting specifically for pre-ops/consideration - a place for them to ask the typical newbie questions, or have some sort of informational session where they can ask why they have to wait so long to get through this process, etc. AND 1-2 meetings a month of the big group. Everyone could go to this group, this way you still get the same experience levels.. but it can be broken into twice a month, so that should cut down on the group size. but who knows.. change sucks no matter what way you look at it. kristen