Hey from Lexington SC

Hello everyone...I am a newbie from Lexington SC. I just started the pre-op process and am looking forward to moving forward but I am scared too. It looks like I could get approval and a surgery date as soon as early December. Tell me what you think, would you do this right before the holiday's or wait until the new year. As another tid bit of info...I haven't met my insurance deductable this year so no rush as far as insurance is concerned. Let me know what you think... --Kelly

WELCOME TO THE BOARD, MS KELLY ... YOU'LL ENJOY IT & WE'LL DEFINITELY ENJOY HAVING ANOTHER WLS FRIEND! IT MAY SOUND LIKE A COP-OUT, BUT THE BEST TIME TO DO THIS IS WHEN YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH EVERYTHING INVOLVED. IF YOU'D RATHER NOT MISS THE "NORMAL" HOLIDAY SCENE, THEN WAIT ... IF YOU ARE ANXIOUS TO GET IT DONE "NOW", THEN DON'T WAIT! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Welcome Kelly!! I agree with Lady D, you need to choose when it makes you the most comfortable. My original date was set for just before Christmas and so I began my series of "last meals". The last Thanksgiving dinner, the last Christmas junk food etc. Then I got moved to February and I started all over again. But the holidays come around each year. Post-op I started having my "first" meals and that turned out to be fun too. My first bit of meat was a really tender-baked smidgen of ham at Easter. My first birthday meal, fisrt July 4th cookout and so on. You just need to feel at peace with it! I personally was ready to go on the pre-Christmas date because I was just so sick of myself and how poorly I felt. But everybody is different. Good luck on your journey and keep us posted!! Leisa 7.5 months out 280/173/150 .......23 lbs to goal!!! Woo-hoo!!!

WOW, MS LEISA ... ONLY 23 #s TO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I'M LOOKING FOR MY 1st 23 #s & THAT WILL BE AFTER 10/28!!!!!!! YOU'RE FINISHING YOUR WLS JOURNEY AS I'M JUST BEGINNING!!!! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Thanks Dawn! I can hardly beleive the success I have had. I feel like I have been truly blessed with an easy, problem-free journey. However I am not sure that this journey ever really ends...nor do I want it to. I never want to go back to where I was. That, however will take work and determination. Just like you need for losing the weight to begin with or for making the decision to even start the process. WLS have changed my life so completely that I hardly recognize myself anymore. People that I have known for a long time but haven't seen me in a while don't recognize me at first. Once I open my mouth and they hear my voice or really look me in the eyes they recognize me. But several have told me that I even act differently. I just experienced this in huge quantity by attending a yearly state-wide conference in September. I had my surgery in February last year so none of these folks had seen the results. It was a big ego boost for the most part but I actully went through a little bit of overload. I did learn something though. I was told that I carried myself differently and seemed somehow calmer! Huh... go figure when they changed my tummy my surgeon evidently tweeked my personality too! I think however this change in personality has only kicked in within the past few months. I beleive it is my confidence rising and my crippling self-consciousness diminishing. I knew that I was beginning to feel better about myself but I did not know how evident it was to others. I guess I thought that I was hiding it all these years just like I have been continually wearing black in an effort to hide that 100+ extra lbs. (Probably equally as effective ) I hope to experience many more new discoveries as I move along this journey. I wish for you every bit of success and happiness and wonderful discoveries as well. My sister and her family live in West Ashley and occasionally I get to your area. I hope to hit one of your buddy meetings when I am there. I would love to meet all the sweet low country ladies! I am very excited about our group starting up this week-end here in the upstate. Ya'll come visit too! Have a wonderful day! Leisa

YOU ARE SO RIGHT MS LEISA ... THIS IS A LIFE-LONG JOURNEY OF HEALTH, PERSONAL DISCOVERY, CHANGES & NEW EXPERIENCES. I REMEMBER SIMILAR REACTIONS FROM PEOPLE SEVERAL YEARS AFTER MY SEPARATION/DIVORCE. I CHANGED SO MUCH DURING THAT TIME, FINDING LOST PIECES OF MYSELF ALONG THE WAY. I REMEMBER THINKING ... "OH, I REMEMBER THIS FEELING" (confidence or joy or determination, etc) or, "I REMEMBER REACTIONS FROM PEOPLE LIKE THIS (interest in my opinion, respect or comfort with me, etc) ... THINGS I HAD LOST OR CHANGED ABOUT MYSELF DURING MY "CHALLENGING" 1st MARRIAGE, BUT WERE RE-DISCOVERING ONCE ON MY OWN. THEN, I MET NICK & WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW ... HE LOVES ME UNCONDITIONALLY JUST AS I AM ... I JUST FELT LIKE I COULD (CAN) TAKE ON THE WORLD & I ENJOY LIFE SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH MORE SHARING IT WITH THIS FANTASTIC MAN. HE CHANGED AS WELL & SAYS HE'S NOW "OUT OF THE BOX & NO ONE CAN EVER PUT HIM BACK IN IT AGAIN!!!" WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY SUPER FINE WITH ME! ONCE WE GET ANY KIND OF OPPRESSIVE BURDEN OFF US, WE SEEM TO BE ABLE TO REACH FOR THE STARS WITH BOUNDLESS ENERGY! I HAVE A STATEMENT ON MY PROFILE PAGE THAT SAYS ... "JUST WHEN THE CATERPILLAR THOUGHT ITS LIFE WAS OVER, IT BECAME A BUTTERFLY." YOU'VE BECOME A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY, MS LEISA ... TASTING ALL OF LIFE'S SWEETNESS! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WONDERFUL WISHES FOR ME! I WILL GO FOR EVERY BIT OF LIFE I CAN GRAB! YOU COME TO OUR THURSDAY EVENING LBB MEETING ANYTIME & BRING YOUR SISTER/WHOEVER YOU WANT ... WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU! THE 3RD THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH IS THE MUSC SUPPORT MEETING SO SOMETIMES OUR MEETING IS CANCELLED OR NOT MANY COME THAT NIGHT. YOU CAN'T BE SHY THOUGH CUZ BOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY CAN WE GIRLS TALK! WE HAVE 4 OR 5 DIFFERENT DISCUSSIONS GOING ON AT ONCE & EVERYONE IS POPPING IN & OUT OF ALL OF THEM! ARE YOU IN THE NEW GROUP THAT DAWN S IS INVOLVED WITH? I TOLD HER WE OUGHT TO MAKE OUR GROUPS "SISTER"/BROTHER GROUPS & GET TOGETHER A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE UPSTATE & THE LOWCOUNTRY. THAT WOULD BE TOO COOL! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK 21 DAYS & A WAKE UP ... GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi! Yes, Our Upstate Buddies group met last Saturday an had a ball. I think I am going to take the group leader training. I was thinking the exact same thing about the possibility of our groups getting together as well! Great minds think alike. I think it is something we should look at after the first of the year. I would love to get to meet you too! I think we may have lots in common! Our sweetie pies both came "out of their boxes"! I just got back from a business trip to Houston and missed him so much I could hardly stand it. I think he missed me a little too! Where are you in the countdown today? Not many days left until surgery!!! By the way, you are already a beautiful butterfly! Have a great day and thanks again for the kinds words! Leisa :hugs:

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT TONIGHT AT OUR MEETING ... GETTING ALL THE GROUPS TOGETHER IN 2006! COLUMBIA WON'T KNOW WHAT HIT IT ... THE WLS LADIES ARE COMIN' TO TOWN! IT'S LATE SO I'LL PRETEND IT IS TOMORROW, FRIDAY ... I HAVE 14 DAYS & A WAKE UP ... MY PRE-OP IS NEXT THURS & MY SURGERY IS THE NEXT FRI, 10-28!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED THAT THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CALM ME DOWN ISSSSS TO PUT ME TO SLEEP OR, I'LL BE DANCIN' ON THE SURGERY TABLE!!!!! GOD BLESS YOU DAWN & NICK

Hi Kelly! Good luck on your upcoming surgery. If you are ever in the Charleston area, we meeting every Thursday for a dinner support group. I invite several people from Columbia every week through my group email. My doctor is also Dr. Strickland. He's terrific. I got denied by my insurance company and am still pondering what I shall do. Keep posting, we have an active group on this SC board! Lori

hi there kelly- I am in COlumbia, so just around the corner from you. I had my surgery MONDAY! Anyway, welcome and i hope you come here often and get the answers and support you would like. I'd do it for whatever meets your goals the soonest, but that is me :O