Long RP Newbies Post-ops Pre-ops ANYONE wondering if they should attend OH conf Dallas...

This is for ANYONE who is thinking, wondering and/or if they are "scared" or "nervous" about attending the OH Conference in Dallas Sept. 25-26.
     I have been a member of OH since 2001.  I was a BIG time lurker for several years.  While I was happy to read about EVERYONE's success, I still couldn't help but feel sad because I had NO idea when I was going to be given this "FREEDOM" from obesity.  While on the boards, I felt like the child that gets chosen last for a team or, on the "outside looking in".  I would cry myself to sleep, PRAYING that a miracle would happen and somehow I would get surgery. I had just about given up on this board when at the end of 2006, Debra F. pm'd me and introduced herself and we became friends.              

 

     I had been in contact with Debra for several months and she asked me if I was going to the OH Austin 2007 conference.  I told her I was not sure and she lectured me and gave me reasons why I should attend.  Well, I said YES I was going to come to the conference in Austin, June 2007. And then wks before it, my insecurities took hold of me and I got "scared" and said NO!  How can I go ALONE?  OMG...I was mortified...who would I "hang" out with, who would I talk to? Who would talk to me? 

     With Debra's encouragement and patience...I said YES again.  I remember being in the parking lot in Austin and thinking to myself, “I hope I look ok, I hope my breath doesn't smell and if no one talks to me, I will just smile and sit waaay in the back where NO ONE will notice me."  I went into the hotel and as I take a few steps, I hear someone call my name; it was Tracy, Gina, Debra and Ramon having breakfast.  I gave a big sigh of relief.  I recognized people!  Right away Debra made me feel at ease, took me into the room, introduced me to Ms. Ann Harlan and sat me down.  Ann immediately started speaking to me and made me feel very welcome and comfortable. 

     I ended up having such a great time, met so many awesome people and was so glad I had attended, that when I heard about the next OH conference, sponsored by NIX MEDICAL CENTER in SA (cha ch$ng! lol j/k), I just knew I would have to go again.  The Austin conference had left such an impression on me I didn't want to miss out what was in store for the SA conference.  And well, those on here and that were at the conference, they know "the rest of the story…"

     I made lifelong friends, learned valuable information, got an awesome goodie bag, met fabulous vendors, got to hear GREAT speakers AND look at handsome Doctors. lol

PLEASE! PLEASE! Anyone who has ANY doubt or nerves or feels they wouldn't “fit in" PLEASE join us in Dallas.  I PROMISE you will not regret going.  You can pm me if you have any questions.  

I look forward to seeing YOU and my OH friends in Dallas!

Besos y Abrazos
Monica

Great post!



See you there!



DW

Oh, I'm so glad you posted this.  That is the way I'm feeling now.  I'm scared and nervous and already have plans to sit in the back of the room! lol  I'm bringing my sis-n-law but she is not on the boards and is just thinking about surgery.  I hope that I will meet a lot of OH'ers as this is my only support group.  I will only be there on Saturday but am really looking forward to it.  I hope to meet you there!

Deby monica post is so true.... she was so afraid of going to the first one and of course i grabbed her and took her to the front row......now she has been to all the RYD and the OH conferences...... and is an angel to a teenage girl who also had surgery......wooohooo way to go monica....

Debbie,
Then MY work is done.  I want to reassure you and everyone that you WILL have a good time.  And like I have said before....dont be sad or feel left out becasue  A LOT of us know each other and meet IRL besides these conferences.  But we ALWAYS love to meet NEW peeps and welcome everyone...honestly. 

See u there.

Darn it - if I had known you were going....I would have gone....

Have a great time.

Anne

monica i forgot who you told me was getting you from the airport but phyliss has offered to pick people up from either airport check out her post....

cant wait to see you.....

is corina coming???

 JJ will be picking me up.  Yes, I saw Phyllis's post...and what a sweetie for offering to do that.  I might have to take her up on it on Sunday...

Yes, as far as I know, Corina will be in da house!

Of course I cant wait to see u either.

Monica (and anyone else),
I was just like this last year at OH in Houston.  I was 3 months out from surgery, my surgeon was in Houston and I lived in San Marcos.  I had no other support system but OH. I was TERRIFIED when I walked into that hotel all by myself!  The only other person I knew, that was attending, was Sarah, my surgery sister.  We had met on the boards and then in person the day we had surgery.  Like you, some people recognized me and called out my name...that was all it took.  Since that time, I have become great friends with a number of folks on the TMB.

Now...almost a year later, I am isolated from my support system even more, with the move to Alabama in March, and I need this gathering more than you guys can imagine. I had really been looking forward to RYD in May, but due to work, I was unable to attend. I was DEVASTATED!  All I wanted to do was cry that weekend. The TMB is home and until I can find my way back to Texas, I hang out here and on FB with all you guys.  The TMB is my extended family and I don't know if I would have been as successful without all of you.

So if anyone is still on the fence about attending. I hope that you'll read some of the things we have posted here and decide to attend. I promise it'll be worth your while. If you're still scared, but decide to come anyway...come find me. I'll get you introduced around, so you can meet some of the folks and see that we are all just like you.

Hugs, Mari