Whats the best way to make friends on OH?

Hi Hercules,

Thank you for the welcome.  I guess I'm fortunate in the sense that my doctor is about 10 minutes from my hours.  I looked up the Palms of Pasadena Hospital and its a few hours away from where I live in Miami Lakes, bu thanks for the tip.  I'll have to ask my surgeon's office about their support group schedule.  

Congratulations on your weight loss success ::high five::, you should be so proud of yourself! :-)

Hi Autumn -
Welcome to the OH board.  You should also post on the RYN forum so that you can talk to OH members that have had your specific surgery.  I wrote a blog on my first six months post op of the sleeve, which might give you some insight.  Even though we will have different surgeries, a lot of my comments apply to all the surgeries.   Also, not trying to change your mind about RNY, however, did your Dr. also tell you about the DS? Since your surgery is not until the summer it might be something that you want to do research on (in case you were not aware of it).  From what I have read on the OH board, statistically the DS is supposed to yield the best results long term.  The most important thing is that you are comfortable with your final decision on your Surgeon and the type of surgery you want. 

I tend to post on the main forum - you can get the most feedback  there since it has much more activity then the state/type of surgery forums.  However, sometimes people will xpost (cross post ) on multiple forums.

Hi Nancy,

I will do that.  I'm actually overwhelmed with responses here, but I will post there so I can chat with people who are having the same surgery, good point.  I'm a nursing student, and they kind of own us at school right now, so I'll have to set up OH play time and stick to it I guess :-).  My surgeon isn't offering the DS.  Here in South Florida I attended 3 different seminars at UM hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, and Palmetto Hospital, and all three surgeons were offering either the Realize/Lap band, RNY, or gastric sleevectomy.  The gastric sleevectomy appealed to me the most, but it doesn't seem to be the favorite of my surgeon and my dad is a Gastroenterologist and he worries that there aren't any published long term studies (please correct me if i'm wrong, b/c im not an expert by any means).  I'm sure this is a "to be continued" conversation.  My study buddy just got here though.   Thanks for all the info Nancy and congrats on your success.  I will make sure to look at the DS though before making a final decision.

I have been so blessed to find so many lifelong friends through OH.  If you want local real life friends, I suggest going to your state board. See if there are local support groups or meet and greets in your area. 

If you want cyber friends, they will come alkong as you post and find you have similar interests with.

Congrats on your rny. Your life is about to change, and you won't believe what it's like on the other side of the scale.  It's great.

Hi Lashelle,

Thanks so much.  I'm excited about the change, and I know its going to be shocking, I'm trying to somehow mentally prepare, but I think the weightloss happens so fast that everytime you turn around your smaller. Must be strange, but in a wonderful kind of way :-) 

Hi Autumn, I've had people 'Friend' me and yes they have been in my hometown or nearby. Its so cool. You can also search for people with same weight/gender etc as you. As you read the posts and you see someone w/similar progress as you, 'friend' them. Everyone here is so sweet.
BTW - Welcome!

Great tips from you Janet.  Thanks for the welcome <3

Hi Autumn,
I am also new and looking for support and friends to help with this life changing choice.
I am still doing the research on the type of surgery, and what my insurance will cover.
I also live in Florida on the other coast.
M
 

Awesome, lets be friends! :-)  Good luck with your upcoming decisions.  Yay Florida (kind of), haha I've lived in Miami for most of my life, but I went to live in Chicago for a couple of years and fell in love with it.  I'm kind of a traitor.  Nice to meet you!

I made friends with some local people by clicking on my surgeon's name and reading their reviews of him and then clicking on the people that wrote the reviews and viewing their profiles.

If the blogs and pictures motivated me I commented on them and sent a friend request.

I eventually switched to his partner, but that is one way to find local people.  I have great people as friends near and far, some of the best WLS buddies are thousands of miles away.