PenPal in Maryland
I'm in Annapolis, MD looking for someone in my area to share thoughts and feelings on weight loss surgery. I haven't had my surgery yet, but would to talk with someone to going through the same.
Robin in Annapolis
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius power, and magic in it
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius power, and magic in it
Hi Robin,
My name is robin (legally lowercase in fact) and I am closing in on my three year surgi-versary. I'm in Germantown and would be happy to be your pen pal if you want some been-there-done-that kind of info. Drop me a line if you're interested.
xoxo, robin
My name is robin (legally lowercase in fact) and I am closing in on my three year surgi-versary. I'm in Germantown and would be happy to be your pen pal if you want some been-there-done-that kind of info. Drop me a line if you're interested.
xoxo, robin
XOXO XOXO XOXO XOXO And remember, that's robin NOT Robin... legally!
How are you doing? I go for my pre-op in 2 weeks and surgery is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2009. I not fearful of the lifestyle changes, but my concern is the surgery. Did you have any complications with surgery? But being overweight I know there risks. I had hip replacement and didn't go to sleep, had saddle block. I'm really fearful of going under.
Thanks for listening Robin
Thanks for listening Robin
Hi Robin,
I'm doing really well. I would still like to lose another 40 lbs but it's been very slow going for a while. I've been within about 10 lbs for almost a year. So last week I decided to try a different tack and join Weigh****chers. I really can't complain though. I went from a size 26/28 to a solid size 12.
I know this surgery a scary, daunting thing. But in my opinion, it's very well worth it.
You asked if I had any complications and the answer is yes and no. I came through surgery amazingly well. They teased me in pre-op because I had gotten myself so psyched up for this that I literally couldn't wait to get started. Mindset is really more important than you can imagine. You have to "see" yourself doing great and focus on what a great new life you have ahead of yourself! In fact by the time they got me out of post-op and my mom and hubby got up to my room, I was sitting up and all smiles! My pain was minimal and I had only a touch of nausea from the anethesia.
A few hours later I was walking the halls and the after I got out of the hospital (I spent two nights in) I was taking walks at Walmart (they have shopping carts to hold onto and benches in case I needed to sit down!) I was back at work in about a month but really could have gone back earlier. But my surgery was at the holidays and I took advantage of the flexibility of my employer.
My pain afterward from the bypass was really much less than I expected. I had my gallbladder out at the same time and that caused me much more pain than the main surgery. My scars were teeny and now you really have to look carefully to even see them!
As for my complications, I had a small ulcer which was taken care of with medication. I also have a big problem keeping my iron and b12 up. My system doesn't do a very good job of holding on to those two. I get IV infusions of iron a b12 shot once a month and I'm good to go. It's really not a big deal.
On the VERY plus side, I used to be on 3 blood pressure, 2 cholestrol and 5 asthma medicines. Now my blood pressure and cholestrol are excellent and I'm not on medicine for either of them. My asthma is better controlled than it has been in my whole life and I'm on just one daily maintenance medicine for that. I work out 5 - 7 days a week and really like it! My life is completely different.
Robin, I only have one regret about this surgery... I wish I had done it ten years ago. I hope this has helped a little bit. Remember, I'm here for you and would be happy to help in any way I can.
Feel free to post here or send me a private message if you would rather keep it a little less public. I'm fine either way! Hang in there. This is one heck of a ride but the journey is amazing!
xoxo,
robin
I'm doing really well. I would still like to lose another 40 lbs but it's been very slow going for a while. I've been within about 10 lbs for almost a year. So last week I decided to try a different tack and join Weigh****chers. I really can't complain though. I went from a size 26/28 to a solid size 12.
I know this surgery a scary, daunting thing. But in my opinion, it's very well worth it.
You asked if I had any complications and the answer is yes and no. I came through surgery amazingly well. They teased me in pre-op because I had gotten myself so psyched up for this that I literally couldn't wait to get started. Mindset is really more important than you can imagine. You have to "see" yourself doing great and focus on what a great new life you have ahead of yourself! In fact by the time they got me out of post-op and my mom and hubby got up to my room, I was sitting up and all smiles! My pain was minimal and I had only a touch of nausea from the anethesia.
A few hours later I was walking the halls and the after I got out of the hospital (I spent two nights in) I was taking walks at Walmart (they have shopping carts to hold onto and benches in case I needed to sit down!) I was back at work in about a month but really could have gone back earlier. But my surgery was at the holidays and I took advantage of the flexibility of my employer.
My pain afterward from the bypass was really much less than I expected. I had my gallbladder out at the same time and that caused me much more pain than the main surgery. My scars were teeny and now you really have to look carefully to even see them!
As for my complications, I had a small ulcer which was taken care of with medication. I also have a big problem keeping my iron and b12 up. My system doesn't do a very good job of holding on to those two. I get IV infusions of iron a b12 shot once a month and I'm good to go. It's really not a big deal.
On the VERY plus side, I used to be on 3 blood pressure, 2 cholestrol and 5 asthma medicines. Now my blood pressure and cholestrol are excellent and I'm not on medicine for either of them. My asthma is better controlled than it has been in my whole life and I'm on just one daily maintenance medicine for that. I work out 5 - 7 days a week and
Robin, I only have one regret about this surgery... I wish I had done it ten years ago. I hope this has helped a little bit. Remember, I'm here for you and would be happy to help in any way I can.
Feel free to post here or send me a private message if you would rather keep it a little less public. I'm fine either way! Hang in there. This is one heck of a ride but the journey is amazing!
xoxo,
robin
XOXO XOXO XOXO XOXO And remember, that's robin NOT Robin... legally!
Thanks for writing robin. I hope I come through this okay. Why did they remove your gall bladder? was it necessary? I hope I can just have surgery and no other removing of anything else. I recently just had my 2nd hip replacement in Nov.'08. But surgery is still scarey to me. That's the only thing I really worried about. I terrified of needles. I have drama everytime I get an needle.
But I'm ready for this change. My son is grown and married and I have 2 grandbabies, that I want to keep up with. My mind is set, I have already cut a lot of foods out of my diet they I really don't need. My battle is exercise. I have an treadmill and a exercise bike. I try and get on them as much as possible. I want to go walking but I have an oxygen tank that I carry around with me which makes it kinda hard. But my pulmonary doctor said if I lose the weight she can take me off the oxygen.
I do dream about the future, going into a clothing store and not have to buy plus sizes.
Robin
But I'm ready for this change. My son is grown and married and I have 2 grandbabies, that I want to keep up with. My mind is set, I have already cut a lot of foods out of my diet they I really don't need. My battle is exercise. I have an treadmill and a exercise bike. I try and get on them as much as possible. I want to go walking but I have an oxygen tank that I carry around with me which makes it kinda hard. But my pulmonary doctor said if I lose the weight she can take me off the oxygen.
I do dream about the future, going into a clothing store and not have to buy plus sizes.
Robin
Robin in Annapolis
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius power, and magic in it
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius power, and magic in it
Hi Robin,
It's really important for you to start visualizing yourself not only coming through surgery but coming through feeling great and ready for this adventure.
My doctor gave me the option of having my gallbladder out when I had my bypass. It's semi-common that after surgery people develop gallbladder problems and I was already starting to have minor symptoms. I figured it would likely cause me trouble in the future and instead of waiting for it to happen and having to have a second surgery, I'd just take care of it then. If your doctor didn't mention it, I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if you aren't having trouble with yours.
I'm just like you about needles... or at least I used to be. And I do mean PETRIFIED! Now I'm pretty good about them. Try to remember that the nurse who puts in your IV for surgery does a million of them. They are typically some of the best at making it easy.
I have a lot of confidence in this surgery and the amazing benefits that come from it. My doctor flat out told me that if I didn't change something, I'd be hard pressed to make it much past 50... I was 46 at the time. Now I get glowing reports from my doctor. As I said, my blood pressure, cholesterol and asthma have greatly improved. Plus I don't have the knee and back pain I used to have. Moving around is just completely different... effortless. Things like climbing stairs and walking a mile or two. They're just no big deal.
If you haven't done so yet, I'd suggest starting to make a list of the things you want to do once you've lost some weight. Goals, dreams, plans... that kind of thing. I made a list of over 100 things and have been consistently checking them off the list. Things like buying my clothes in a "trendy" store, wearing a shirt tucked or a belt, sitting on Paul's lap, flying and not even worrying that I would need a seatbelt extender.
I remember the first time I broke out of the size 20-something clothes and tried on an 18 and they not only fit but looked pretty good. I cried in the dressing room. I remember stepping on the scale and seeing a number in the 190's for the first time in more years than I can count. I cried then too. (AND TOOK A PHOTO OF THE SCALE! LOL) There will be lots of those kind of WOW experiences for you, too. But Robin, you need to believe it. Believe in your doctor, your surgical staff, and most definitely in yourself. You can do this and you will be successful. And you will be around a long time to play with your grandbabies. Think it. Believe it. Now is the time to get your head as ready for this surgery as your body it.
Hang in there and keep talking!
robin
It's really important for you to start visualizing yourself not only coming through surgery but coming through feeling great and ready for this adventure.
My doctor gave me the option of having my gallbladder out when I had my bypass. It's semi-common that after surgery people develop gallbladder problems and I was already starting to have minor symptoms. I figured it would likely cause me trouble in the future and instead of waiting for it to happen and having to have a second surgery, I'd just take care of it then. If your doctor didn't mention it, I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if you aren't having trouble with yours.
I'm just like you about needles... or at least I used to be. And I do mean PETRIFIED! Now I'm pretty good about them. Try to remember that the nurse who puts in your IV for surgery does a million of them. They are typically some of the best at making it easy.
I have a lot of confidence in this surgery and the amazing benefits that come from it. My doctor flat out told me that if I didn't change something, I'd be hard pressed to make it much past 50... I was 46 at the time. Now I get glowing reports from my doctor. As I said, my blood pressure, cholesterol and asthma have greatly improved. Plus I don't have the knee and back pain I used to have. Moving around is just completely different... effortless. Things like climbing stairs and walking a mile or two. They're just no big deal.
If you haven't done so yet, I'd suggest starting to make a list of the things you want to do once you've lost some weight. Goals, dreams, plans... that kind of thing. I made a list of over 100 things and have been consistently checking them off the list. Things like buying my clothes in a "trendy" store, wearing a shirt tucked or a belt, sitting on Paul's lap, flying and not even worrying that I would need a seatbelt extender.
I remember the first time I broke out of the size 20-something clothes and tried on an 18 and they not only fit but looked pretty good. I cried in the dressing room. I remember stepping on the scale and seeing a number in the 190's for the first time in more years than I can count. I cried then too. (AND TOOK A PHOTO OF THE SCALE! LOL) There will be lots of those kind of WOW experiences for you, too. But Robin, you need to believe it. Believe in your doctor, your surgical staff, and most definitely in yourself. You can do this and you will be successful. And you will be around a long time to play with your grandbabies. Think it. Believe it. Now is the time to get your head as ready for this surgery as your body it.
Hang in there and keep talking!
robin
XOXO XOXO XOXO XOXO And remember, that's robin NOT Robin... legally!
Hi Robin,My name is Susan and I live in Essex, Maryland. I am pre-op; hoping to have laproscopic RNY sometime in November. I met all of the insurance requirements and am now waiting for an approval or denial (hopefully not). Waiting is the hardest! Which doctor are you using? I would love to keep in touch with you. We can support each other!
Susan Hayes 
Hi Susan welcome.
I'm pre-op also, I was scheduled for RNY on Oct 6, but was changed to Dec. 3. Don't know why and nobody in office knows. But I didn't let it get me down, since I been waiting for so long. I did all my pre-op testing at Univ of MD Medical Center and my doctor is Dr. Mark Kligman. Good doctor. Stict but I need that.
How's exercising going with you. That's my biggest problem. I trying not to be that lazy person I was before I started this journey. I ride my exercise bike and hopeful I will be walking with another lady in my area who had surgery several weeks ago. I going to hook up with soon.
Nice talking with you, lets keep in touch. What hospital and doctor do you see? Maybe we run into each other at hospital.
I'm pre-op also, I was scheduled for RNY on Oct 6, but was changed to Dec. 3. Don't know why and nobody in office knows. But I didn't let it get me down, since I been waiting for so long. I did all my pre-op testing at Univ of MD Medical Center and my doctor is Dr. Mark Kligman. Good doctor. Stict but I need that.
How's exercising going with you. That's my biggest problem. I trying not to be that lazy person I was before I started this journey. I ride my exercise bike and hopeful I will be walking with another lady in my area who had surgery several weeks ago. I going to hook up with soon.
Nice talking with you, lets keep in touch. What hospital and doctor do you see? Maybe we run into each other at hospital.
Robin in Annapolis
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius power, and magic in it
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it: Boldness has genius power, and magic in it
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