Hi My name is Sheri. I am a 37 year old single mom in Niagara Falls canada. I am awaiting surgery and believe my next apt they will be giving me a date (hoping for end of April or may).
I would love to have firends to text/email/call that are either like me just starting out or also would love to have padies who are also well on their way to reaching their healthy weights. I have read so much about what to expect but experiencing something first hand is always so different and it scares me a little but excited me a lot.
Congratulations to you and to the other who answered you who have already come so far...hold your heads hguh and be proud of yourselves. Would love to hear back.

hi i'm from seaside hts.i had my band put in january 20th 2011

Hi Jessica~
I, too, am in a holding pattern for surgery. I was with a clinic at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville from January 2008 until September of 2010 and never even got to the point where we could file for approval. The surgeons there are very, very competent but they are also very unforgiving. AFter 9 months of jumping through hoops and losing weight, I gained 2 pounds and the surgeon refused to see me! I never had another opportunity to see him again and it was all very frustrating and demoralizing. Then my insurance changed and my new insurance wouldn't pay to have it done at that clinic because it wasn't yet a center of excellence so I was referred to Dr. Mark Colquitt. Already I've done the seminar and met with the doctor. Suddenly I'm certain that I'm going to make it this time. I go in on March 7th to meet with the nurse and patient advocate and get the ball rolling. I'm really starting to get excited!

I've been overweight all my life. I was born normal-sized but whenever I cried I got a bottle stuck in my mouth. Sometimes it was baby formula but other times it was watered down coca cola. I could spell COKE from the minute I started talking at 7 months! I learned by default to use food to make myself feel better. Chocolate became my drug of choice at a young age while later I was taught bad eating habits with lots of Chef Boyardee and Franco American and breakfasts made up of cold cereal or toast and jelly. I was fed lots of take out and I believe I am responsible for a good share of the world chocolate market! LOL

I, too, am looking for people to share the journey with. My family is eager for me to lose weight but they are apathetic about my having weight loss surgery. My support person is a women from my church who is a DS patient and quite savvy on the process. A true friend, she's been there every step of the way with me. I feel blessed having her at my side.

I live in Tennessee, outside of Knoxville, on a farm at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains. In fact I'm right smack in the middle of the foothills. I'm surrounded by a lot of people who are trying to lose weight the "old fashioned way" and they tend to look down their noses at me because I'm pursuing surgery. But I've come to understand that I need this tool if I hope to live a long, long life and not die early as so many in my family have done.

I would love to be your pen pal, if you like. Just message me back and ask any questions you may have. Until then, I hope you have a great week ahead of you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Rebecca

Hi Lisa,
  You are already on my friends list, but I don't think we have talked much...I had my surgery just a few weeks before you. I'd love to chat some more.
  I've lost 229 pounds so far, but i'm at a stand still, and I still have a long way to go.
Let me know if you would like to chat, I prefer to talk on the phone rather than email or post. Its nice to get your answers right away. I have unlimited Long Distance so calling wouldn't be a problem
Take Care
Melissa

**or anyone else that would like to chat**

Hi everyone
I'm Cassandra  32 yrs mother & military wife just looking for friends that who have already or are going to have a gastric bypass looking to make a few friends some on I can text /email/chat and just talk to about WLS. I will be having my surgery on March 29, 2011  If you are interested contact me!   [email protected]