Would love to find a penpal that is close to my surgery date August 30th 2010. I would love to share ideas and milestones with someone who is on pace with me. I am in Florida and it does not matter where my penpal is.

Nice to meet you Rose. You can never ask me to many, because you may ask a question that I don't have the answer to but need to know myself.  I say yes, make your appointment immediately. You want to get things started. What part of MD do you have family in? I live in Howard County MD near Columbia. My surgeon didn't send me to the gym but I go every so often with my husband because he has so so so much energy now since he has had the surgery. I don't go as much as I should. The program itself where I'm having my surgery has an exercise specialist who will teach you how to get the most benefits out of exercise and they also have a dance and aerobics class there twice a week. It is mandatory to attend at least two exercise classes. I've have been eating anything and everything. Ever since I went to my appointment it seems like I just want to eat all the stuff I know I won't be able to have after the surgery. Such as beef, I'm not a big beef eater but lately I'm craving it and soda. I used to drink soda like once or twice a month, now I crave that too. I haven't really lost or gained any weight so, I don't know. I'm not on a special diet or anything, they just told me to limit some things. Believe me, I have a lot of weight to loose. I weigh 269. My stomach is really fat. I had two kids and now it's not the same. If I could lose the weight in my stomach, I probably wouldn't even need the surgery. I'm here for any questions you have. I might have some to ask you after you come from your visit. I like getting all the information I can. I'm so excited and scared at the same time.. Is it cool right now up there in NY? It's really chilly down here. I've always wanted to visit NY but never have, maybe one day. Maybe for the holidays, I hear it's beautiful!

Hi Lisa,  I'm also in the Vancouver area and looking for a penpal.  I would love to hear about your experience so far, how you decided on the RNY, etc. 

Hello Tanay, I have to do the same thing in order for my insurance to pay for my surgery.OK, so the first day you meet him is when you start the 6 months of all these things.OK so I am going to make my apt. today. Whats so funny is I am trying to get my teeth done also, so maybe by this time next year I will look like my younger self, I was never so embarrassed as to get the Novocain and don't let them pull my tooth. I am scary cat of pain.Oh and yes I would love to be your Pin-Pal. I have family over there in MD.Hey you never know?  lol  So do they send you to a gym or something, and what exactly do you have to eat? Do they put you on a diet right away?  Please I have to ask these questions for I live alone and need all the help I can get. So can you bear with the crash course?  From your picture , you don't look like you have weight to lose????? OK so I will keep in touch with you with MORE questions , if you don't mind.....Have a nice evening you and your husband...for I know he gives you the support you need.....Oh by the way my name is Rose

Hello Jessica
  I am three and a half years out I had RNY open bypass. Doctor also took out gallbladder at time of my bypass. I asked why he said if I didn't have it removed now would be back in surgery in eight months.One of my girlfriends had surgery 2 1/2 months after I did . Her doctor did not take out her gallbladder 8 months to day she had her bypass she was back in surgery having her gallbladder taken out. I weighted 320 at my heaviest although I was told i didn't look that big,I lost 182# 3 years out doc said i needed to gain some weight because i told him people kept asking me if I was annerxic. I weigh between 175 and 178 now. I am 5'9".
The only problem i am having is a problem I had before surgery and that is ulcers.
  People ask me all the time if i regret having surgery. I tell them NO that I would do it again in a heart beat.
 Before I could barely breathe.I have three beautiful grandbabies well there not babies now two girls 6 and 7 and a grandson who is 4 1/2. Nana can keep up with them now and I even jump on trampoline with them something i never would have been able to do before surgrery.
  advice i'd give you is make sure you get your protien in. If you don't your hair will start falling out. Another thing is things you love to eat now will taste totally different after surgery. I  could not stand peanutbutter before surgery it would give me intergestion. Now peanutbutter is my favorite protien. It no longer gives me intergestion. Tropical punch protien drink was my favorite before surgery now i can't stand it. I have found that the non flavored powder that you can stick in anything is the best and ameretto cappacino put scoop of the unflavored in with the ameretto boosts the protien value and makes it creamer. 
Mary