Introductions....

Hello everyone, my name is Tarka. I am new to the GLBT Message board, but am very happy to have found it.(although why does it look different? It doesn't look like any of the other forums..HMmmm??). I didn't know if people would be interested in introducing themselves to people like me who might be new... Okay, where to begin.. My name like I said above is Tarka. I live in Maine and I had RNY on 8/13/2007. It's was one of the best decisions that I have ever made.. I live at home with my partner Ann (we've been together for 2 1/2 years. She is my main supporter.. I also have a 2 1/2 year old daughter name Arianah.. SHe is my life.. My pride and joy.. I am working and going to school to get my RN.. So, free time doesn't really exist right now. I coach softball for a highschool up here and LOVE it.. This season coming up will be my 4 year that I have coached. Is anyone from Maine?? I hope to hear from you all soon! Tarka

Hi Tarka! I think introductions are great. I have only found this board today thanks to Sean. My name is Barbara. I had my open RNY on 8/28/07 (YAY). I live in Ohio with my partner of 10 years, Sharon. We each have two adult children. Hers live here, mine live in NC. I'm a clinical social worker. Still off work from surgery but hoping the doc will give me the ok to go back next week instead of waiting the full 6 weeks. I feel great and I figure I could just as easily sit and talk at work as I can sit and go stir crazy here! LOL Can't do anything around here cuz I can't lift or bend much and can't go shopping cuz I have no money. LOL Looking forward to getting to know folks here. Barbara

Great idea, Tarka! My name is John and I live in Chicago. I have been enjoying Chicago's beautiful lakefront this summer by going for long bike rides. I try to post monthly pics on my profile page to have a record of my loss. My lap-band procedure on 6/29 and have lost 22 lbs since then.

Hello Tarka, My name is Lori and my partner is Elaine, on the 15th of December we will celebrate our 20th year together. We have lived in WA for 17 years and both are originally from NY (where we meet). Are children are grown, Elaine's son Bruce lives in FL, and my son Jeremy lives in WA. Jeremy has given us a granddaughter Brookelynne who is 5; she is the love and light of our lives. She comes to our house every week and spends the night with us : ) He and his new girlfriend are expecting in June. I had the RNY done in 2003; I lost about 90 pounds and then began o gain back the weight, my pouch was still good, the stoma find, my eating habits were good...who knows what went wrong. There was some question about if enough was by-passed. What ever the problem, I knew I had to make a different choice for the revision. After much research (3 years worth) I decided on the DS. The next choice was a surgeon, the 2 with the most experience were a surgeon in CA and one in Brazil, once I realized that even with insurance that would cover it, the surgeon in CA wanted 10, 000 up front...that I may get part of back after the insurance paid out : - o I chose the surgeon in Brazil. I have absolutely no regrets. It was the best experience I ever had as far as surgery goes. I will even go back to Brazil for my plastics. I am a full time student, working on a Medical Assistant degree, I graduate in 6/08. My plans are to get a job and go back to school part time to get the pre reqs done for the nursing program, then to eventually work my way to being a nurse practitioner specializing in psychiatry. Busy future! I am so happy to see this new forum, it is set up differently, and I bookmarked it, so I can find my way back to it : ) Thanks, Lori

Welcome one and all !!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Tarka and everybody! This board is in the old format still. They just started changing over the other boards to the new format. Whether they will ever do this one, I don't know. I'm Rachelle and I frequent this board alot. I live in NJ with my partner of nearly 16 years. I just had my Lap RNY on 8/6 and I'm doing great so far. Rachelle

Well it is very nice to meet all of you!! I am a regular on my state of Maine Message board, so now that I know about this one, I think that I will become a regular here too! Keep up the good work everyone!

Hi all - I came here pre-op but haven't been around all that much since then. I'm Kerry and I live in Newton, MA. I live with my partner of 11 years - we were legally married in 2004 I'm 33, was born in northern NJ, but have been in MA for my whole adult life. I work in higher education. I had RNY on 1/2/07 and as of today I'm down 113 pounds! Kerry

Hi, my name is Carolyn, I live in TN with my partner of 14 years, Anne. I am an OB/GYN nurse practitioner (working for Planned Parenthood) and a volunteer Girl Scout Leader. I had the DS in Nov. 2003 and lost 170 lbs. 15 of them have found me again--I had to eat like crazy for a while to keep from losing too much and kept it up too long--giggle. I am very happy with my size, however--am in a size 8/10 pant and a 12/14 top.That is plenty small enough for me--I like my women curvy, including myself! I am having a lower body lift done Dec. 4. Now that I know this forum is here (thanks, Sean) I will try to check in and get to know you all.

Hi I'm Rich, I have been here lurking for almost 2 years now. After being denied by 2 insurance companies I FINALLY got a job that has insurance that will cover WLS, I'm hoping for my open RNY in late winter. I'm also treasurer of The Northeast Ursamen and have been involved with them for 10 years. I enjoy being a bear and being part of the bear community, I just want to be a healthier bear.