Hello everybody!!!

Although I have lurked for a very long time, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. It has been a very long journey, but I finally got the call yesterday and I have a surgery date!! It is June 1- three weeks from yesterday. I never expected it this quick. A little about me. I tried to have WLS about 3 years ago, but was denied as it was an exclusion with the policy. I elected not to fight it because I worked for a small, self insured company and I didn't want to make waves. I switched jobs a couple of years ago. Approximately 9 months into the job, I realized I had insurance that I knew would cover WLS. I went through the work up with one program only to be turned down at the end of the process and a lot of money out of pocket for a reason they knew when I first met with them. Next I went through another program and had to bow out at the end based on a couple of things that happened which undermined my confidence in the surgeon and program. All the while telling myself it will feel right when I find the right path for me. I started the process with another program last October and, although it has been an excercise in patience, I was convinced it was the right decision for me. So, I got a call yesterday with a surgery date and I can't believe it is finally here. I have so much to do to get ready. I am excited, but absolutely petrified at the same time. From all the reading on OH, I know this is completely normal. What makes it difficult is I am an ICU nurse. The after part doesn't scare me, but it is the in between that really worries me. I know what can go wrong, complications etc. And, my biggest fear is waking up on the ventilator. I think that would give me the biggest anxiety attac****ep reminding myself I will be fine. I am about 30 minutes southeast of Raleigh and would love to meet/e-mail with some folks in this area. Thanks for listening. Doxie

Congrats on getting a date, Doxie! It's been a long road for you but you are really on your way now. My significant other is a retired nurse and she was petrified about my having this surgery. I think when you KNOW all the things that could go wrong, it makes the worrying worse. Hang in there and you'll be on the losing side before you know it. Lisa L. 380/344/170

Good Morning Doxie, Welcome to the board. You are doing everything right in finding the right surgeon that you have confidence in. It is worth putting off the timing of the surgery to be on the right path. I am also a nurse and it made things a little more worisome at times but have confidence in your surgeon and know your hospital and let things progress. June will be here before you know it and we will brush off a place on the losers bench for you!! Have a great weekend! Pat

Hi Doxie & congrats on the surgery date! I have been a bit of a lurker as well. I live in Selma, which sounds as if it isn't too far from you -- feel free to email. I am also looking for some folks to chat with & support in the area. My surgery is this coming THURSDAY & I'm at the stage of OMG am I doing the right thing??? I am trying to deal with it by looking at before & after pics, reading others profiles and posts. My head knows if I don't have this surgery I will still feel miserable, in pain and at risk for death anyway. I will just have to trust that God has allowed everything to work out for my surgery and put it in his hands. The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride. I had a car accident on May 2nd because I didn't see a stop sign. We had just gotten a new used van on April 28th & had to get it inspected for our insurance co. in order to get full coverage. I was taking my husband to work the morning of the accident so I could take it to get done. So that means we then had a totaled van, owed over $4000 on it, nothing else to drive and no money to get anything. Thankfully though, no one was seriously injured beyond abrasions, bruises & terribly sore. I had never had an accident or even parking ticket in 20 years of driving and then of all times to have one! GRRR I was at my lowest when I got a call from Carolyn saying you have a date - May 18th!!! I've always been a strong believer that no matter what you are doing & where you are, if it is it your time to die, it is your time. That God let me walk away from my accident alive with no major injuries & two days later I was given a surgery date does make me feel better about having the gbs done. If it was my "time" then I wouldn't be here and lucky enough to have the opportunity for a healthier, happier life with my wonderful husband & . Since the accident, the place where we got our van from dropped what we owed on the van to $1500 & allowed us to get another car combining everything into one affordable payment. It isn't as nice as we had before, but it is helping us get on our feet again. There really are some people out there that look beyond the almighty $$$ & are car dealers too. Wow, did that sound weird to say! LOL Then yesterday, I had to go to court for my ticket. I took pictures showing where the sign was covered by a bush until you got too close to it to safely stop & a letter from ins. co. saying they were going to cover the other persons claim. They dismissed it without even appearing before the judge!! Yay! My surgeon requires a 2 week low-carb diet, under 40 gr. The first week was terrible & I felt starved; but I am doing better this week. I'm proud of myself because yesterday we went with my in-laws to Golden Corral. I stuck with everything on my diet with the exception of one small sip of sweet tea & about 5 pieces of mac & cheese. What was surprising to me is the tea tasted way to sweet and the mac & cheese really didn't do much for me. This makes me feel as if I will be able to follow the using your pouch as a tool rules after all! I know it will still be a hard change & battle against head hunger but I feel more confident in doing it now. Sorry so long, but thanks for listening to me babble. Guess I didn't realize how much I needed to get out of my system. Cindy A.