An introduction

Hello all,  I am very happy to have found this place and see so many active members in Oregon!   A bit about myself. I am 32 years old and currently 285 lbs and a compulsive overeater.  For many years I have had various medical issues that are all related to my obesity. I have had more then one Dr. suggest some type of weight loss surgery after each and every type of diet or pill that I have tried has failed. I have finally admitted that I can't do it on my own and that I need HELP! Thus begins my journey to the new me. I spoke with my PCP who was SO happy that I asked about it after years of her encouragement. I will be attending the Legacy seminar on December 18th which right now seems forever away! I have spent the past few days reading through archives and trying to learn about other people's journeys and what has brought them to this place. It has been so reassuring knowing that I'm "not alone or weak" in making this choice. I live in Tualatin and would LOVE to make some new friends. I don't have any real "hang out" buddies as everyone I am friends with in this state seem to be some sort of business contact. I guess I can share this here as a side note and ask possibly for advice. Due to medical reasons, I have chosen to get this surgery done. I know that my food addictions have brought me to this point. I also know for a fact that unless I can take control of my food addictions, there is no way for my lap band to be successful.  I currently attend OA on and off but plan on getting more active in it. I am scared to death so share with anyone that I am getting a Lap Band, almost like I will be looked down upon for it.   Does anyone else attend OA or know if this is something I should be worried about? Thanks for reading all this lol! Beth

Hello Beth and welcome!

i am also new quite a few of us are and then we have some that been here for a bit that are great to help us newbies out. Lots of good info and helpful people on this forum. I live in portland off of barbur and hwy 5. I work from home and dont have many friends either that live close by all are internet buddies. I have not gone to oa not sure i woul dat this point but thats me.. you have to do what best for you. I just saw my pcp today was excited she was behind me on having the surgery now my next step is the orientation and for a consult im going to be going to ohsu for the oreintation i originally was going to legacy but since my pcp is with oshu would be easier just to have it there so not to have so many papers shifting hands from all over the place. might just want to attend maybe both orientations i attend 5 different ones in flaorida and now will attend more here you learn some new stuff each time cause each dr is different. can never have to much inmformation i say the more you know the better you can prepare as best as you can. So contact me anytime and best of luck on your new journey to a new you  Susan

Hey there are MANY successful banders out here on OH that will support yoyu Go to their forum or any of the others while you "shop" for oodles of advice!  I go to the DS forum as that's my surgical type- but remember ALL will help on any forum. Even look at revision forums to see why some failed at their type of surgery- it all adds to your info cache.

(To find revisions forum go to the drop down menu on FORUMS and go to "other forums" then in box it'll scroll to REVISIONS.)

Welcome Beth!  We're glad you've joined us.  I've never been to an OA meeting.  I'd say that there are probably folks there who would think your getting the band is cool, some who will think it is the "easy way out" (which it isn't), and that most of them would be wishing they could do it too.  If they look down on your for it, then that is not the group you want to be with.  Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said:  "No one can make you feel inferior without your permission."  Hold your head up and be assured that the path you've chosen is the very best one for you, and don't let the turkeys get you down. Linda

Thanks for the warm welcome and the advice on where to look.  I am looking forward to getting to know the "group" and I'm sure in time, I'll learn to lean on this forum for support more then any place else!:")

I'll post a picture soon!

Beth

Ps, I LOVE the Roosevelt quote.

I had my lap band surgery done two years ago at legacy.  I LOVE my band and think it was certainly the right choice for me. I don't know if you've found the lap band forum, either.  If not, here's a link:  http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/lapband/a,messageboard/boa rd_id,5359/. Definitely be open and honest with the surgeons and the others you'll be seeing along your journey (including the nutritionist and psychologist).  If any of them voice serious concerns about your surgery, please listen to them and know that they're looking after your best interests. Please also check into the other surgeries.  It may be that another surgery may work better for you than lap band.  Don't get me wrong -- I'm not trying to discourage you.  I just want you to be completely ready for this surgery.  I have heard of others with eating disorders who are easily able to eat around the band.  There's no way I can but I also don't have an eating disorder. Welcome to the site and definitely you'll find others who are just like you! Lori

Welcome to the Oregon forum!

No, I don't attend OA, nor do I have plans on attending.  I would very much rather follow the 1,200-calorie diet outlined by my WL dietician.

Some of us get together in person in the Portland and Eugene-Springfield areas.  So far, I have been to one breakfast in Portland and an informal get-together in Springfield.  I have met quite a few people and plan on attending more in the future.  We usually meet about once a month or so.  Our get-togethers are usually posted on this forum at least 2 weeks in advance, so watch this forum. Best of luck!

Beth- Welcome! :)  We will be here for you, this is a great bunch of people. I haven't attended OA, but there have been times I've considered it.  We all deal with our weight issues differently.  I think if its something you're interested in trying, you should.  You admit you have food addictions, so I think its smart to not only treat the body (with surgery) but treat the mind, as well.  There are tons of people who have WLS then find themselves struggling mentally with the loss of food, and some even transfer their addictions to something else (alcohol or whatever).  So I would never say that OA is a bad idea... Hopefully we will meet you in person at one of our support groups!  Again, welcome! :)

I've gone to OA at 2 different times in my life, once back East and once here in Oregon (Salem area). My Salem stint was the longer of the two - about 3 months. I had great expectations for it, as I'd had really positive experiences with another 12-step program. In my research on the OH boards, I see quite a few common threads about codependency issues as well as replacement addictions once the comfort food is no longer an option. I think I too need to address this component of the process. Your experiences in the Portland metro area may vary from mine, but even before I began to think about WLS, I had issues with my OA meetings. In my case, it had to do with the spiritual component of 12-stepping. I agree that it is an integral part of the process, but my personal spirituality is part Christian, part Wiccan, part shamanistic, and largely my own. I guess I'm Unitarian if I must use a label. Anyway, I was totally uncomfortable in my OA meetings in Salem about this issue. So many of the other members seemed to be very narrow and Christian only praise Jesus. I felt like I couldn't really express myself in the groups I attended. The reason I mention this is the issue of tolerance. I was told flat out I was in error. I guess my feeling is that if there is lack of tolerance and narrow-mindedness about my Higher Power, there is also likely the same intolerance about what constitutes sobriety and how to achieve it. Do you have an OA sponsor? If not, call someone you respect and trust from your meeting and ask, I think it probably varies from meeting to meeting, area to area. But I'm pretty sure I couldn't find that sort of acceptance of WLS in any of the 3 different Salem OA meetings that I tried . I think these online forums are a better place for me right now. Maybe my OA experience isn't typical, but I feel more comfortable here. I look forward to meeting some of these wonderful folks in RL.