I can remember so excitedly walking thru the hospital doors and even the nurses commenting on how excited I seemed - why yes, I certainly was! I was 318 lbs and ready to shed that suit. My blood sugar was 140 and that was with 2000 mg of daily metformin. I can even remember being the OR and moving to the surgical table and commenting on how cold it was in there - LOL! I heard them say, "good morning, Dr. Boyce!" and I was like, "I still can say no, right now!" to myself but I chose life.

So here I am, two years post op, hanging out between 134-138 lbs and a size 2/4. And my goal was 175 lbs and size 12/14. But here's the thing: THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE SCALE OR CLOTHING SIZES!!!!! This is about extending my lifespan and improving my quality of life.

I can run, I can tie my shoes, my husband can pick me up, I'm off all diabetic and bp meds, and by golly, I WEAR HEELS A LOT!! (aka my red ones that were the talk of the Friday evening reception at the recent OH conf in Cincy!)

I don't know what tomorrow, next week, or next year holds for me cuz i take it one day at a time, sometimes it's just one hour at a time. I like to eat and that hasn't changed. I make a concerted effort to eat healthy and to move. I have choices.

No matter what, I am grateful - for my awesome and totally hot husband, my sweet mama, my surgeon and his staff, my friends, and of course, you all for keeping me going some days (always been more of a lurker than a poster myself but that's due to Internet issues which is another issue in itself).

So, anyway, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY (and here's my before pic):

Rhonda, they meet the 3rd Saturday of the month, here are the details:
Cookeville DS Support Group Time: 10:00 AM Location: Cookeville Regional Hospital, Cookeville, TN in the Allgood Conference Room (near the cafe) Moderator: John Harrington () Co-moderator- Rhonda Stout Email: [email protected]

We also have two additional support groups that meet in Cookeville, but they are not DS specific. All of our groups are on our calendar on the website, just click here to view. You can then view the details for each group by clicking on it.

Thank you,

Hi All,

Just Curious....\

Does anyone know of the Cookeville Area DS Support Group is still meeting?

Thanks,

Rhonda

I'm not sure what all UT's program fee covers so that may be the difference in price.  I don't set the price, I just pay the price.   Regardless, UT doesn't offer the DS so they were a no-go regardless of what their fee was.  Mancini is a VERY good surgeon. Several of my family members have had good results with him (GI issues, not WLS) but since he doesn't perform the surgery that is best for me, he was not even a consideration.

congratulations. i know how exciting it is. let us when your date is.