Newbie - Allow me to introduce myself
I plan to use the next couple of months familiarizing myself with this board and all of the wonderful advice and tips that are generously shared. Also, I am planning to try a few protein powder recipes to try to come up with something that I can enjoy post-surgery, so if you know of some, please share!
I'm looking to find a support group in Dallas (or a little South of there would be even better!), If you're in the area, or even if you aren't, please reply and let me get to know you!
Hello, I am not a newbie.. I had my surgery in 2006. But, I live in Ellis county also.. That would be Ovilla. I really don't have a support group that I go to because all the people that I got to be really good friends with are either way west or way east.
Some are even way north but not too many in our area that I know of.
I don't get on OH hardly ever anymore but will try to make a more concentrated effort to be here to help if possible.
My surgeon was Dr Barker and my surgery was the by pass.
Look forward to meeting you and hopefully getting to know you.
Cindy McElyea
Cindy Mc
Anyway, thanks again for reaching out! Look forward to hearing from you again some time.
WELCOME to the TMB family, and CONGRATS on making the decision to take charge of your health!!
I don't live particulary near Red Oak, but I do know WHERE it is-does that count??? When my boys were in Jr High and HS football I could always find the town of Red Oak, but always got lost looking for the football field-so I got a "tour" of the town, every stinkin' time!! "Miles" don't mean alot to us here, on the TMB. We've been known to take many a road trip to have coffee/lunch/just to talk. We do have a TMB member, Cindy Mc, who lives in Ovilla. I'll try to reach her, and have her post here, for you.
Does your doctor/hospital have a support group? I'm part of a non-hospital one, open to all, that meets twice a month, on Sat mornings, in west Ft Worth, but that may be too far for you. But-again-some of us would be more than willing to have a "road trip" for you!
As for protein mixtures, everyone has such different tastes/opinions. My personal fave, at this time, is Click. I use both the mocha and the vanilla latte, and find the cheapest prices from Amazon. My best advice is to buy single serve packets of different types, and see what appeals to you. I don't like the "fruity" drinks-others LOVE them. Unjury makes a chicken soup and a cheese sause protein, that is a nice break from "sweet stuff".
Keep those questions coming! It shows you are truly doing your research, and planning your future. I predict you are going to be a RAWKING success!!
Gina AKA Nurse Diva
RNY 4-22-02
RNY 4-22-02...
LW: 6lb,10 oz SW:340lb GW:170lb CW:155
We Can Do Hard Things
Gina, you're awesome! Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply and also for offering to contact Cindy for me. I am also not opposed to road trips; in fact, having moved to Red Oak 27 years ago, I'm quite accustomed to them. When we have out of town guests and we take them out to eat, they are always appalled when we drive 45 minutes to get there. :) We don't even think about it anymore.
Thankfully, my family is very supportive of my decision and I have a couple of church friends who have had WLS of some form or another who are also there for me to talk to when family is just a little too close to be objective. But, I have so much to learn that I felt a support group would be great. Besides, maybe I could be an encouragement to others at some point too!
I'm doing a required sleep study tomorrow night and will have a stress test on Feb 2nd to receive clearance from my cardiologist. After that, all of my requirements will be met except for finishing the last 2 months of doctor supervised weight loss program. I know that time will pass quickly, so that's why I'm trying to use it wisely getting my heart and mind ready for it all.
Thanks again for your kind reply. I'm sure I will be reaching out again!
In terms of WLS, you can never ask too many questions or get too many sides of the story as far as what worked for different folks.
I'm in Burleson but I don't mind driving to the other side of the world to go shopping, so Red Oak doesn't seem so far at all. If you ever want to do lunch/dinner/coffee/shopping or something just holler. About once a month or so I think one of us gets to missing the rest of us and will call/text and set up a get together. It's like family that YOU actually get to CHOOSE. We just pick up where we left off and keep up with one another.
I am 7 years out from getting a band. I met goal about 2-3 years of having it and stayed pretty true to my weight for those few years. I had a baby a year ago yesterday and am getting the 'baby weight" off still. At goal I weighed 145lbs and had lost half of my body weight. Good food choices, small frequent meals and running were the keys to my success.
When my surgeon asked me how things were going a few months out from surgery I said that it was like having my first baby. It was very exciting, with lots of change- some for the good and some not so much, and that it changed my whole world in a completely wonderful way. I had no true idea what it was going to really be like, but after it happened I was like "yeah! I CAN do this!
I would not change a thing. It's been a heck of a ride, but I am SO much healthier because of losing the weight.
Good luck to you!!!
The more you like yourself, the less you are like anyone else, which makes you unique. Walt Disney
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As I mentioned in my reply to Cindy, I'm at a point in my life where there aren't too many changes on the horizon like that, but I think my biggest hurdle will be giving up my Diet Cokes. I drink WAY too many of them. So, I'm going to try to eliminate them prior to surgery and have that one out of the way so I won't grieve too much later. ;)
Anyway, thanks for sharing your story with me. As you know, it helps a lot to hear what others have been through.
Talk to you soon.
