Support Group Meetings at Portsmouth Naval

Does anyone from here go there? I still need to attend, i've been putting it off due to my hubby's schedule, but I told him i'm going on the 7th next month so he needs to tell work he'll be in late.. Our waiting list was stuck for almost 4 weeks and not moving and i was getting very irritated but now they've gotten up to 356 and i'm 395 so it's getting closer for me!!!

I try to go to most of them. I waited forever as well but my number was 265 and my surgery is next week (Monday!!! YEA!!!). Anyways I got my initial in August so it looks as if they are moving pretty quickly now (100 in 3 months isn't bad at all). But they are also at around 2-3 months from initial to surgery. Mine was 2 months and 4 days. I understand getting upset about the waiting list they had to change the numbers due to a glitch so I thought I was almost there way back in freaking May but to no avail, I was sooo upset but since then I've realized that everything happens when it's supposed to not when I want it to so it's for the best. However the way I look at mine, everything that is amazing that's happened to me has happened between August and December. My birthday and my husband's birthdays are in August, my youngest was born in Sept. my oldest in November, and I got engaged in Sept. and married in December. So for me...well a date in November just fits perfectly. Once you get the initial appointment done everything moves rather quickly from there. One thing to warn you though....you MUST have a 6 month doctor (or nutrition) supervised diet in order for them to give you the surgery or they will turn you down flat. You can do the nutrition classes at Portsmouth (they are VERY informative) which if you do once or twice a month for the six months that counts. Also they have a yahoo group for there it's PNHGastricBypass if you want to join that. I should be at the next meeting so I hope to see you there! Raven running toward Monday!!!

Hi Raven and thanks for the info, I've had 5 drs appts and will have my 6th one on either Monday or Tuesday i have to call and make the appt. I went to my orientation back in May and I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. They were only on #165 back then I think!!! I will be at the next meeting. I know I have to have a meeting in before surgery. How long after your initial did your actual surgery get scheduled for, and what exactly goes on during the initial? i know they are tests and evaluations but is there anything I can do to get a jump start on blood work and what not? Thanks again. Missy

Personally I would wait until your initial for the blood work. But if you fast before that appointment then you can get your bloodwork done that same day. I did all the tests the day of my initial (chest xray, bloodwork, and EKG was all I had to do) and then came home waited the 3 days you have to wait after your blood work before scheduling the psych (mine was the first Joan had ever heard off that the nutrition referral didn't go through immediately, too****il Monday and my initial was on a Friday) and on Monday I was able to schedule both my appointments for 3 weeks later. Then you have to wait 1 week from the date of your last appointment and you call and tell Joan to put you on the pre-op list, then they call you when they have a date. Personally I was ready to wait some more but they called me back the same day giving me my pre-op date. That was November 4, and I got a date of Nov. 20. One thing though, I honestly believe that the only reason I got this date is because most people didn't want to have surgery 3 days before Thanksgiving and I could have cared less. Besides I will be hopefully be home for it and I will be able to have some turkey(pureed but I can still have it) and a bite or two of potatoes if I want to. Yeah I had my orientation in Oct. and they had just started the numbering system then so they were on 1, I thought i would never get here, lol. The best thing I can suggest to you is to study your bible, know what is happening inside and out. If you are informed about the surgery and about your vits and stuff for after then the clearances will go so fast. Raven

I've got my bible right here by the computer and i need to read it more and more.. After seeing the numbers jump the way they did it gave me butterflies and made me think that by my birthday next March I could be so close to the surgery that it's not even funny!!!! I'm so anxious to get it over with.. I will be at the meeting on the 7th. Hope to see you there. thanks again for all the info you've given me. Missy