I'd like to introduce myself

Thanks everyone - super nice of you.  I'm 53 and a mom and step mom of 7 great kids.  I've done my job focusing on them and now it's my turn to focus on me.  Hoping for a smooth ride on the medical side because I'm in a good place to see this through.  Spending this last month before surgery putting together a collection of recipes from various online resources appropriate for the various post-op stages so I don't find myself wandering around the kitchen not knowing what to do.  Also researching brands of supplements as well to make the best choice I can on those things and have them ready to go.  If there are any other things I could do to make the post-op road a little easier I'd love to hear your tips.

Also thinking very carefully about who to share my WLS plan with and who not to share it with.  I do not feel compelled at all to be an open book but rather I'll be more selective.  It's my journey and I'll be as open as I'm comfortable being.  A little mystery here and there isn't a bad thing.  The tricky ones are family and close friends - most especially a sister with whom I am very close.  She is morbidly obese and will be very challenged by my decision.  She actively dislikes any suggestion that being heavy is an issue to be considered.  She made a decision long ago not to ever deal with her weight issue.  I am not her.  I don't share that approach to life in regards to health at all.  But I love and respect her.  We live on opposite sides of the continent - she in the Canadian west and me in the American southeast - and won't see each other for another year or so.  I could easily just quietly do my thing and she'll just see a thinner me next year.  But it feels dishonest.  Not sure what I'll do about this one so still pondering.....

Well enough rambling.  Have a wonderful day everyone and, again, it's great to meet you all!

Roz - thanks so much.  Hoping all will go well.  Appreciate knowing you!

Hi Cdngirl, nice to see you here and meet you.  I, too, put on my weight later in life.  I couldn't have kids but we adopted 2 who turned out to be special needs.  Between the stress of raising them plus getting ill with autoimmune diseases treated for years with prednisone, put on about 100 lbs which even my lifetime membership at Weigh****chers couldn't budge.  I'm 11 weeks out now and still far from being able to eat everything.  It gets easier and easier as you move along.  I also started picking up a lot of comorbid conditions related to obesity which I've been dealing with for many years.  I, too, have pre-diabetes and my endocrinologist expected it to become full blown at any minute, not to mention very limited mobility due to spinal stenosis.  I'm already off my diabetes meds and by 1 month out, my cholesterol had dropped 50 pts.  

A lot of people wrestle with who to tell.  I did tell family and friends that I see on a regular basis but I didn't ask or want their opinions on it.  I just told them I was getting it and it was a done deal.  As a result, I never heard a word from anyone trying to talk me out of it.  Most people knew nothing about the sleeve, even my PCP had never heard of it, so I deal now with many who don't understand  my reluctance to eat out at new restaurants constantly.  New food is very iffy with me and I've gotten sick way too often to feel comfortable at restaurants a lot of the time.

Best of luck to you and let us know what we can do to help you along.

Hi Judy - thanks for your reply.  Stress sure can do a number on health can't it?  I totally get it.  Good that we've taken steps to regain health.  Hoping for a smooth ride.  Appreciate knowing you!  

Hi,

Welcome to the lightweight board. Before you know it your time will be here. I didn't tell very many people at all about my surgery..........family of course and one person I am close to at work and that turned out to be a mistake just because I kept hearing you can do this on your own why do you feel like you need surgery etc. Well my first diet was when I was 8 years old and it was all downhill from there at 55 I finally realized I wasnt getting the weight off and long gone without some help. (i'm a slow learner) :) Your surgery date will be here before you know it!! Best of luck

Trish

Trish - thanks!  Appreciate knowing you.  Have a great day.

Hi, friend! Welcome!

Well hello there Miss Rynn!  Have a great day.

Welcome aboard!  

I'm a NC girl too. You can take NC girls out of Carolina but you can't take the Carolina out of us.  Tar Heels!

--gina

Hi Gina - well I'm a newbie NC girl and really just learning the ropes!!  Love it though.  Beautiful State.