Welcome!

Hi, I am Tammy. I thought I posted here, but I must have gotten lost.. I am waiting insurance approval for RNY.. I am in SW PA . I am 33, Navy Wife Retired/  FireFighters Wife.. I am a mother to 6 and soon to be grandmother.. 16( is making me grandmother), 14, going on 13, 12, 11 and 8 year old.. 3 live with us full time. I am trying to keep my page updated..since I know others that are waiting need to know our journeys before and after..and I want to be one who helps those like me and scared to death..lol..

Aside from this.. I keep to my self.. have a mini farm going on inside my house( 2 St.bernards, 3 ****atiels, 4 Kittens, lizards, fish and waiting on new puppy)  and rarely hang out with friends... I am alone with just me, kids and husband and our mini zoo.. 

I love to be positive no matter what live tosses my way.. sometimes I want to break things too.. LOL.. but it feels good at the moment..
 
SO.. here I am.. I am open to friends and buddies.. I have few that are the sweetest and enjoy having them as friends.. I would like to have more to be there for as well.. and who can tolerate me too.. :)  Feel free to add me as a friend.

Welcome to our group! Sounds like you have a house full! Thats always nice! Here, it is my hubby and I and two dogs. Lizzards outside...lol they just inhabited the yard. I love to see them run around out there.
I have 2 young adult kids, 3 grandkids, and am always having to help em all with something.. lol somedays think it would be cheaper to have em all here at our place, but have grown fond of the quiet times too. BUT I love em all and really really love the grandkids!

Best of luck on your RNY approval! Please make a post below...start your own. I don't think mostpeople notice the posts here.
Welcome!

Thank you :)  and yes its full house here.. lol.. I have a big heart to animals and ended up being a rescue house.. and even 2 leggers venture in and we end up with 12 kids at times..lol.. I think lizards are fun to watch.. waiting on the day my son outgrows them.. lol

I know the feeling of loving them around..but the quiet is needed just as much.. I wish school was in all year..haha.. I love them so much.. but whew mom needs a break lol..

Ty for the good luck.. I am "waiting" and counting down ...

Tammy, welcome to the bariatric buddy group.  I am an animal lover too.  My hubby and I have 2 lap dogs that each think they are 200# when they bark.  Then they return to their 6.5 and 11.5 # real selves and snuggle. 

I tend to be a loner at times too, but need people for my support.  Working full time night shift, co-leading a local wls support group and lots of dog walks, time at the gym get me out of the house.  I enjoy fabric arts and like to make quilts. 

Your household sounds very busy, do make time for things that you need to do for your health and for your support.  Hugs

Hi Kathy, 
         I loved hearing about your little furbabies lol.. and yep.. busy busy.. I try to find time for myself..it comes rare and high to none though..lol.. I love to sew.. but I am limited on skill.. got basics down with the sewing machine and I would love to try a quilt... I think we got a reason for some gossip of quilting..lol..

Thank you for your support :)
HUGGS

Sounds like a plan Tammy.  Oscar and Gretta (the critters) love to share too.  Pics of the critters on my page.

Sewing squares together is a start to a quilt.  My favorite ones are unplanned use of scraps.  My mom taught me to sew and quilt when I was a weeeee child.  Hugs

Hi I am frances.  34 yrs old. Nurse of 14 years.  I have struggled with my weight forever.  Put up with all the stigmas that go along with being overweight as well.  I was 220 when I graduated HS.  Ballooned up to and over 300 in my 20's, when I was diagnosed with PCOS.  I am currently at my highest weight of 360 and I am both, amazed and ashamed. 

I have had fleeting thoughts of WLS, but have pushed it to the back of my mind.  Since becoming diagnosed with HTN in OCT 2009, I have been thinking of it more.  I even lost 22 pounds, only to regain it plus about 20 more.  I realize that I cannot continue on this Yo-Yo weight loss/gain roller coaster. 

I am currently in the pre-screening process.  I met with the dietitian and the surgeon.  Pre-screening blood work drawn, awaiting results.  Appts made for the next 2 weeks:  psychologist, cardiac clearance and consult for sleep study.  Awaiting the appt for my pulmonary function test from my surgeons office.  Surgeon is shooting for NOV surgery.  We shall see. 

Questions:
- Should I start FMLA papers for work now or when i get the date?
- I have AFLAC for ST disability, when should I call them?
- When and how is the best way to tell my manager at work?

Welcome Frances. Lots of nurses in our group here. I am an LPN, Kathy is an RN and we have had many others join who are nurses as well... people just seem to come and go...

Good luck in the approval process. Maybe Kathy or someone can answer your questions better than I, as i wasn't working when I had my RNY, I was at home caring for a badly injured husband.
As far as telling your manager, I would think the sooner the better once you have a date, so the manager can plan for filling in. You do not have to disclose why, just that you are having major surgery and will be out.
On the other 2 questions, I honestly wish I could advise you there, but truly don't know the answers to those questions.

Best of luck in this journey. I can tell you I have not regretted my RNY for a moment

Those are great questions Frances, I would get the FMLA paperwork soon, start you part of the paperwork, the surgeon's office will need to complete part of the paperwork.  When to submit is a harder question.  Do you work at a larger hospital/unit or a small unit where staffing is tighter?  Look at your AFLAC policy, what time limits do they set for notification?  Do your co-workers know that you are planning surgery?  When telling your manager, point out the health benefits and work benefits that will result.  My co-workers knew I was working on getting RNY for several months before the actual date and were wonderful support.  I am an RN, for the last 14+ years and work night shift in a small OB/Peds unit.  I planned to take 4 weeks off, but work required that any lifting limits be resolved before I could return to work, so I was off 6 weeks.

Please post many lots of times, below in the threads for many more answers.  Looking forward to getting to know you better.  Hugs from one nurse to another.  Let's lose together.  Welcome to the bariatric buddy family.

 hi, my name is colleen and i am 23 years old, my weight has been like a roller coaster since i was 12 and the past 5 years it has gotten worse and worse so i finally decided to get wls. i am scheduled for rny on sept 15th. i am a little nervous but i know that this is the right decision for me.  I have very supportive parents but my three sisters are having a hard time with my decision to have the surgery. a couple of them have struggled with their weight but not to the extent that i have and i was wondering if anyone has any ideas on what to say to them? and i guess i want to hear what anyone has to say about the rny.  another question i have is does everyone who looses the weight have to get a tummy tuck or body lift or whatever or can your skin shrink back when you loose the weight? thanks for letting me join your group and i am so happy to have found such a great form of support here.