Welcome!

Hello, my name is Rhonda and I hope to have RNY in February. I went to a seminar back in October and now I have had almost all my required appts. except my 2nd appt with Psy. and nut. consult. They will be finished by the end of this month and then I call my surgeons office to schedule my appt with him, then they submit my paperwork to BCBS insurance and I wait! I have been all over this site (and many others) for the past few weeks. Seems like a lot of great people hang out here. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all. I'm 46, married, 2 kids, work full time, overweight ALL my life and obese for at least the last 20 years. I had always thought that I SHOULD be able to lose weight on my own and keep it off, and not have to have surgery. But I have finally reached the point of KNOWING that if it was truly possible I would have done it by now! I 1st looked into the LAP band, but my sweet addiction made be think it's not for me. I know several people who have had RNY (1month to 6 years post op) and they are all happy and would do it again in a heart beat. I see there are alot of DS people here too. They seem to be happy and have fewer complications but that surgery is not done in my area as far as I can tell. I am scared and excited and I tend to research everything to death but this is a Major lifechanging event that I want to go into fully understanding what to expect and k nowing what can happen both good and bad. Sorry to go on and on, I just have so many things going on in my head. It;s hard to concentrate on everyday life!

Great to meet you Rhonda,  Sounds like you are a perfect fit for this group.  Read posts, add your own.  All questions or concerns are important to us.  We either have been there, or want to know the answer ourselves.  I had my RNY 10 weeks ago and love the results so far, still a work in progress.

Do what you can to start changing eating habits now before surgery and the changes will be less stressful later on.  Hugs, Kathy 

Hi Rhonda! Welcome to our group and congrats on your decsion to take control of your health. I was like you. First considered lap band then decided against it. And i researched for a good solid 6 months daily on wls. It is important to be informed of all possibilities. Keep learning and you will be best prepared for this life changing journey.
Share here.. we like to lend support  and even just be silly at times.

Howdy from Texas! New to the group. You can blame Kathy B. for inviting me. ;-) Thanks Kathy!

I'm a 37 yo housewife. I've been overweight nearly all my life. I had my long awaited RNY in the beginning of October. I'm struggling to get in my protein requirements and dealing with stalls already. Yet, I am still glad that I had the surgery and looking forward to a longer happier life. This seems like a nice group. Looking forward to sharing struggles and reaching goals with you all.

I have broad shoulders, I will take the blame (gladly) lol  

Welcome Michelle, feel free to post, respond and ask questions.  If you don't ask, we can't anwer.  You found a great bunch of folks here.  Let's lose weight together.  Hugs, Kathy

Howdy back at ya Michelle!
Congrats on your surgery! Try not to look at the p[lateaus as a time of struggle. Almost every one of us have them. It is a time for our bodies to adjust to all of the changes we are going through, and probably keeps us a bit healthier as we lose weight so quickly. I have shared with many that I had my first plateau at 11 days out, and it lasted over a week and a half. I was beside myself. Even cried and threatened to tell my surgeon to do it again and do it right, or give me a refund of the portion I paid..lol. As I reached out for support way back then..I was told basically what I am telling you. I kept thinking, how do I not get discouraged. But after seeing myself follow a cycle of rapid loss then a 1 to 2 week plateau several times, I finally just relaxed and let my body go with the flow., knowing that as long as I was following the rules and being wise in my choices, I'd lose it. I am now out 1 year and 3 months and only 15 pounds from my goal. I am down 105 lbs. Loss is very very slow for me now and plateaus are lasting much longer and loss is fewer and farther between...BUT I am still headed in the right direction and am pleased with my loss so far. I don't regret my decision at all... ever!

Thanks Kathy for bringing this gal to our group! Thanks Michelle for joining us here! So nice to have you with us!

Hi, all.  I'm new here.  I started researching bariatric surgery in May.  I've gone through all of the pre-work required by both the insurance company and by the surgeon's office.  I received word last week that insurance has given their approval and I'm good to go.  

I meet with the surgeon, Dr. Thomas Jones tomorrow morning to schedule a date.  I'm hoping to get it in yet this year, because I have met my deductible, so the surgery would cost me nothing.

My weight gain started 16 years ago when my first son, Matthew, died from SIDS.  Emotional eating was my survival method.  Then, four years later, we gave birth to a beautiful son, Benjamin, who was born with 1/2 a heart.  He underwent three open heart surgeries and was doing super, when he died suddenly at the age of two years and one month, on my 33rd birthday.  In the last 10 years, I've gained another 40 pounds.

I'm currently married (21 years to my high school sweatheart) with four healthy children, ages 18, 14, 6 and 2 (oops!).  I want to get healthy so I can do more with my kids and be there for them for a long time to come.

I look forward to learning from all of you and being part of this group.  Thank you!

So good to add you to our bariatric buddy family.  Best wishes for tomorrow's appointment.  Keep us up to date on your news.  So sorry about your losses, so hard to lose children.  Go on and post lots, the group will be here for you.  Let's lose weight together.  Hugs, Kathy

Ohh honey! You have been through some terrible losses. My heart goes out to you. I am so glad that you do have 4 healthy children there with you. Even the oops..lol. 

I wish you the best of luck tomorrow at your surgeons visit! Let him know where you stand with your deductable and he may be more than happy to get you in before the end of the year. It provides security to him as well that he'll recieve all payment (in his mind).
Congrats on your approval! It won't be long now!

Welcome to our group and make yourself at home here! Thank you for joining us. I look forward to traveling along side you in your journey.

Hugs1

 Well, I am getting there and am figuring out how this site works. I joined this site quite awhile ago and finally put into action the process. A few people I work with have had lapband surgery done and it was through discussions with them and encouragement that I finally took the plunge and made my first appt with Dr Johnell in July 2009. I am a type 1 diabetic, so with or without surgery I always will be a diabetic.
I have done all that is needed and I have surgery scheduled for 12/3/2009. Ready to go and get this done.
I have been heavy my entire life and am now (like most) at my heaviest and have trouble moving. I work an office job where I am sitting 7 hours of the day and do not want to move when I get home. But that part is changing.
Any advice that can be offered or any encouragment will be appreciated. Also would appreciate information on emotional and other things that anyone personally experienced during the first weeks and months after surgery.
I just do not want to be hungry all the time, anymore.