I am new to this group!

 Hello Everyone! My name is Amanda. I live in north Georgia, I am 28 years old and a single mother of a 9 yr old son. I have been down a long road and I hope I am heading down the correct path now. I have suffered with weight issues for over 15 years now. I had a routine gallbladder removal in 2003 and, because of my weight, I almost lost my life. I spent a month in ICU and another 6 months recovering from the experience. I have been diagnosed with PTSD, COPD, GERD, Severe Depression, Chronic Pain, and some other weight-related issues. I started smoking when I was 12 years old and quit December 10, 2009 as a result of finding out I have COPD and to prove how important this surgery is to me. I am here to hopefully meet new friends and battle this together. I do not have but 1 or 2 people on my friends list here so please feel free to add me. I am having a rough time at this point and I need all the friends and support I can get. Thank you for allowing me to join your group! This is all new to me and I am very nervous about it.

 I have went to my initial consult, done all my pre cert testing and clearances and now I am waiting for the pre cert from the insurance company to get a date. The doctors office said I will have a date by early next week!! :) I am very nervous and need good friends through this time! I have done all I can to stay home and see no one because of my weight so I do not have many friends left. I hope to meet some new ones here! :)

Amanda, I am glad you found bariatric buddy group.  This is a positive group that offers support to one and all.  Ask as many questions as you can.  Read lots of posts, answer posts and offer comments, questions, concerns, fears, joys and anything in between.  Congrats on stopping the smoking, one task accomplished before surgery.  Hoping some if not all of your diagnosis get better or resoved with the weight loss.  Which procedure are you planning to have?  I had RNY 5 months ago and would do it again for the benefits I have had.

Do you have any local wls groups?  Going to a group is wonderful for support and we will fill in the open spaces.  We have a weekly chat session on monday evenings here at the bariatric buddy page.  There will be a post closer to monday as a reminder.

You have a wonderful reason to get healthy, your child, he needs his mom to be around for a long time.  Start developing the healthy habits that will be life long as you are able to during this time before surgery.

amanda, welcome to our family. i  went to your profile and requested to be a friend, so be on the lookout.  it is great that you have already quit smoking. i know how hard that is.  a lot of your physical ills will be taken care of or made better by losing weight.  you have a lot to look forward to. let  me know if i can be of help in any way.  vick

                                                             

Welcome to Bariatric Buddies, Amanda!

I am glad that you found our group!  And I would love to keep in touch with you!

I wish you all of the very best!  Take care!

Hey Amanda! We're very glad to welcome new members. This is the best place to be for support and encouragement. Lots of friends to  help you on your journey! You can do this and we can help! Come and post often.

Hugs,
Rhonda

Hi Amanda and welcome!

I don't know where I would be without the people in this group.  There is so much love and support here.  I will definitely add you to my friends list.  I'm not an expert on anything but you can email me anytime you like.

Post often with questions and let us know when you get your surgery date.

Colleen

 Thank you all for your warm welcomes!! Where I live there are no support groups so I have to seek out groups online. I thought this would be the best place for that. It is so hard being a single mother, trying to get this surgery, and going to college full time. I am going to continue classes even during my hospital stay. I cannot afford to get behind. I am just glad there will be another adult here at home to help me with recovery. Again, thank you all for your friendship and support!