New to this group

Hello and Good Morning, or er... afternoon.

Quick rundown on myself.... my name is Jeannine and I am 40 years old. I am married with two kids and live about an hour south of Chicago.  I have been overweight since I was a teenager, and cannot seem to get my weight under control. My whole family is obese, so genetics doesn't help me either.
I am pre-op. I have gone through a bariatric program for Lap-Band in 2008, and then the hospital discontinued the program, so early in 2010, after gaining an additional 20 pounds I decided to look into it again.
I have met with the dietitian, PCP, Pulmonologist, etc. and it's all in the hands of the insurance company now.... all I am waiting for is a surgery date. I am currently 102 pounds overweight.

The only people I have told about this are my husband, for obvious reasons, and a friend of mine who had gastric bypass in 2004. I am very afraid that they will not be supportive, but will tell them closer to my surgery date. They have always had the "you are who you are" attitude, and frankly that's why they are like they are, but I want to be different. I'm tired of being obese.
I have a support group through my surgeons office which is wonderful. These people are amazing, and right now that's where my support is coming from.

I guess that's all for now. I do hope I get to correspond with a few of you.  I'm a stay-at-home mom, so it usually doesn't take me long to answer a post or an email.

Any suggestions from anyone on anything is appreciated from depression  to post-op difficulties and things to watch out for, or things that help.

Thanks Much

Hi Jeannine, great to meet you.  We all live in different time zones, morning somewhere.  I work night shift and sleep during "normal folks" awake time.  My morning starts at 3 or 4 in the afternoon.  Welcome to the family, you will find several people in your situation.  Me included in the lifelong obesity and family history of obesity.  Many of us also suffer from depression and take medications to balance out our brain imbalances.

If you can, please try to join monday evening chat sessions.  I post a reminder and a short cut like to the chat space on Monday's.

Do include family that will be supportive of your decision.  It is your choice who to tell and when.  I decided to only tell a few before surgery and others on as as needed basis.  You will have a great support group right here too.  Come post and share often, we listen to all thoughts, concerns, needs, venting and even a gentle behind booting if warranted.

Hugs, Kathy

Welcome Jeannine, you will find a huge support group here on OH. I too have a very small support system outside of OH and if it wasn't for the caring people on here I would have no support really. They really know how to lift your spirits when needed and offer such great advice:) I am only 18 days post-op so still learning a lot myself but will try to give you advice when I can but will definately be here for support :) 

Hugs
Davina

Welcome to the group.  I wish you all the best with the insurance company.  Thi is not a magic fix but I would do it all over again.  I've lost 88 pounds in 7 months.  You won't  be sorry you did this.

Colleen

Hello Jeanine, it's neat that you're from Chicago.  My mother was born there.  Welcome to the board, there are really nice people on here.  I like it lots.  I don't get to post as much as I would like to, but I try to read everything I can and people are very insightful.  

Welcome Jeanine! I wish you a fast approval from your insurance company. Accepting each other for what we are is a great thing! But encouraging each other to get healthier and extend our lives and improve the quality of our lives is a great thing too.  Some of the people who may give you the most flack, are those who deep inbside envy what you are doing and either cannot do it themselves, or are afraid to. Or those who somehow feel threatened by your success with weight loss.  Hold fast to doing what is right for you. This is your life, and you deserve the right to do what you feel is best for you. As long as your husband will support you in this, it won't be so hard dealing with others who may be naysayers. I hope he is supportive of your choice.

I had RNY almost 2 years ago, 7/21/08. I am down 116 lbs and went from a tight 24 to a usually comfy 8 pant. I am 43, married, mom of 2 grammy of 2 with a third soon to come, and can run and play with my grandbabies, and it is awesome! I could never do this before surgery.

Ask any questions you may have, let us know how we can best support and encourage you. There are great folks here! I look forward to traveling this most amazing and sometimes frustrating, but very rewarding journey with you!

Thank you all - what a great welcome.

I get a lot of support just by reading what you all write. Not only on responding to my post but just looking at some of the other post. I know I am truly not alone.

Yes my husband is supportive - very supportive.
He's also my best friend.
My kids are supportive too. They can't wait until I can run and play with them without getting so winded and out of breath. I told them though it may not be this summer.

Thank you for all your best wishes and prayers for each and every one of you.

Jeannine

 Hi Jeanine!

I am about 3.5 months post-op.  I have lost ... about 76 lbs since starting my 2 week pre-op liquid diet, which was January 26th.  Like you, I come from a long line of obese diabetics with uncooperative thyroids and spent most of the last 20+ years failing one diet or another.  I have an aunt (a nurse, btw) who had surgery 12 years ago and to this day is doing WONDERFULLY.  She was my inspiration to finally have this surgery.

I was not an extreme case, and I had no real complications linked directly to my weight issues, so I figured I'd sail right on through everything.  That hasn't been the case, and I have had my share of trials and tribulations.  If you have nothing better to do feel free to click on my name and look at some of my recent posts and blogs, it pretty much spells everything out.  

The bottom line is to expect the unexpected; never assume anything.  And please do find some people to support you, both here and at home.  If your surgeon offers group support meetings, by all means GO to them.  They are a terrific source of information.  Also be sure to explore the forums here.  I found answers to questions I didn't even know I should ask just by visiting different forums (surgery-specific forums in particular!).

Welcome to the group!  I wish you all the best as you begin on the roller coaster ride of a lifetime!