New Member

Hi everyone,

I just joined BB and wanted to say hello and introduce myself.  My name is Kathy.  I have lived in Shanghai for many years but am from New England.  I have a long story of weight loss ups and downs but I finally got the an "aha" late last year that I am not getting any younger and my health and life style needs some focus.  So - Project 50 was launched (yup you can guess which birthday is coming up) and I did a month long residential WL program in January.  I did the program as I wanted to avoid surgery and felt I could do it on my own - part of the problem as support and help is needed (and hard to admit one needs it)!

I did lose 25 pounds Jan - April but hit a wall as it is difficult to make so many changes.  I have learned that I need to get at the why's of why I over eat but also need a better way to lose and keep it off.  My goal is to lose 130 pounds and get my health numbers within normal range.  My BMI at highest was probably 48; it is 45 now.  My real focus is to be healthy and to re-engage in life to the fullest.  So I have decided to go ahead with RNY surgery and I am scheduled for a RNY in August (but hoping to do sooner).  I decided to join to link with other like - minded people and talk about it, learn from others and share vs trying to go it alone.  

Looking forward to participating and learning from all of you!

Welcome Kathy,
  Thanks for posting. I love this group and I hope you will get to know us and feel the same. Lots of information, caring, and sharing going on around here. Looking forward to getting to know you better.   Mag  

Thanks so much Mag!

Hi Kathy, I am Kathy too.  Had my RNY sept 2009.  Any questions, issues we can address?  Looking forward to getting to know you better through posts here.  The time will pass quickly as you wait for your surgery.

Come join us for monday chat sessions when you can.  Hugs

Thanks Kathy - what a great name :)
Lots of questions of course. Now I am trying to find how how the first few days after surgery are.....how soon before i could work or travel as trying to plan around my job. 
Monday  chats - will check it out, assume this is an online webinar or something similar?
Hugs!
Kathy

Kathy, I was ready to return to work about 3 weeks after surgery.  But I need to be able to lift at a moments notice at work, they required that lifting limits be released before I returned.  So I took the entire 6 weeks.  I travelled to a friends place and we visited during the last week before returning to work.  I did notice that I tired easily for several weeks.

You will work out a length of time off work with your surgeon.  Take the time you need to allow the healing process to happen.

Monday chat sessions are in a chat room right here at bariatric buddy, see the chat button above Patrece's pic to the right.  This is a chat space reserved for this group.  I try to send out reminders and a shortcut to chat each monday morning.  Scroll back a couple of weeks of topic threads to see one of the reminders.  Have a great weekend.  Hugs

Thanks so much Kathy.  Post surgery does not sound so bad compared to other surgery i have had - we shall see! Appreciate info on chat sounds fun. 
Hugs!
Kathy

Welcome Kathy!
Everyone recovers differently. Some swear they never hurt an ounce, and others claim it is terribly painful. Most share that it is a bit painful for the first couple of weeks, but gets better as time goes on. This was me. Nothing too terrible, but I was aware I had surgery. The act of laying down, and sitting up from laying were the most painful things for me the first couple of weeks, as it pulls on those tender tummy muscles.
Plan on at least 4 weeks out (then part time for the first couple weeks back) or waiting 6 weeks to go back. You likely will tire quickly for the first several weeks. Then one day you wonder... HMMM when did I start to feel normal again? lol.

Best of luck to you. I have never and am sure will never regret having my RNY!