Hi everyone!

My name is Shannon and Im new to the board as well as this group.  A little about me, Im a SAHM of two amazin kids and a military wife.  I have been overweight my whole life.  Ive never felt skinny, because i never have been.  I have tired everything unde the sun in regards to diets and nothing works, i dont even yo-yo, I just stay the same no matter what i do.  The weight has always just gone up if anything. 
Growing you with a skinng sister put a lot of bad self imagry in me that had lasted into my 30's.  I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and have to sleep with a cpap maching now.  I HATE IT!  its a horibble invention that makes me feel like im sufocaing.   this was the last straw for me.  I got the ball rolling and I am beginning my WLS journey.  his is not a place i ever thought id be, you know?  i never wanted to need surgery to fix this issue but here i am and im feeling really great about the decision.  Getting to surgery day is going to be a challenge but im really hopeing to find some support from some of you who have been there.  

Sorry for the long intro and thankx for reading.  I cant wait to meet some of you.

Hi Shannon,

     Welcome to our group. It's nice to meet you. I'm glad you are feeling good about your weight loss journey. My sister at 63 can still wear her high school prom dress. I know what you mean about having a skinny sister.

     It's summertime so many people are out and about enjoying activities. We all stop in here when we can. We also have a chat on Monday nights. I love to gab about things in real time. You should receive an email on Mondays as a reminder. I'm Pacific time and the chat is at 4PM here. I think that's 7PM Eastern.

     Please call me stupid, but what does "SAHM" stand for? Where is your hubby stationed if you don't mind me asking. My brother just retired from the Air Force a couple of years ago. He saw action in every "military action" since Vietnam. They told him he would sit out this Iraq action, but they lied I'm afraid. He said they worked 12 hour shifts 7 days a week. When he had his work done he would give the men under him a helping hand. He retired after arriving back in the states.
I personally was very glad as was my elderly Mom. Sorry. I've rambled on.
I sleep with a machine, too. I've had it since 1997. We are good friends now and I find it very difficult to fall asleep with out it. As young as you are you should have a good chance of ending up without it. Please keep using it. It will help so much after surgery. You'll feel better rested and have more energy once you are use to it.

     Keep us posted about your weight loss journey or anything else you are thinking about. The people here are wonderful. They are a wealth of information and support.  Take care,   Mag  

Hi Shannon!  I have a skinny sister too.  She has problems all her own though - namely bulemia and anorexia.  I tried to tell her once when she was fretting about her wieght that if she switched to diet soda she could lose 5 pounds easy, but she informed me she needed the calories from the regular soda because she didn't eat anything else.  She smokes 3 packs a day too.  We both did damage to ourselves, just in different ways.  I was in drama club and chorus and she was the soccer player and cheerleader.  Nothing like being compared by your parents either.  "Why can't you eat more like Jessica; why can't you dress more like Jessica; why can't you look more like Jessica?"  I totally get it Shannon. 

I'm with ya on the CPAP too.  Have had mine for a week now.  I keep waking up panicking feeling like I'm suffocating, but I just try to lay there and deep breath through it.  I actually kept it on the whole night Sunday night.  Does yours have a ramp buton so the pressure builds gradually?  I can't stand it all blowing in my face all at once.  The sleep tech told me that a person adjusts to it after about ten mins too, so maybe find someway to distract yourself for ten mins and maybe it will be better?  The deep breathing  helps me some.  Also laying on my side instead of my back.  Helps it feel more natural.  I tried taking some melatonin the other night too so I would be too sleepy to fuss with it.

What branch of the military?  My brother in law is in the Army.  My sister (the skinny one) is a military wife.    

I love long intro's, welcome to the group Shannon.  I have been MIA for a few days.  Life overtook me.  I am nearly 2 years out from RNY surgery, I don't know where the time has gone.  I was referred to OH for support by surgeon's office.  Loved the support I found here and stayed on to assist others through the process.

I have been wearing a cpap mask for several years now.  Loving that I have more energy with good sleep.  There are different styles of masks if yours does not feel good.  Give the cpap machine time, you will get used to it.  I even wear mine when taking a nap.  The mask I like best looks a little like a scuba snorkle, just fits below my nose (my cpap mustache).  I now need 1/2 of the pressure I did when I weighed more.  Many of my meds are decreased too.  Diabetes is better controlled as well.

Your insurance company and surgeon will have requirements to complete before surgery.  Often insurance requires a 6 month supervised diet before approving surgery.  I did lose some weight during this diet, but then I did with many other diets over the years too.  The trick is getting a smaller pouch to limit portions.  I am satisfied with much less food that I used to consume.  Yayyyy pouch.  Work your way through these before surgery challenges, I see them as hoops that we need to jump through to make it to the goal of surgery.

Looking forward to getting to know you better.  Ask any and all questions, read posts, new and older.  Do what you can to start losing weight before surgery.  Someone else mentioned monday chat sessions, love visiting with everyone that comes to chat times.  Hugs