You made it! Welcome! Come introduce yourself.

Hi Kate!

Well you know it means SO much to me to have you here and I know how important your anonymity has been for you! Knowing your stellar success-I can't help but think you can only be an incredible asset here!!

I am interested in hearing more about your trips!! Do you keep a travel blog as well?? I am SO looking forward to my range of motion improving. I am currently dealing with the path of devastation my excess weight has left. My feet have become flat and the spurs have gotten worse. Plus I have some joint deterioration in my knees and hips.

I struggle with the feelings of frustration and sadness at times that I have done SO well yet I could not heal these parts! However-I am doing what I CAN do today. That means I continue to stretch and take the walks I can tolerate. I have new inserts for my shoes coming and will be sleeping with splits to help stretch out my calves at night. NOT very glamorous-but needed! 

My goal for this year is to become brave enough to get myself into a swimming pool! I KNOW that is what I need and I need to get past the skin issues-etc.

But-like all of you-I am WILLING to do what I need to do to keep my success and build my health!!

Kate-I really can't thank you enough for your willingness to help and reach out.

THANK YOU!
Peace,
T

Miss Redd, I think it will take a long time to get many posters! We Brits just don't talk as openly about things like WLS as they seem to in the US (the other people on here may not agree with me, but that is my perception).

I have been lucky - I have enough loose skin to clothe a baby elephant but I have no physical ill effects from 25 years + of obesity. I have renewed energy and stamina and am enjoying my post-weight loss life to the very fullest!

My next trip is to the States! Spending about 4 weeks in New England in the autumn (sorry - the fall!!). Have had lots of great invites from OH regulars - after all some of us have "known" each other for about three years.

In which part of the UK are you living? (You don't need to be exact if you prefer not!)

Kate

Hello everyone,

I live in Manchester. I'm pre-op, waiting for a RNY surgery date with Mr. Basil Ammori. It feels like I've been waiting forever, but really the process started in December 2008, just before Christams. I am NHS funded and have done all my pre-op assessments apart from a psych evaluation, whose date is still a mystery. This is the hold-up. I'm hoping to have surgery in May '09. My last recorded weight on 19/03/09 was 420 lbs, so I have a fair amount to lose to reach my goal of 180 -190 for a height a shade under 6ft.

I came to OH after trying a few other boards. Like Katespost, my first instinct was to be discrete and hideaway amongst Americans but I love it here, enough to use my real name and post pictures of myself, though apart from the avatar, the pics are open to friends only. I've received nothing but warm welcomes and support. I'm equally now happy to 'reveal' myself to our small island because I figure, people seeing me on the street probably think I weigh a tonne anyway.

I am here for mutual support, encouragement, advice, information you name it. I hope others will get from me the same fantastic support I'm getting.

Take care,
Clara

Hiya Clara!!

Welcome!!! So glad to see you made it! I don't live far from you!! I live near Blackburn. My father-in-law lives in Manchester and we get there quite often. Perhaps sometime we can get together for some coffee or tea. 

I started out at nearly 400 lbs and am now at 150. YOU can totally get to your goal. If you are anything like I was you are probably SO looking forward to just getting on with the process.

Believe me, when I was at my highest I didn't escape notice. I lived in Northern California-near San Fransisco and people there can be VERY discriminating against weight! UGH! There were times where I didn't feel like leaving my place. It got very painful and difficult to get around and I was just so very tired.

I am REALLY looking forward to hearing of your progress and I would be more than happy to share whatever experiences I have and lend an ear as well.

Again-WELCOME!! I think you will meet some very nice folks here on this board and you have MUCH to add!

Peace,
T

Thanks T, for the lovely warm welcome.

Yours is a fantstic weight loss. A total transformation .  I hope I can achieve the same.

You bet I can't wait. I am so ready for the change and like a kid, I want it now, now NOW! I  expected my surgery to be in early to mid April and so when I saw the surgeon mid March and was sent to pre-op assessment, I believed the surgery would be done as expected. Not. Delays, delay delays now that I'm waiting for a psychological evaluation. I live in hope that it will be soon.

Take care.

PS, I  deleted above to re-do with the quote.

Glad you could make it, I too am from Manchester and was due for my RNY with Mr Ammori, He was a fantastic person when I met him and trusted him 100%, Good luck with the future and I hope things work out well for you.

Hello All 

I had lap rny in May 06 in Belgium.  Looking forward to getting to know you all. 

Ruth

Hi Ruth!!

So glad to have you here! Please feel free to join right in. I would love to hear more about you!!

Take care,
Therese