Question:
Seeking 552 pre-ops to compare experiences

I weighed 522lbs before RNY surgery. I am 11 months post op and I am looking for someone who had close to the same amount to lose as me and is succeeding. I would love to hear from you all. I would like to know your problems and successes. How far along post op are you etc. I feel even among you wonderful people I am still the minority because I weighed so much in the beginning. Is there any kindred spirits out there?    — L. N. (posted on May 1, 2000)

May 1, 2000
Hello L. Nicholson - first, congrats on your 180.5 lb loss in 10 months! That's great! As for your question, I'm sure there are people who visit this site that can identify with the starting weight. You might also try a message board at onelist (now e-groups) called WLS400Plus. You are supposed to have a start weight of 400 lbs or more in order to post there. Since you are almost one year out, you might also try another list there called GraduateOSSG. That list requires that you be one year post-op in order to participate. I have been reading those two lists as well as info here for quite a while now and every tidbit is so helpful. Congrats again!
   — Diane S.

May 1, 2000
Hi there!! Oh, yes...I am a kindred spirit, dear. I had my Open RNY on Sept. 10, 1999. I tipped the scales at 529.9 lbs. In the past 8 months, I have lost 208.9 lbs (unofficially, another 3 but I am waiting to test my new scale...lol). This surgery GAVE me life! As someone else said, go to http://www.egroups.com and join WLS400Plus. You will find MANY kindred spirits there!!! Keep up the great work! Cindy Lou
   — Cindy Lou C.

May 1, 2000
Hi, my name is TJ, I am a 36yr old male weighing inat 560.4lbs with plans og DGB/DS in august of this year. It's great to talk with people who suffer from obesity, but even better from those who are as large as i am; please keep me in mind.
   — TJ J.

May 1, 2000
Hi - I am an angel for ALEXANDER MCNEILL of Irving, Texas. If you go to the "Find Peers" page and click on "TX" - you can find Alex on the list under the city of Irving. Alex had open RnY 3/29 and is still in the hospital. He is 50 and such a fun and wonderful man. He started at 640 and was down as of a few days ago -101#'s. Hopefully he will be home in a week or two. If you go to his profile, you can read all about what is going on with Alex. He very much enjoys contact with people. Good Luck,
   — Shar /.

May 1, 2000
I started out at 493 lbs. and am now down 134 lbs. in 11 months. May 11th will be 1 year for me. It is still hard sometimes. A little too much in and up it comes. I realized today that my sweat pants are too large for me today while I was at work. I headed for the bathroom and had to pull them up a bit as they were heading south on me. I have always had to buy new clothes because the old ones were too small. But to have to buy new because the old ones were too big is a wonderful feeling. Good luck on your continued weight loss. Feel free to e-mail me privately if you wish. ~Shanon Matheny~
   — Shanon M.

May 2, 2000
This is in response to Carol Fords' answer! YOU GO GIRL! I am so proud of you and you are now on the other side helping others with their questions! I know you will go the full distance and be out there with your family and being so proud of yourself! Please don't get discouraged with the plateaus...we all go through them and when and if you hit one, know that this too shall pass! Again, I am so happy for you!
   — BARBARA R.

May 3, 2000
Hi. Yes 522 lbs is rarefied territory. My highest known weight was 474.5. I had roux en y on 10/4/99. My official starting weight wa 419. I had lost all that weight because of a bad gallbladder which had me throwing up for a long time before surgery was approved. Since the surgery, I have done well at losing weight. I now weigh 262 pounds and can even occasionally get into a size 18 dress. I do not regret the surgery. Who cares about a little nausea and problems here and there. I am spoiled by the attention I am getting from every one I know because for the first time in 30 years I am losing weight, rapidly noticeably and it really is not that much work. Good luck. Beth [email protected]
   — Elizabeth H.