Question:
I have my surgery date - Nov. 10 with Dr. Scott in Wentzville Mo. Anyone out there

Anyone out there willing to give a nervous pre-op some encouraging words??    — Sharon V. (posted on October 11, 1999)

October 11, 1999
Good Luck I had mine 9-30 n I feel great. You will too. Keep the faith jack
   — snicklefritz

October 11, 1999
You will more than likely be bombarded with encouraging words. I am just going to wish you luck. My sister had surgery just this past July in St. Louis, and is doing fine. I had surgery in March of this year, and have lost 91 lbs so far. If you'd like to see my pics, go to Lori Doty on the member search, and you can see what a difference 91 lbs makes! I used to dodge the camera, now I'm proud of who I am! That should encourage you! Good luck to you, you will be in all of our prayers!
   — Lori D.

October 11, 1999
You GO GIRL!! :) You're making such a positive move by doing this surgery, it truly is a life changer!!! Follow your docs instructions and talk to him/her about anything and everything you don't understand or are fearful of and they'll know and understand and be able to waylay any fears they can! You're gonna be fine and you'll have a whole new exciting life ahead of you! I live in Kansas City ... and if you'd like to correspond and/or chat sometime, email me and I'd be happy to give you my phone number. I'm 5 years post op, and over 200 lbs lighter than I was then ... working on the last 140 now! I started out at 516 lbs! Best Wishes for a speedy recovery!
   — Sherrie G.

October 11, 1999
Hi, First of all, you will never regret this surgery. I have lost 70 pounds in 4 months. And you will too. Then when you can start doing normal things again you will understand why I say you will never be sorry. I would be glad to offer any support you want just let me know. my email is [email protected]. Don't be afraid. It is the best thing you can do for yourself! Good luck, Cheri
   — Cheri H.

October 12, 1999
I would like to talk too. My RNY is set up for November 18th. I have an toll free number so we can talk about it. My name is Julie Schmidt and I'm home at 4:00pm Ohio time Monday thru Friday. call me 1-888-240-1713
   — JULIE S.

October 13, 1999
Hi Sharon, My surgery is Nov. 9, the day before yours and my birthday. I am beginning to get a little nervous also, so we can keep each other company. Just think positive and envision how we are going to look next summer. It has to be worth all that we are doing. Good luck. Janice
   — Janice M.

October 14, 1999
Hi--I was SO scared before my surgery, too, so I can relate to how you are feeling now. Just try to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people, and pray, pray, pray!!! You know the odds are heavy in your favor that you will be fine, so just keep remembering that--and start imagining your brand new life, because I promise you, it WILL be a new life! I'm 3 months postop, down 64 pounds, and feeling great. God bless--
   — charlene M.

October 18, 1999
Hi, Sharon, Congratulations on your upcoming surgery. My surgery was 5/6/99 and as of 10/1/99 I have lost 70 pounds. I had the RYN-Fobi Pouch done. I believe it was distal, even though I'm not absolutely sure what that means. The doctor attached the bottom of the pouch farther down on my small intestine than those who have only 100# or less to lose. This is without a doubt, the most wonderful thing that I've ever done for myself. You will be so amazed and pleased with the weight coming off. Just as bad as being obese is, this surgery is wonderful. The surgery isn't bad and I didn't have any complications except for having an asthma attack 2 days later and then catching a cold about 2 weeks after that!! Sheesh. I developed a drainage in the lower 2 inches of my incision about 3 weeks out but it was not painful at all and I just kept it clean, used peroxide and neosporin and a clean bandage twice a day and it cleared up in a couple of weeks. Never did hurt. I would do this surgery again tomorrow as opposed to being fat. I would do the surgery once a year if that's what I needed to do to keep the weight off. A miracle is about to happen to you --- sit back and enjoy the ride. I know that you are so excited and at the same time so afraid. This is normal and I don't know of anyone who doesn't go through this. Then you will or maybe already have feared that your insurance won't cover you and once that is settled then you will worry that you will be the only person your doctor won't be able to do the surgery on. This is normal thinking. So don't get too stressed out about it. If you are like me, I figured that I didn't have a choice. I was well on my way to an early grave. I weighed 370 and am 5 ft. 6 inches tall and my eating was becoming so out of control that I was really afraid. I was becoming depressed and isolating myself. I was disabled, couldn't go walking anywhere. I'm diabetic and on oxygen. I'm now able to walk anywhere I want, saving between $400 and $500 a MONTH on diabetic medications, and can be off the oxygen for 4-6 hours most days. The depression is totally gone, replaced by uphoria. (I probably slaughtered that spelling!) It's treat to wake up in the morning knowing that not only do you weigh less but that you are going to get to a reasonable weight instead of always feeling uslessly under your eating disorder and obese body. I feel so good and people who don't even know me well say that I smile all the time now. Even my pcp brags me up when she sees me and even called me skinny the other day. Now, that I never thought I'd hear from any medical person!! It is wonderful and I can't wait for you to experience it.As you can see by the length of this "note" I can't get enough of how happy I am and how I'd like to see others grab some of this too. Good luck. Thinking of you, Linda
   — Linda P.