Jan 24th!!

Hi Everyone, I am new to this particular board.I usually post on the Minnesota board.I just found this one....lol.Well I started my journey in April of 2004 and just got my surgery date on Dec 29th(my 37th b-day).How cool was that??I thought so too.I will be having an open RNY on Jan 24th with Dr.Charles Bertel at St Mary's Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota.I have been overweight since I started having children almost 20 years ago.However I was always able to maintain my weight through activities such as walking and minor exercising until Dec of 2004 when I found out that I had Degenerative Disc Disease in my lower back.Woke up one morning and could barely walk.Have 2 disc's that are just slivers of what they are supposed to be and a third one that it has started to affect.With this came the inability to be active so I started packing on the pounds and by Feb of 05 was put on blood pressure meds then in May of 05 put on diabetes meds.Since May I have added water pills for edema,cholesterol meds.Right now with my psych drugs I take anywhere from 20-25 pills per day to manage anything at all. So I have made some major changes in my life since starting this long and winding journey.After 26 yrs I quit smoking.Never thought I would ever be a non-smoker in my life but I had to make drastic changes in order to stick around alot longer for my youngest son(5 yrs old),besides the fact it is required of my program. Well I better get moving.Didn't mean to write a short story just wanted give ya all some info. Take Care, Della

Della, Welcome to the January 2006 board. I love this particular board since it's filled with so many wonderful people who are at the same stage as us. People here are starting to have their surgeries and are coming home, which is great. My date is also 1/24, so we have something in common! Congratulations on quitting smoking. You'll add so many years to your life and be so happy you did it. I'm sure it must have been very difficult, but you did and that's a huge accomplishment. Keep in touch and welcome again. Lisa

Hi Della, I also quit smoking recently and it's been tough but I know it had to be done. One minute I'm crying and the next I'm fine, lol..My surgery date is January 31st. I wish you the best of luck on your journey Hugs Salina

Hello My January 24th Sister! I wish you the very best, and will be praying for you and all our other January friends. This is a wonderful board. Please keep visiting us and keep us posted. Hugs, Rosa