I'm a new-be, in need of friends

Hi, Rebecca, thanks for the reply, As you say, you all are a great bunch.  I will look forward to knowing everyone. I am also waiting for surgery, I did get my insurance o.k. last week. I am hoping to hear from someone soon as to what comes next. Write if you have time. Fondly, Cindy

Welcome Cindy, Nice to meet ya!! I hope you will stick around and post and let us get to know you...Jan C posts a thread every day called "Whats Happening" and several of us post on that thread-we would love to see you in there posting....So, tell us about yourself-are you pre-op or post op? Where did you or where are you having surgery? Married? Children? Let us know where you are in your journey and if you have any questions or concerns... (as we all do-you will notice)  A lot of us attend the COF support group in Springfield-is that close to you? We would LOVE to meet you if you could attend?   I hope I havent asked too much-LOL....Would love to get to know you better and we LOVE NEWBIES!!! Come and stay and let us get to know you-this board is awesome and they are ALWAYS there for you-with prayer, support and concern-and even some tears or laughter-we share just about everything and no question is too big or too small-OR embaressing-we have all been through something similiar-I will gaurantee that.... Take care and have a wonderful Saturday-stay dry!! Love, Janet

Nice to meet you Cindy. Glad to have you on board too! You can add me to your list of friends as I will you to mine. Talk to you later. Elisa

Hi, Elisa. Ditto, it's nice to meet you. Thanks for the reply.I understand you are about to have surgery. I will be praying for you, and the closer the 13th gets the busier you will be.I will look forward to getting to know you better as time allows. You have been added to my friends list, so I will be waiting for a reply as soon as you are feeling better. Again, my prayers will be with you. Fondly, Cindy

Hi, Janet it's great to meet you, thanks for replying. As for your questions I am more than happy to answer them. I am pre-opt. I just received the O.K. from the insurance with all the hoops you have to jump through LOL. It is very exciting to think it might be soon, I will be on my way to health. I am an insulin dependent diabetic, taking 4 shots a day,along with other health issues. I will be having surgery at the Heartland Spine and Speciality Hospital.My doctor is Dr. Hitch**** I am having some problems with them calling me back, since the approval. I am married, 25 years, (this is my third marriage) I've been a hairdresser for 40 years, they say hairdressers  have a terrible time settling down, I think that might have been the case LOL.  Believe me, I have finally found the prince after kissing toad, after toad.LOL I am still trying to work,be as it may. Sure having a struggle to get through the days now.I have lots of pain,but try to keep going.I have two children, 1 stepdaughter, 7 grandchildren, one great-grandaughter and one on the way.I love them all dearly. I live north of the river, near Gladstone.I do have a best friend who lives in Cabool,Mo. and I go to see her occasionally. She's about 60 miles east of Springfield. Hope I haven't rambled on and on, but you asked!!!!Ha-Ha. I do have a question, How do you post  an approval on the friends list? I sure have a lot to learn, huh? It's great to talk to you, now it's your turn!!!! Love, Cindy  P.S. Could you share this information with the great people who sent a reply to me? I can't sit too long on the computer, due to pain and stiffness. If you can, and it would be possible. I will try to answer to all though it may be slow, and I sure want to respond to each of them. Hope you are a patient bunch, as well as a great, wonderful group!!!!

Dear Cindy~ Congrats that you already have half the battle won-with getting the approval-WOOO HOOOO!!! Just keep calling them-and eventually, the ball will be rolling-have you had your initial consult with the surgeon yet?  Im asking because we, who have gone or are going to MO Bariatrics had/have a hard time with the girls up front returning our calls as well-so what I did-was talked right to my surgeon while I had a visit and got ALL orders for ALL tests to do them where I live-through my PCP....then, would have them schedule things I couldnt do here-WHILE I was in the office-I would NOT allow THEM to be in control-I took control-and did so, because my friend, Sherr (Blondie on here) had just gone through it and ended up doing ALL her own scheduling and calling as well. I wished you lived closer-its really hard here to find a good hair dresser, thats for sure....maybe one day I can make it up that way and have you do my change of hair color or high lights for me-LOL....do you work out of your home? Or do you have a beauty shop? I have so desperately wanted to get highlights, but dont know who to trust here since my hair dresser relocated about 5 yrs ago-and since then-I have done my own-LOL...It was just really long, even my bangs (same length as my hair-down to my butt crack) I just got it cut last month-to my bra line in back and now have a bit of style, but no bangs.....cant do bangs. Ive tossed getting a perm around too, but dont want curly, I like the wavy type messy look, if you know what I mean-LOL LOL....Maybe one day, huh?  If you go visit your friend-let me know-I am in Diamond, which is between Joplin and Carthage, towards Neosho....you go right by my exit on your way to Springfield-if you come this way to go see her... .That would be so great to meet ya!! On the approval for the friends list-it will say-click here if you approve this friend request-just click on it-and wa~la!! AS far as sharing what you have posted to me-everyone can see it as well as me-LOL....I sure understand about pain and stiffness. I have DJD and osteoarthritis (worst stage), and SINCE surgery, have been dx'd with DDD and Stenosis in my spine and now have to undergo surgery to fix 4 disingrated discs, 2 bulging/herniated discs and I have 2 liquid filled cysts on my spine! Thank God I have lost 156# because I would imagine without the weight loss, my ortho was correct in the fact that I would be in a wheelchair right now....the whole reason I had the surgery in the first place-because I dont have any knee caps and he told me that the DJD and OA had spread to my hips and lower back and within a yr, at the weight I was at, I would be in a wheelchair IF I didnt get the weight off-and he didnt want to replace my knees at the weight I was at because he said the orthotics wouldnt hold up under my weight for more than 6 months-and so it would have been even more tragic for me...It was the end of the horrible prisoner I was to my fat body and soul-and I was so depressed I didnt care if I lived or not-and I had surgery 11/29/06 and my life is more than amazing now-I cant believe the difference-and I am telling you, without a shadow of a doubt, I was pre-diabetic, had hbp, sleep apnea and so on-and I have known, first hand-people who were insulin dependent-such as yourself, and were able to go off ALL insulin and pills to control it (meme214) on here, her name is Melissa Russell, and she is off everything now!!! She has lost 1/2 her body weight in a year-and I am hoping to do that well myself. Everyone ends up having a mentor through this ordeal-and I hope you will find that with our sight.  A lot of people come and go-but there are some that are here on a regular basis and will be there for you should you need any advice on protein, vitamins, emotions, any concerns-about ANYTHING and everything-Please try to catch the Whats Happening Post that Jan C does every single day-we would love for you to post with us and get to know us AND let us get to know you too!! A lot of people read it-but we have a lot of lurkers too-and we love you all!!!! LOL... Sure look forward to knowing you better and sharing this rollercoaster ride with you-so-HANG ON GIRL-you are about to go on the ride of your life-and the good thing is-you have so many people on here who care, who will support you, love and pray for you-and be on that ride right there with you!!  Take care and talk to you soon. All my love and prayers, Janet

Hello, again, Janet !!! Thanks for the speedy reply. No, I have not had my consult with the physician yet. Dr. Hitch**** is with K.CBariatrics, in O.P. Kansas. But I plan doing as you suggested, and will try again tomorrow A.M.I hear this happens alot, what concerns me, is if you have a medical issue and need to get your Dr. will you be able to reach him, instead of having to call 911.? "Good Grief Gertie"you sure have had your share of pain, How can you ever endure all that's going on with you, and have such a happy spirit? I'm certainly glad you got through the awful depression that goes along with that feeling of  hopelessness,and are now at peace with yourself.GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure you will achieve everything you want.I'm glad you mentioned Melissa to me, I was so happy to hear of her great success without insulin, that certainly gives me hope. I will have to look her up.It's great to know there are people out there that really cares, as you do.And about your hair, come on up, will be glad to fit you in, anytime you want. I love to cut long hair. SCARRY, isn't it? LOL Just kidding!!!! Great talking with you, girl,! but hubby needs his dinner, Geez, I just feed him yesterday! Will try to get on with Jan soon. thanks again, Love, Cindy

Hi Cindy - Welcome to the board. I had surgery with Dr. Hitch**** last year on July 11. To date I have lost approximately 160 pounds and have been doing fantastic. I live in south KC near the Bannister Mall area. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or need anything. Scott

Hi, Scott, Thanks for the welcome, and for your response. I am so glad you have been so successful with your journey. Also, that you are doing great. It gives me re-assurance to know how well you've done. I am pre-opt, and have just received an o.k. from insurance, last week. So I have a while to go yet. I am having a problem with getting a response from the staff at KCbariatric. I don't quite know what I should expect, or if they take longer than I should expect, or if they are busy or what????If you have any thoughts,I'd appreciate it.  I just heard on the news last week, that they are closing Bannister Mall, that was quite a surprise.All the shopping centers seem to be struggling, Metro North, where i live close to is all but vacant.Hope to hear from you soon. Cindy

Hi Cindy ! We've got the same surgeon !  :-D *LOVE* Dr. Hitch****  He did my band on the 30th of May and I feel FANTASTIC !  Welcome to the boards !