I found that site: westernbariatricinstitute.com They are having a Fashion Show in April;  check out their calendar. Please feel free to contact me.

Be prepared (not that you really can) for a super emotional ride.  If anything, you're hormone levels are going to go way up and way down...relationships with people and things will change, even if you make a promise to yourself that they won't...trust me, they will!  Don't feel guilty about the changes you will face, just let nature take it course.  It was tough (and still is) for me to get over the mental block that 4 bites would fill me up when you want so much more!  Get into good habits early, that way by the time your pouch is stretched out more, it's not back to the same struggles you had before the surgery.  Protien shakes and crystal light will taste horrible after surgery - but you'll get used to them.  Instead of chicken broth, i strained campbell's chicken noodle soup, so that I only had the broth left - it tastes much better!  For the first month or so, you're tounge will get a white coating on it, your breath will stink and there's nothing you can do about it!  LOL!  It's your body going into Ketosis - a sign that you're loosing weight, so welcome it!  There's all kinds of stuff that I was unprepared for.  I had an open RNY and it was hell trying to wipe myself the first time i had to go to the bathroom (you don't realize how many stomach muscles it takes to twist around!).  About a year after my surgery, i became a reactive hypoglycemic - it's diagnosed more than it was in the past, you can do some research on it if you see the symptoms after your surgery.  You'll never realize how many hidden valley ranch commercials or potato chip commercials there are until you can't eat anything crunchy!  The more you excercise, the easier life becomes.  That's all for now, but i'm an open book if you want to know more! -Debra Good luck!

My surgery is in one month and so far so good I have lost 11 lbs pre surgery with cigna insurance and my BMI has dropped below 40, but they are still taking me.  I would be carefull not to lose too much, but with cigna they said if I didn't lose at least 12 lbs by surgery date, I couldn't have the surgery.

Cool, I hope it works out.  If anything ever gets mentioned about a group for RNY'ers please post.  I need to get out and meet new people with the same thing common as me.

Good luck with the new group! What a great idea to start it preoeratively. Best wishes to you and I really hope folks take this opportunity to learn and prepare!