Did you know that OH is forming fully trained, Support Group Chapters in every state? I'm Marine Jourdan, I'm a professional Life Coach and OH Member, Charter Member Chapter Leader and friend to all of you. I had my RNY WLS on October 20th 2003 and I am enjoying a much healthier life because of it. I am inviting you to begin signing up for my Support Group that will begin in NEW YORK CITY this Fall. We will have an ONLINE Support Site on Yahoo Groups and it's address is http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NYNJHWSN Click to join NYNJHWSN You are all welcome to be here to get first rate education. Tell you doctors, dieticians, family, friends and other WLS / OH family about it. OH's Dr. Monica Ganz is launching the Chapter Leaders entity and we are actively looking for all support group leaders to apply to be an OH Certified Support Group Chapter. Please ask me how to get your certification at [email protected] I will be happy to refer you and get all of the qualified groups and leaders on the OH Chapter Leader program. A very important thing for the world of WLS, it's patient's and professionals is that we are all educated well and that we all have the same, correct information. Have you ever experienced conflicting opinions or even getting advice from a professional or other WLS friend that was not the best for you. You have to remember that every patient is at a different stage and not all methods are for all people. As a OH Certified Chapter Leader and getting your information from an OH Chapter Leader, you are assured that if we do not have the answer, we know where to go to get it. We also know when it is a question to raise to a doctor and providing doctor's with the education in this very new field. We just had a national conference in New Jersey with OH and it was very informative. I highly encourage everyone to go to the events page www.obesityhelpevents.com please find the events near you and make sure you register to attend with all your WLS friends and family members. Being at an OH event, you are learning from the nations leader in resources, information and education on WLS. OH is being heard by Congress, the U.S. Senate and the Insurance Industry, including Medicare who upon the testimony of OH experts, maintained approving WLS for Medicare patients. So, be very aware that an OH sponsored entity is the pinnacle source. Please tell all you friends that Marine said to sign up now for OH, the individual state boards, look on the events site and come and join me on my Yahoo site for education. If you live near NYC, NY and you want to be a member of the support group that begins this Fall, sign up on the Yahoo board now and send an e-mail to me giving me your NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE and E-MAIL. You will be able to participate on the Yahoo site even if you are not near NYC. Everyone is welcome to the Yahoo board. Were here for you. So come on over... We are up and waiting for you... Learn, get the right answers to your questions, educate yourself and live your very best as a successful WLS patient. Sign up for events, get OH Magazine, get POWER CRUNCH BARS from OH and you will save money and help support OH. Visit the OH Store and learn about becoming a Chapter Leader too... Love to all of you... Marine Jourdan

k guys i challenge you all to see how many people from your address book that you can get them to sign... her petition site is http://www.petitiononline.com/tlw2dp/petition.html I already have 31 people out of my Address book that have signed... how many can you get... I mean come on she looks like the younger version of Dolly herself... and she has came so far... So i know that if you have a heart then you can do this we are up to 627 people that have signed... come on let**** that 1000 mark.... COME ON LETS DO THIS FOR MISS DOLLY.... SHE SOOOO DESERVES THIS!!!!! manda ***If i have to agree to change my hair color to blonde like miss dolly then i will if we can get to 1000 people to sign by midnight......***

Hi Suzanne, I think we did speak a couple of weeks ago and I'm happy to say that I have arrived here. You gave me the name and phone number of your surgeon here as I will be looking eventually for a bariatric doctor or a PCP depending upon my insurance when it comes due from work. Were you the person who had just moved here from Orange County? I've moved into an apartment on Eastern and Green Valley Pkwy. The complex is called The Summit at Sunridge. It seems really nice and the area does seem great. I think I'm going to be very happy here. I'm going to the Las Vegas support group on Wednesday night. If you can make it, you should try to go. I started support groups before my surgery and it really makes a difference. I hope we will get an opportunity to meet. I know that what you are going through right now with the waiting and hoop jumping is very frustrating and exasperating. Sometimes just having someone to talk to who knows what you are going through can help. Let me know if you can go to support group Wednesday. Perhaps we can meet there. Hope to talk to you soon. Stephanie

Hey there, I refer to this time period as "let's see how high they can make me jump". Well jump through whatever hoops they demand because the end justifies the means. Yes, I have to agree, the supervised diet thing is ridiculous, but it's what you have to do to make "them" happy. I was fortunate in that I had just been on Lindora right before my surgery so my insurance company accepted that. In addition I had some major co-morbidities and the surgery had basically become life saving for me. My advice to you, just hang in there. Your day will come and you will look back on all of this and still hate it, but know that it got you to surgery and on the loser's side. Stephanie

Hi, Has anyone had their surgery at Desert Springs Hospital? What was your experience and how would you rate them? Thanx, Suzanne