Hi Guys/Gals I due for my surgery on: DEC.4,'03 and would like to know if any of your doctors mention anything about taking VITAMIN "C" & "E" for healing faster or better or whatever BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE WAS DONE? Please let me know your thoughts on the important matter. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS ALL YOU GREAT GUYS & GALS. RAY MONACO E-mail: [email protected]

Hi Mary WOW! what a small world my sister Debbie use to LIVE IN KATY. GREAT LITTLE TOWN. She now lives in S. Carolina. Anyway. I live in Las Vegas Mary and use to work in MGM Grand Casino. I know that you have to work for 90 days and then you become a regular employee its a probationary period. I believe when you become a regular employee and you have a doctor out here to say that you need the RNY procedure you should be able to be covered. I had UNITED HEALTH CARE at the time. I no longer work for them 'THANK GOD' I work as a security offficer GRAVEYARD SHIFT, It almost killed me. Let me know how you make out. Ray

Hi All, I just need to vent to my family if you do not mind. Going into this surgery I knew that it would not be easy. I did lots of research and went to support groups and read articles and looked at TV shows that talked about it. In doing all of this and knowing the risk and the life altering change I still felt the need to have this surgery, this was something I wanted to do without fail. However although I do not regret having the surgery nor can I yet say I would do this again, I just need to keep it real when I say that having this surgery was the hardest thing I have ever had to do and maintain in my life. Without the sole support of my new best friend Lisa Cohen and my longtime friendship with Lisa Dunlap, I have no idea what I would do. Lisa Cohen and I had our surgeries about 2 weeks apart so the things I am going through now she is so helpful with, my day does not feel complete unless I talk to her. Lisa Dunlap is almost a year out and she gives me that energy and the reassurance that things will definately get better. I said all of that to say this when you are going through this, it is so important to have someone to support you. My husband and my best friend Lea and my sister Rochelle are all having this surgery and I am so glad that I am the Guinea Pig of the circle, because when they have surrgery they will have all of me. I will have already worked the kinks out for them, I will be there to help them from day one, I will be able to encourage them when they go through the depression and the battles of what to eat and what not to eat.. This is a remarkeable journey that all of the post ops have began and all of the pre ops are thinking of taking, it requires hard work and determination and most of all support from someone who understands and is willing to be there for you when you need them. This message board is such a great place to come and read and get advice, sometimes it can be a little intimidating on the main board because people will just beat you down and make you feel bad about your questions. Just thought that I would let all of you know that we are all in this together, weither i know you or not I plan to be an advocate and a great support person for anyone that needs me, I call people on a daily basis, i send numerous emails daily and I call my Lisa C. daily to see how her day is, this surgery is life altering for me and i intend to be as supportive as i can to anyone that just wants to talk. You can email me directly at [email protected] and I will take your number and give you mine and just know that I am here for you all, anytime of the day and night, because i do not want anyone to feel they are alone. This is a winning battle, not one without a strong and hard fight. I just want you all to know that support is the key to success. I hope that i have not offended anyone with what i have said, it was never meant to come out that way. i also want you all to look for regular post from me, because anytime I learn anything new that is helpful I will be on here sharing it. Thanks for listening and good luck to US ALL!!!!!

Hi Brynda, my name is Juliette. I know exactly where you are. For the last three years I have been living and working in Ely. I would drive to Elko just to go to Walmart's ,so you know I understand where you are coming from. I had my surgery on 12/29/00 and am now down 150 lbs. This past Feb. I left Ely and went back to being a traveling Respiratory Therapist. For the last six months I was in Anchorage Alaska, and I am now in Ahoskie NC which about the size of Elko. The hospital here is about the same size as the one in Elko also. You are at the start of a long and beautiful journey. Trust me, it will all be worth it . There is a support group in Ely that meets once a month. If you email me at [email protected] I will send you the lady's name and number. They also have a newsletter that comes from Salt Lake as part of the group. If I can be of any futher assistance please feel free to contact me at any time. If you like I can send you my number here as well. I still keep Ely as my home base, and return there between each assignment. I hopeall is going well for you after your surgery. Good luck Julie

Hi Brynda, thanks for your help with updating my profile. I'm sure your surgery will go off without a hitch and you'll have great success with long term weightloss thereafter. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Let me know how it goes OK!