since we have a lot of new faces.... how about we do some intros
I have learned alot on this board and althogh i do not post often i appreciate all of the good advise I have gotten. I also went to the Reading Hospital's support group meeting this past week and was impressed by the number of helpful people I met.
Ron
Hi everyone my name is Tia.I am 29 years old. I am a wife to a wonderful man named Greg ,a mother to 2 of my own children ,and a foster mom to many.I have 3 cats and 1 dog . I am in month 5 of my pre-surgical program.I am going to have my surgery at GWV,with Dr Velcu.......................I have been thinking of having this surgery since 05 when I actually completed the program. long story short my mother passed away while I was at my last appointment in 05 , guilt set in and that was all she wrote.........here i am again ready and waiting, this cant happen for me soon enough now ......I am ready to begin living.
I am hoping to regularly attend the support group in montoursville and i have attended a couple in danville ,I have trouble driving distances so I can only attend when DH can bring me
Tia has just begun to fight............
rebirthday was 9*30*09
Start/322
surgery morning/303
current-233
goal/200ish
My name is abby. i am 50 years old. i live in alburtis,pa,which is about 20 min away from allentown. i am only 3 weeks out. my doctor is dr. sawyana (same as lisa) i am a prekindergarten teacher. i have been married for 19 years and have a 18 year old daughter named aubree. i have always been fat most of my life and im so lucky to have had this operation. i have lost 30 lbs in the last 3 months. i have 70 more to go. im sorry i missed the cooking class at liz's house but hopefully i can attend the next one. i have to get a picture up but im computer ignorant hopefully my daughter will take pity on me and help (lol). you all are so helpful and amazing. god bless you all
abby oswald
I am Christine and I am 36 years old. I have been married for 9 years to the most amazing husband anyone could ask for. I have two children Drew 9, and Emma 7. They are my pride and joy. I just started a new job with Nutrisystem in the sales department. We live in Chalfont, PA.
My weight loss journey started about 7 years ago. I have been researching surgery for a while and had an appointment at the UofP about 61/2 years ago. We found out we had to relocate to Raleigh,NC right before my appointment so I cancelled and had an appointment at Duke for the day after we moved. Went to that appointment and did all the preop only to be denied by insurance. Then put things on hold for a few years...just too lazy to follow through.
About two years ago I decided to try again. I went to a different doctor in Raleigh this time and decided to do the lapband per his suggestion. I had to do a six month doctor supervised weight loss before my insurance would approve, I did that and before surgery my doctor wanted me to have my gallbladder removed. So last August I had it removed by the doctor that was to do my lapband.
I woke up from surgery and knew something was not right, I was in tremendous pain. I told the recovery nurse and was given a shot of moraphine, which helped for a bit. As this was an outpatient procedure, they were anxious to get me out of the hospital. I was still feeling a lot of pain as they were preparing me for discharge, the nurse asked me to rate my pain on a 1-10 scale. I told her a 10 and she dismissed it and said that I did not look like I was in that much pain and I told her I know my body, I have had two c-sections and a hysterectomy and I had NEVER felt that much pain. She said there was nothing else they could do for me and that I was being sent home....so I went home relying on my pain meds. I was recovering very slowly. I spent a lot of time in bed and talked to the hospital several times about my lack of recovery, they just kept telling me to give it time. So five days later, I woke up one morning and got out of bed only to drop to me knees in pain. I could not move. I called my husband and he said he would be home in 20 mins to take me to the hospital. I told him I could not wait. I called 911 and was taken to the hospital. After many tests, they discovered that the doctor had lacerated my liver during the surgery and bile had been leaking into my body. I was going toxic. It was horrible. I had to have another surgery (different surgeon this time) to repair the damage. It went well and I came home with a drainage tube for about a week. I went to the doctor to have it removed and literally on the way to the doctor it started draining out bile again so back into the hospital I go for yet another surgery. I had to have a stent put in to repair the damage. The doctor said it was a simple procedure and that I would feel better quickly. Apparently luck was not on my side as I woke up in the worst pain I have ever felt!! Over night I had developed pancrititis. I would not wish this pain on my worst enemy!! The doctor said that this is a side effect mostly in women in their 30,s. Yeah me!! Anyway, that was a 9 day hospital stay.
I decided to put teh surgery on hold again for a few months to recover and to find a new doc. During that time, we decided to move back to this area so we moved back to Chalfont in Februrary of this year and I called Barix. I had an appoitment with Dr.P at the end of Feb and since all my pre-op was completed I was able to have my surgery on March 18th! I love Dr.P, I knew the instant I met her that this time it was going to be for real.
To date I have lost 68 pounds and I feel great. It was a very long and sometimes very painful process but it was absolutly worth it and I would do it again in a heart beat.
To all of you thinking about doing this...do it!! you will not regret it!
Anyway, thanks for reading my novel about my journey. I love this board and look forward to the new friendships that are forming daily!!
I agree with all, Liz this is a great idea.
I'm Patty, I live in the York County area and as with others I dont post alot but I read and take in as much as I can. I am 36 years old, married for 9 years and we have one daughter Anita who is 7. Counting the cat and 3 dogs we have a house full, but I would not change anything. I work in Regulatory and Government Affairs with Highmark in Camp Hill and love my job.
I am on the down slope now, I have started my adventure back in Feb of this year and have been up and down. My final meeting with the nut is August and then the task of getting the approval and having all the necessary testing done. It looks as though October will be my surgery time. I am excited and scared at the same time. I have a great support team between my family and my co workers. My weight problems started after I had my daughter, I ate my way through 9 months and after I had her I continued to take care of everyone else but me. I was 5'7" and 145 pounds pre pregancy. As of today my highest weight was 298 pounds I am down to 278 now. I just want my life back. I want to watch my daughter grow and feeling the way I do now I dont feel that is going to happen if I do not do something. It took some time for me to understand how much my weight was holding me back from enjoying life and doing the things that I use to, My husband has a boat, the weekends are spent on the lake but usually mom does not go, I stay home, I dont want to be that person everyone is looking at.... at least not until I feel good about myself! That is my mission. I want a heatlhy, happy life.
Thank you to all, I have learned so much from reading your post and have gotten so wonderful food idea's I am anxious to get this started and can not wait to be on the looser bench.
Let the jorney begin!
Patty
