Where are you on your journey???

Well August 5 will be two months out. I started at 398 lbs. And this morning I weighed 342. I have to say this is the best place I have ever found to come too. To find people who have been where I am, or are going through it now. The success stories keep me going when I get into a depression. You are all so wonderful. I hope to make onderland somday. 180 sounds good to me. Donna

Ginger ... ((((hugs)))) I'm so proud of you!!! You've done wonderfully considering all the difficulties you've had to endure post-op. I look at your picture and you look like a different woman! As for me ... I'm just finishing up my 15th post-op month ... down from 442 to 237 ... and like Lori am sitting on an almost two-month long plateau that I'm trying like crazy to figure my way off of. I had a pretty bumpy immediate postop period too ... ended up being hospitalized three times in all and eventually switched my bariatric care to another surgeon who fixed my problems. My difficulties only lasted about 4 weeks, I can't imagine how it was for you over 4 months! Since getting out of the last hospital I've done amazingly well, except for a recurring stoma ulceration (currently healed) and some troubles lately with "Late Dumping Syndrome" (which gratefully seems to be winding down now). I have a lot of people ask me if I'd do it again ... even with the postop complications included and I always says YES! Before I had my surgery I had become almost house-bound with degenerative spine disease ... my whole concentration was taken up with coping with pain ... I felt hopeless and helpless and depressed. Now it's like my life has been returned to me ... like everyone else says ... "a second chance". My back is still impaired but much more endurable, I can walk again ... I have lots of optimism these days and am even trying my hand at working a bit (after 4 years on disability). I wouldn't have done as well as I have without all of you ... you've been my "go to" source, my shoulders to cry on, my place to vent and wonderful friends. For the newbies in this forum, if you haven't tumbled to it yet, you're among some of the best people on earth! ing at y'all from Missouri, ((((((hugs))))))) Myra G

...............still waiting............

Hi wls chick! Squrunch on over on the bench..and we will wait with you! I think that your wait has been the loongest one I have ever heard of...but it's worth it if there is any kind of chance that the insurance company will come through for you and pay it. I know that self-pay was never an option for me. I can't say that I "enjoyed" the waiting for approval period cause it totally sucked. My heart goes out to every single person who is waiting for insurance approval. It is such an emotional time, and nobody "understands" unless they have been in your shoes type of thing. I admit I had thoughts that the "evil" insurance company had a conspiracy against me. Crazy huh??? Hang in there, time stands still when you are waiting right?? HugsGinger

love ya and glad to hear you are so happy and busy. And you helped many of us too. love marie

Hi Marie, How is married life treating you??? wink-wink!!! HugsGinger

Those are going to be hard "Acts" to follow! LOL Hmmm what to say, what to say... Well I've waited for surgery for 2 1/2 years - I had surgery June 14,2006 (I'm 6 Weeks out) Fortunately I'm Canadian and my surgery was covered by Medicare, so I have only heard the horrible tales of Insurance Companies. Hmmm so far I've dealt with alot of ups & downs, wow moments, b*tchy moments, problems with binging & purging - all that fun stuff. My profile is really descriptive, this reply isn't doing me justice. LOL I turned 18 in May, I'm 5"3 with a starting weight of 355 lbs, Last I checked (5 weeks) I was down to 331 lbs (-24 lbs) But I haven't had one day where I've regretted surgery, I've had days where I've felt like I'm gaining as opposed to losing - but NEVER regretted it once. I love OH and this message board :D By the way 105 lbs is AMAZING! I'd switch places any day ;) We're all individuals, we have to learn to stop comparing ourselves to others. Congratulations on all that progress! You're an inpiration to all! I look forward to reading your profile! (for some reason people's profiles freeze on this computer, don't know why!)

Hey Serena, You are just a breath of fresh air. Tell me, did you go through a lot of hassle because of your young age having this surgery?? I bet many of us here wish we could've had this opportunity back when we were 18. Oh, and by the way...you probably haven't read my profile..cause there isn't much of it pursay. Maybe I'm shy....NOT! I'm gonna work on getting a good profile going...so many of everybody's profiles have been an inspiration to me...I want to help somebody if I can. great big hugs to you! Ginger in Arizona

Hey, I've seen your profile before! I didn't recognize the new picture! LOL You're looking great!! I have had alot of problems with my age, I looked into the surgery when I was 14 - but it scared me so instead of applying to see the surgeon I had my jaws wired. Lost 40 lbs, gained it back and then some. But I still don't regret that, because if I hadn't I'd probably weighed about 400 lbs when I had gastric bypass! When I was 16 my mom filled out a questionaire for me so that we could meet the surgeon, a year later we did! I was 17 and he said that I was a good candidate. Although I'm sure he had alot of problems with my age, all the Doctors were thinking that my mom was forcing me to have it done so sometimes they'd have Doctors talk to me alone. I started going in to see the Doctors alone, maybe it convinced them? However, I was supposed to have surgery in April (before my eighteenth birthday at the end of May) and they kept post poning it for this reason or that, finally I had my pre-admission tests the day after my eighteenth birthday and got a date soon after. It seems like they were waiting for me to turn eighteen. I've had alot of people tell me they wish they had the surgery sooner. Truth is, so do I - I know I was young, but I had my mind made up and I WANTED and NEEDED it. I love reading everyone's profiles, I haven't done so as much recently because I'm trying to teach myself everyone loses at a different pace. You are such an inspiration! Take care!

Hello all, It has been some time since I ahve been on the board but here is where I am in my weight liss journey: Surgery date: 10/12/2004 weight at surgery: 451lbs. weight as of today: 295 (approximately, I will know when I weigh myself monday) Total loss: -156lbs. Goal weight: 175-80lbs. I really had issues most of last year and it is coming back to haunt me when it comes to my weightloss. If I don't get to my goal, that is alright but I haven't been under 200lbs. in over 20years and it would be great. I know that my downfall continues to be emotional eating and not exercising the way that I should but hey its a new day!!!! Good luck to you all Erica