Hi everyone - new to the board!

Hi Brothers & Sisters - just posting to this board for the first time. I didn't even know their was an LDS board!! What a treat. I am from Northern Virginia, and am in a six month process of having surgery. I think it will probably - hopefully - be sometime in August. I am so buzzed for this. I try to read the main board but it moves so fast I have a hard time, plus I read the state board. Like I said, it was a treat to find this one. I'll have to go and read everyone's profile to get acquainted with you. Okay, I have a sort of personal question to ask, maybe you won't mind answering. I am wondering if any of you who have had the surgery had a blessing before? I don't know why, but I just am not sure even though it's surgery. My daughters (adult girls) are insistent that I do. I don't know. My husband is a non member so I would have to ask my home teacher, which is alright, but ???? Wha do you all think? I really haven't mentioned this surgery to anyone in my ward yet. donna

Hi Donna! I live in Germantown, MD and am in the Washington DC Stake. I have been separated for 19 months. I asked my home teachers to give me a blessing before I had surgery. They usually come on Sunday evenings, and it just so happened that my surgery was the next morning. They also annointed me, which I wasn't expecting. But, I do have to say, I have not had a single complication! i was less than 100 lbs overweight which really lessens the chances of complications but i also have faith that the blessing from my home teachers went a long way towards my not having complications. ~kim 218/165- g- 135

Hi Donna Welcome to the board...I don't post to often but I check in all the time. As for getting a blessing..please do. Those Priesthood Blessings are for us at anytime that we need them. And it doesn't have to be for something as serious as surgery..Heavenly Father gave us Priesthood holders to be his voice on the earth to us at all times in our lives. Before I went to see my surgeon for the first time my hubby gave me a blessing and then prior to surgery my hubby and step son gave me a blessing for health..that is when they use the annointed oil. What a wonderful thing to have Heavenly Father speak to me at a time when I needed reasurance and confirmation that what I was doing was ok and then to receive the blessing that I would heal quickly and I did just that. Listen carefully to what the Priesthood holder is saying because that is for you..totally for you. Take care and stay in touch. I know you have a little while to wait but it will go by quickly Have a great day Alfie 280-197-hope to be 150 one of these days.

Thank you all so much for your response! You are fast!! You've all given me good thoughts and I am for sure going to ask for one. I know when I get one, I always feel at peace. Thank you again. love donna

Welcome to this board Donna. Come back often and participate. We tend to go through stages where we are really active and chatty for a while and then we get a little lax and nobody says anything for a few days. We can use all the participation we can. My name is Melody. I live in the south central part of Idaho. I had my surgery 1 year ago. To date I've lost 122# and am still losing. This morning I weighed 138# which I believe is right around my surgeons goal for me. I have sooo much extra skin that I still feel fat and still have to wear size 18 jeans. I'm looking forward to being a more normal size someday. My husband is also a non-member and I had my home teachers give me a priesthood blessing prior to surgery. Very comforting. I'd highly recommend it. I was very open about my surgery to people in my ward. Most of them were very curious about it and have been very, very supportive. I have not received any negative from any of them. Good luck. This is a dangerous surgery and very life changing. For me it was worth it and I would do it again. Melody

Melody, thank you so much for this reply. Wow - 122 lbs. That is awesome. And still losing. I hear so many reach an early plateau. I am worried about the extra skin. I actually already have quite a lot of 'apron' around my middle, so I can't imagine it being worse. I think I'm too old for a tummy tuck, which I hear lots of people do. Thanks again Melody, donna

Donna, you're not too old for a tummy tuck when the time comes. This isn't a vanity issue, this is a HEALTH issue. When you lose the extra weight you'll have a tremendous amount of extra skin that just sits on your lower belly, this area doesn't get the air it needs to breathe and it will be a constant problem of infection, bacteria and pain. This is an issue of health. Don't worry about the age issue and the "word - tummy tuck", it's not like we're trying to be bikini models or anything, we just want to be healthy and pain free. Melody

Welcome to the board! Glad to have you with us - feel free to ask the group anything! -Sherrie

ABSOLUTELY GET A BLESSING!! I wouldn't even consider doing this without one! I'm fortunate that my Bishop is also my anestheologist, so he'll be right there with me if anything goes wrong and he can give be a blessing on the spot too! Mari