An Introduction:
Hello all. My name is Esther and I'm a newbie to this forum; though I've been browsing around this website for a couple of weeks now because my sister TOLD me to (love you Fran 
). Yeah, she's older.
Fran recently celebrated her 1-year anniversary and she is looking great, but most importantly, she feels great. Check her out at Fran575. She is 5'4" and started at 249 and is now at 143. I hope she has posted her new pics. We (our 3 other sisters and I) are very proud of her.
Fran wants me to seriously consider WLS. I am 5'6" and weigh in at 241. I have diabetes (with insulin), high blood pressure, high cholesterol, bad knees, bad back, and there isn't a part of my body that doesn't hurt all the time. Frankly, I'm not sure what it would feel like to be pain free. I would probably think I had died and gone to Heaven 
)!
ANYWAY...I go to my first seminar on Wed, May 6, to get some first hand information. This is, of course, a life-changing surgery, but my biggest fear is that I won't be able to continue to stay on track by myself.
Even though Fran has offered to come take care of me the first week or two (I live in Plano TX, she in Tacoma, WA) since I have no family member in Texas, I worry about whether I would take care of myself after she leaves. We have completely opposite personalities. Fran is a focused, determined, logical woman and approached this whole surgery prepared to do what it took to make it work.
I, on the other hand, should have been a princess. 
JK. So, if I do have the surgery, I hope I will find additional support here and through my few close friends.
You are all so encouraging and I wish you nothing but continued success.
Esther
you will be fine and it sounds like with frans help everything will go OK
for you if you decide to go ahead with the surgery.
making the decision is the most important part. i was 57 1/2 when I
had my surgery and im almost 3 years out now and i have lost 119
pounds and feel great.
this is a supportive place to be so keep posting and if you have
questions someone will have an answer.
be safe and well,
jacki
If you have a question there is going to be someone on here that knows an answer, if you need a shoulder to cry on we are here for you, if you need to just chat about things going on in your life just pull up a chair and we will chat over our favorite cuppa.
Please post often and that way we can get to know you better. We chat each morning so just come and join us for a chat. You are more than welcome and hope that you feel the warmth and caring extended to you already. You are not alone...no matter where you are at. We are as close as your keyboard and monitor.
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter
that tells what kind of life you have lived.
You are the perfect candidate for WLS........in my humble opinion! In my local support group there have been several people with your kind of issues (pain, diabetes, high blood pressures, etc.) and they have all completely moved past those problems and are living lives that are free from pain and worry about health. I know it doesn't seem possible......but it is.
I went from being a FAT (319) woman who dreaded airplane seats, restaurant seats, stairs, automobiles, etc. because I was afraid I would not fit, to being a tall, skinny (half of what I used to weigh) active woman who gets down on the floor and practically jumps up, runs up stairs, and doesn't even think about chairs, seats anywhere. I will fit with room to spare.
Good luck to you on your journey. This is a place to come and share, learn, enjoy as you go through it.
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
I ditto everyone else's welcome. I'm really glad I found this site too. I am almost exactly in the same position as you, except the last time I got measured I had lost an inch so now I'm 5' 5" I have the same co-morbidities as you along with acid reflux and bad feet. I can't wait to get my surgery date. I've been dealing with making the decision for a couple of years, and now that I've made the decision, I want it done and over so I can get on with my life. I'm tired of being tired and achy.
Make sure you check out the support groups in your area, and try them out. You don't need a family member in Texas. I'm sure you've got some supportive friends, and with OFF you've got family all over the U.S.
Keep us informed of your journey.
Jan
