Roll Call & Question of the Day for April 2005!

OK, since there is not enough movement on this board I figured a monthly roll call would be better than a weekly one. LOL! At least until more folks get involved! Hehehe So how is your progress so far? Give us your stats! Here is this month's question of the Day: How have your relationships been effected by your WLS? Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/204/146 BMI- 44.1/35/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -53 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney

Well my progress this month has been GREAT! I thought I was becoming a slow looser for awhile but I have discovered that my problem with dehydration has not been repaired by my surgery (long story... they tried to "wake up" my large intestine while they did my WLS b/c it is not reabsorbing water like it should) so I have to stay on top of my water intake and I still have to go in once in awhile for an IV. Luckily my hubby is a paramedic so we can do it from home instead of going into the hospital every few weeks. ANYWAYS, this is a problem that I have delt with all of my life so no big deal. I just have to really stay on top of the fluids and I loose at a good rate! I did managed to tackle the last month and a half on my own without my hubby since he was deployed (he is finally home) so I feel that I did pretty good recovering and returning to my normal routines plus adding lots of exercise! My stats are listed in my signature so onto the Question of the day! Many of my relationships before surgery remained the same or got stronger (I have more energy to donate to them now) but I have had a few obsticles and compromises. Personally my family has been more supportive than I expected. However it is not without problems or compromises. Take my baby sister for example, she has always struggled with her weight, yo-yo-ing more than I ever did, she'd go from a 10 to an 18 in six months with no problem! Well to her benefit (or detriment) she is tall, she's 5'11" so even though she has been gaining weight and can no longer keep it off so easily, she does not qualify for the surgery. When I broke the news that I was having it she was happy and envious at the same time. Mostly, she was scared that she might loose me. Thankfully I came out alright and I have been successful. Our relationship has always been close and strong so she has been able to admit that hearing my progress makes her happy for me but pissed off at the same time, since she cannot loose anything. I remindher each time that surgery is not the answer for everyone and it is definitly not for her so there is no reason to be envious of the surgery. Her lifestyle is definitly not condusive to a successful outcome if she had the surgery. (She is young and still unwilling to make sacrifices on behalf of her own health... in time she will learn that she needs to come first.) So now when we talk I have to be really concious of how "excited" I get. And she is concious of her reactions towards me. We agreed to be happy for one another and try to continue to help one another. Now my other sister has always been skinny and has never struggled with her weight. We have not had the best of relationships but recently she has begun to come around a bit. She thought surgery was an easy way out and did not want to hear my woes with dumping or anything. She felt that "I did it to myself." However, her tune has changes a bit since she started looking at my pictures and reading my journal entries online. Now she can't wait to see me and I think perhaps she might be ready to patch up some of the hole in our relationship. So this one seems to be turning out for the better! LOL! Now one of my "fat friends" right now is really pissy with me all of the time. She claims to not know why and she is trying to work on it but I laid it out for her the other day. I reminded her that she did not want me to have the surgery (she went with me to the surgeons info seminar and by the time she left she had formed an opinion on WLS) and once I did our relationship's dynamics changed a bit. I told her I hoped that she would be happy for me but obviously my success bothers her and that if she is unwillingt o reach a compromise like my sister did that I am unwilling to maintain an unhealthy relationship. So far, I have not gotten a response from her on the matter. She has continued to treat me as if noting has transpired, so I am plying the waiting game. These are just a few of my relationships that have been affected by WLS. I was told over and over again by the shrink (that sees WLS patients preop) that my relationships would be changed but I never imagined to what kind of dynamics. LOL! It has been interesting and I hope that I can make it through without loosing the people that I love. Especially since I had this surgery to help me enjoy life again! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/204/146 BMI- 44.1/35/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -53 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney

Congrats on the wonderful progress, Jamie! You're doing great!! I am a pre-op and so I can't post about my progress yet however, my surgery date is getting closer and CLOSER, woohoo! My pre-op is next Wednesday, a mere five days away Blessings to all ~ Morganna in Indiana

Oh CONGRATZ! Know that we are always here for you! Good Luck on your preop and surgery! You can still answer the question if you feel like sharing how planning to have WLS has affected your relationships. Or how your family and friends are taking the news. I know before I had surgery I had a slew of opinions roll in from all my family and friends! Hehehe.... Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/204/146 BMI- 44.1/35/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -53 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney

Well, I am extremely lucky to have the most supportive husband in the world. It is because of his insurance that I am able to get this surgery at all! The people closest to me are 100% supportive and pulling for me all the way (and I am so thankful for them, believe me). I have some relatives who are not being supportive at all (most notably, my sister and my father) but I am doing what I have to do right now - if they can't support me then I am just going to have to step right over them and keep going. This is too important to let negative people try to mess it up for me, if you know what I mean. And as I said before, I do have an inner circle of people who are doing all they can to help me get through this as smoothly as possible. Now, if April 18th would just hurry up and get here, LOL! Bright Blessings to all my Pagan brothers and sisters here - Morganna in Indiana

MM everyone, I just found this site, today I am three weeks and three days post-op and very pleased with everything. My boyfriend of 5+ years has been extremely supportive of my surgery. He was just as supportive before regardless of what I needed the support for. I am lucky to have a very supportive family and a close circle of friends who are extremely supportive of my WLS. I think my relationships have become stronger because of those who have shown my support and feeling better about yourself helps you project a more positive environment for people to be around. I have lost 28lbs to date. Jessica

Welcome to the Board & MM Jessica! Yeah we know more than anyone how becoming healthier and happier can transmit tot he ones we love! LOL! I am glad that you have such a strong support network. Keep coming back tot he baord girl! We'd love to get them hopping again! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/201/146 BMI- 44.1/34.5/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -56 lbs. Surgery Date- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney

MM & BB Jamie! love the new pic! stats ~~ 252.5 start ~~~ 212 today ~~~ hoping for 140 goal I feel GREAT!!! moved my herb garden yesterday... we are having foundation work done to our 1929 house and I didn't want the little plants stompped into oblivion by workmen!!! Have a wonderful day everyone!!! oh... I did a user name change... but it's still me... Deb from Indian Lake ~~ Deb

Thanks, it is old already... the poor graphics team can only move so fast. If anyone from OH is listening.... we would love to be able to upload our own pictures for the message boards! I can edit and upload things very well! LOL! At least give us the option! Brightest Blessings for a Wonderful Day~ Jamie M. aka Lady Autumn Weight- 257/199/146 BMI- 44.1/34.2/25 Height- 5'4" Total Weight Loss: -58 lbs. Open RNY- 1/19/05 Visit my OH profile or stop by My Weight Loss Journey Website at: home.bellsouth.net/p/PWP-LadyAutumnsWLSjourney