Re: New to List

[Guest guest]

Dear Diane,

Thanks for writing. Someone my age and knowing of another older. You have

done so well in such a short time. Congratulations. I love people of all ages,

and

get along with all ages, but it is interesting to hear also from someone my age

(I am

not going to call us OLD, although I feel it) with perhaps different issues - I

am

postmenopausal and on HRT which also puts on weight - stuff like that. Each age

level has different issues going on and perhaps accompanying medical problems to

enter into things decision-wise.

Diane, thank you for writing me. Sally

ladydi1246@... wrote:

> Hi Sally,

> Welcome! I too am 53 years old. I had the surgery 5 weeks ago (Dr. Reines

> at NWH) and I have lost 35 lbs. so far. I feel wonderful and everyone is

> starting to notice the weight loss. At one meeting I sat next to a 63 year

> old woman who had the surgery in the past year. She had lost 65 lbs. at that

> time. My husband was not too happy about it but went along with me. The same

> for my children (6 of them). some were happy, and some tried to talk me out

> of it. Now they are all happy for me. I have been lucky, so far. healing

> well, no complications and feeling better and stronger everyday.

> Go for it!!!

> Hugs,

> Diane R.

> 320/285/?

> rny 6/27/00

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

HI SALLY! WELCOME! I also had some intestinal issues prior to

surgery-reflux, diverticulosis and severe irritable bowel syndrome. Is Dr.

Makreur (?spelling) your gastroenterologist? He's mine and he was really

good. I had my surgery June 9th and have lost about 40 lbs since then.

Before surgery I had diarhea 10-20 times/day, always 15 minutes after I ate.

Now that's practically gone. Good luck. Dr. Thayer is a great surgeon. I

think you've made a good decision in choosing him. This list is a wonderful

source of information and support. I'm glad you're here!

Steph in Rockport

[Guest guest]

Sally....Welcome...I bought one of those hand held Braun's.... mostly so I

could carry it with me. My surgery was right before x-mas... lots of food !!!

I got it at Walmart for under 10.00...

Chryl

11-29-99

Dr Reines

250-160-135

Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do

what it says on the aspirin bottle: Take two and keep away from children.

[Guest guest]

Sally , I had Tuft's and there was absolutely no problem getting the

approval... I here they are one of the easiest insurances.

cheryl

Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do

what it says on the aspirin bottle: Take two and keep away from children.

[Guest guest]

Norma! You CANNOT be 53! I really believed you were in your 40's! You

look fantastic!

Dawn

Re: New to list

In a message dated 8/10/00 5:30:08 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

sallymacduff@... writes:

> get along with all ages, but it is interesting to hear also from someone

my

> age

> (I am

> not going to call us OLD, although I feel it) with perhaps different

issues -

> I

> am

Hi Sally my name is Norma and I was 53 two weeks before my opp. in Dec. 99

You will do just fine but yes older people do have different problems as we

all do young and old. After your opp. when you start to drop the weight you

will get more

energy then you will feel perky and younger your self. It happens believe

me.

NORMA IN MASS

267/184/119

RNY12/9/99 DR,s Brig. Woman's

Hernia-2 TT DR. Randall 2001 ?

[Guest guest]

Hi Sally and welcome. I am also 53, 250#s and am having surgery Aug 23.

This group and others have really helped. I decided a year and half ago

that this surgery might be the way to go, and researched on-line and in

group meetings. Its great if a family member goes with you and learns as

much as possible to help through the process. Many of us have weight

related medical problems that lessen as the weight goes down, yipee. I'm

ready and wish you well. Priscilla

----------

>

>To: OSSG-NewEnglandegroups

>Subject: New to list

>Date: Wed, Aug 9, 2000, 8:26 PM

>

>Hi everyone,

> My name is Sally MacDuff. I live in Needham, Mass. I am 53 years

>old,

>married to Doug, an Architect, and have a 24-year-old daughter, Alyson,

>who

>will be getting married in October. Busy times around here regarding

>wedding.

> Today, I went for my first consultation with Dr. Bruce Thayer and

>staff at

>the Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA . I have a number of

>medical

>problems, and I was afraid that I might not be able to be a candidate

>for WLS.

>He thinks I can have the surgery. He does need to talk with my

>gastroenterologist,

>also there at NWH, as I have Barrett's Esophagus, a precancerous

>condition of

>the esophagus. I also have two adrenal gland problems requiring steroid

>replacement

>therapy daily (Prednisone - a killer weight-wise), but he thinks that

>can be managed.

>during the surgery with extra boosts of steroids to keep me going.

> I went in to the visit thinking that I was going there for a

>consultation to see what

>he would think about my having the procedure. After being there for

>three hours and

>seeing the nutritionist, psychologist, and Dr. Thayer, as well as

>talking with people in

>the waiting room, some who had just had the surgery and others who had

>had it

>a while ago and they were beautiful. Now, I am a little more encouraged

>about the

>surgery for me. He said he would have to talk with the

>gastroenterologist, and also

>I would need an upper GI barium swallow test. I was so encouraged by

>the people

>in the waiting room who had the surgery. They gave me this email list

>addy, and I

>just had to contact you all to introduce myself, but also to hear from

>various people

>about their thoughts/results/whatever. My husband is worrying about

>this and thinks

>it is a little " extreme " , but is willing to go with me to the mandatory

>Group Session

>held Monthly. Dr. Thayer encouraged that we both come to learn as much

>as

>possible.

> So, I guess I am introducing myself, saying hi to all of you, and

>saying " tell me all

>you know " - giggle. I have lots to learn. An immediate question

>concerns the diet

>immediately postop (for his practice everything is pureed for the first

>month). Then, how

>does it go?

> I think I have rattled on here enough. Ask me questions. I

>naturally weighed

>more there than I thought I weighed, and they didn't tell me my BMI. I

>weigh

>240 lbs., am 5'2 " tall, so it is, I think, around 43-44, somewhere in

>that range.

> I will be quiet now. Thank you for any input. Sally

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Priscilla,

Thanks for writing. Best of luck on August 23rd. I will be thinking of

you.

Keep us posted afterwards. Sally

priscilla king wrote:

> Hi Sally and welcome. I am also 53, 250#s and am having surgery Aug 23.

> This group and others have really helped. I decided a year and half ago

> that this surgery might be the way to go, and researched on-line and in

> group meetings. Its great if a family member goes with you and learns as

> much as possible to help through the process. Many of us have weight

> related medical problems that lessen as the weight goes down, yipee. I'm

> ready and wish you well. Priscilla

> ----------

> >

> >To: OSSG-NewEnglandegroups

> >Subject: New to list

> >Date: Wed, Aug 9, 2000, 8:26 PM

> >

>

> >Hi everyone,

> > My name is Sally MacDuff. I live in Needham, Mass. I am 53 years

> >old,

> >married to Doug, an Architect, and have a 24-year-old daughter, Alyson,

> >who

> >will be getting married in October. Busy times around here regarding

> >wedding.

> > Today, I went for my first consultation with Dr. Bruce Thayer and

> >staff at

> >the Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, MA . I have a number of

> >medical

> >problems, and I was afraid that I might not be able to be a candidate

> >for WLS.

> >He thinks I can have the surgery. He does need to talk with my

> >gastroenterologist,

> >also there at NWH, as I have Barrett's Esophagus, a precancerous

> >condition of

> >the esophagus. I also have two adrenal gland problems requiring steroid

> >replacement

> >therapy daily (Prednisone - a killer weight-wise), but he thinks that

> >can be managed.

> >during the surgery with extra boosts of steroids to keep me going.

> > I went in to the visit thinking that I was going there for a

> >consultation to see what

> >he would think about my having the procedure. After being there for

> >three hours and

> >seeing the nutritionist, psychologist, and Dr. Thayer, as well as

> >talking with people in

> >the waiting room, some who had just had the surgery and others who had

> >had it

> >a while ago and they were beautiful. Now, I am a little more encouraged

> >about the

> >surgery for me. He said he would have to talk with the

> >gastroenterologist, and also

> >I would need an upper GI barium swallow test. I was so encouraged by

> >the people

> >in the waiting room who had the surgery. They gave me this email list

> >addy, and I

> >just had to contact you all to introduce myself, but also to hear from

> >various people

> >about their thoughts/results/whatever. My husband is worrying about

> >this and thinks

> >it is a little " extreme " , but is willing to go with me to the mandatory

> >Group Session

> >held Monthly. Dr. Thayer encouraged that we both come to learn as much

> >as

> >possible.

> > So, I guess I am introducing myself, saying hi to all of you, and

> >saying " tell me all

> >you know " - giggle. I have lots to learn. An immediate question

> >concerns the diet

> >immediately postop (for his practice everything is pureed for the first

> >month). Then, how

> >does it go?

> > I think I have rattled on here enough. Ask me questions. I

> >naturally weighed

> >more there than I thought I weighed, and they didn't tell me my BMI. I

> >weigh

> >240 lbs., am 5'2 " tall, so it is, I think, around 43-44, somewhere in

> >that range.

> > I will be quiet now. Thank you for any input. Sally

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Sally,

Isn't the waiting room great at Drs. Thayer & Reines & ?

Every time I go in, there is another hopeful yet nervous person in the

office, and it's so good to be able to tell them good things about this

surgery. After all, it really wasn't long ago that I was there myself,

nervous as **** I have yet to meet a person there I didn't like.

F.

Sally MacDuff wrote:

Hi Steph,

My gastroenterologist is Curtis, M.D.

at Newton Wellesley

Hospital. 40 lbs. in 2 months. That is really super.

I am glad your diarrhea

problems have settled down now after the surgery. I wonder

what the

connection is? I like Dr. Thayer. I went to him years

ago, and I sat in front

of him, and he said "you look familiar". Stupidly, I said

"well, I came to you

once a long time ago, and I cannot remember what it was for". (You

have to

understand I have a lot of doctors and many problems. I guess

memory is

one problem I can add to the list). Anyway, I liked him the

other day, and I

liked the whole way the office ran as well as the non-planned for

make-shift

support group within the waiting room that just started up.

I'm glad I am here too. This list is very informative

but light and fun

also.

Take care.

Sally

SSUCP@... wrote:

> HI SALLY! WELCOME! I also had some intestinal issues

prior to

> surgery-reflux, diverticulosis and severe irritable bowel syndrome.

Is Dr.

> Makreur (?spelling) your gastroenterologist? He's mine

and he was really

> good. I had my surgery June 9th and have lost about 40

lbs since then.

> Before surgery I had diarhea 10-20 times/day, always 15 minutes

after I ate.

> Now that's practically gone. Good luck. Dr. Thayer

is a great surgeon. I

> think you've made a good decision in choosing him. This

list is a wonderful

> source of information and support. I'm glad you're here!

>

> Steph in Rockport

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Steph,

My gastroenterologist is Curtis, M.D. at Newton Wellesley

Hospital. 40 lbs. in 2 months. That is really super. I am glad your diarrhea

problems have settled down now after the surgery. I wonder what the

connection is? I like Dr. Thayer. I went to him years ago, and I sat in front

of him, and he said " you look familiar " . Stupidly, I said " well, I came to you

once a long time ago, and I cannot remember what it was for " . (You have to

understand I have a lot of doctors and many problems. I guess memory is

one problem I can add to the list). Anyway, I liked him the other day, and I

liked the whole way the office ran as well as the non-planned for make-shift

support group within the waiting room that just started up.

I'm glad I am here too. This list is very informative but light and fun

also.

Take care. Sally

SSUCP@... wrote:

> HI SALLY! WELCOME! I also had some intestinal issues prior to

> surgery-reflux, diverticulosis and severe irritable bowel syndrome. Is Dr.

> Makreur (?spelling) your gastroenterologist? He's mine and he was really

> good. I had my surgery June 9th and have lost about 40 lbs since then.

> Before surgery I had diarhea 10-20 times/day, always 15 minutes after I ate.

> Now that's practically gone. Good luck. Dr. Thayer is a great surgeon. I

> think you've made a good decision in choosing him. This list is a wonderful

> source of information and support. I'm glad you're here!

>

> Steph in Rockport

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Norma, Don't fear! The wrinkly and pruney stage will go away...I had fears

myself because I was starting to look very drawn and gaunt in my face (would

be happy to look gaunt at my hipline, but no such luck). Anyway, I realized

recently that even though I am the same weight for the last four months, my

weight shifted. One place it shifted to is my face so that my cheeks have

filled out a bit more without being a moonface like I used to be and I feel

so much better about the weight shift. If you do like Carla has mentioned

so often, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize...you'll find that your skin

begins to plump naturally. You're still losing weight (yeah!) and it may be

a while before your weight starts shifting back to your face, but it will

happen. Love, Annie (See you on the 16th!)