Gastric Bypass Surgery Support Group
Gastric bypass (GBP) is any of a group of similar operative procedures used to treat morbid obesity, a condition which arises from severe accumulation of excess weight in the form of fatty tissue, and the health problems ("co-morbidities") which result. If you are considering gastric bypass or have had it, join the community where we share our experiences and find support.
Just a question - does this forum support more general, social conversations between folks who are on this journey? I am thinking of a Community discussion where we can discuss pretty much anything, always against the backdrop of the massive life change we have made.
For example - I'm in my 60s, female, live in the high desert southwest, married to 2nd husband, have 2 grown kids who live in another state, work in IT for what is a large company in this part of the world. I like reading, watching old movies and British TV shows on Netflix, we have a dog, a cat and a boa constrictor.
I want to learn quilting when I retire, and also to travel. I decided I would not travel until I could sit in a plane seat without being wedged into it. My son had the RNY 5 years ago, and my daughter is heading for it if she does not make some changes very soon.
My biggest challenge is going to be to get the exercise I need. I've always hated exercise, and some minor pulmonary impairment does not make it easy or fun. I have a sedentary job, sedentary habits, and a sedentary inclination.
So who just wants to talk?
For example - I'm in my 60s, female, live in the high desert southwest, married to 2nd husband, have 2 grown kids who live in another state, work in IT for what is a large company in this part of the world. I like reading, watching old movies and British TV shows on Netflix, we have a dog, a cat and a boa constrictor.
I want to learn quilting when I retire, and also to travel. I decided I would not travel until I could sit in a plane seat without being wedged into it. My son had the RNY 5 years ago, and my daughter is heading for it if she does not make some changes very soon.
My biggest challenge is going to be to get the exercise I need. I've always hated exercise, and some minor pulmonary impairment does not make it easy or fun. I have a sedentary job, sedentary habits, and a sedentary inclination.
So who just wants to talk?
I like to fish and ride motorcycles. I hunt deer too. Just an old Missouri country boy. I am married 42 years to the girl of my dreams. We have 2 kids and 10 grandkids.
I still work full time. The wife is disabled now days. Sure looking forward to retiring some day. We live in a tiny town of 230 folks and nearly that many dogs!
I feel fortunate to be alive and healthy. My diabetic doctor told me that I had about 2 years left if I didn't do something. He sent me to see the Bariatric doctor. Everything worked out great. The bariatric surgeon said I was a textbook case. I had no issues or complications. Didn't even need pain medication after getting out of the hospital.
I'm also in the high desert southwest, had GBS 4.5 years ago. :)
What great stories are yours. I have to keep hold of the fact that this WILL work out for me. I am determined to do well and succeed.
Sarge, you make me think of a wonderful book I read many years ago -The Old Man and the Boy. It was about a rural southern family, mostly centered around the boy and his grandfather, who taught the boy to hunt and fish. There was a sequel, too, The Old Man's Boy Grows Older. The author is Robert Ruark. I bet you'd enjoy them. I certainly did. Especially being from a big city, and being married to a country boy it really helped me understand him better. WHat do you do in your tiny town? the "Sgt" handle hints at something military or Law -n- Orderish.
Farmgirl, have you been getting any rain? Our drought of 3+ years finally seems to be in retreat. The whole countryside is looking greener that I have seen it in a long time. Although I live in a city, I can look out across the distances and see a greeny haze, so different from the "brown cloud." There is nothing sweeter in the world than the smell of big raindrops busting on parched desert soil. I've lived in several states and countries, and this is where I want to stay. Are you also in a rural life? I've been at a desk my whole life, so other than vicariously through books, I really have no understanding of a country life.
The human condition is infinitely variable, thanks goodness!
I sure wish this nausea would pass. 4 days post op and I have to get something down besides water. My son (who had his RNY on Aug 4, 2010, said he never had the nausea. He had an epic battle with hiccups, Sounds nasty, as well! Anyone out there have the nausea longer than a few days and did anything besides meds help?
I see your posts in a lot of discussions, so I can tell you have stayed deeply involved with your journey, had had huge successes, and have gained much wisdom.
You can count on being asked for much advice and comfort!
I'd like to have a garden some day. I've always had a black thumb. It seems I can get inside the head of almost any critter, but I don't speak herbalese at all. Any advice for something easy to grow/hard to kill?
Norfolk! That's one of those places that only exists in books and TV shows! I have never lived east of the Mississippi, well, except for temporary sojourns as a child in Germany and Oak Ridge. I spent a summer in Ohio back in 1969, and when I was really little, we took a long road trip through the mid west, east to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and probably (necessarily) other places between Texas and Massachusetts.
I hope to see The Other Half of the country after I retire.
You settled in Va after the AF - was that just where you were or had you always planned t go there? Were you in any other places that you really enjoyed during AF years? Please tell your hubby - Thanks for serving. Same to anyone else who has served.
I had the sleeve done in 2011, lost 125 lbs. in the first year and another 190 lbs. of husband in 2013. It didn't have to do with my WLS, it was due to his addictions.
Although my family lives near, including my adult son, schedules are full, so I volunteer with several groups to get out into the world. I'm doing more now to keep from spending too much time alone, and by alone, I mean with my rescue Shih-Tzu and her big brother cat.
My hobbies are acrylic and watercolor painting, drawing, handicrafts, reading and preparing good food for others. I'm an excellent cook and getting good at adapting comfort, traditional, and exotic foods to low carb living. Protein rocks!
I figured "OT" stuff would come in here, but sometimes we need a little of that, too, no? Most of the On Topic questions have been asked and answered many times (no criticism intended - they bear frequent repeating and reinforcement). In fact, I have a question that I am about to go post...
Thanks for the ideas! Yes, Red Hot Pokers! Those are great.My mom had some outside her window at her Life Care Village. The birds loved them. I've always wanted hollyhocks, but they can be hard to get started.
My front is xeriscaped, with quite a few things - there are a couple of crepe myrtles, a huge Spanish Broom, a mimosa, those evergreen bushes that make the little green juniper-type berries. Heavens... might they actually be Junipers? My favorites are the Catlapa, the Desert Willow and the Chitalpa - the last 2 of which are very similar trees. I've always been fascinated by the fact that the desert willow and catalpa are inter-fertile and the chitalpa is the result... There is also some kind of purple tree - little round dark red leaves, no idea what it's called.
That was mostly all there when I bought the place 17 years ago. It's the back I want to redo. It's a wasteland, pretty much, and needs a complete makeover. Someday I'll have the time and energy to tackle it.
The book sounds great, I will see if I can find it.
I walk a lot on the job so don't really consciously exercise at home. I do cut, split, haul, pack, and stack my own firewood. Also do my own lawn work. Couldn't get anyone around here to cut grass anyway.
It has rained so much this summer the fishing stinks and the grass always needs cut. I've burned more mower gas already than I use in a normal summer. The motorcycle has cobwebs!
LOL - I wish I had any grass to cut. front is xeriscaped, back is dust. Surely there is a happy medium somewhere.
I remember one year when I was a kid, we took a road trip to Illinois to participate in a family reunion. I remember being amazed at the green grass along the highway verges. I asked my dad who watered all that grass. My grandmother replied, "Honey, up here God waters the grass." It seemed like an admirable arrangement.