Intro

[Guest guest]

Greetings all! I am new to this group, but not to Kaiser's WLS program. My name is Ron and I live in Napa. I've been lurking for a short time to get a feel for the group. Then, Pam B. posted and it could have been me posting the same thing. Of course, my particulars are a little different, but the same story all the same. I started in the program a couple years ago in SSF and seemed to "fizzle out". A year or so later, I started again and got to the point of meeting with Dr. Baggs at Richmond. He told me I'd have to lose 100 lbs. before he'd do surgery and that news devastated me more than I could believe. For whatever reason, he wanted me to lose 20 %, rather than 10%. Plus I have a smoking problem I'm trying to beat. Of course, as you all know, they won't do surgery unless you quit smoking. So I'm in double jeopardy.

In any event, my sister (with whom I share an apartment) started the process herself and has lost about 35 lbs. or so. She inspires me, but I need more support that she does, apparently. Robynn's reply to Pam B. is a very inspirational email for me. I have printed it and plan to re-read parts of it daily. (Thanks Robynn!)

Since my sis has an appt. at Richmond on Wednesday, I'm going to go with her and see what I have to do to get back in the groove of things. I'm hoping they won't make me start over from scratch. That will just suck. Having been obese all my life (I'm 47 now), I need this surgery more than ever. I have too many co-morbidities in my life to not do this. I just have to remember that my relationship with food is a destructive one and I need to win the battle.

I may not be the best poster here, but I'll be here daily, reading everyone's postings and will let you all know of my progress in the program. I'm so glad I found you all.

Ron