June 12 consult with Dr. Elariny!

[Guest guest]

Ok, in case anyone wants to know (please say you do!) I have shuffled

a bit and have a solid appointment for my consult with Dr. Elariny on

June 12. I am very happy with the arrangements and I want to thank

everyone who responded to my questions, esp about the airlines. I

ended up getting two seats for myself and one for my dear friend who

is going with me for moral support and possibly to push a wheelchair

if it becomes necessary. I called the airline first to find out the

seat widths and pitch, and it just wasn't going to happen with one

seat! I was also able to get a same day flight, non-stop, so I am

flying up from Florida in the morning and back in the evening, with

only about 2.5 hours each flight. I was very happy about that. They

were very nice on the phone and explained about the belt extender. I

just hope they are as nice when I get to the aircraft.

So, now I am getting a bit nervous, thinking the worst sometimes but

able to talk myself into the reality of the situation (that I really

have no choice if I want to be healthy). I am the type of person

that avoids thinking about the wonderful way I may feel after this is

all done, for fear that something might go wrong and disappoint me.

It's almost superstitious. I hope that doesn't sound nuts :-)

Thanks for all your advice and concern. I hope I can help someone

else as I go through this as well. I so very much hope that I can

get my life back after all these years. Take care.

38

365lbs (?) BMI 53

Dr. Elariny

Consult June 12, 2001!

[Guest guest]

:

For whatever it is worth, Joy and I fly a LOT. We have gone to the World and US National Figure Skating Championships for the last five years straight. We have dived all over the Caribbean and even in Australia. So we have our share of air miles. When we get on the plane, sometimes we pre-board. Sometimes we don't bother. But pre-boarding is always available to us. When they ask for people with small children or special needs to board we simply get in line and board. Never a problem. As we get on the plane we walk by a steward or stewardess who welcomes us aboard. We ask them to please scare up seat belt extensions for us. They usually do. Sometimes they forget and we have to re-ask before we take off. But we don't make a big deal about it nor do they. And asking doesn't embarrass us in the slightest. They can take off till everyone has their belt fastened and we can't fasten ours until we have the extension. So everyone takes care of each other.

But the big treat is that on our last flight to Vancouver, BC and back to San for this year's Worlds I DIDN'T NEED AN EXTENSION. And the tray table which I hadn't been able to use for years actually WORKED! Tight, but it worked. So enjoy your trip and good luck with everything. You have lots to look forward to.

Regards.

Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fartSan , TX, 60 years oldSurgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch340 starting weight, currently 244http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

June 12 consult with Dr. Elariny!

> Ok, in case anyone wants to know (please say you do!) I have shuffled > a bit and have a solid appointment for my consult with Dr. Elariny on > June 12. I am very happy with the arrangements and I want to thank > everyone who responded to my questions, esp about the airlines. I > ended up getting two seats for myself and one for my dear friend who > is going with me for moral support and possibly to push a wheelchair > if it becomes necessary. I called the airline first to find out the > seat widths and pitch, and it just wasn't going to happen with one > seat! I was also able to get a same day flight, non-stop, so I am > flying up from Florida in the morning and back in the evening, with > only about 2.5 hours each flight. I was very happy about that. They > were very nice on the phone and explained about the belt extender. I > just hope they are as nice when I get to the aircraft.> > So, now I am getting a bit nervous, thinking the worst sometimes but > able to talk myself into the reality of the situation (that I really > have no choice if I want to be healthy). I am the type of person > that avoids thinking about the wonderful way I may feel after this is > all done, for fear that something might go wrong and disappoint me. > It's almost superstitious. I hope that doesn't sound nuts :-)> > Thanks for all your advice and concern. I hope I can help someone > else as I go through this as well. I so very much hope that I can > get my life back after all these years. Take care.> > 38> 365lbs (?) BMI 53> Dr. Elariny> Consult June 12, 2001!> > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------->

[Guest guest]

:

For whatever it is worth, Joy and I fly a LOT. We have gone to the World and US National Figure Skating Championships for the last five years straight. We have dived all over the Caribbean and even in Australia. So we have our share of air miles. When we get on the plane, sometimes we pre-board. Sometimes we don't bother. But pre-boarding is always available to us. When they ask for people with small children or special needs to board we simply get in line and board. Never a problem. As we get on the plane we walk by a steward or stewardess who welcomes us aboard. We ask them to please scare up seat belt extensions for us. They usually do. Sometimes they forget and we have to re-ask before we take off. But we don't make a big deal about it nor do they. And asking doesn't embarrass us in the slightest. They can take off till everyone has their belt fastened and we can't fasten ours until we have the extension. So everyone takes care of each other.

But the big treat is that on our last flight to Vancouver, BC and back to San for this year's Worlds I DIDN'T NEED AN EXTENSION. And the tray table which I hadn't been able to use for years actually WORKED! Tight, but it worked. So enjoy your trip and good luck with everything. You have lots to look forward to.

Regards.

Joe Frost, old gentleman, not old fartSan , TX, 60 years oldSurgery 11/29/00 by Dr. Welker Lateral Gastrectomy with Duodenal Switch340 starting weight, currently 244http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Joe/joe.html

June 12 consult with Dr. Elariny!

> Ok, in case anyone wants to know (please say you do!) I have shuffled > a bit and have a solid appointment for my consult with Dr. Elariny on > June 12. I am very happy with the arrangements and I want to thank > everyone who responded to my questions, esp about the airlines. I > ended up getting two seats for myself and one for my dear friend who > is going with me for moral support and possibly to push a wheelchair > if it becomes necessary. I called the airline first to find out the > seat widths and pitch, and it just wasn't going to happen with one > seat! I was also able to get a same day flight, non-stop, so I am > flying up from Florida in the morning and back in the evening, with > only about 2.5 hours each flight. I was very happy about that. They > were very nice on the phone and explained about the belt extender. I > just hope they are as nice when I get to the aircraft.> > So, now I am getting a bit nervous, thinking the worst sometimes but > able to talk myself into the reality of the situation (that I really > have no choice if I want to be healthy). I am the type of person > that avoids thinking about the wonderful way I may feel after this is > all done, for fear that something might go wrong and disappoint me. > It's almost superstitious. I hope that doesn't sound nuts :-)> > Thanks for all your advice and concern. I hope I can help someone > else as I go through this as well. I so very much hope that I can > get my life back after all these years. Take care.> > 38> 365lbs (?) BMI 53> Dr. Elariny> Consult June 12, 2001!> > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------->