I Live in the Wallkill area and just looking to see who was out there near me. I'm in the process of getting everything ready to submit to my insurance company for surgery approval! Fingers crossed!!!

I live in the Hudson Valley! I technically live in the Town of Newburgh, but I have a Wallkill address. That is really interesting. I've never thought to see who else might be on the board in the area. It will be interesting to see how many posts you get. I had my surgery done through TriState Bariatrics. Out of curiosity, who are you using & what is your process looking like (insurance, diet plan, etc.), if you are using a different office in the are.

Hi DeeDee, I'm in the very beginning of my journey. I am having my surgery at St Francis with Dr Artuso. I have 4 apts on 2/15 to meet with nutritionist, psychologist, cardiologist and pulmonologist. Then all the paper work will be submitted to my insurance company. I'm excited yet nervousness. I work with a woman who had her surgery done at Orange Regional. When did you have your surgery?

Hi guys! I have done all my pre-op stuff but I'm a teacher so I won't be having surgery until June. Dr. Maffei is doing my surgery at Putnam Hospital. I'm from East Fishkill.

I am from the Monroe area and I am also using Tristate (Dr. Weiss). I am having my sleeve done on Feb 11!

Hi DeeDee' date=' I'm in the very beginning of my journey. I am having my surgery at St Francis with Dr Artuso. I have 4 apts on 2/15 to meet with nutritionist, psychologist, cardiologist and pulmonologist. Then all the paper work will be submitted to my insurance company. I'm excited yet nervousness. I work with a woman who had her surgery done at Orange Regional. When did you have your surgery?[/quote']

I had my surgery on November 27th at Bon Secours in Port Jervis. I think that the most important thing is having a surgeon or group that you're comfortable with. Good luck & keep us updated. It's nice to communicate with people in our area.

Hi guys! I have done all my pre-op stuff but I'm a teacher so I won't be having surgery until June. Dr. Maffei is doing my surgery at Putnam Hospital. I'm from East Fishkill.

Putnam Hospital is nice my SIL had all three of her kids there. She lives in cold spring & I am in Fishkill regularly at my surgeons satellite office!

I am from the Monroe area and I am also using Tristate (Dr. Weiss). I am having my sleeve done on Feb 11!

Awesome! I love Tristate & was also sleeved by Dr. Weiss. I was so desperate that I was going to do bypass. 2 months before my surgery he let me know that my insurance now covered the sleeve & he thought it would be better for me. I think that he & the team at Tristate are awesome. I hope that your surgery & healing go as well as mine did! Keep me updated & feel free to message me. Who knows. Maybe some day we might be at the same support group! I was sleeved on November 27th. So, if you have any questions along the way I would be happy to help if I can. Best of luck to you.

Wow good luck Jemmie and speedy recovery!!

Deedee did you have any complications? How much have you lost? Any regrets? Where is the support goup meetings that you attend?

What did you drink for the first couple of weeks? I have been testing Protein drinks like the Isopure and honestly out of about 7 flavors I can only stand the grape. I thought about ordering some of the Bariatric Advantage shake mix to try that. It has great reviews on line.

We choose Dr Artuso 1) because I work at Vassar and know many people who work with him in the OR and 2) because my husband is taking this journey with me but wants a lap band. Dr Artuso has been doing both for a pretty long time and we felt comfortable with him. My husband is very much afraid of how permanent the sleeve is so he wants the band and I don't want any of the band complications down the road. Being an OR nurse myself I don't want to have to go back for more surgeries from band complications.

Oh and Deedee I live in the Hamlet of Wallkill so we're like neighbors!!

Wow good luck Jemmie and speedy recovery!!

Deedee did you have any complications? How much have you lost? Any regrets? Where is the support goup meetings that you attend?

What did you drink for the first couple of weeks? I have been testing Protein drinks like the Isopure and honestly out of about 7 flavors I can only stand the grape. I thought about ordering some of the Bariatric Advantage shake mix to try that. It has great reviews on line.

We choose Dr Artuso 1) because I work at Vassar and know many people who work with him in the OR and 2) because my husband is taking this journey with me but wants a lap band. Dr Artuso has been doing both for a pretty long time and we felt comfortable with him. My husband is very much afraid of how permanent the sleeve is so he wants the band and I don't want any of the band complications down the road. Being an OR nurse myself I don't want to have to go back for more surgeries from band complications.

If you are in the Hamlet of Wallkill we are indeed practically neighbors. I am on Route 300 very close to Wallkill. As for your questions...I have had absolutely no complications whatsoever. I think that I am an example of textbook easy recovery. When I moved onto soft foods I thought maybe the sleeve wasn't working because I tolerated everything easily. As of today I am down 54 lbs. I am not the fastest loser, but not super slow either. I don't have any regrets. I feel like I definitely made the right decision. I can say that now being 2 months out. I am not going to lie, though. The beginning is ROUGH. I had many days where I cried & thought that I made a horrible mistake. This surgery impacts you very much emotionally. As much as you think that you are prepared, you are not. This website is great when you are looking for answers especially in the first weeks after surgery. My surgical group has meetings at their main offices...Middletown & Fishkill. I think that they also offer them in Monroe & Port Jervis. As for the shakes, I wouldn't stockpile anything before surgery. I had a couple side effects (not complications). First I have developed a super keen sense of smell. Secondly my tastes have changed. I do not know how your after care program works. After surgery I was one week on Water and then 2 weeks on Protein Shakes & water. Tristate also has very specific nutritional guidelines for their patients protein shakes so, my variety is limited. I ended up using the Pure Protein Ready to drink shakes. They come in different sizes and calorie content. I used the ones that have about 110 calories, 2 grams of carbs & 23 grams of protein. I used the vanilla, chocolate & Cookies and cream flavors. I liked them all. Now I only use them in a pinch because I am so tired of them. LOL. Anyway, I hope that this has been helpful to you. I am here for any questions you may have.

Hey everyone,I'm actually from Stony Point, I'm getting sleeved on the 11th and extremely nervous.

I'm also looking for people who have been through this recently to maybe hang out with, as the only people who will understand what we are going through is each other

Deedee, wow I hope I'm as lucky as you in recovery. There are so many extremes when it comes to recovery, in both directions!! Just the thought of being 50 lbs lighter makes me feel better physically!! I'm 5'6" and 269lbs. Never have I been small, I've always been the big girl in the crowd. So far the support from friends and colleagues has been great. My biggest hurdle in my mind is telling my mom. She knows I have always had challenges with my weight but I have a feeling she's going to say I'm taking the easy way out and why don't I just diet (again and again). But then again she might surprise me and be supportive. Errr it's just one thing that keeps running through my head. Anyway, I'm excited to start this new journey with my husband and have a healthier and much more active life!! Want to be here when my 2 year old is older!!

Gin, good luck!!! Hope you have an easy and speedy recovery!!! I am also interested in maybe getting together with others that have been where we are going and can help us through!!

Deedee, wow I hope I'm as lucky as you in recovery. There are so many extremes when it comes to recovery, in both directions!! Just the thought of being 50 lbs lighter makes me feel better physically!! I'm 5'6" and 269lbs. Never have I been small, I've always been the big girl in the crowd. So far the support from friends and colleagues has been great. My biggest hurdle in my mind is telling my mom. She knows I have always had challenges with my weight but I have a feeling she's going to say I'm taking the easy way out and why don't I just diet (again and again). But then again she might surprise me and be supportive. Errr it's just one thing that keeps running through my head. Anyway, I'm excited to start this new journey with my husband and have a healthier and much more active life!! Want to be here when my 2 year old is older!!

I wish you an excellent recovery. Just follow your dr.'s orders to the T & you should be okay. As far as being 50 lbs lighter it really is amazing. As you can see by my ticker in my signature I started out at a much higher weight & still have a lot left to go. Somewhere on this board I wrote a post about my perspective changing. I was visiting with my family & found out that my 7 year old nephew is now 46 lbs. I picked him up & was shocked at how much 46 lbs. weighs! Although I still have a long way to go, I am already helping my body a great deal with the weight that is gone already. I don't even know how I've been able to function at such a high weight. I would caution you, though, to not compare yourself to others. Most people would say "54 lbs. in 2 months is awesome", but I found myself looking at other peoples success stories here and they have lost 70 lbs or more in the same amount of time. Our journeys are as unique as our bodies. If you ever feel that you are getting discouraged please contact me. My family was not supportive of my decision, but I am lucky that my boyfriend who I live with has been wonderfully supportive. It's all about support & perspective. This WILL work & you will be happier & healthier. That is a wonderful feeling.