Hello All You Boomers!

This Chat Room is now open for members to get acquainted. C'mon in ... the water's fine. Chat about whatever's on your mind. Let's get to know each other. Who will be the first in?

Here's a few questions to get you started.

Who's the youngest member of our group? (I'm the oldest.)

Who's newly married?

Who's newly sleeved?

Who's still searching?

I might be the youngest...May 1964. I'm pre-op, planning to be sleeved in June. I'm excited & nervous, but I'm already thinking about my 50th birthday next year when I will be 11 months post-op. I want to celebrate by doing something physical that would not be possible this year when I turn 49. I'm not sure what yet...maybe salsa lessons? Zip lining? I don't know...any other suggestions?

Hi Southern Soul,

You're definitely first in my book. I'm thrilled that you posted in our new fledging group, and surprised that you had the first post in our newest thread. "Boomer Chat Room"

You are, indeed, the youngest. You practically had to do the Limbo to squeeze in under the wire. Doncha just love being the youngest somewhere? That used to happen a lot to me in the past, but now that I'm racking up the years, it doesn't happen as often.

And you're a Pre-Op like me. I have one last hurdle to clear before my surgery can be scheduled, and I have a Dr. appt. Apr. 3 to take care of that. So I hope things will move a little more quickly after that. Unfortunately I have to deal with Medical Records at one hospital, to get the records sent to my Dr. So far, they've moved like a snail with a broken back.

Have you posted your story? I'd love to hear more about you, your family, what made you decide to have surgery. I already see that you're a good cook. Maybe you can help me with yummy recipes for my pre-op liquids diet. I never heard of a no carb diet ... kinda strange ... but whatever works.

Hope to hear back from you soon!

Hey, Sassy! I don't mind doing the virtual Limbo to get into this group...I sure couldn't Limbo any other way! You reminded me that I hadn't posted my story, yet, so I will do it today.

I have seen that you're a writer! My husband is a former print reporter & is currently an editor/transcriber for a large information company. Although I've never written professionally, I love to write. I even won an essay contest a couple of years ago. The hubs & I are both word geeks, too. One of my favorite silly words is thwart. It's just such a ridiculously weird combination of sounds.

I have to squeeze in my surgery between summer classes, so they've penciled me in for June 19. I have one last psych visit on April 11th & then my last appt with the surgeon on the 18th before submitting for approval. Are you hoping for a May date?

Just checking to see if all is well with the Boomers on this site. I am 6 weeks post op and if I can help just let me know.

Hey Boomer Buds,

I've been absent quite a bit, but that will come to a halt on Thursday, my first day of freedom. I'll have time to keep up with everybody -- if there's anyone to keep up with.

Like you, I thought it'd be good to see how other Boomers were doing. If we're all older than most of the sleevers, then it makes sense to get acquainted. Right? Well ....

It's tough to keep a group like this going, and other similar ones have failed. I hope that doesn't happen to us, but it's been quite a while since anyone posted. Baby Boomers is dying on the vine.

I've had a chance to get to know some of you, and really like you all. But you're either not posting online or just not posting here.

Much as I like having this group, if you guys don't feel inclined to drop by and say something, then it'll be a ghost group.

Luv to all.

Hey Sassy, I am still here, I do check the site and do not see anyone but me or you. What is up with that? I however just found southernsoul on here so it is just the three of us? If so, is there another kind of forum we could use? How about facebook but that is only if we can make our little group a private page so no one else can read our messages. I am sure that you and southernsoul want to keep a few things private like I do. Just as a start I am now on my 8th week post op and still on liquids and a few soft foods like eggs, cheese, yogart, oatmeal, fish and chicken. I still rely on protein shakes to get my protein grams up each day. At this point I have been told to up my protein to 65 to 71 grams a day. I am also getting in around 678 to 900 calories a day. I still have a problem getting in all my water and I really have not started a real exercise program( shame on me). My knees keep hurting me and I know that is what is keeping me from exercising. I live in Sarasota, FL and right now it has been really humid so I am not much for outdoors over the summer months. I hope we can get a few others to join our group. I have to be honest I am noticing that once people have their WLS that most just start to leave the website. The longer post op they are the less they want to contribute and that is a real disappointment to me as it is to you. WE are all in this together and the 1st year or 2 can be difficult. Well good to hear from you and I hope souternsoul stays connected too. Let me know what you think.

Love back,

Cheryl

Hey, y'all! Cheryl, I'm glad to hear you're doing OK & I hope you can figure out some do-able exercise soon. I'm going to try swimming & Water aerobics after surgery, but will have to wait 6 weeks or so. In the meantime, I'm starting to lift weights just a little, more to get into a routine than anything else. I can do arm lifts sitting down, but I haven't figured something out for legs yet, except regular leg lifts. Maybe there's an exercise DVD or something for for seniors, or other exercise challenged folks?

Sassy, you're right...not much interaction here. Sometimes it seems to happen naturally, sometimes not. I post a fair amount, but often it's replies to a topic or thread, not a group post. My June group is heating up as people get surgery dates assigned, but I assume that will drop off somewhat afterward. Regardless of whether the "official" group keeps going, I will keep up with both of you.

Good to hear back from you Southersoul, do you have a surgery date yet? I just want to keep up with what is going on with you. I had my surgery on March 11th and I am now in my 8th week post op. My 9th week will start next Wednesday. It has gone by so fast, I cannot believe it has been 2 months since my surgery. I will be honest the 1st week was hardest, the second week was hard but a little bit better than the first. It does get better I promise you. I went to my 1st local support meeting at the end of April and the next one will be at the edn of May. I am trying to make all these meetings while the days are getting longer, I have an hours drive to get to the support group so when we head back to fall and winter with shorter days I will not be going all the time. Are you working with a nutrionist? I met with mine 2 weeks before surgery and 3 weeks after. She also heads up the support group meetings too. I did meet my surgeon twice before surgery and I on the day of surgery but I have not seem him since. He has several assistants that I see. My 1st visit at his office was 1 week post suregy and I had my second visit one month later. I am schedule back at his office in July (3 month post op visit) and I will see my nutrionist for a one on one the same day. Lots of office visits the 1st year. I think that is a good thing. I am still stage 2 for eating so nothing is going to change for me until my July visits.

I think I am going to take your advise and start exercising my arms and shoulds, I really think I can handle that right now and just to do a few leg exercises in a chair. I know of a website called Sparkepeople.com and I think there are a few chair excerises on the web. Baby steps at this point and just keep moving as we go along.

If you and Sassy are looking for a good movie, go see Oblivion, it is soooo good, lots of action, a real story line and great acting. I really hope the baby boomer chat room gets moving or we ladies are going to have to communicate another way. Any thoughts?

Take care,

Cheryl

I think they submitted to my insurance company last week, but I'm going to call & check on Monday. They were waiting to get the psych eval & that came through last week. Now I have to get clearances for cardio, sleep/pulmonary, and upper GI & I will be good to go.

We thought about seeing Oblivion today, but it's pouring here, so we stayed home & watched Silver Linings Playbook through Amazon Instant. It was so good! I'm not sure why Argo beat it out for Best Picture. Argo was good, but I think SLP was better.

Hi! I will try to pop in and out occasionally. I am a Dec 47 boomer, so not sure if Sassy is the oldest or not! HA!

I was sleeved APril 24, almost 2 weeks ago, and these two weeks have been harder (just the surgery recovery part) than I anticipated. I had gall bladder out back in 99, and appendix out last fall. Appendectomy was a piece of cake, and I guess I thought this would be, too. Ouch. Not the same.

Anyway, I am at the stage trying to fit in all the protein I can, and water. I am a gulper, not a sipper, so it is a struggle. And my surgeon told me to try to stay away from straws because of the possibility of additional air, so I try to keep a bottle of water with me constantly.

My tastes have changed, and SWEET things are not what I want. Wonder if I could just add protein powder to salsa and try that???? Oh, maybe let the tummy heal a little longer.

I love not being hungry. I am learning to not let my eyes overload my tummy. A shot glass is the 2 TBSp serving I can most comfortably accommodate, and I try to stay at that. Or 2 shots occasionally. Most of my protein shakes are sweet: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and I have tried to add something to them to cut out the sweet. peanut butter goes down pretty well. just a tsp at a time, of course.

I thought I wanted to try Almond milk, and was disappointed to find that it has little protein in it.

Well, I am just rambling, and need to go do something productive.

Sail on!

05/08/2013

Hello Everyone,

Finding out small bites of info every now and than. Iam still working on How to pay for surgery. I did find out when I am 65 medicare should cover it. I am 62 now.

I am going to find out if Oregon Blue Cross is something I can purchase and use it in Washington State for WLS.

I also have health problems so Mexico would not be a good option for me.

I will just keep searching.

Sincerily,

Searching

Hey, everybody! Just a quick update...I got the call from my surgeon's office this morning that my insurance approval has come through. I'm officially booked for June 19th. I go for cardio & upper GI clearances next week, then at the beach for a week, then pulmonary clearance on June 4th. Hooray!!

SouthernSoul, I am so happy for you, you are on your way,keep me posted. Good Luck and we are here for you.

Well I over did it today. I went out to dinner and there really was not anything on the menu for me to eat so I checked out the soup and ordered a crock of French Onion. I was so proud of myself but I logged into myfitnesspal and searched for French Onion soup and it was loaded with over 1,000mg of sodium. Well, I will NOT be getting on the scale tomorrow or even the next day. I have been drinking water all night. I will never do that again and especially since I am at a stall. I have really screwed things up for myself. I am just going to bed and try all over again tomorrow. Talk to you all soon.

FAYE -`I'm glad they approved you without a hitch. How exciting ... just a little more than a month away. What's the pre-op diet?

Cheryl - Now, now. Stop beating yourself up! You're human. We all make misteps. It's a learning process. One of the many things we need to change is replacing negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Your brain will program itself with the tools you give itl. If you think of a good side to a seemingly bad story, your brain will remember that. Ultimately, you'll live in positivity, and occasionally will start to lapse into negative thinking, but you'll catch yourself and stop it before it continues. This is something I have to do all the time. It's just me and my doggie. Altho my friends think highly of me and rarely say anything negative, I'm alone with only Shiki for company. I have to be the one to keep my brain on the right track. I get negative thoughts and I immediately stop it and think of something good instead. It works, try it.

Give youself credit for what you've done so far, My God ... it took a lot of courage to even have this surgery! And you've lost some 30 lbs. Congratulations.