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NY - Albany/Rensselaer Area



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I'm interested in leading a Local Chapter in the Albany/Rensselaer area in upstate NY. I had RNY in December and prepared for nearly two years, learning as much as I could in that time. I have lost over 60 pounds so far. I have beaten type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol. I have gained the support of nearly everyone in my family and friends circle, explaining my procedure and fighting the "easy way out" mentality.

I have extensive experience in planning and hosting meetings and presentations. I have over 25 years of administrative experience. I have been a Health Coach for Take Shape for Life (Medifast) since 2010 and have hosted many presentations and workshops in relation to the program. I've led local discussions and helped hundreds of people lose weight with this program, some pre-op in their bariatric program. I also run my own Avon business, which has me networking and talking to people all the time. I have an active Avon Facebook page as well as a blog to keep my customers informed and inspired.

I am a recent breast cancer survivor, having had extensive reconstruction after bilateral mastectomies and have much knowledge on plastic surgery with many local connections. I have learned a vast amount about nutrition in my weight loss adventure, and I'm thankful to have that knowledge to apply to my post-op life. I am an avid cook and I know my way around the kitchen quite well. All the activities listed appeal to my areas of interest and I would love to pull together activities in these areas to support my local weight loss surgery brothers and sisters.

I am passionate about weight loss surgery and how it provides hope for people, like me, who have tried everything else and have looming health issues. I actively seek out new information about new procedures, techniques, complications, etc. and love talking about it. I have the compassion to make others feel welcome and not pressured. I'm a great talked and an even better listener. I feel it's my calling to pass on what I have learned and to provide help and hope to others in a positive, fun environment.

My availability is generally weekday late afternoons and evenings (I am home by 3) with occasional availability for a weekend activity.

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Congrats on your idea for this new chapter in the capital district area. I expect to have my RNY in June if all goes well. I have been in this process since December and I am almost at the end. In 10 days I see the sleep doctor and check my results with my cpap machine. If I have shown improvement since my study [in January], and I expect to, she will clear me for my surgery. Then its just waiting for the insurance approval I have CDPHP. I too have Dr Trivedi as my doctor. Were you pleased with everything, the doctor, staff etc? One question I have concerns about, being able to pick up the phone and check with him or his staff on my current process and exactly where i'm at. Also were you happy with all your follow-up? Sorry, I had more questions than I realized. Its just great to converse with someone who's been there with my doctor. Any advise would be appreciated.

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Hi, ambete! I was very pleased with Dr. Trivedi and the entire St. Peter's staff. Join us over on our local page where there are several of us who talk regularly! Go to: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/266261-albany-new-york/

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Please PM me if you'd like to lead or co-lead this support group!

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Following.

I have been on a no-grain no-carb no-sugar no raw-veg/fruit diet for ten years due to other issues (but gained an enourmous amount of weight). I have learned about recipes and ideas for packing in the Protein and have lots to contribute. I'd be happy to meet you all in person in the capital region.

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First Meeting Flyer

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Sounds like you are off to great start. I meet with Dr. Trevedi on July 3rd for pre-op and I only hope I can be as successful as you are. Please keep your post coming as they are so informational to all us beginners! It shows me there really is light at the end of my tunnel!

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@@BrickHouse Sorry I can't make it on July 12th, but I look forward to coming to future meetings!

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@@BrickHouse Sorry I can't make it on July 12th, but I look forward to coming to future meetings!

We'll miss you! But we'll be getting together again on August 9 and September 13!

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When I had my surgery back in December, I'd just applied for an admin job in my bariatric surgeon's office. The timing wasn't good and they had already made an offer to someone else. I had my six month checkup this week and that "someone else" has moved on... guess who got an on-the-spot interview? I received a phone call a couple hours later and should be getting my formal offer on Monday! I'm so excited to be working so closely with bariatric professionals! It can only help my Quest to pay it forward and help others as I've been helped!

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When I had my surgery back in December, I'd just applied for an admin job in my bariatric surgeon's office. The timing wasn't good and they had already made an offer to someone else. I had my six month checkup this week and that "someone else" has moved on... guess who got an on-the-spot interview? I received a phone call a couple hours later and should be getting my formal offer on Monday! I'm so excited to be working so closely with bariatric professionals! It can only help my Quest to pay it forward and help others as I've been helped!

That's awesome news, congrats!!!

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Question. I'm having surgery with Trivedi and have CDPHP. They said its a $500 copay and then 10% of the total surgery cost. Anyone know how much that is (approximately)? Or can share what they paid?

Thanks in advance!

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I also Have CDPHP a /Medicare PPO plan. My plan has a $550.00 deductible 0nly. There is no other cost to me. Depending on your plan with them it could vary. Is your plan thru your employer?

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its through my husband. Plan is an EPO.

I just want to know how much the actual procedure coats so I can approximate 10%. I can't imagine its more than 20k max (so 10% would be $2000). Just want to plan ahead :-). Surgery is this July!

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My final bill was $19,000...that was with staying in the hospital 2 nights...my copay was $500...so it looks like your estimate is about right.

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    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
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    • LeighaTR

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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