TerriDoodle

Wow. That's some nasty shit going on here! TracyK - Sorry girlfriend, but you handled that very badly. Michelle - ((((Hugs)))) Love you all!

Jane - I watched Hoarders the other night too....and it left me with the same feeling...like I BETTER GET OFF MY ASS AND GET BUSY AROUND HERE!!! :w00t: :thumbup: :sneaky: Haydee - good thing is that exercise releases the dopamine you're missing now. :thumbup: Try it! I packed boxes ALL DAY today. The movers come starting tomorrow afternoon...and then we gotta UNPACK on the other side starting Monday. I am so freaking tired I can't even see straight and I have nonstop STUFF going on for the next 4-5 days. :blushing: But I'm going to JAX to see my girlfriend so I guess I can sleep on the plane!

Michelle, you know as well as I do that she'll be struggling just like we are 2.5 years down the road! Except that hers will most likely also include malnutrition complications! :thumbdown:

Haydee - There is a scientific basis for the way you feel, you're not just imagining it. You have reinforced the food=pleasure connection for 30-something years...creating very real, physical neurological connections that take TIME to re-direct. That's why people tell you to be good to yourself and find other ways to derive pleasure for yourself...it helps to create NEW pleasure pathways in your brain. (Same for addicts/alcoholics.) But that all takes time.... it takes about 90 days to really get over the hump. That's what the addiction specialist told us at the rehab center....and that guy knew his stuff!

Laura -- that is just AWFUL!!! I did a research paper on SIDS in college and it's hard to believe they've made so little progress in understanding it. I'm so very sorry for your friend Jenn - I'm thinking about you and hoping your day is better. I just got back from one of the many training sessions I'll be taking this next month so that I can work the hotline at the Houston Area Women's Center (domestic and sexual abuse, shelter, advocacy, etc.). Tonight's session was so interesting. I know I'm really going to get into this. I've wanted to work there for years and years and finally am in a position to do it. 74 hours of training, too... isn't that cool? More tomorrow.....I'm BEAT. XOXO

Well, Janie -- while you're sleeping in on MONDAY, I'll be reporting for work at 7:00AM and packing more boxes! Heard from Evan last night and he sounded good. He had already earned some money doing some temp work and is going to update/revamp the website for the business. So far, so good. TracyK - I've enjoyed my time being restriction-free, but I have gained weight! I'm going for a fill in early Sept., but going for *moderate* restriction to see if I can find a sweeter spot than this one! Laura - how's your latest fill treating you?

Hi everyone! I'm alive...but barely! Sorry to have not been around but seriously, I have been emotionally FRIED. People keep telling me how "strong" I am....and I guess they think that because I'm not a blubbering bucket of tears....but on the inside I hurt more than I can ever recall hurting before. Down to the bone kind of hurt. Stress at work is at an all-time high as well because we are gearing up for a huge office move (4 floors and 150 people) ....there is so much to do! I just don't know how anybody handles these issues without an army of support behind them. It is the most counter-intuitive thing in the world to kick your child out of the house knowing he is essentially going to be 'homeless'. We didn't let him go hungry and filled up his tank a time or two, but other than that he was on his own to figure out where to go from 'here'. I can't even begin to tell you what it was really like for me. I hope I never have to do it again, because I don't know if I can. Anyway - long story short - he left for a sober living house in another town yesterday. It's in the same town as his rehab center, up in the beautiful Texas hill country, and it's a great house most highly recommended by his counselors. I talked to the house manager yesterday and he sounds like one of God's angels for sure. I can breathe again..... for now. Now I have to get dressed and go to the office on my day off to pack more boxes. See ya'll later.

Y'know....this detachment thing is a LOT harder in practice than it is in theory!! :biggrin:

ALERT TRACY! Tax free weekend is NEXT weekend, not this one. Sorry!

Thanks Heather. I've been watching Intervention (on A&E) for about 2 years! I even record it on DVR! I don't know why I'm so fascinated by it, but I am. Yep, I've learned a lot from that show! My hubby just thinks I"m weird for watching it so regularly. As a matter of fact, the only shows I record are Intervention, Obsessed (about OCD) and In Treatment (fictional psychotherapist)...LOL. Hmmmm. Maybe i could use a little 'treatment' myself! :thumbup:

Hi girls - Just wanted to check in and say hi. Been catching up on posts and seems like the usual ups and downs for us. We've known each other (daily!) for so long now, it's easy to see that difficulties come in waves, eh? I'm doing alright, just this underlying tension and sadness in my days. It did help to talk to Evan briefly yesterday and he sounded 'alright'. He's staying with his gf's family for a few days and SAYS he's looking for a halfway house. I didn't pry too much, just kept it light and let him know that I love him. The reading I have done on co-dependency, boundaries, addiction, etc....have all helped me tremendously in coping with this situation. I can't imagine where I'd be mentally if I didn't have that!! Seriously. This house would be in chaos and it's not. My heart just hurts and I'm eating very badly -- and hit a new post-op high this week which doesn't help anything at all. Hannah and I went to the gym last night and I swam for 1/2 hour and got in the hot tub. We're packing at work (moving Aug 28) and my back was killing me! That light workout helped. More packing today! Thanks for all your support. I'm so glad we have each other! PS= Jane, that is way too funny about the colonoscopy!!

Hi girlz - I am so not in a good place. Thanks for your support .... I'll work thru it.

Hi all -- I am heartbroken today. Evan 'broke the rules' and I had to ask him to find another place to live. It's not something I wanted to do but something I had to do to give him the best shot at a real recovery. I'm sad

Sounds wonderful, Nikki! Thanks!

Hi there - glad you are asking these questions! I would recommend that you stay with full liquids/mushie foods for another couple of days. When you start to add solids again, GO SLOWLY. At the very first sign of any distress, stop eating and consciously try to relax. I'd say if you continue to have this issue after 10 days, consider going in for a slight unfill. If it gets WORSE it could mean you've irritated your stoma with trying to get solids in too fast. If at any time you are having trouble getting liquids down, call your doctor. I am amazed at how many people will go days without being able to get liquids down and become dangerously dehydrated. DO NOT let that happen! Good luck!

G'morning! Jenn - you make the most wonderful-sounding dishes! You must be a great cook! Zucchini pancakes sound yummy -- post that recipe in the recipe thread for us, k? Is your trouble sleeping related to the Lyme disease? Maybe the antidepressants? So frustrating, I know. I picked up Hannah from camp yesterday -- I was so excited to see her after 2 weeks. We walked in the door and she promptly went to her room, go on her phone and computer! LOL What a teenager! So I go lay down and take a (3-hour!) nap, next thing I know the 2 kids are waking me up for money to go to a concert!! HA! That's all I'm good for, apparently. LOL So I saw Hannah for a total of about 40 minutes yesterday. I'll show her -- I'm gonna drag her to church with me this morning, then the gym, then the grocery store. I went to an Al-Anon meeting last night and it was a heartbreaker. I'll tell ya folks, there are people out there who have it a LOT worse than us. My co-dependent self just wants it all to be FIXED right now. I'm working on it. Can't wait to go to church this morning. I'm so glad to be back. I have to restrain myself from volunteering for something or another -- I just love that place! But I also applied to volunteer to the Houston Area Women's Center and am saving my free time for that. I have wanted to work there for YEARS and it's finally time. Ya'll have a great day! Love you! PS - Pam - way to kick ass!!! Pics please!

Oh...meant to ask....SUZIE, are things better at your house??

Hey Everybody- Kat = Your new baby is so precious! CONGRATULATIONS and have fun!! Pam said it: he's lucky to have such a wonderful grandma! Jenn - CONGRATS to you, too!!! That was the boost you needed! When you set your mind to something you really are stubborn and you DO IT. I'm so happy for you! Not a whole lot going on with me except that I didn't go to the gym all week and I ate carbs and chocolate. I've completely fallen off the wagon that I was on for one whole week. :thumbup: I really have no idea what that is about. The only thing I can correlate is that I've been feeling a bit depressed this week. Lots of thoughts running 'round my head. Trying real hard not to be down on myself because I believe thoughts are creative, just trying to 'observe w/o judgement'. Evan may have found a job, finally. Lowe's (hardware) called him in to help take inventory and to "observe his work ethic". Interesting way to interview, but makes sense! It would be so good for him if he could get back to work again. Idle hands are the devil's workshop....and you can take that to the bank. Ya'll have a great day...and those of you with cooler temps....COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!! XOXO!

Hazel West -- hands down!! The lighting is superb and the technical camera skills are outstanding. Hazel West!!

I went out last night with my girly-friends and had 3 glasses of wine, then we had dinner. I came home and ate TWO HUGE brownies. It's a sure thing: alcohol increases my sugar cravings and decreases my control. Period. Note to self: Do not drink alcohol!

Has anyone read Same Kind of Different as Me?

Wah. I fell off the sugar wagon yesterday and am paying the price with bloat and lethargy today. Grrrr. SOME DAY I WILL LEARN!! Back to Day 1. Jenn - I'm rooting for you kid. My sister is having a hysterectomy today -- it was found that she has uterine cancer but she made me promise not to worry...so I'm not (yet). Just say a little prayer if you would. Al-anon is awesome. I'm really enjoying my meetings. Evan's doing really well. Now, if he would just find a job!

HELPS BURN FAT YOU SAY????? BYE!!! :biggrin:

Haydee - Look on facebook for Scott Albright. He's a family friend (didn't do Alyssa's wedding though -- Scott wasn't full-time then). If his profile is public, I think he's got photos posted there. He has a myspace page too MySpace - DS Photography - 37 - Male - MISSOURI CITY, Texas - myspace.com/ds_photog. He's probably very reasonable. I"ll ask Richard who Alyssa used. Probably NOT so reasonable! LOL

As I've told ya'll earlier, I've been hanging out at a recovery message board learning all kinds of things and in the process reading some addiction horror stories. (I'm really starting to want to do work in that field!) This guy was posting and he has a HORRIBLE opiate addiction and from the sound of it was literally on death's door. He's an American living in Mexico. He was trying to make a plan to stay alive long enough to get back to the States to get much needed medical attention and detox. The day after he posted his story (and got tons of caring responses) he mustered all the strength he could to walk to the nearby store to get a few items he'd need for his trip. At the store a lady stopped him in his tracks and insisted that he allow her to help him in some way (he surely looked like hell). He said he was fine but she gave him her number and insisted that she wanted to know where he lived so she could come check on him and bring him some good food to eat. He gave her the info she asked for. The next afternoon he was ready to leave on his trip to the States but he just didn't think he had the strength to do it and was sinking fast. The lady (Priscilla is her name) came by with her sister and a basket full of fresh fruit, soups, stews, a roasted chicken, etc. He was too embarrassed to let her in his house because he said it was the worst you could imagine. Cat feces everywhere, dishes and food in the kitchen stack on stacks, trash knee deep in every room. She came in anyway and when she saw the mess she told him to get his things, he was coming to her house! He was very weak. She took him to the hospital where they notified his brother that he was in terrible shape, a psychiatrist tended to him and prescribed some meds to help with his condition, gave instructions to Priscilla about how to wean him off his opiates, etc. The brother said he would come right away but it would take 3 days to get there because he was in the Middle East on business. Priscilla took him home with her and she is taking care of him until the brother can get there! He said that she is indeed an angel sent straight from heaven -- no doubt about it. And, if that werent' enough of a miracle, his addiction has greatly subsided. Instead of taking 30-40 pills a day, he's taking 4. He's having withdrawals but not nearly to the extent he should be. With her help they've also arranged a 60-day rehab program in the states for the day he arrives there. Chris (the addict) sounds like such a sweet person, so very grateful to us on the message board who have shown an interest, prayed for and encouraged him. He says we saved his life that night and gave him the will to carry out his plan to get to the States, which got him to the store where he met Priscilla. Priscilla just keeps telling him that all she wants in return is for him to help someone else in need in the future. How's that for a story? Gives me the chills!