New Hope

Lori, the very best of luck to you! You'll have a lot less problem with saggy, baggy skin than I do. You probably don't have your first gray hair yet!

Amy, I think we've all wondered if we're doing the right thing! You have a wonderful inspiration...your beautiful son and your husband! Just check and double check everything. Best of luck to you!

Leatha, best of luck! You'll have less time to worry about it. One evening (about 1:30 a.m.), I noticed the message waiting light flashing on the phone. The drs. office was calling to tell my husband to be at the hospital the next morning for open-heart surgery. Needless to say, I didn't go to bed that night. I figured there wasn't any sense in waking him up and dropping that info. on him. The next a.m., my husband was getting ready to go to work. I told him that he had a change in plans. Then I picked him up off the floor (just kidding!).

Sounds like you have the same insurance company I do! They run you around in circles, hoping that you'll just give up. I was just trying to figure out a way that you could get the insurance company to pay for the endoscope. I know it's no "quick solution" but maybe it would help you financially.

Lisa, why don't you see your local gastrologist? Say you want a scope because of hiatal hernia problems, reflux. While you're at it, might as well get the lower scope done at the same time. (That would check for colon polyps, diverticulitis, etc.) It's the same routine for both tests, so get them both approved, covered by insurance, and your peace of mind. That way they'll check you from "stem to stern".

Wow, you've done great! Keep up the good work!

Angela, that's a big thing to get accustomed to. I have a hard time getting enough water in during the day. You're doing great!

Lisa, I don't think there is any such thing as a "noncomplicated adoption". Having kids (whether natural, adopted, step, etc.) will definitely increase your stress level. They aren't sweet little babies for very long. They will bring you the greatest joy that you have ever known, but they can also cut your heart deeper than you could ever imagine. I would gladly give my life for my sons, without a second thought. But there are times when you just can't beat your loyal, undemanding, always glad to see you, easy to satisfy puppies.

I went through numerous (painful, expensive) procedures to find out why I couldn't get pregnant. Nothing worked. We didn't have thousands laying around (and never will). But we were very fortunate in being able to do two independent adoptions. Our sons can never say they were "unplanned or unwanted". We fought too hard and too long for them. But that was our choice. You don't have to have children to be complete. This is a very personal decision that only you and your husband can make.

Oh, I need to clarify...the woman whose lower port was damaged by a seat belt, was from an auto accident, not just regular usage.

Lisa, have you thought about adopting? Some men have an "ego problem" with that. Fortunately, we both wanted kids very badly, so that wasn't an issue. Now with my husband's inherited kidney disease (that led to failure and transplant), I'm so glad we don't have to worry about unknowingly passing that gene on. They say there's a reason for everything. Just hard to figure out sometimes.

Sue, did they relocate your port after your plastic surgery? I had heard of a woman whose seat belt damaged her port. She had the lower port location. Mine is in a very comfortable, out of the way place. My surgeon has put in over 700 bands. I'll ask him about port location when I see him on 7/29. Boy, this is as confusing as all the different eating instructions different drs. give their banded patients to follow. No two are alike!

please get to your fill dr. ASAP!

Teresa, you'll be able to whip up some authentic mexican food. Whatch out, they'll be having you freeze your dinners and then bring them to the Las Vegas Bash. Good luck on a bumper crop!

Oh, Teresa, you are such a riot! Believe it or not, when it's your kids, everything just clicks and you feel like you've been doing it your whole life. Enjoy your life now, get through these adventures. Then you can think about bringing kids into the equation, if that's what you truly want to do. Just don't let anyone push you. This has to be you and your husband's decision. Just live it one day at a time and enjoy each day!

Mine is in the center (not to the left side), right below the rib cage. I have a short torso. But it's 7 inches above my belly button.

We were married 8 years before we had kids -- much longer than we planned. But we really enjoyed our time before kids -- so easy to do something at a moment's notice. We adopted both as infants. They're now 23 and 20. I was fortunate to be a stay-at-home Mom. I wouldn't take anything for that! Now I'm ready to have grandkids to spoil rotten.

Uh Oh, Lisa's been upstaged! Next, Teresa will be posting her "nudist swimming" pictures. This site is going to the boobs ... or I mean the dogs!

Just curious as to how/why a dr. decides where to locate a port. I have a sternal port (just below rib cage). It seems to be in a great location and doesn't bother me. I've been told that the sternal port doesn't have to be relocated after extensive weight loss. Just wondering...

Doxiegal, I had the very same problem. Small frame, but I gained much more weight than you did. My husband changed jobs last year & I finally had an insurance co. that covers weight reduction surgery. It still took 8 months after the first denial. Last several years, I had developed several health issues...high blood pressure, asthma, hiatal hernia, arthritis. They've all improved drastically since I finally lost some weight! Self-pay wasn't an option for me. I hope you don't have to get to this point to get help. Best of luck!

Joyce, you've done great! Losing inches is just as important as losing lbs.

Janice and Kalilyn, Congratulations! Gail and Leatha, Best of luck! Leatha, I do think your second surgery will be easier for you. You are at a healthier point in your life than you were 60 lbs. ago. You'll all be in my prayers for a safe and minimum pain surgery.

Margaret, Congratulations! I, also, researched this thoroughly. The websites helped me tremendously, too. Best of luck to you! Please keep us posted.

Pam, please take it easy with exercising. I only walked until I had my post-op visit with my surgeon (and only flat, not incline). Afterwards, I added bike riding. Please get your surgeon's advice on what he/she recommends regarding eating, exercising, etc. I loved my blender during the pureed food segment.

Birdee, Please don't give up! I'm also walking daily (and bike riding). I haven't worked up to jogging yet. I know in this heat and humidity, it's horrible! It's all I can do to drag in and hit the shower. I hate to sweat! But just think of that sweat as impurities and fat getting out of your body. Please watch out with the soft foods. You'll get hungry faster. Try to get your protein in first. I started to p/u a frappicino the other day. But I looked at the calories. Wow! Empty calories! I didn't think it would be worth having to sweat for. A few months ago, I wouldn't have even wondered about the calories. I'm also sleeping sounder than I have in years. Best of luck to you!