Hi,

I am a 58 y.o. retired music teacher (not) from Northern Michigan. I retired from Public School teaching 6 years ago, but am now teaching in a charter school 4 hours a day. I also am a church organist/choir director so I play for one church on Saturday evening and another on Sunday. So you can see why I said (not).

Anyways, I have floated from 180 pounds in High School ( where I truly thought I was fat ) to 230 in college and down to 175 after college and over the next ten years I gained 100 pounds+ to 283. A few years back I got down to between 245 and 250 and kept it there or years.

Last year (2007) between August and December I gained 20 pounds.........without a change in diet or exercise. The Dr.s won't believe me, but it was in 2 ten day periods. (No, it wasn't the week of Thanksgiving and Christmas). I just ballooned. That, plus all the pills I take (for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia,depression, and uric acid kidney stones) and the shot (4 a day for insulin and 2 a day for Byetta) has gotten me down.

The final thing that made me decide to DO IT, was the research on the improvement to a person's diabetes by having gastric surgery.

So all I need is the surgery consult and to set a date. I have had all of the stress tests, colonoscopy, etc. during the last 1 and 1/2 years.

What an adventure and what a challenge ahead:whatchutalkingabout!!!

/a>

piano,

Welcome to LBT! It's so nice and helpful here. I've met so many good friends and am so thankful for all the support they have given me up to this point.

Are you banded? It appears you are, but didn't mention it.