i'm doing wonderfully, too! i'm down from 463 to 185! it's amazing. i'd like to lose a few more lbs...i'm 5'10", so i still haven't quite achieved a normal bmi. and having lost 278 lbs, i have yards and yards of skin hanging on me, but no way to pay for it's removal. but even with that, i'm happier than i've been in forever. i'm 50 years old, and spent my entire life overweight. just this past week, i bought a bicycle and went for a couple rides over the weekend. it was fun, too! i'm wearing size 12's...and just enjoying life! great hearing from another jan'05-er! deb

i still exist...and stop by here every now and then. how are you doing?

Linda, I haven't been on the board for long while, but I am totally with you. I started my protein drinks again today, and vow to cut down on( if not eliminate) diet sodas. I never reached my goal, but I have been as low as 175 ( still a bit high for 5'8".) I looked and felt great at 175, and would love to be there again( or 160). However, I have been stuck at 199-200lbs. for a year and a half. My tops are gap city around the boobs, and let's not EVEN go south and talk about the abs and hips! I want a lower body lift! Don't worry, your son is gonna LOVE your new look. Remember, to him, your look is brand new. You are used to it by now. Guess we all have slipped a little, huh? Lou Ann

i dont know if what i'm getting is the same as you...or even similar. but, you sound closer to me then anything else i've run into. i get violent burning in my assophogus at night. usually starting with a burp, or a cough that feels like a chimney sweeper is going up my throat from my chest. this feeling lasts for what seems like forever (an hour or so) sometimes i cough up black very fine granular stuff (been checked out...NOT blood...but they dont know what it is). the black (NOT grey...but true black) stuff doesnt happen a lot (three times since surgery in jan. '05). but, the burning happens a few times a month. doc put me on prevacid as needed. this happened the night before last, and i've been caughing up green phlegm ever since. i quit smoking the day of surgery, and havent smoked since. i dont do coffee, hardly (maybe once a month or so). i stick to the walmart brand of crystal lite, and the occassional unsweet tea (i hate water) as far as drinking. i do chocolate once in a while, but not even weekly. i can eat pretty much what i want, except for pasta and rice. too much sugar lets me know it's there. if there's anyone out there that has a clue what's going on, i'd love to hear about it. brightest of blessings, paula

Rhonda, I know several in our support group have problems with being anemic or borderline anemic. I haven't been anemic but my iron has always hung around the bottom end of normal for most of the past year. I've had 5 rounds of plastic surgery (inc. some complications) and the required pre-op labs (plus my regular labs) indicated I was within the normal range, but usually on the low end. After my last ps for a hematoma evacuation I was so low that I had to have 3 units of blood tranfused. I take Bariatic Advantage 29mg Iron daily and try to eat lots of protein (50-80g / day). I don't usually do protein supplements b/c my surgeon isn't a big fan of them but I've learned that I must supplement before & after surgery to keep my levels from dropping too low and to aid in healing. I hope all goes well with your consult. Keep taking your iron & maybe try to up your protein intake. Vickie J.