Lori- I am so sorry that you have to go through this! You will definitely be in my prayers. Thanks for the advice. I try to stay on top of it, but you know how easy it is to let it slide. Belle

Lori - I am so sorry to hear this. I am praying that a hysterectomy will be all that you need. God can get you through this. It sounds like you are thinking positive and our thoughts have so much to do with how we feel and act. Try to keep the faith and I will be praying for you here. Thanks for the reminder to everyone here how important it is to get our yearly pap. What a wake up call. Gosh, I am so sorry. Please keep us posted and know that we are here for you to vent, cry or whatever. I am so sorry.

I am (this week) completing my first year post WLS. It has been an amazing journey. I have gotten much healthier and feel better than I have at any point I can recall in my life. But this email is not so much about my health, it's semi off topic, but a warning to all of the ladies who have supported me over the last year. Please, please, please, please, please, stay on top of your yearly well woman exams. It is so vital that we go in for regular check ups. Many of the things they can detect in a Pap are not detected any other way and some of those things are asymtomatic (sp) meaning you would never know you had a problem unless it was too late. I have always stayed fairly up to date with my yearly exams, but because of my WLS, I let a year slip by me. I went in for my Pap, a year late, in Nov. of 07. and since November I have had numerous appointments over the results of that first Pap, and have recently been diagnosed with cancer. We are still trying to stage the cancer (adenocarcinoma in my cervix and uterus) and determine if it's simply able to be treated with a hysterectomy or if I will require additional treatment methods. Ladies I am only 33 years old, but my father's family has a rich history of cancer of all types. While I am not happy about the diagnosis I do have peace because I am fully aware that God brought this out into the open while it is able to be cured. But this post is not about my struggle but the constant nagging we feel as ladies to go and visit a Dr in a very uncomfortable situation to have tests done for some unknown reason to detect God knows what. We make too many excuses...so for those of you who struggle with getting those yearly exams in, please know that in 2 years I have developed cancer in my female organs that I never would have known exsisted without that uncomfortable pap exam. So please call your GYN and get an appointment today. Your life may depend on it ladies.

Hi Jen... I wish that I had some words of wisdom for you, but I'm fresh out. I was fortunate enough to not have had a lot of pre-exhisting issues to deal with after surgery, so I can only imagine how difficult it must be to coordinate all of your needs and yet still continue to lose at the expected rate. Perhaps your surgeon didn't take into consideration all of the factors when "chastising" you for your lower rate of loss. I think that you are a success simply because you have lost 80 pounds in spite of numerous medications and issues you have to deal with. You will have your pouch for life, and if it takes you two years to do what someone else does in one...so what? You will get there as long as you don't give up and you keep following your plan. Keep coming here so that we can support you! I keep hearing so much lately...good health is not a race or a destination, but a journey. We all have our individual "problems", if you will...but support from those that understand where we are and have been is crucial to our continued success on that journey. No one here would ever look at you as a disappointment. Sending you blessings for a brighter day...Suz

Lindy- baby hair here too- when I put it in a ponytail I have horns!!! Holly