We all think we are alone in our feelings when a board like us shows us how many people are in our shoes.......I to get the hunger pains......and I to am scared to death to gain any weight back..i have gone from 362 to 170 and i cant imagine gaining it back....my problem is i have myself so psyched i think that food is still so impossible..everytime i eat i feel sick and i have to wonder if it is all in my head......I to have found that I can eat foods now that arent healthy for me...and I dont get enough protein but at the same time I keep reminding myself where I came from. I had a problem recently with not being able to sleep so in the middle of the night i found myself eating the wrong foods just because i was bored..i gained 6 pounds..I FREAKED out!!!!!! I have now lost 5 of those pounds in about a weeks time and I refuse to ever let myself do it again..I like many others out here just need to learn how to do it the healthy way because it is way to easy to do without food now..which is not good for us either... You have come a long way, just always remember that! Tina

I have lost a total of 170 lbs. I have been fighting my insurance company for reconstructive surgery. They keep saying it is not a medical necessity. However, in order to have a bowel movement I have to use a suppository and manually coax it out. I must insert my thumb in my vagina and almost massage the back wall where my intestines are and basically massage it out. If I do not do both of these things I am not able to have a bowel movement I will get backed up. Any suggestions? I have appealed BCBS's decision 2 X's getting ready for a third. A co-worker said I should go through the local rehab center. The burn center no longer accepts donations from bypass patients. HELP!!!!!!!

I don't have any experience with taking steroids since surgery, so I can't help you there. But I am interested in what your doctor says about us taking them. I have an area at the bottom of my belly that hangs down a little since I've lost weight, but nothing like what you have. I know how aggravating my little area is... I can't imagine what you're going through. One good thing about it is you have plenty of proof that you need your TT. I tried Amy's suggestion about drying the area with a blow dryer and applying deoderant instead of powder. Works like a charm. Wanda

Jill, Just curious as to how you are doing and what the dermatoligist said. Hope all is well..... Wanda

Thanks!! It's the total oppisite of what I heard so I have stopped the powder. Tomorrow morning it's dematologist hope he helps.. Again Thanks