you just described me in a nutshell! everything. here i sit, underweight, always in bed, now doing everything i should, but too late.man i wish i would have followed the rules. everything was too easy, no pre op testing, just approval and 6 weeks later, surgery. never followed the rules, just thought i was so lucky. now look at where it got me. i have been in the hospital a LOT for deh/malnutrition. whos laughing now huh? i praise you all who were rule followers and tell everyone i see to do it right the first time. i hope all your labs were normal. i hope hope hope your ok now. i have had all the same feelings as you and i pray your healthy.

Hello fellow Maysters! Well it's 2+ years and now that the weight is off I am left with all of the sagging skin. I truly wasn't prepared for how bad it was going to look! I thought all along "I'll just be so grateful to have lost the weight". Seems like we are never satisfied hmmm? So I have begun to explore the wonderful world of plastic surgery. I think this is far more complicated than the GBS decision if that is possible. I saw a surgeon out of state that I really liked but worry about recovering so far away and what happens if there are post op complications. Seeing a local guy in a couple of weeks. I am also worried about the recovery (how long? what will the pain be like with an incision all the way around your body? drains? how long out of work? can I take care of myself when I get home?). Would really appreciate any info anyone has on their experience.

Hi Ashley, sorry it has been so rough for you lately. Several gals at my support group have been struggling with gaining too so you are not alone. It does help to be able to talk about it here and with others. Keep in touch and praying the depression lifts and if it doesn't let the doc help out. You are worth it to feel well and have joy in your life. Thanks for stopping in. Bless ya, Mary

Greetings Kathy and Maysters ! I have been away from my computer so much this summer that I feel so out of touch with you all. So nice to have time today to check in and see how everyone is doing. First I'd like to say thank you to Jody for sharing your story with us about the loss of your son. We are grateful for his heroic service and personal sacrifice for our country. My heart goes out to you in the crushing loss of your son. God Bless you and your family in your journey thru this grief. It makes the upheavals and squabbles of my children seem small. Yes I will hug them and remember your words. You are our resident angel Kathy ! It looks like the rain showers have continued upon you and your family. You come to mind often and whenever I go out in my garden. I think of you and think maybe one day I'll get ya over here to garden with me. Although sadly the local ground hog and family have had a field day eating my garden. I went up to Connecticuit for a couple wks to " grandma heaven" to play with my little red-heads and the critters munched most of my garden to the ground. I was working that garden 3-4 hrs. a day before I left and was so delighted with the way it was growing. It was sort of a 'soul therapy' to plant and nurture the leafy babies along and see them thrive and burst into bloom. Like art... a splash of color here and a splash there , it was wonderful. So when I returned to see a blank palette ...I was crushed. While up north I fell helping at Vacation Bible school playing a game like musical chairs. Went to sit down full force and there was no chair. Kaboom. So my already challenged lower back problems went from quiet to screaming. Been to the dr. or Chiropractor almost every other day. Shots last wk did not work. MRI last wk showed 3 bulging discs as well as the arthritis and degenerative changes. So when you say your lower back has been acting up... most honestly I feel for ya. I've been referred to a brain and spine institute neurosurgeon and will see him in Sept. I am really shy about signing up for back surgery mostly because the folks I know who have had it have not really been helped much after all. But this pain has been a total BEAR and I have had to submit to taking the power drugs which are all that bring relief. Gratefully for 2 days the pain has been quieter. Hope that keeps up. My weight has fluctuated about 2-3 lbs up or down for the last few months. I never made a complete 100 lb. loss. My exercise has been way down also due to pain and did a couple days of water walking and deep water exercise last wk. and hope to up that this wk. The dr. doesn't want me to re-start the senior water aerobics class yet even tho it is for arthritis folk. My labs were good except for low vitamin D and my thyroid is a little low even on Synthroid and I have Lymes disease again. ( got about 8-9 tick bites working in the garden prior to my trip) I really had to press for an order for the Lymes before my trip. cuz every joint in my body was screaming and having had it before recognised the symptoms plus one bite got a huge red circle around it.) Incidentally the doc thinks the Lymes is why the back is hurting so intensly too. Back on the antibiotics again and hopefully when they kick in so will some relief. So much for me. Sincere congratulations to Candy on the news of a new baby on the way! What a delightful blessing. Hello to all the rest of you Mayers! It is really great to catch up on the news from our special unit of WLS friends. How dear it is to still stay in touch ! I too live in the sticks, Jen and know how it is with limited internet services. Living in the sloooooooow lane. Best wishes to you all and your families. So many who are facing huge challenges. I am grateful to be able to still connect with you all ! Mary

Just a quick check-in. Kathy, my life has been blessedly uneventful compared to yours. I have held steady at 187 - 192 since about 9 months post-op. That's 105-100# down. Lately, I have been closer to 180-182 which does not bother me at all. I still have trouble with food; too much and not the right stuff. I will always have to deal with that. Health and side effect-wise, I am and have been a textbook case. No complications and fortunately no non-WLS illnesses. Doing the Breast Cancer 3-Day in two weeks for the second time. That is something I never would have been able to do pre-op. I'll think of you during the 60 miles. Take care.