Hi everyone! Boy what a scare I had last week. I went to an information seminar sponsored by my surgeon's group for potential pre-ops. As the evening went on, I started having severe abdominal pains radiating to my back. I went to the bathroom because I thought it was gas. I started wretching and the pains were worse. I have a hernia for over 25 years and it popped out of my abdomen like two big hard rocks. I couldn't go back to the seminar. I couldn't get my underwear back on, too much pain. Somehow, I drove back home, stopping occasionally to wretch. I thought that I could get home, undress and rest in bed and things would get better. Well, as soon as I got home I knew that I would be going to the emergency room. I had to call an ambulance. The surgeon on call tried to reduce my hernia, which he did somewhat. I was admitted for observation and had to lie flat for 12 hours. Then things went downhill. I spiked a fever of 101.2 and my hernias protruded out of my abdomen like two big hard rocks. The pain was so severe. My surgeon came in and told me that I had to go to surgery as soon as possible. I had a bowel resection with a hernia repair. A little more than 2 inches of bowel had died and I had a strangulated bowel. I couldn't have a mesh inserted because of the highly probability that it would become infected. I have to have the repair done in a couple of months along with my tummy tuck. The only good thing about this emergency is that my pouch is like a new post-op. My surgeon told me that the pouch tightened up as a result of the surgery and I wouldn't have much of an appetite. He said this is temporary. I can tell you that is exactly how I feel. I can hardly drink or eat anything. My protein stores are depleted. I only started on vitamins yesterday. In one way I'm glad about the tight pouch. As you know I've been struggling with my eating too much in the past few weeks. This will get me back to basics. I'm going to use this gift to my advantage. I can't tolerate a lot of foods right now, so that is good for me. I'll be home for a few weeks recuperating. What a way to get some time off! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the summer! Hugs, Lucy

Be glad you're losing at all!! I want to lose 25-35 more and actually gained 9 lbs.in the last 2 months. So. . . I'm now dieting! I only eat half of what I want. At least I still don't get hungry, I just don't get full as fast as I used to. I'm getting between 1200 and 1500 calories per day and have lost all but 4 of the 9 lbs. in the last 2 weeks. I never thought at 1 year post surgery, I'd be dieting. But, I am not going back to my pre-WLS weight!! I'm not going to screw this up!! Becky lap rny/6-22-05 281/193/165

Hi Dawn If you need verification of your muscles, have your body fat percentage done. That will give you a better idea of where you stand, especially if you're muscular. If I went by BMI I would still have 50 lbs to loose. But, going by body fat %, I have about 20 to 30 to loose (and that's at 20% bodyfat which is in the athletic range). My plastic surgeon says I have about 20 in skin. And, try the plateau buster - it works. Sharyn 307/166/148

Hey Chip~ How are you feeling? When is your surgery scheduled? ~Kerri

Paula~ You crack me up! A lazy sloth~ oh brother!! You are sooo not! I am sorry to hear that your adoption plans have stalled. That must be incredibly frustrating~ especially since it puts you in limbo with moving. I'm with you on the grazing issue~ just recently I've started to really struggle with this. I'm fighting the urge to think about food too much. How's the biking going? Any plans for a 5K in the near future? Take care and hang in there!!! Hugs, Kerri