Most excellent pictures Nancy. I also wanted to say you have a fantastically warm smile. Keep up the great work. Lori

Hi Elisa, great pics. You look fantastic and very rested. I am jealous. Lori

Royal Caribnbean. I was on Splendour of the Seas. It sailed out of Galveston, TX to Cozumel, Mexico.

Hi Kim, I don't know how much you know about anti-depressants or depression so my apologies if I appear simplistic! There are two types of depression (ok..maybe three but wont go there) - commonly endogenous and reactive. If it's the first, people have to be on anti-depressants basically for life. There are no triggering factors for depression.The brain just doesn't produce enough seretonin - somewhat like a diabetic whose body doesn't produce enough insulin. The main second type is just what it says - reactive. Something happens and we get depressed. I sometimes think dr's are too quick to prescribe in these cir****tances and we don't give ourselves time to adjust to things, such as a death, loss of a job (and dare I add weight loss!) etc. We live in a time of instant gratification and time lines. If it's life stressors that are getting you down the anti-depressants will hold you up so you can deal with them better but it doesn't address the causes. Sometimes re-thinking about how you perceive 'happenings' and learning how to deal with them, such as stress management techniques can work. It's just hard to do! And if someone finds themself in a situation they just don't like.... then the situation is what needs to be changed. Again, the drugs will just help with dealing with it. People feel better, then go off the medication and get depressed again because their situation/environment is still the same. There are several main groups of anti-d's. The SSRI's (Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac) all work in the same way. All have been known to decrease sex drive in about 30% of those taking them. Dr's often don't ask about this side effect and people often don't mention it. (Zoloft is known in the business as Sosoft!). Of course this side effect is obvious in men, but women don't get asked. Slight weight gain can also be common. However, some attribute the weight gain to the fact that most depressed people have lost weight, start feeling better and start eating again. Effexor is a SNRI and has basically the same type of side effects as the SSRI's but usually not to the same degree. It also comes in a slow release capsule which gives a more even distribution of medication. Wellbrutin is a SNDRI and works differently from the others. Some people complain of sleep disturbances and nightmares but there are less sex complaints. The older anti-d's are still used but with caution. This is mainly due to the fact that people used to overdose on them. It's pretty hard to OD on the new ones. But they are good for pain and sleep if that is a problem along with the depression. Good for people who suffer chronic pain. New research is showing that all the SSRI's can plateau in effectiveness after 3 - 6 months. So if you find that happening go back to your dr. You may need the dose adjusted. All anti-depressants have side effects but acute ones should settle down within two weeks (such as upset tummy). Well I will stop now lol. If you are reluctant to try anti-depressants, look at other causes and solutions first Sharyn.

I'm having a barium swallow in two weeks - just a check due to some chest pains I was having. I want to check my band is ok before going into cardiac check up mode. I had one after surgery and it was gross. It taste like lemon dishwashing liquid. The radiographer told me he tells kids its an 'atomic milkshake' to get them to drink it lol. Good luck