Tanya, I know how you feel. I have the worst cold That along with the 3 dialations for strictures...i just feel yukky. I have been trying the nasal spray cold meds. It has been helping a bit. Good luck. Melinda-Largo, Fl Lap RNY 10/17/03 -55lbs

Hi Jessica! I had my surgery on October 22nd and got my period 4 days later on the 26th. Now here it is, the 13th, and I'm starting another one! In my case, my surgeon had me go off my birth control pills for one month prior to surgery (something about blood clot prevention). Now I'm at the point in my pills where I'd usually get my period (last week of the pack), so I guess my body is just getting back on track even though my period is a little early. I also think that our rapid weight loss (I'm already down somewhere between 55lbs and 60 lbs...WHOOOOHOOO!! *l*) has a lot to do with how our periods regulate themselves in the beginning, too. Our bodies are adjusting to MAJOR surgery, and surely our hormones are out of whack, too, what with trying to return to normal from a life of being out-of-control as a consequence of morbid obesity. So I wouldn't worry about it. Some of us are going to be early, while others of us are going to be late. Just depends on our individual bodies. Please keep us informed, though, as to how you're doing! Love and prayers, Amy, 6-weeks post-op, Open RNY

I'll be 7 wks post-op on Wed. Dec. 17. So far, down from 402lbs to 347lbs at last weigh-in this past Tuesday. I couldn't be more thrilled!! My clothes are getting baggier, and it's wonderful! I have a pair of size 4X Just My Size denim stretch leggings that I could barely squeeze into around surgery time that are now starting to slide down my hips with every step I take. Woo hoo!! I've gone from not being able to walk from the Super Wal-Mart entrance any farther than the checkout (which, as you know, isn't that far of a walk at all) to being able to walk the entire store! The first day I did that, I went home, called my Mom, and cried tears of joy! I'm also now trying to stick to a walking program, which has been difficult since it's been raining here for the past few days. When I CAN'T get out to walk, though, I try doing housework (something ELSE I couldn't do prior to surgery), like sweeping, scrubbing floors, vacuuming, etc. just to do SOMETHING to move and sweat. I've had a few problems with a seroma at my incision site (surgeon has had to drain it twice now), and some God-awful muscle spasms a few weeks back where my g-tube grazed my rib muscles when the internal sutures dissolved, but all-in-all, I'd consider myself incredibly lucky. And yes, I'd do it again, a thousand times!!!! Love and prayers to all! Amy, Open RNY, 10/22/03

Goodness this is awfull. I called my doc and asked what I could take and as you can probanbly guess - not really anything. He said if I took cold meds it would go thru me too quickly. Kinda like taking pain meds was for me, I would take it a few minutes later I was pain free and then a few minutes after that I was back to square one. So anyway big advice was keep hydrated and ride this one out! Sniffle sneeze caugh! Thanks doc! Hope it passes soon I am trying to have a new life here!!!! Tanya T

Dorita, I feel your pain. I took a bit - one lousy bit of bread one day because it was calling me I tell you and then I was in pain. The only lucky part is that I get an instant reaction to that sort of thing and I threw up and the pain was mostly gone. My doc said not bread or red meat for 6 months. I now know why. Good luck and glad to hear this is all behind you! Tanya T