re: Thanks Lurker's

This post has been fun. Congratulations on coming out of the lurker's mode and posting. You should all be so proud of yourselves. Keep it up. To all those that read & thought about it, and still didn't respond, remember the devil hates a coward. Live life to the fullest. Don't pass up an oppurtunity to do something out of your comfort zone. Have fun and enjoy these little moments. Elissa Tammy, you were one of the 1st people I met at PMRI. You are one of my role models & inspirations. Thank you XXXXXXXOOOOOOO Debbie-Ross, How are you feeling? Hope to meet you at the support group in Bear on the 17th!! Linda, what can I say. I miss our chats. I guess we've both moved on. Our lives are hectic. Don't forget all the laughs we've shared. Miss ya. Kristina, Sorry you aren't doing well? Anything we can do to help? Hope to see you on the 17th. Joe, you are the best. Hope you have a great 2006. S.??? Happy New Year to you also. Let us know where you're at on your journey. Love hearing from you. Gigee.. Keep smiling and laughing. You crack me up!!! Bertie, 140 is awesome girl. Good luck on your job quest. Will keep your cousin in my prayers. Kathleen, Hope to see you soon and see your battle scars. You sounded great when we talked. I'm so jealous. Soon as the knees are done I'll have a consult for PS. Penny, You look fabulous my friend. You are doing awesome. Keep up the good job. Tina, I know you are out there. I'm here for you. Keep building bridges not walls. Nicki, Thanks for all your help & guidance from all of us. Hope you are back working ASAP. Miss you GF.

Hi, all! Let me start with......what's up with nicki????? I haven't been lurking very much. still working two jobs. come buy a refrigerator from me at Sears in the Concord Mall !!!!!! Life has been a struggle. working on a divorce, selling the house, looking for a new home. I have not been very good about my diet. I haven't gained much, but I haven't been able to focus on eating correctly, or exercise. Ken

Hi Elissa, Sorry, I have been sooooo busy, and our computer at home is down again! so the only time I get to keep in touch is at work, and that has been a mess latley. I hope everyone is well! I am getting back to basics, I didn't make my goal of getting into the 100's by Christmas! but I am not letting that get me down, My daughter who is now 18 almost 19 announced the other day she wants to check into wls. I have very many mixed emotions about that the biggest one is her being so young, to be making such a life long decision. Any feed back on that subject is welcome. I am going to try to be better about support meetings, so I hope to see everyone soon!!! Take care, Dana

Sorry I missed the initial "lurker's update"...but I'm hanging in here. Struggling more desperately with depression, but attending it with medication and seeking a therapist I don't feel superior and smarter than. My partner and I have separated (and it's been the most graceful and gentle break-up in the history of the universe) and she's moved to Colorado...so that's a big change, though not (primarily) surgery related. Still teaching, still making jewlery, still making music, still fighting myself to find the time for all of it. I've become too lax on my protein and water intake and have yet to really begin a regimented work-out program...but according to all reports am doing well and am healthy. Since surgery last February (I'm 10-ish months out) I've lost about 135 pounds and am wearing a baggy size six. A freakin' size six. Heh. I wear a human sized bra. Such a thing. Anyhow, I've hit a total weight loss of about 185 pounds. I've surpassed all of my goals, am "normal", and even though I'll be working to drop another ten or fifteen pounds, wouldn't be upset if I happened to gain 20 back (will avoid at most costs) Good to keep updated on everyone's progress...and always remembering you in my prayers. xo S

Hi, It is great to hear from you. You were just going through your surgery when I first started to come to PMRI meetings and I think of you often. Your sense of humor was what got me through those first few scary meetings. I hope you start coming back to the meetings and visit with some old friends. We would all love to see you. Ellen

E You are always so sweet! Thank you!

uh, hi everybody (meekly peering out from under the covers...) i know it's been a long time since anybody (besides tina and elissa) has heard from me. life has been...well...different...this last year. been really, really bad with my water, protein, vitamins and excercise. tina and i are trying to 'kick-start' the new year into keeping better tabs on that. also trying to get in for my tt...mid-atlantic didn't deny my request last year...they said they wanted 'additional info from my primary' that i've taken different measures to take care of it, which i don't have. um, is the excess 3 inch booda flap NOT enough??? geez... but i am trying again for the new year. will NOT give up hope... also hope to get back into the swing of meetings again, too...i miss all my amos brothers/sisters. it's been too long!!! hope this finds everybody happy and healthy... think of u guys often. love and hugs.... -karen

Hi Karen, Nice to see you are unlurking. The last two years has been well different for many of us. Hope that you can make it to one of the many support meetings that are happening this month. They can really help to keep you motivated. I too am awaiting news about my TT from BC/BS. I was told that they have up to 90 days to respond, but they normally respond in about 30, so Feb. 1st I'm on the phone. I was also told that if you need to appeal that Dr. Irgau writes a very convincing letter. I also lack the mandatory 3" flap but I'm hoping that other conditions will override the lack of flap. Stay happy and keep posting. Your bud, Rob

Hi Karen, Nice to see you are unlurking. The last two years has been well different for many of us. Hope that you can make it to one of the many support meetings that are happening this month. They can really help to keep you motivated. I too am awaiting news about my TT from BC/BS. I was told that they have up to 90 days to respond, but they normally respond in about 30, so Feb. 1st I'm on the phone. I was also told that if you need to appeal that Dr. Irgau writes a very convincing letter. I also lack the mandatory 3" flap but I'm hoping that other conditions will override the lack of flap. Stay happy and keep posting. Your bud, Rob

*ripping off the covers to reveal beautiful KAREN* IT is SO good to hear from you!!! Gosh, I so miss you and your wonderful wit and your wonderful sweetness!!! Please know that you never, ever have to hide out, or peek from the sidelines. We are all in this together ... through the good and the bad, the thick and thin, the highs and the lows ... you know all that jazz. No finger pointing here, cause if I do, I have to point to myself first and foremost. Please know that truly you are not alone and the only one who has "fallen". I struggle also, AND I am currently in contact with a couple of others who are struggling, it is not easy Karen. Nothing about this surgery has been easy, at least for some of us, at least for me. But truly I think that keeping in contact with others is my life line at times ... it is these friendships that shine a light into my complete darkness, allowing me the ablity to see there is a way out of the pit. I would love to get together with you just talk. Not even necessissarily about post op life, but about lives in general. I miss you. You too Tina!!! I sooo hope you are lurking and see this!!! Please don't hide out ... we need you around here. Tammy