I have two close experiences with pancreatic cancer. My handsome healthy physically fit father died in 1991, 4 months after diagnosis and a miserable battle with pancreatic cancer at the age of 59. My father in law survived pancreatic cancer, after surgery 3.5 years ago, on my father's birthday. I guess God wouldn't let me lose two of the men I love so much to the same horrible disease. I hope Patrick Swayze follows the path of my father in law. I will add that my Dad smoked all his life, starting around age 14. Patrick Swayze smokes 3 packs a day. My father in law smokes one cigar a day. If you smoke - STOP! Your life depends on it.

I don't know what kind of work your DH does, but I hope everything works out. My DH is a foreman for a construction company and so far all has been going ok, but the threat of reduced work always rears its ugly head. Sad part for us is that we do pretty much live paycheck to paycheck and the biggest splurge we have for the week is he buys a pizza on Saturday night. We don't go out to eat, we both take our lunches to work and the kids take lunch to school. We make decent money but both have vehicle payments and the cost of gas is killing us. Something has to give....I keep saying that but it's not happening. Then I see people taking awesome vacations and wonder where they get their money??? I haven't had a vacation out of state in 20 years. Oh well.... I hope things look up for you Nancy!

I was denied my revision, but for reasons that don't pertain to me, I have to file an appeal, I am still horrified of another surgery. I had my band backed off slowly over 5 months, then empty for 3 1/2 and sadly, it didn't improve. I believe having an empty band made me more vulnerable for the ultimate herniated stomach I ended up with. I am so sorry you are living this, but RNY is not the same scarey surgery done years ago. I am working on my head and food issues right now and will take it from there. So, there are doing the sleve in town? No one is "advertising" it yet.

You're right.....it's happening all around us. And no matter where you look, there's a tougher story next to you. Maybe we can try to make the best of this before it gets bad (my attempt at optimism through a dark phase....and it will be a phase!) Saving money by not eating out as much definitely = better control on our meals. We cut out all of the other extras - the chips, the bread, the extra glass of wine, etc. * money and calories!! No Wine.....again, I took your cue and didn't drink wine during the week....dropped 4 pounds that week * Wine = money and not just calories....but weight loss blocker! I hope you can find a manageable balance w/ your new situation. I'm sure you will. Personally, I'm not good at 'budgetting' as I've never had to be but I think I'm going to be proactive and start to keep track of spending!