Larry, good luck with your surgery. You'll be glad you did it once you get past the first two weeks. I, too, am from Kentucky but now live in Georgetown, IN. My surgery was April 10, 2001 and I weighed 314 and now 2 months later I've lost 50 pounds and down to 264. You can do it Larry. Having a positive attitude and supportive friends is what gets us through over to the other side. Way to go Larry, see ya on the other side. BJ