Oregondaisy

I'm sorry you're so down! Are you sure talking to someone wouldn't help? I would exercise anyway, if I felt good enough, because afterwards I am in such a better mood. those endorphins really make a difference. I wouldn't care what others thought of me at the gym. I love weight training and how it makes me feel. Don't pay attention to what other people are doing. You need to feel better for yourself, not for anybody else, because you do matter. You matter to yourself and to us, and I"m sure to others. I had this idea before I saw your post. Is anyone into chatting? We have a chat room now and we would probably be the only ones in there. I know we know each other well, but live chat is more personal and you really get to know someone really well. We could set up a time and meet in there, or pm whoever says they like to chat and ask when a good day and time to meet in there would be? It's fun. sometimes it beats reading the same posts on here!

I hope so too Kim. It's awful when our body parts don't co-operate with us. I wish the shots would have helped my back.

Oh yeah, that was one of the texts he sent me. We were supposed to go and see Trainwreck together so he texted me and told me he was going to go and see it with "susan" Like I give a shit. I blocked him on email and unfriended him on facebook as well as blocking him on there so he can't send messages. I have to download an ap to block him on my phone but as soon as I can get wifi then I will do that. I can't seem to pick up a good signal here. My laptop remembers the wifi password from last week but it won't work on my phone.

I' m glad to hear that Sheryl. You need someone in your life who lifts you up, not brings you down. I decided Bill was bringing me down. He's always so needy and negative. I'm trying to visit my brother and his wife and his constant texting and calling was driving me nuts. I told him not to call me anymore. Then I wrote out a very well thought out email and explained to him why this was not working for me and said I didn't think there was anything more to say. I erased his voice message without listening to it. I am going to have surgery. I don't want him around if he is just going to be negative and bring me down and I told him so. I am sure tomorrow there will be a book length email for me to read in response but I may delete it without reading it. I'm just so tired of it all.

Thanks so much! I didn't know Wikipedia had the descriptions of these things!

That's pretty expensive. That's almost what I pay for 5 lbs of Matrix by Syntrax.

Rosey I didn't realize you were in the "senior" group. I'll be 63 in Oct. There is no magic answer. I have a friend who was sleeved a week after me and eats nothing but crap. cookies, candy, (tons of candy) chips, etc. She rarely eats a normal meal. She is a size 4 and is under 120. I can't even go over to her house anymore. It's just too much temptation. I am really struggling because exercise has been taken away from me. I'm having another back surgery in a few weeks. I'm lucky that I've eaten the Atkins way most of my life. I went on Atkins at age 13 for the first time. It's really easy to let sugar and carbs back into my life though. It's a daily struggle to live in this world when everyone else IS eating crap.

I didn't know that the chat room was an option again. I'm on vacation but when I get home, I'll make it a point to put up posts in the evenings when people like to chat. You'll have to take the time zone factor into consideration. If anyone wants to use it, put up a post that says you would like to chat so it shows up in new posts, Then open another window and do what you want to do. You'll have to see if anyone comes in . the old chat room had a door bell that let you know someone saw your post, and came in to chat.

Kelly, I didn't know you're from the Chicago area! I love Chicago. If it weren't for the really miserable winters, I would have stayed here. I love Lake Michigan. My entire life would have been completely different if I hadn't left when I was 20 years old to go to live somewhere that never sees snow. I do love Oregon but I wish when we moved all those years ago, we had moved to Portland. I am really stuck on the coast bc of my daughter's divorce. She can't live more than 50 miles away unless she wants to give up custody of my grandson. Now she has my adorable one year old granddaughter. I hear ya with men and sex. It really sucks when they still want to do it and can't. Bill has tried cialis viagria, etc. ( He would kill me if he knew I told you guys this stuff) and they don't work for him. That doesn't mean he doesn't want to try constantly. I am assured by Alex that nobody but us can read in here.

What is Royal Pains about?

Jay Robb is good but it's expensive. I use Sytrax Matrix which is different than Sytrax Nectars. If you look in the food section under Protein drinks, there is a post with Sytrax's phone number and you can call to order samples. It's going to depend on what your post op diet is. You will not be allowed to blend in fresh fruit in the beginning. I've been having a Protein Drink for breakfast for the past 9 years. I usually use the sf syrups to flavor them but occasionally will add fresh fruit.

Maintenance can be very difficult when you get farther out. I remember at 2 years, if I messed up at some social engagement and had a few snacks, I would gain 2 or 3 lbs. Then I would stay on track all week long and it would come off. Now it's a lot harder to take anything off if I go off track at all.

I am having a fusion of L4 and L5 on 8-18 and I am so scared. I am so much worse than I was before when I had a laminectomy there. It made things 100% worse.

I don't know how to block people either. I know it can be done but not sure how. PM Alex, if the person you want to block can see posts in the host forum. Next week we are going to Second City. It's like Saturday Night Live. In fact, a lot of people on Sat. Night live started at Second City. I love going there. I am doing my best at thinking of activities that don't require a lot of walking. We went on a scenic boat ride today. i talked to my husband's cousin who also had a fusion in his back at L4 and L5. He said he was glad he did it and is out of pain now. That made me feel a lot better. Bill has been doing a really great job of taking care of my house which makes me feel a lot better. There have been robberies in my neighborhood, and people keep telling me that I was stupid to announce my vacation on facebook and now people know my house is empty. Bill has been staying there part of the time.

If you drink Sytrax nectar, which is Protein, during the fast period, you would not have the fast. You should drink crystal light which does not have protein and would be equal to Water and therefore count towards a fast which protein does not. Does that make sense?

Florinda, I should have gone to the surgeon I am going to now, instead of the one I went to in the first place. The new one is a nuerosurgeon. I just didn't want to go to Eugene since it's 2 hours away for me. I should have bit the bullet and had him look at my original MRI and gone from there. He might have done then what he is going to do now, which is a much more extensive surgery. I trusted my original surgeon because I had been under his care for 10 years. He obviously knew nothing about post op infections because he completely screwed that up. I love being in Chicago. Since I can barely walk, we went to the casino and for the first time ever, I got a royal flush and won $200. It would have paid a lot more but I was playing nickel machines cause I am too cheap to put money in those machines. My brother won $2600 cause he was playing quarter machines betting the max. Even betting the max, it's only 200 on a nickel machine. I'm happy though cause I didn't lose any money. It was entertaining for an afternoon. I don't know how people do that as a regular activity though. Lake Michigan is so beautiful with all the yachts and skyscrapers as a background of sparkling water that goes for miles. Maybe tomorrow, I'll go to the beach and people watch.

Sheryl, the soccer player sounds ideal for you. Someone you won't have to put a lot of time and effort into. Who knows, eventually you may meet someone who fits your needs completely. You travel, and seem to meet people IRL. Dance classes is another great way to meet new people. I just hope my surgery takes care of the problems I'm having so I can become more active again. I got my surgery date. It's 8-18 2 hours from my house, so I'll have to leave the day before. I get back from chicago on the 3rd of August. Sarah, where are you? I hope to see you while I'm here!

Florinda, I thought you had found love but it didn't work out. I've been in love with someone before and it didn't work out. Sheryl is much better at holding her feelings in and not letting herself fall in love until she's sure it's going to work out. I am not the same at all. I fall head over heals for someone right away and can't seem to keep my emotions in check. Yes, people know about Almanza at obesity help. People are just stupid. They think 4 grand and I can be skinny, Those bad things only happen to other people.

Dr. Almanza. I hope he was not the surgeon for anybody in this group. I don't want to cause a big my surgeon's is better than yours argument, but I know for a fact that he has caused deaths because of him, and his clinic caused so many infections. It really made me sick way back when. someone would post about their experience with Almanza and how they almost died. The next day it would be gone. I was furious with Alex at that time. I'm leaving for Chicago tomorrow. I'll get their tuesday. Sarah, my cell is 541-297-3249. I hope we can get together. I'll have my lap top so I'll still be checking in here.

Where is Burn Notice? Is it on Netflix? Also, the Americans sounds interesting. Is that on Netflix? Thanks for describing what they are about. I hear of these shows but have no idea if it's something I like if there is no description.

That is weird Sheryl about Alex's posts. He never used to post at all. I am just really glad he posted about a doctor with whom he used to work very closely . They are trying to take this doctor's license because he has caused so many deaths. Alex and I had a big fight about it because people would report bad experiences there, and Alex would pull the post. He was paid to pull the post. He finally wised up and realized he should in no way be affiliated with this doctor. We just had another big long pm about this subject. My kids are coming this weekend. I am excited to see my little grand daughter. My daughter and sil have a boat and are camped close by, so it should be fun. I'll just go up for the day tomorrow. I'm going to try really hard not to make it a food free for all, this weekend.

Sheryl, I know exactly how you feel. I love hiking and there are so many gorgeous trails in Oregon. Now I can barely walk to my bedroom. I love the gym. I loved lifting weights and feeling strong. I loved having my thighs so toned. Now I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to the gym. I loved to dance too! I loved my ballroom classes. Like I said, now I can barely walk. The scary part is I could end up worse than I am now. They are talking about putting in a plate and screws and cadaver bone and a cage around it all. The risk for infection is a lot higher for people who have had a previous infection. oh great. They said I am looking at a year of recovery. Plus all my post op appointments are now 100 miles away. I've made appointments with a rhuematologist and my Hep C doctor and both are also 100 miles away. I don't even know if I can get to either of these doctors because if my ins. approves my back surgery, I am not sure if I'll be able to ride in a car. I did have a longer period of being thin and fit before I fell apart but I am still not readyt to give it up. I've decided to stop taking gabapentin to see if it will stop my weight gain. I can't keep gaining weight. i will not be able to deal with the depression.

That's what i really want too Sheryl. The ability to play it by ear. I just don't feel well and I don't know when I will be feeling any better. You keep mentioning heath issues but you aren't saying what they are. I know you were having shoulder problems. Florinda, I hope things keep moving right for you. If you follow the atikins way, it's low carb, 20 or less and proteins and fats. No limit on fats or calories.

I had a laminectomy in Nov. for sciatica and it made things about 100% worse. I had left leg pain but nothing like I have now. I had another MRI done and everything is worse and I'm now seeing a neurosurgeon instead of an orthopedic surgeon. He has me scheduled for a fusion, and said something about putting a cage in there, and cadaver bone. I just called again ( my surgeon is 2 hrs away) and said I was confused about what is going to be done. His PA said she would send me a booklet about the surgery, Did you have this done or do you know anyone who has had this done? How successful is it and how long of a recovery is it?

Kim, I love your picture! Sarah, I am with you on Lipstick! I don't have any idea who she is, and like you said, we barely have time to post what's going on with us! Sitting here and discussing someone I don't even know is a ridiculous thought! Sheryl, I totally understand these health issues being depressing. This surgery that they want to do on me is sounding more and more like a terrifying thought! I made a thread in the lounge and people have been telling of their experience with back fusions and I hate reading it. I can't go to the gym, I can't dance, and I can barely walk. This is from a surgery that was supposed to make me better! I am with you on men. I really don't even care what happens with Bill and me. If he wants to go find some woman who wants to camp (heaven forbid) who is fit since I am not anymore, more power to him. I'd really like to be free to do whatever I want, whenever I want without having to consider anyone. men are a PIA!