whippledaddy

SCIENTISTS PROVE THAT DIARRHEA IS HEREDITARY. It runs in your jeans.

Sounds like you were sinking in the quicksand of a dysfunctional family and reached for a tree root to pull yourself out, then had the vision to realize you had grabbed a golden bough instead. Congratulations! You are doing an amazing thing. You are realizing that you have diamonds in your own back yard. Great story. That's not just a moment. It's a treasure.

Good piece Jonathan! And oh so true!

Here we tell our stories. Some of us open up about our relationship with food for the very first time. I don't know about you but I can always tell when something I read in this thread hits a nerve. I lose my breath for a moment, then tear up, then see where it fits in my own life. I've read these posts, in this most excellent thread, I've chuckled and I've wept, and my heart never fails to fill with empathy. We are preaching to the choir. We tell each others small stories that outline lives of pain and rejection. Yet, among us, no words are needed, for we all understand. Your shoes are very like mine, we all know what we all have endured. No, not the detail, but the emotions, the feelings, are shared by each of us. We all know what it's like to be judged with one sideways glance of a stranger. We all know what it's like to be shunned, not invited, looked over. We understand prejudice. And our "problem" is cause for the last acceptible prejudice. Fat jokes must still be PC or movies like "The Nutty Professor" or "Shallow Hal" wouldn't have been such big hits. What needs to happen? Every person who has a fat friend, or family member should read this thread. The ones with hearts will understand. The others? Was there ever any hope for them? Maybe, just maybe, this would lessen the stares, and the unspoken judgements that break all our hearts on a daily basis. Hell, it's gotten so common that sometimes I feel blue and only later realize that I was stinging from some comment, thinly veiled as a jest. Thanks all for posting. Your stories of pain, shared pain, comfort me. I was not alone, when I felt so alone. I am not alone now. All of you are such brave, good people, and your story is my story..........so there's a chance I'm a good person, too. I find that comforting. I find that sad, and uplifting. And, best of all, we're fighting back. We're smiling, but slowly, one day, one pound at a time, we will emerge victorious. We will be better for our trials. We will be slow to say hurtful things. We'll see a person, not their body. I'm proud to count myself among such royalty, such dignity, such good people.

Boy, can I relate to your frustration! I've had my share. But I finally came to realize that it's not so much the individuals, as it is the system. It's the system that rewards those individuals for being that way. Sorry about your short sighted doc. Sounds like he needs to get into some other kind of work. My suggestion about the fax thing? For that price you could have added a fax modem to your computer and faxed for free! Forever! It works, that's what I do. But in the end, it will be worth it. By the way, tell your old doc from me: "hey Buddy, next time you're out for a walk, hope you don't get run over.......by a speedboat!"

My tummy's full, but sometimes my heart gets hungry, and, instead of giving my inner self what he needs, I throw food at him. That's my disease.

And today it calls me, this enemy. food calls me, in a low voice, promises me pleasures I will never know. It knows my name, and where I live. It sneaks into my dreams and supplants my heart's desire. Would that, like Ulysses, I had a mast to lash myself to, so as to hear that Siren song, yet be unable to answer. But I can answer. And I can cook. I fight, and sometimes I lose. Later, in the afterglow of unprotected grazing, I pummel myself mentally in belated remorse. Too little,,,,,too late. I sit in the dark and glower. I hate myself for my weakness, and I hate that amorphous creature within me that thinks the soul is the stomach, that won't take "full" as an answer. I'll never eat enough to feed this hungry heart. I'll never eat enough to calm this torment, put out this fire, feed the demon that is my drive to drug myself with food. Somedays I eat the bear. Somedays the bear eats me. Today I lost the battle. Tomorrow we go back to the war.

I told them that Victoria's Secret is that she's bullemic OMG! Lisa that is a classic! I love it!

Do they make underwire jock straps? Will I need one? How about a thimble and a rubber band? Nope. Too big.

My hat is off to any man (HE-MAN) who can do anything to that band at THE TOP OF YOUR STOMACH during sex.

Perfect follow up care would, first and foremost, be adequate lines of communication. You should be encouraged to call your surgeon's office in the event of any change or problem. Once the surgery is over, and once you've been sent on your way, your surgeon should carefully let you know that the surgery isn't the end of the process, but the beginning. You should be made to understand that it is the follow up care that insures success, or invites failure. You should not feel that you're on your own now.

I gotta agree with you. If I must choose between chrome and leather fringe: well, fringe it is!

Hey Greg! Ya wanna go into business? Here's the idea: We'll make bras for ladies who've had WLS surgery, and here's the best part: We'll offer free installation!

Here in the U.S. we call it broth. You probably call it meat stock. Clear, no fat, but here it is very high in sodium. When I started my Clear liquids I was so hungry that my beef stock (buillion) tasted like pure heaven! I've eaten tons of food (sometimes at one sitting) and never had anything taste so wonderful. That first sip of broth was like kissing a lover after a long separation. Good luck! And remember, get all your medical advice from your own doc. Ask him what he meant by broth. Food can be known by many names.

good luck Brighteyes. See ya on the other side of bandland

Greg, I'd tell you my membership number but first I gotta ask the wife if it's okay.

You look great, and the bike is pretty cool, too. Has it been lowered? Looks like, I love the retro cruiser look. Your leathers are fantastic.

Yeah, sure, that time it linked, and I can't be sure what I changed to fix it.

Okay, my email won't link, but here it is you can copy and paste: patty48801@yahoo.com

My wife had the bypass, and has had great results, she's lost over 270 lbs. She told me that if the band were available when she had surgery that is what she would have chosen. When "She Who Must Be Obeyed" speaks, I listen!

Before Patty had her RNY surgery she was a 50JJ, and she was 5'4" tall! Now she's lost 271 pounds. and she's a 48 long. sigh. Yes, I miss 'em. But on the bright side, I now can get closer to her! I can reach all the way around her to hug! It ain't all bad! And, most important of all, I'll get to hug her for more years!

I'd definately get on the phone to my insurance company, and your hospital should have a Public Relations person. Call and find out. Flat out tell them what happened and say in so many words that you don't feel you should be charged for this day. Our hospital is small, and it's been as bad as you describe, even worse upon occasion, but they send out a survey every time you use it. That is your chance to respond. And remember, since this place is the way you've described it, they are probably bored with all the complaints. You're gonna have to squeak really loud, and be very assertive. But you will get your way, for in the end, if they percieve that they are liable for anything, in any way, they'll cave and not charge you. And, maybe, just maybe they'll improve their customer service a little. Good luck, and sorry you had to go through this. I sure can understand though, I've met great people in Health Care, and I've dealt with some real troglodytes as well, plus some systems so clumsy it's a wonder anyone gets over any ailment!

Greg! Jack! TallGuy! All you other men! Don't you see what's happening? They're trying to make 'em SMALLER! Oh the humanity. Say it ain't so!

Like all such things the mind creates more problems before than you ever experience after. All will be well. You'll be amazed at how easy it is, how much less painful than you had thought. And the rewards are worth it. I'd do it again. You'll get it done, spend a short time healing, spend the rest of your life fighting the enemy of fat with a weapon that works, and you'll be able to help and encourage others who seek to win this war. It's a thing of beauty and grace how this works. You will finally find the person under the layers of solid pain. You will be more loveable, and you will love yourself more. Doors will open that were once forever closed. Once grey days will give way to the sun. Welcome, and good luck!

Lisa, why do you want to know the price of Viagra? But, a word of warning. Always take your Viagra with lots of Water. I got one caught in my throat once. Had a stiff neck for nearly four hours.