terry1118

When I had surgery I had only one pair of work slacks, one pair of jeans, and a few shirts that fit - I refused to buy bigger things. A month post op I got rid of two bags of big clothes. I passed them on to a friend who had surgery so she could use them for her transition to a smaller size. Thursday I went through all the things in my closet and bureaus and I found enough clothes that were too big for me to fill two very large bags - again! Some of these things I never even wore! My clothing options are so varied - I love getting dressed now! :-)

My team recommends them. But every program is different and in the end you should follow the advice of your own team.

I felt guilty being home on FMLA because aside from an allergic rash I felt pretty good. I don't know if there would be any repercussions if anyone found out you went on a vacation. At the very least it might seem... unethical maybe?

I agree it's the best thing I ever did for myself. Surgery was not as bad as I feared and recovery was faster than expected. As for the skin, I'd rather have hanging skin than hanging fat. A little hanging skin won't hurt me but the fat definitely was. I'm already feeling so much better! It's a personal choice... :-)

I didn't take any pictures, nor did I save any clothes. Those memories I can do without! Always looking forward...

My kids are grown. Now is the time when I can stop being a parent who tells them what to do and be a friend who enjoys their company and can keep up with them. And I want to be healthy and active to enjoy my grandchildren when they come along. :-)

Did you fill out a FAFSA for her? That's the federal form that public colleges and universities base all their financial awards on. You have to fill one out every Feb-march to get financial aid. If you didn't fill one out it's too late to get help for the fall semester, because schools have time deadlines that they need to receive the info by. But it's not too late to do the FAFSA for the spring semester. Did she apply for grants? A lot of them initially are hard to get. After her first year, if she's an exceptional student, there's a possibility she'll get some grants gifted to her. My marine biologist daughter got boat scholarships (no clue what they are but it was free money) and scholarship gifts from alumni for doing so well in her program. Also, is there any college planning help in your state? In RI we have free college planning for students. They help parents and students plan for school, navigate confusing rules and procedures, help you find loans and scholarship info, and even proof the students essays. They are a useful tool to help with anything college related.

Make sure she chooses a degree that'll make her employable! You don't want her to spend a lot of money on education and end up with no job and large loan payments. Both my twins ended up with that problem. My daughter wanted so bad to be a marine biologist. She did real well, got a lot of grants and subsidized loans, deans list all the time, did a semester abroad in Bermuda, did research with a scientist there and got published, and graduated in '09 with a BS in Marine Biology. She worked a few different jobs that were grant funded but when the grants ran out (grants are the first to go in a bad economy) she would be out of work again. Last year she'd had enough and went back to the university and is working on a clinical biology degree. She started her internship at RI hospital two days ago. This time next year she'll have a genuine paying job - Glory hallelujah and amen!!!!!!! My other daughter got her BS in Wildlife Conservation Biology. Same thing - deans list, some grants and subsidized loans. She's now a part time receptionist in a Mercedes dealership and she does wildlife rehabilitation on the side. She grocery shops in my pantry and can't afford her student loan payments. :-( Tell your daughter to choose her career wisely. Maybe a trade school would be a good option, too. All I can say is THANK GOD for GRANDMOTHERS!!!!!

I bought a piece of smoked salmon w/Cajun spices. I should get 2-3 meals out of it, but only if it's good - if I don't like it it's getting tossed in the woods! I'm going to try it tomorrow.

That sounds awesome! :-)

Do you have a surgery date, yet? If you have time you should do a lot of research so you know if it is the right choice for you. In addition to joining this group, I googled as much as I could find in the internet, I watched youtube videos endlessly - good and bad, I talked to people who had surgery, I talked to my PCP and my Endocrinologist. I searched out bad experiences so I would know all the possibilities. I did this for months before my initial seminar. Once the decision was made I kept a little notebook to write down questions as I thought of them, and then made sure I got answers to those questions at my many appointments. I was confident long before my actual surgery that it was the right decision for me. It is a major change and a permanent one. You need to be sure it's what you want to do. If you're not sure yet keep asking questions... it's the only way to learn what you need to know to make the choice that's right for you. Good luck with whatever you decide! :-)

It doesn't hurt. :-) I haven't needed to take pain relievers for my back in over a month. I'm not exactly pain free but I'm definitely headed that way! :-)

I agree! If I'm going to eat cheese it's going to be good cheese! I can't do more than an oz at a time anyway. :-)

I would just lose a diamond. My dream gift would be a backpack leaf blower or, dare I say it? A Kubota tractor! Lol But little gestures that show you care are simply the best. :-)

My husband, David!!! :-) He's been noticing that when I eat my tilapia fillet, I only eat half and throw the rest out. Tonight when I took the tilapia out of the freezer they were all cut in half! So thoughtful! :-) Forget diamonds... it's those little unexpected things that he does make me feel loved! :-) :-) :-)

I was up 12lbs after surgery. I read about how that happens from all the fluids you get so I was prepared for it, but it's still a bit of a blow when you see it. It goes away fast! :-)

I was out 2 1/2 weeks but could have gone back after 1 1/2. The only thing that I had trouble with was I developed a troublesome rash that made it very uncomfortable to wear anything but a loose dress. When I did go back I had no problems at all. I work in a bank and was cleared to work with no restrictions. When you go back is very dependent upon you and your situation. Your general health, recovery, complications, how you feel, what your work duties are, etc - all these things vary from person to person and affect when you can return to work. Allow for the maximum amount of time - you can always go back sooner if you're up to it.

I think it depends how much time you actually need them to work with you. My husband pays $200 per year for his. He meets with him every two weeks for measurements. Then they adjust his workout and diet depending on the results.