Tess415

Salsa, I've been thinking about your big day tomorrow, and wanted to send you warm wishes for a speedy recovery!! You are truly an inspiration, and it means so much that you are sharing your journey with all of us!!!!! Take Care!!! Wishing you well!!!!! Tess

Scappy - That is great to be trying to be off your BP meds! I can't wait until the day comes for me to try without them!!! Talk about a NSV!!! Tess

Fantastic Fenton!!! That's awesome!!!! I am going to have to start practicing my cyber cartwheels in celebration of your 100 pound mark!!!!! Tess

I just tasted hummus for the first time. It was great on english cucumber slices. I also keep a supply on hand of the south beach Peanut Butter Breakfast bars, quick don't need refrigerated and have 10 grams of Protein and they taste good! I also been eating alot of cottage cheese with a fruit cup on top...very refreshing! Tess

Fenton - Thanks for the cyber high five!!!!! I will do a cyber cartwheel for you when you hit your 100 pound mark!!!!!!:biggrin2: Tess

Amanda - that's a riot!!!! You go get em!!!! :lol::lol::thumbup::smile2::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol: :lol::lol::lol::lol: Tess

Hi Everyone, I just got an email from my friend I mentioned earlier who was diagnosed around the same time as me that I used to work with. As I mentioned she is expecting and just finished a 35 mile bike for MS. She has a fantastic team that raises lots of money for MS. She would like me to join her next year!!!! I think I am going to set myself a goal of doing a bike-a-thon for next year. I attached the web page if your interested in seeing how fortunate we are to have people support MS Research!!!! Tess MS Bike to the Bay Ohio.pdf

Jill, Nice to meet you. The combination of hot weather and being post op can really take a toll on energy levels. Are you exercising, even just walking? That's all I've been doing, is walking and it really has helped over the months to increase my energy levels. I walk late in the evening when its cooler, or on the treadmill in the air conditioned gym with a fan blowing right on me:biggrin2:! I understand the frustration of not being diagnosed, which one do you want it to be?!?!??! DUH!! We don't want it to be either one of those things!!!! It seemed at times almost sadistic to keep trying for a diagnosis, but you know something isn't right with your body and it just won't knock it off. I have to say for me, not knowing has been definitely much harder than dealing with it. I felt a sense of peace after the whole ordeal to finally have a diagnosis. I want you to know I really feel for you being undiagnosed. Tess

You got it!!! I think everyone should post their vacation pictures... it really is nice to put a face and family life to these posts!!! Tess

Harley, Great pictures!!! Looks like a fantastic time. I can't wait... I leave on Thursday to go to the Smoky Mountains!!!! I am planning a few hikes for myself... hell, I might even buy myself a walking stick!!!! Tess

Friend, What was your last relapse like? What did it feel like? If you don't mind me asking. As far as my ability to work, I do 12 hour shifts at a hospital, I have been there for 22 years, I have a good amount of vacation time for my longevity so I can't complain... I think it works out to be around 6 weeks a year. Not as good as a teacher though:lol:! The unit I work in does self scheduling, so I usually make sure I have a a few days off in between the work days and very rarely do I do 3 days in a row. (I only work 3 days a week). I've always worked 12's so my body doesn't know what 8's are like. One thing though, I do not like really hot weather... it takes a toll on me more so than anything else. Thank god for air conditioning!!!:biggrin2: Talk soon! Tess

Friend - I had my first "get your attention" symptoms in 1999. I woke up in the morning to get my kids ready for school and had numbness and tingling down the entire left side of my body, from my forehead to my toes. Also had weakness. I am a nurse and was afraid I was having a stroke. I went to the ER where I work, had a normal CT and was admitted for a few days, MRI"S, TEE, and the neurologist decided it was a two small strokes that showed up on my MRI. Ended up on blood thinners. But kept having weird symptoms... dizziness, vision troubles, balance and weakness on the left side. After multiple conversations with my neurologist and a 2nd opinion at Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center for MS. They looked at my MRI's from my 1999 episode and saw multiple leisions... where my doctor only saw 2!!!! I finally received a diagnosis after a spinal tap and began taking avonex. I'm sure I've had other symptoms prior but not enough to get my attention. Side effects from the avonex are minimal for me. How about you? I have a friend that was taking betaseron but... she is off of it because she has decided to start a family and is expecting!! I am soo happy for her, I know it was a real struggle for her to make that decision, I'm so glad she is doing it!!! Tess

Hi guys! I was diagnosed with MS in 2001 after 2 years of limbo and testing. I have been very fortunate, I take Avonex and I have some mild symptoms I have to deal with day to day, but for the most part I feel good. I feel my fatigue has greatly improved with my weightloss and exercise! I was glad to see this thread, I was wondering who else on here has MS. Tess

Mrs.FlipFlops - I am soo happy you've lost you first 50 pounds! You will be in twoville soon!! Congratulations on you nsv, I too had a scale I couldn't use until I got below 330. I kept hopping on it thinking one of these days I would be able to use it... and it finally happens and it feels good!!!!!! Keep up the good work!!! You'll be under 300 before you know it!!! Tess

Bratz - Thank you for your kind words! I want to be encouraging and helpful to others... I think that this is such a great place for all of us to pull support from. I've never been on any other message boards before, and I feel so fortunate to have met so many fantastic people. We all have so much in common with our challenges and we can learn so much from each other! Tess

Today before the storms hit... I walked 1.5 miles Tess

Bratz... You can do it!:biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2: Keep it going!! Tess

I would go with the manufactures recommendations. If anything were to happen, I don't think you would have much luck in having them pay for a replacement. I would be very leery of this idea! Gastrografin itself is pretty harmless if it gets into your abdomen if you were to have a leak, it dissolves in Water and it is the kind of contrast we give to patients to drink to do CT scans that may have perforated something because it much easier for them to clean out of the abdomen than the chalky white barium. Having said that, I don't know what effect it would have on the material, and integrity of the lap band. Tess

:sad_smile: Under the weather today, went to the gym though and did 35min on the treadmill at 3 mph. Tess

I agree with the going back to liquids for a couple of days. My nurse specialist said that when you're tight, even after you get something unstuck you can have esophageal spasms when other food passes through from the irritation. So you need to give it some time. As far as your antibiotic goes, they should be able to order it in a liquid form:biggrin2: for you, just ask. Good luck, hang in there it does get better...I too had back and chest pains the first few weeks with real food. Stick to mushier stuff when its time to try again and go slow with the new foods!! Tess

Do you have any leg swelling? Does your calves hurt more when you pull your toes toward your head? Any shortness of breath? To be on the safe side, I would let your doctor know. Could be a symptom of low potassium or blood clots. Tess

Hi Everyone! Been off for a few days... had to work the last 2 days. Today is a new day! I walked the park 2 miles today! Tess

k_pod - I think it's great that you're quitting smoking! Just a suggestion... quite a few of my friends have had success using the new medication Chantix. (I think that's how you spell it) It really helps with the cravings!!! I wish you lots of luck... you won't regret it!! :biggrin2: You can do it!!! Onederland Smoke Free!!!! :biggrin2::grouphug::biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin: :biggrin2::redface::biggrin2::tongue::biggrin2: :biggrin2::biggrin2::biggrin2::tt2: Tess

Fenton - That is a fantastic goal!!! :grouphug: I have to tell you that I've been thinking about your Mars bar quite a bit. Every time I am by the candy bar / gum rack at the check outs! I wanted to get myself a Snickers!!! But, I didn't... but I had the evil thoughts of doing it!! I don't deprive myself, but if I gave in every time I had the cravings, the scale would certainly be moving the wrong direction!!! Tess

Well, I haven't really thought about what the next milestone will be. When I did WW a few years back the lowest I got was 270. So I am thinking that when I get to that weight I'll have to celebrate!!! I put all of the weight back on and was soooo discouraged for the past few years... I didn't think it would be possible to loose that much weight again. But thank goodness I was wrong, and now with the help of the lap band, I think it is going to be a good year!!! Tess