Elisabethsew

Since your band has barely any fill, let's hope that the surgeon is able to repair it. You're already a success story and inspiration. Good luck on Monday!

Julie NYC, I'm glad to hear that your recovery is going well. You're a true success story and I bet you'll look fabulous once the swelling goes down. Keep us updated on your recovery.

JulieNYC, I think you recently had surgery. How are you feeling?

I'm still fighting a plateau but sticking to about 1300 calories a day. Sooner or later, the scale will budge. It's frustrating waiting for it to move. You ladies are all doing wonderfully.

I'm stuck at a plateau... very frustrating. I got a small fill (that's all they will allow after 8 cc's) on Monday and hope that helps. I'm one of those people who don't feel the fill for about 2 weeks. I won't make my goal but I'll try to come close.

She's had a very long history of abusing prescription drugs. Anyone else who took that combination would need to get to an ER STAT. It's a shame she didn't get therapy WITH the medications... a VERY strong sleeping med, anti-anxiety, anti-depressants, human growth hormone, etc. Again... very sad but the real sorrow if for her daughter.

I don't think the cause of death came as a surprise and she was on a VERY dangerous combination of drugs. I would guess she saw several MDs to get those drugs. If one MD prescribed them all he/she should lose the ability to practice medicine. It's sad.

Tilapia is a non-fishy fish that is firmer than flounder and delicious. I place a filet in an egg wash and then dredge it in some italian flavored panko breadcrumbs. I place the filets on a foil lined pan that I spray with olive oil PAM and bake it at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes and then flip it over and bake another 2 minutes.

I think that's a wise decision. You've got to be able to keep hard proteins down and you don't want to damage your esophagus or band.

Welcome! I would LOVE to move off Long Island, NY to a warmer place where it's less crowded and hectic and where you're not taxed to death. My job and family keep me here but I won't retire here. Good luck with the MD approving you for the band.

You've come too far to give up and go back to unhealthy ways. Make an appointment to see the surgeon (not the PA), get whatever tests he/she orders and take it from there. Remember, you already ARE a success.

Demyelination is caused by an auto immune response in the body. Basically, this means that the body begins to harm itself. A certain degree of demyelination is part of the aging process so the treatment is going to depend on how the neurologist interprets your tests. It is quite unusual to be diagnosed with MS in your 60's but not unheard of. My advice would be to wait until you hear what the neurologist has to say. There are many variables and many possibilities such as normal pressure hydrocephalis and viruses. I am attaching a link to some current research that is being done in this area. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your news is good. http://today.uci.edu/news/release_detail.asp?key=538

THAT is a billing error. Contact your insurance company.

You're problem might be that your potassium was a little low or it could mean something else. The first place to begin is with your MD who will do an EKG. You might also want to see a cardiologist to have a stress test (evaluates left heart function) and an echocardiogram (evaluates heart valves). Based on those findings, you might be asked to wear a 24 hours holter monitor or even something called a 30 day event monitor. The right side of the heart is best evaluated with a heart MRI (special machine). Electrophysiologic Studies (EPS) are done in a lab and map the electrical conduction of your heart. Your heart is a muscle that is regulated by the electrical system. If your EPS cardiologist finds an electric problem, it can be ablated (killed) using either heat or cold. Please know that MANY people experience what you descibe and their hearts are fine. I bet you're in that group. :-)

Yes, you could have some elevation related to inflammation of the GI system. MANY conditions such as arthritis, lupus, etc., can cause an elevated SED rate and that's why this test is never looked at in isolation. If your CBC is OK and everything else is fine, it's not a cause for real concern and your MD may just want to monitor your blood work. Cancer would be screened for by a CEA and not a SED rate. Don't worry!

As a couple, the Edward's have agreed to seek a bid for the White House. Being in the medical profession and having read the proposed treatment plan, I don't think the cancer issue should be a factor. For now, it's a chronic illness that will lead to death in as little as six months but projected to be a few years. For THIS couple, a decision was made to not let her illness change the short and long range plans. My vote would not be effected by a candidate's cancer diagnosis. Betty Ford was an alcoholic and many other presidents have had very personal issues to deal with while in office. Some were public and some we'll never know about. If the presidency were a dictatorship as opposed to a democracy with bipartisan houses, I might feel differently. How do YOU feel about it?

Increase your water intake and try about 8 raw almonds a day.

It would be wise to hold off on getting your fill until you complete the course of antibiotics. You don't want to add esophagitis to your other airway infections. I hope you feel better soon.

I went in the afternoon of my surgery, stayed overnight, and was home by noon the next day... less than 24 hours in total.

To get things "moving" increase your water intake. Another thing that works wonderfully is 8 raw almonds a day. I read it in another post, tried it, and it really works.

Don't tell a child suffering the long-term effects (varying degrees of retardation) of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) that it's comparing apples and oranges.

Whatever happened to husbands that believed they should support the family while the wife raises the children? Sigh. It's called life. Mortgage payments, tuition payments, sports activities, taxes, food, utilities... VERY hard to do on a single salary.

Kay, You're off and running! Congratulations on on the weight loss.

Cup size unchanged here also. Sigh!

Most surgeons want you to heal 4-8 weeks before you get a first fill. After that, there is no rule. Some people get restriction after one fill and it lasts months. Others need to go several times before they are adequately restricted. It all depends on how booked up the fill appointments are, what your surgeon prefers, and how you are doing. I do know some people don't have a fill "kick-in" for a week or two so it's best to wait 2 weeks or more inbetween fills.