Thanks to everyone for their support and suggestions. I had surgery last Tuesday, the 22nd and am on my way back to work today, since I finally feel like a "normal" person. The tips for using the heating pad were a life saver. I still have some of the shoulder pain but it is much less & something I can handle. So far I've lost about 11 pounds since I started getting ready for the surgery & hope to keep adding! Thanks for the encouragement.:smile2: