ObesityHelp

I am 45 yrs. old. Feeling helpless and desperate. Can't find a surgeon who will accept Medicare(now that Hubby has been layed off). When we did have insurance I was denied. Now I have a very uncomfortable hernia that the Drs. want me to take care of Immediately but not without the WLS done at the same time. I weigh 510lbs. and 5'6. Done my homework for years actually about this surgery...finally ready! HELP!!

UPDATE! Well I have to say i am a bit surprised and disappointed that I have not heard from anyone out there. I did hear from Obesity.com..that they had a Dr. in lower Mi. that would accept Medicare. I was so thrilled to finally have hope! But such is my luck..they refused me because I am TOO FAT! They said they do accept Medicare BUT my BMI is too high! The do take people up to 600 lbs. provided their BMI is 70 or below. Jeez =(. Mine
is 82 or 83. In the meantime I finally quit crying after 3 hrs. and got back to work looking for help. I found a place in California that does accept medicare and may be willing to take me soon due to the hernia getting worse. I have an EX-boyfriend, (who is now my best friend in the world), and he is going to come all the way here from New York to DRIVE me to California! Isn't that INCREDIBLE? He will be there with me thru the surgery etc. but he may have to get back to NY before I can leave California which may be a problem for me as far as getting home. Well..we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Anyway, my big problem is now I have to raise enough money to get there and back. I won't be able to fit on a train or plane so gotta go by car. I have been working on recording a CD which I was hoping to sell and make some money with but being so ill I have not been able to finish it...so I guess the struggles are not over but I do not give up easily so I'll keep staying positive and have faith that something good will happen. Has anyone out there had their surgery done by Dr. Fobe in California? Please let me know! If anyone has any words of encouragement I'd sure be grateful if you'd send them my way as I am awaiting approval from the "Center for Surgical Treatment of Obesity" as I write this.
My biggest fears are the fear of dying on the table, and I am worried that these small town Drs. won't have a clue as to what to do for me if something goes wrong. (I live in a tiny, tiny remote town). But the people at the Center have assured me that they send an info packet to my Dr. so I'll try not to worry=(!
I read everybody's posts and do get alot of inspiration. Thank you to all of you who tell it like it is and I wish you all the VERY BEST! If anyone wants to E-mail me, please be sure that you give me some sort of clue in the subject box that you are from Obesity.com as I only open mail from those I trust=). Take Care and please...pray for me that I will be accepted. Thank you so much...Love, Hally Sue

FRIDAY JANUARY 31, 2003
YAHOAND YIPPIE KY-AYE!! Hi there fellow WLS folks! Well lots has happened since my last post. Even tho I never heard from anyone out there I believe somebody must have been praying for me because I have been accepted into the program at the CENTER FOR THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF OBESITY in California. As it turns out they have accepted my Medicare(tho not the Medicaid). I had ALL of the info ready to go when they asked for it including other Dr.s ' recommendations, pictures, my complete WL history etc.Then sent it FED-EX. That was the beginning of Jan. It only took them about 2 wks. & I had my first phone consult with a collegue of Dr. FOBI'S-Dr. Falahy. He was SO nice and very patient with all my questions. I never felt rushed and felt like I was all that was important to him at that moment so I felt quite "safe". Then the insurance co-ordinator got in touch with me a few days later and told me what was going to happen next and that I would have to probably have to wait a couple of weeks for confirmation for Medicare. So I waited-BUT to my pleasant surprise the surgical co-ordinator called me 3 days-not 2 wks later=). I was so excited I could barely talk. So that was just this past Monday. So now here we are at Friday Jan 31, 2003 and all I am waiting for is for my Dr. to set up all my testing to be done here in Michigan before I get to California. GLORIA,(surgical co-ordinator), (one of my Angels)made sure and got all the info FAXED to my Dr. today and the Dr.s office has hopfully arranged all my tests today. So I will know my surgery date by Tues. I admit I am still scared and worried I won't be able to raise enough money for hotel and travel expenses but I am ALSO excited because I have waited So long for this and now things are moving right along. I am also in the process of starting a support group for my area. Well that's it for now. Please keep your prayers acommin'. I sure do appreciate it..ThankYOU ALL!! P.S. I am even losing weight!

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16,2003
Yee Haa there everybody!! It's been 8 days since my last post because SO VERY MUCH has been happening. And somehow i don't see the very last post I had anyway. I think I am doing something wrong so I will write here, copy it and then try and post it elswhere on the site..Ok well here I am only 7 days away from my 2500 mile + or - journey to California and 16 days and a wake-up till the BIG DAY-MARCH 5TH,2003 YIPPIE!! I was at first VERY SCARED because I didn't know if I was in good enough health to make it thru the surgery but I had all my PRE-OP testing done this past Monday and Tuesday and I apparently have come thru with flying colors!! WOW was I surprised since I am always in so much pain-you know knees,back, ankles etc,etc, and Dr.s telling me I will die without this operation. They did find a cyst on my ovarie, a few fibriod uterine tumors, a calcium deposit in my breast, all benign and GALL STONES. I kind of have been suspecting that tho by some other health problems. So I am sure they will take the ol gall badder..thats cool. I went thru more testing in 2 days than I have been thru in all my life put together!!I can surely say Dr. Fobi and his Associates are obviously thorough BUT as miserable as some of those tests were, I would do it all over again just to find out that I do have a very healthy heart! Boy that was a big relief! This Tues. I go to my reg. Dr. for the final physical and history etc. And I will finally be done. All my test results have been FAXED to CSTO and I am in the process of deciding what to say in my letters to people, making out my will and other last minute loose ends. Not to mention eating everything I have had a taste for that I know I will miss at least for a while, Which is mostly crunchy things like nuts & vegies, fruit and lotsa water(chugalugging)!
The other night I mad a superb pork roast,with plain green beans and new potatoes. Because of my umbilical hernia I only have a rare occassion that I am not in pain and THIS was that nite..So I loaded my plate with plain pork roast, mega green beans and 3 new baby red potatoes(I am not a potatoe person really)and I ate myself sick till I was bursting. When I got done I looked at my plate, then at my husband and busted out in tears. I then said while weeping, "I am SO GLAD AND GREATFUL THAT SOON I WILL NEVER EAT LIKE THIS AGAIN"!! And God knows i meant it! I hate not being able to say enough is enough! But hey soon I will have help and I will have a second chance to treat my body with the grace, dignity and respect it deserves..So like I said, I was VERY scared before that my heart would give out on the operating table and I would die right there and admittedly I still have a little fear yet but I really feel so positive that I am doing the right thing that I am VERY excited and can't wait to feel the pain of my new scar as a reminder of what I will never be again..I can't wait to start living instead of only existing. I can't wait to be healthy enough that I can do things for others(and myself), instead of everyone else doing for me. I can't wait to park in a regular space so someone who REALLY needs it can park in the Handicap spot. Yesterday was the ultimate humiliation for me when I went into Wal-Mart and for the first time I used one of those motorized carts instead of hobbling all over in absolute agony to buy stuff for this trip. Normally I would have Jess(my husband) do all the shopping but I was determined to pick out EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED(tho he usually does a good job). Actually HE was the one who suggested I use the cart. I was so embarrassed-but he said he wasn't and walked right with me..What A GUY! I can't wait to start singing well again(being out of breath by the time i get on stage makes it rough),I can't wait to ride my horses again, I so look forward to having a good sex life again..OOOHHH BABY BABY LOL..LOL..Aw hell-I just CAN'T WAIT TO BE HEALTHY AND STRONG!
I REALLY want to THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WONDERFUL PRAYERS, emotional support and encouragement. I love reading everybodies experiences and posts and do so appreciate all the well wishes that you have personalized to me. Thank you for all your love and I hope you are all comfortable, safe and happy. I will probably post at least once more before I leave Michigan and If anyone knows anyone else having surgery with Dr. Fobi the same week as me at Tri-City, I will be happy to deliver any well wishes to them..Please let me know. Love to you all and keep eating healthy! Love, Hally Sue

Friday Feb.21, 2003..Hi everybody! Just a quick update to say thank you to all of you for your wonderful well wishes and all your prayers. Your kindness and encouragement keep me so motivated! I am Just about all packed up to leave this Sund. and I think this may be my last post until after surgery unless there is a computer at the hotel. We are hoping to arrive from our 2500 mile trip in enough time to make more than one support group meeting before my a big day. I have alot of mixed feelings but alot of the fear of not making it off that table has actually subsided since I have had such good reports on all my tests...Especially my heart test! But as I found out tonight I will have to take some anti-biotics for a stomach lining infection(H-Pylori)which will cost me over $200.00..Jeez that sucks! We are in the middle of another blizzard here in Michigan so traveling will be a bit tidious. Anyway, whatever it takes is ok. I am looking forward to spending lots of time with my best friend who is driving(came all the way from New York to get me), and certainly will enjoy seeing some of the country too. So all in all Y'all thank you again for all your love and kind support and I will update again ASAP or after I am on the losing side. I want to encourage those of you that are still struggeling with insurance not to give up-be relentless in your persuit to save your own lives and DON'T WAIT FOR THE DR.S TO CALL YOU BACK(atleast not too long=),you stay on their butts till you get the results you want ok? ok! So see you guys soon and please keep your prayers acomin fer me..especially on 3-5-03!
WITH MUCH LOVE......HALLY SUE

APRIL 12, 2003 FINALLY UPDATING!!!

Hi there everybody! I can't believe it! I am finally feeling well enough(mentally) to update my profile. What I mean is I am definately one of those folks who is suffering from extreme depression since my surgery on March 5th,2003. The whether up here in the Upper Penninsula has been NO help as it finally stopped snowing 4 days ago. Anyway, I will write as much as I can for now.
Well first of all the trip(driving 2500 miles-in 5 days) to California was an absolute blast except it was very tiresome-especially on my back and knees-quite painful! VERY GLAD tho when we finally arrived. I was hoping to go swimming but it was too cold-oh well! Made it on time tho to the Saturday group support meeting. Very interesting..saw myself as I am and as I may become. Was quit encouraging. Everyone was really nice and welcoming...wishing me good luck etc. That following Monday I did all the pre-op stuff-weighed in at 498lbs. Then came back Tues.for final pre-op stuff and to meet my Dr.Weighed in at 494!Lost 4 lbs overnight! I was a bit aggrevated because no one really knew who was going to be my surgeon and the Dr. who did most of my pre-op stuff was NOT my surgeon after all! Then I left the Dr.s office and went DIRECTLY to the hospital for check in. Went into surgery at 7:30 am on Wed.3-5-03. My surgery was about 4 hrs. Aside from the stomach surgery they also repaired my umbilical hernia, took out my gall badder, and removed a fist size tumor from my uterus-WOW! Cleaned me out!! I'll skip alot of the detail but I woke up in the ICU at about 6:30 pm. in Morphine LALA LAND and in SEVER AGONY AND PAIN. I thank goodness didn't have much time to feel the pain sliping in and out of consciousness on pain meds but i remember feeling like every part of my body was 4000 lbs. My mouth was so dry and boy did those ice chips tase GREAT!!! Then sometime that evening they made me get up. Oh my GOD-HOW HORRIBLE! All I could think to myself was "this sure better be worth it". The next day I went back to my regular room where I seem to have been waited on hand and foot by My x-boyfriend-ALAN(who was the one who took me to Cal.)had to leave to go back to New York for a Gig(he's a muaician)and my neice came in from Phoenix to stay with me. They were /are my ANGELS. The hospital was great and let Alan stay with me the night before surgery and my neice stayed all the rest of the time. I had ice chips on surgery day-next day-clear liquids-next day cream of wheat, jello, tea-next day mostly the same but had a real egg! That was the best egg i ever ate =). and that night -CHICKEN for dinner wow,,pureed of course. and soup too. I couldn't believe how much food they gave you. I could barely finish anything! I was so happy when they took the bladder catheter out but then I realized I would then have to use the bathroom myself and getting in and out of the bed -excuse me BUT--WAS A BITCH!! Thank God for my neice who helped me every step of the way. Every time I got out of the bed she had to help me up & take all the pillows away and repack me in them when I came back-what a chore! Then on day 4 the Dr. came to take out my stomach and waste tubes. OH LORDY THAT WAS THE WORST MOST HORRIBLE 60 SECONDS OF PAIN I HAVE EVER FELT IN MY LIFE! I was SO NOT PREPARED for that. So they kept me an extra day and I went home(to the hotel) on Monday the 10th. But alas my neice had to leave and I was then on my own until Alan came back on the 16th. It was REALLY REALLY difficult to be alone and do everything for myself. But somehow I managed. I would NOT reccommend it tho! By the end of the second week I was eating pretty good and had no major problems other than leg pains which turned out to be nothing and some rectal bleeding(first wk) when my BM's were first starting to come thru again. But that was ok too-just irritated lining. But all was well!
By the time I left on March 19th I had lost 22 lbs.(3lbs the first week after surgery and 15lbs. the 2nd.
Now here it is going on the 6th wk. post op and I have only lost an additional 5 lbs. I am not going to worry about it too m uch tho because I am weighing on a different scale which we believe is 13 lbs off of Dr. Fobi's scale. Also I have not been doing anything physical due to soreness and the whether but all that is changing soon too. I am still optimistic and it will come off in time. I still can't even believe that I actually did this! I have had some small problems like in weeks 3&4 I had very debilitating diarreah and in wk 4 everything and anything I drank hurt going down and made my stomach hurt for hrs. Eating was bad too. So far thank God I have not had any nausea but I have been severly tired and depressed. Then suddenly in wk.5-almost no diareah and stomach does not hurt much when drinking-and eating is fine. So little by little things are getting better and I am feeling stronger. People ask me if I had to, would I do it again-My answer is: Even tho there was/is alot of agony involved-both physical and mental-I know I have done the right thing FOR ME, as I am sure down the road my good health will be the pay-off.And I CAN'T WAIT!! But I will also say that if there is ANY way that a person can avoid having this surgery by learning to eat a healthy lifestyle and sticking to it so they never get to the point I was at-DO IT! Eat right and live well.
All in all I do wish anyone out there who is considering this surgery the best of luck and well wishes for a good journey to the new you. And I want to thank EVERYONE who prayed for me and sent me all your good and thoughtful wishes for my speedy recovery. Your prayers were surely answered.THANK GOD FOR YOU ALL!! If anyone ewants to write ar talk, please e-mail me and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have or if you just want to share-LETS! Oh and one other GIANT THANKS-goes to my friend, who I had not met yet- Tony Neuman who came all the way from Lake Havasu,Arizona to see me, encourage me and even gave me some great Vitamins. Thank you Tony-Your G-R-E-A-T!!!!
And last but not least Debbie,Trish, and Sherry for all our phone chats while we are having the blues etc...great to have someone to share with..I love you all...
So thats it for now folks-gonna get out to the barn now to see if the new baby has come yet(horsie baby) YEE HAA!! And remember to drink your WATER!!! LOVE, HALLY SUE

UPDATE for Jan./February 2004...11 MO.POST-OP YEAH
1/05/2004 Hey There Y'all !! I realize it has been forever since I updated my info and I appologize but alas life has really been actually happening since my Fobi-pouch on March 5th,2003. I really can't believe how incredible I feel both physically and emotionally!! I have had some ups and downs as far as side effects go but I guess I will start by saying that I would do this again in a heartbeat ABSOLUTELY!!! Of Course I was scared to death that I would die on that operating table....BUT I was MORE AFRAID of only EXISTING and SUFFERING EVERYDAY as I watched life pass me by as I stuffed my face with my binge eating of mass quantities of those wonderful OREOS(and everything else too) that I never even tasted after the first bite yet finished off the package in one sitting!! I couldn't breathe, I could barely walk, I was never happy with anyone or anything ever, I hurt all over, I was sick all the time, and always angry with myself that I could let myself get to the point I was at. I really had tried every diet out there and was actually successful at most of them but I just could never keep off what I had lost and I was always overwhelmed with how much more I always still had to lose! I am very grateful that I never gave up on myself and that I was willing to find out MOST IMPORTANTLY-WHAT N THE HEC WAS GOING ON INSIDE MY HEAD!!!! About 2 yrs. after I met hubby#2, I was put on anti-depressants...and rightly so as I definately was depressed! I worked for a couple of years with a therapist to dig up and face all the garbage I could and for some time the MEDS helped but then they'd stop working, or they'd make me sleep all the time or my memory would become foggy and I'd forget what I would be saying right in the middle of a sentence! How aggrevating! When FINALLY ONE DAY I woke up and I realized that YES, the MEDS made me feel just fine-ALL THE TIME-NO MATTER WHAT-OR HOW HORRIBLE ANYTHING WAS....EVERYTHING WOULD BE OK!!ooohhh wheee=)...NOTHING EVER BOTHERED ME ANYMORE-EVER!!! Even being almost 600 lbs. was OK??? I had NO PASSION FOR ANYTHING...NOTHING anymore!! So THAT was when I decided it was time to face EVERYTHING about me head on WITHOUT MEDS, and from that day on just dealt with the harsh realities of my life. I continued to see my wonderful therapist and little by little, I finally came to realize I WAS NOW READY to become ALIVE..I really knew that for quite some time I was just a big fat LONELY UNHAPPY miserable DEAD person, a mummy so to speak and I was finally sick of it. What was the point of living life that way? I DO NOT-I REPEAT...I DO NOT WANT TO IMPLY THAT I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF UNDER ANY CONDITION!!! ON THE CONTRARY...I FINALLY WANTED TO LIVE-AS I HAVE ALWAYS FELT I WAS ALREADY DEAD!! So that was when and how I knew I was ready for this drastic, life altering surgery. I admitted to myself that I could NOT do this alone. I also want to stress that I did NOT do this surgery to lose weight..I am VERY GOOD at LOSING weight...I did this as a TOOL to help me KEEP IT OFF so that when I got that first 100 lbs off, I could keep going even if I hit an emotional bump in the road, which I have learned to expect.
My trip home from California TO the Upper Penninsula of Michigan after surgery was to say the least quite uncomfortable as having to get out of the car and walk every 2 hrs. was frustrating. But I got thru it! My x-boyfriend was a prince MOST of the time and that surely made things easier. I am very lucky to have a friend like him!
The months of recovery that followed were tolerable. I healed well without any side effects as far as incision problems go keeping myself VERY CLEAN and doing EVERYTHING the Drs. told me to do exactly as they said I should!!! I would say tho the most frustrated I have been was with hair loss. I did not go bald but have lost massive amounts of hair and it seems I lose it mostly when I have a big weight loss in one wk. I am religious with my vitamin and mineral supplements-high quality only-mega doses-but have not been able to get enough protien in-in a day which I am sure contributes to the hair loss too!! When I went for the surgery I had an umbilical hernia which the Drs. told me would most likely return-and it has!!! It is uncomfortable but at the moment not life threatening so I am trying to wait as long as I can to have it repaired so I can have the Tummy Tuck done at the same time. I have only had problems with nausea occassionally and I will puke if I eat too fast or swallow too much at one time and/or drink any liquid right after I swollow. This last month, aside from gaining wt.,I have had discomfort when I eat ANYTHING at times and I am now scheduled for an endoscopy to see if I have developed an ulcer or if the silastic ring may be eroding-scary thought because if it is I will have to go back to California to have them remove it-EEWW=(.
When I first found out I was accepted as a patient by Dr. Fobi at CSTO( Center for the Surgicial Treatment of Obesity), I WEIGHED 546 LBS. As I prepared for my trip to California for this life altering surgery, I HAD LOST 48 LBS and by the time I reached the operating table I WEIGHED 498LBS. So now here I am at my 10 month anniversary ...I HAVE LOST 139LBS, since my surgery!(hit that bump in the road last month and did not lose one ounce for 5 straight wks! In fact I gained a total of 3lbs that mo.) VERY UPSETTING AND SO GLAD I HAD THIS TOOL TO GET ME THRU!!! SEE?? =) which brings me to a TOTAL LOSS OF 187 lbs! (And I still go every wk. to Weight Watchers for healthy eating and support even tho I can't eat as much food as the WW program allows). I have lost over 110 inches all over my body.. Lost alot of boobs from bursting out of a 54D now down to shrinking =( out of a 46-48C!! How depressing! LOL!! I was wearing a MENS 7x stretch pants and 7X shirts and now wearing WOMENS-YEAH!!! size 46-48 jeans depending on material, and a WOMENS 3X shirts--DO YOU HEAR ME? 3X...YEE HAA!!! I went from a 14-16(Lane Bryant etc.) underpants to a 10-12 but still have problems fitting the undies right because I have no butt cheeks-flat as a pancake and a big whopping hanging gut that takes up alot of space in front. Looking forward to my tummy tuck when ready! And if I ever can afford it I will have my floppy legs and arms done and also a breast lift...
Best of all I can finally BREATHE again, WALK again, MOVE again, clean MYSELF again, TIE MY OWN SHOES again, clean my house, get up and down off the floor to play with my dogs and cats, Feed and care for my horses, AND I AM FINALLY BACK TO SINGING IN PUBLIC AGAIN. I am trying to raise money to make a professional CD and hopefully someone will hear me and say " HMMM>>>I like that sound"- and want to buy it!
So all in all folks I am happy and excited about life for the first time ever as I now know I really HAVE A LIFE TO LOOK FORWARD TO!!! I want to say tho that I would never ADVISE anyone to have this or any other surgery without honestly & thoroughly researching every alternative possibility including this type of surgery as this is such a drastic operation. I myself am thrilled I had it done but I still wish I would not have HAD to do it.
My Drs. were TRUELY WONDERFUL and quite skilled as Dr. Lee did a BEAUTIFUL job on my long scar! The Nurses on the 2nd floor at Tri-City Regional Medical Center Hospital who took care of me, nursed me back to health, pampered me, sang with me, laughed with me and encouraged me and always made me feel comfortable-They NEVER made me feel I was a pain in the butt and ALWAYS made me feel COMFORTABLE and NORMAL. The hospital gowns were full cut and comfortable(didn't have to wear 2 with miserable tight arms), and the beds were just perfect so my butt wasn't hanging half way off. The only problem or real scare I had was the first night in intensive care there was a nurse that kept drugging me up without my permission. She had the BP monitor set incorrectly to go off every 15 minutes and that sucker is really painful-especially when you are in agony from the surgery and trying to get some sleep...Anyway, every time the monitor went off I would wake up moaning from pain and she kept coming in and telling me"You have to go to sleep..you need your rest". Then she would inc2/12/2004rese my morphine drip! She could have killed me! So I finally was concious enough to call the male nurse and told him-Thank God he believed me-He checked the BP monitor and said I was right!! Sure enough the other nurse came in again and I pretended I was asleep-when she came over to increase my drip again, I SUDDENLY opened my eyes and hollared at her "DO NOT TOUCH THAT AGAIN" I said...I must have scared the S_ _T out of her cause her face looked as tho she'd seen a ghost=)!! And she finally left me alone.
But all in all I was very pleased with all the hospital staff! Their care and concern were excellent!! If anyone does decide to have the Fobi Pouch done, I would NOT hesitate to go with Tri-City Regional Medical Center!!

Thursday, February 12, 2004
Well hi again folks...Just got back on line as my Puter has been down for a while and I realize I never sent this update...OOOps sorry! So now here it is a bit more then a month since last writing the above... and I am currently quite frustrated...last month when I wrote I had been at a pleateau since Thanksgiving...So I examined everything I was eating with a fine tooth comb, especially realizing that even tho I go to Weight Watchers every week I was NOT doing everything that I should be doing...First of all, I wasn't eating enough of my required points which I just can't get in enough food of course....ane I was NOT keeping a daily food journal which for me is IMPERATIVE!! I also figured I just have reached that dreaded SLOW DOWN point and it was probably time to make some important changes. So I started Journalin EVERYTHING I put in my mouth and I mean everything-so then I knew for SURE if I was taking in too much fat, sugar, salt etc..I also finally bought a "GAZELLE" and started exercizing..Oh my GOSH I LOVE THIS THING!!! Anyway, sure enough I must have done something right as I finally broke my Plateau garbage and lost 6.2 lbs..Bringing me down to 352.6..Oh how happy I was...")..Which of course encouraged me to keep up the good wok right? Well then I go back to my meeting the following week and gained the EXACT AMOUNT of 6.2 back again! Oh my God I was devistated!! I thought I was actually going to maybe break that 350 mark bu NNNNOOOOOOO!!! So of course I am VERY frustrated but I still followed the program 100%, weighed in tonight and AGAIN gained 2/10ths of a pound. So obviously its time for me to start getting back into OBESITY.COM support groups again and If theres anyone out there that is or has gone thru this and can offer any advise, knowledge and experience I would sure love to hear from you...PLEASE>>>THANK YOU!!!! I will also add that I did have that UPPER ENDOSCOPY done and I am waiting for My Dr. here to send the results to my Dr.s at CSTO in California to find out if there is a problem with my esophagus/or silastic ring etc. In the meantime I willget back to you all and update as soon as I know more. Until then..Good Luck to all of you who are working toward moving to the losing side...It really is a wonderful place to be...even with its side effects..Write me ANYONE>>>With Love, Hally Sue