I'm Baaaaaaaaaaackkkk....if anyone wants to know

Skip what you would like ;) Here's how the drive went... Mom wanted to take the Lodge instead of Jefferson to I-94 I had to literally argue with her to do the loop on Randolph! Even with contruction at 8:30 in the morning we made it there in 6 minutes! I was an hour early...ooops. Then went to the floor and ended up waiting til 11. He was in emergency surgery this morning. Here's how the consult went First of all the PA Elissa was hilarious and much better dressed this time. The first thing she said when she walked in was...Sonia (in a mother's tone) my reply: I know I know I stink! I started smoking again! Have to quit and stay off for two months. My weight went up 5 lbs in 2 years, kind of a bummer, but I'm okay with it because mentally I am ready, as last time I wasn't. BAD NEWS: Psych told me at the time I was fit for surgery, but found out in her letter I wasn't. Here's the honesty I smoke pot once in a while for really bad pain and told her I did and why. She said I need random drug and nicoteine tests done whenever they want to make sure I am not on any street drugs or smoking. Well **** what am I supposed to do if I need the pot when I can't move or sleep because of the pain and 3 Percs won't help? On top of that she said I was okay with no follow-up, now I have to see her again and pay! MORE BAD NEWS: I had biopsies done on my stomach to find out why I have watermelon gastritis and the results were returned abnormal with no H-pylori, but nothing else was said or done so it was not invetigated further. Now I have to have another gastroscopy and endoscopy done to make sure there is nothing malignant and in my country this could take a year! As I light up another cigarette...lol...Off the bad news I have to lose 20 lbs in two months, hope I can do it. I am okay with losing and following all advice, but I know muscle weighs more and how do you stop that? They don't care if I go down 2 or 3 sizes, by the way went to Catherine's and went down 2 shirt sizes Funny moment...All the people were chit chatting in the halls until Dr. Genaw and Dr. Carlin came in then everyone scaterred. It was too funny to see almost everyone on the floor scurry like mice. That was my day Hope y'all had a good one. Ty for caring. Sonia

Sonia, You can do 20lbs. in 2 months. It will be hard, but you'll be able to do it. Have confidence. I smoked for 15 years, and gave it up in one weekend. I gave all of my money to my bf, had him take my car keys to his house so I stayed home all weekend with no smokes and no way to get any. By the time 2 days went by, I was so proud of myself that I didn't want to start up again. That was 6 years ago and I haven't smoked since. It was so hard (picture me tearing up the apartment looking for a butt....thinking about begging the neighbors for a smoke...) but I did it. You are going to really have to test yourself in the upcoming months. Get yourself ready and we'll help when we can! Brenda

Thanks so much Brenda, I just find it very hard when I am in pain, working or stressed out, but I have gone down from 1 1/2 packs to 1/2 pack or less per day. I also signed up for a drive to quit contest from the cancer society...if you quit for one month you might win a car! So hopefully this will be a good motivator..they also have quite a good support system. As for the weight I am just a little scared because my exercise is limited, so I can only do aqua aerobics twice per week and a little walking every day. Otherwise I have to do little activities like dishes or cooking, but not too much or then I can't do anything at all. Thanks again for the support