So Sherrie - what's your new job? What do you do? As far as that goes, what job did you USE to have? Okay, lets start chatting. I agree, this board has been too quiet. I check it every day and am disappointed when I don't see any posts. I'll tell you about my job history. For 22 years I worked full time ambulance along side with my husband. I LOVED working with him. We own the ambulance service. It's not as impressive as it sounds. We live in a really tiny town in a rural area. We have about 30 ambulance calls a month. The two of us could handle it real well. We had a few volunteers who would give us a few hours off every now and then. This was a great job to raise kids with. I could stay at home and be "mom" and only leave when an emergency call came in. One day I got a phone call from an acquaintance who offered me a job in his pharmacy as a pharmacy tech. I LOVED this job. I studies out of a book and took a test and became a certified pharmacy technician. My boss allowed me to leave the pharmacy whenever an ambulance call came in (which wasn't often). Besides being MO, I also have Multiple Sclerosis. My disease deteriorated to the point that I could no longer walk and I had to quit both my pharmacy job and my beloved ambulance job. I miss both of them terribly. I still teach (although teaching EMS classes is getting too difficult for me too). My husband now has to take ambulance calls without me. We made a great team and I really miss the excitement. Now I get to sit at home and do all the paperwork (billing patients and insurance companies) and read about all the calls. I've always done the office work along with the field work but now I only do the office work. Your turn. Tell me about your life and your work history. Melody

OK everybody kick the chatter into gear now - thats an order!!! I have been coming here on my lunch breaks looking for a diversion and nobody is here! I have a new job, and still dont know enough people to hang with at lunch. I have given out 2 Book of Mormons since I started a few weeks ago, and I sometimes talk to the people I gave them to, but they usually go out for lunch, and I am too broke! (plus I cant eat a whole lunch so its a waste of money to eat out for lunch!) -Sherrie (-92 lbs and from a size 34 to a 20 now yay!!)

Peggy, I think one reason people like to wear a t-shirt under their binder is to absorb sweat, and it's softer against the skin. I've had several patients with braces, binders, halos....and they all feel much better with a soft t-shirt against their skin instead of the elastic or velcro edge of the appliance. Many women purchase those sleeveless men's t-shirts...my teens call them 'wifebeater' t-shirts. A funny name..... I wouldn't wear your garments though, it would be easy to lose them if the hospital staff help you change clothes for any reason....and it's just not necessary in that setting. Best to you and I wish you a speedy recovery... Tracey

Peggy - I think the binder is only used when you have surgery "open". I had my surgery lap and a pillow against my tummy was all I needed if I coughed or rolled over or sat up. I only used a pillow for two days then I didn't need one anymore. I didn't wear my garments while I was in the hospital but I had them in my bag. I went home with two drains and I put them on when I left and had no problems. Good luck. Melody

Peggy, I had about the same experience as Miss D. I was advised not to wear my garments in the hospital. I did bring a pair to wear home though. As far as the binder goes though. . . I don't remember having one. I had one with my gallbladder and was surprised when I didn't have one for my bypass. A pillow was just fine for me though. Good luck with your surgery!!! Hydi Hoeger (formerly of Quincy)