Thanks Gala! Yes I did the menapause thing. I had a complete hysterectomy in '99. I ALMOST wish I were anorexic. 30 lbs is a lot to gain in just a few months. I see the hemotolgist on Thur for infusions. I a afraid they will then want to schedule one and that will probably take a couple of weeks. I KNOW I will lose control completely! Oh well, maybe I will just stand there in the medical mall until I pass out. (doesn't take much) Maybe then they will do something! Kiddo, I don't even have a pouch to absorb some of the iron!I will have to hammer that one home to someone. Someone, somehow, somewhere has to help or I am really getting to the point of being worried about what I will do! It helped today that my dau called to invite me to Hawaii for TWO WEEKS next summer! All expenses paid! That came at a good time. Thanks again, Grins, Kaye

P.S. The grad site is a yahoo groups site. (free)....just got to: www.yahoogroups.com follow the directions to join and then on the home page where you see the SEARCH window, type: OSSG_Graduates Suppport Group. Follow those directions (they require a moderator to approve you) and you'll be on...I suggest that you select "no e-mail" status as your option...otherwise you'll have 300 e-mails in your in-box each day. You can read all their information by just logging onto their site each day like you do with this O.H. site. BTW...OSSG stands for Obesity Surgery Support Group. Joyce

Kaye, I had no idea that you were struggling in this way. You will DEFINATELY be in my prayers each morning and night. (You are too Gala) as well as other members of this board. I'm going to e-mail you personally. Melody

I have been struggling with a few issues and just have not been able to talk to anyone. I don't want to be a "Wendy Whiner" but I can't take much more. I will understand if you don't want to read on and am warning you this may be long. Please remember me in your prayers either way. I had a revision Mar, 12, '04 and as a result, I have no stomach so I can eat much more than most of you. Still, I maintained a 120 lb weight loss for over a year. I think I stopped losing at 8 months out. I wanted to lose more but was ok with where I was. I felt great, looked better than years and was doing more than I ever dreamt possible. I fluctuated 10 lbs up and down and that was fine. However, since the middle of Feb, I have gained 30 lbs. I am so depressed and discouraged! I was considering changing my pic here but then, why bother. It looks like I will be here again. I am sooooooooo hungry all the time. For weird things. Things that don't really taste that good but I want them. I am always exhausted. I mean to the point of just laying on the bed. I have never been one to sleep more than 4 or 5 hours in a 24 hour period. (That is on the high side) The other day, I slept 15. The exhaustion has been creeping up on me slowly since last fall. I haven't cleaned house since before Christmas and some of my Christmas projects still aren't done. If I watch my grandchildren, (I mean watch not play with) I am exhausted and have to go to bed. I have NEVER been like this. I am moody and whiney and just want to give up. I am even to tired to be angry. I have a foggy brain and not thinking clearly. In a period of two days I lost my cell phone, my atm card and 20 dollars. Never found any of them. Actually, my phone was stolen but I think I left it at the grocery store and someone picked it up. I leave things everywhere and am emotionally and intellectually a mess. I have been having blood work done regularly and my iron levels have been steadily falling. Drs just shrugged and told me to take Vites. Then ordered iron and told me to double up on multivitamines. Still my iron kept falling. I am always dizzy, and light-headed. Feel like I am on narcotics. (even when I am not) I went to the dr for passing out and got a new Dr. We checked my blood work before seeing me and came in the room saying No wonder you're feeling the way you do, you're anemic. So I thought maybe I would get some relief. Nope! That was in Feb. This is April and finally I have an appointment with hematology Thur. I am so frustrated and really, I don't know if I can make it til that appt. I just want to go to bed and not get up. So, today, my dh and I were talking and he admited it is very noticable that I have gained weight. He hasn't said anything because he didn't want to hurt me. Anyway, we were talking and came up with the idea that maybe I am so hungry because my body needs some nutrients so badly. Also, I can't exercize because I am so tired. I can barely go to the grocery store and pick up a few groceries. Never mind cook them! So I am not getting any exercize and eating more. I told my Dr, I would trade my favorite grandchild for a hamburger most of the time. (The favorite grandchild status changes constantly, so I would be good for 33 hamburgers lol) So am I tired because I am eating too much and not exercizing or am I eating too much and not exercizing because I am so tired? The case of the chicken or the egg. I am so afraid of being fat again but the foggy brain scares me even more. I had a blessing today but it wasn't what I asked for. Oh well, maybe that was just me trying to have things the way I want. Sigh... Well, this has gone on too long and I am going to go rest. If you made it this far, Thanks. It helps to just write things out. Grins, Kaye

Melody, Congrats on your new calling! VIP work! Hmmmm...I'll be thinking of jingles all day just for YOU! ....Let you know if any of them are actually useable! LOL! Hugggz, Joyce in az