Dave you're a new name and face on this board. It's great to see more priesthood respond. My name is Melody and I live in Idaho. I would like to be one of the first to welcome you to this board. I had my surgery RNY 3 or 4 years ago. I'm well below my surgeon's goal but like the weight I leveled off at. I feel great and am told that I look good too. All said and done I lost 140 lbs. If I had this to do over again, I would do it in a heart beat. This has been life changing for me. I just wanted to welcome you to this board and encourage you to post here often and leave us with your comments or even any questions. Melody

Hi Joyce, Sorry for the slow reply. I obviously haven't checked the board for a few days. We are very fortunate to live in an area and a world where conference is available to us in many different medias. In our area we can get conference on our local television stations, over the internet, over the radio and over satelitte. We can also meet at the ward building and watch conference together over the satelitte feed there. Of all these modes my preference and the one I chose is to get dressed up in my Sunday best and go down to the ward house and sit in the pews and watch conference as if I were in Sacrament meeting. Because of all the modes available to the members in our area, sometimes there are only 7 of us in the ward house but that's okay with me. When I go to the ward house and watch conference I pay more attention, no distractions and I feel the spirit more abundantly. And Yes, I stand and sing out loud during the rest hymn. I feel like an active participant that way. Off the subject now, What is a Stomaphyx? I'm guessing that it is just making the stoma smaller. How do they do that? Is it done lap? Good luck and don't be nervous. Melody

Bela, Please read your policy carefully. Some policies exclude treatment for obesity, but cover treatment for MORBID OBESITY. After much research, I decided the DS surgery was best for me, but at that time BC of Calif was claiming the DS was investigational (after they paid for thousands of DS procedures over the previous 15 years). Anyway, I ended up fighting my insurance for over 2 years, providing them with the research studies they claimed didn't exist. So the moral of the story is ... don't give up. The insurance company banks on the fact that many people, when denied, will give up and go away quietly. Best of luck with your insurance ... I believe there is also an insurance board here on OH. Laurie

Your the bestest dear!

I have made myself numb over the past year concerning my little brother. His choices have lead him to a hellish life. He moved to FL early this year and I have only talked with him twice since. Last night my little brother was found hanging, blue and lifeless. If it where not for his new in-laws he would be dead. Up till now I have not let myself cry about anything concerning him. I have just prayed for him and let be what is. Tonight I prayed to Heavenly Father to help me cry ,to let myself go, to feel something. And now as I type I have a river down my chest. We where ALWAYS together growing up. I pretty much raised him. If you read my story you'll understand why. Its on the bottom of my blog. I'm in tears as I type, I cant hold him, protect him like I did when we where kids. I cant see him or talk with him. I have no clue as to why he would do this. He is Sp. Needs, though has never tried this sort of thing. He married someone he bearly knew and I'm sure it's turned out not in his favor. My heartless, only looking after himself father called my mother to inform her. Not giving her much info at all. Shortly hanging up. My mothers health is not good and is feeling as I. She was not there for us when growing up and I know she is feeling part to blame. Im just now starting to get to know her, learning to try and love her and yet set my own limits with her. A very hard thing to do and for my brother maybe not doable at all. He has not contacted her in months. Im sad. Im 30 years old and I have YET to let my family put me under. I have fought, I have left. I have been without family but I have never let them get the best of me. I have learned HOW NOT to live by them. He is all I had growing up. Protecting him helped me protect myself. He gave me reason to live. If it wasnt for him I would not be the person I am today. If I lose my little brother I will be lost. I have my WLS in 5 flipping days. That is if all my pre opt and heart scan come back good. This is no time for my to feel the way I am... I haven't even freaked out about my WLS> Iv been doing good. And now this