Congratulations! The hardest part is changing the way we THINK and cope. That will always be a challenge. I still struggle to continue and get to my goal. But I will NEVER regret having this surgery..it's such a big step and a challenge but wow, imagine if we did NOT try!? Kudos to you!

Welcome, Sunny. We used to have a lot of people checking in but, you know how these things go.I had an RnY Jan 2006 and have lost 148 pounds but still have a ways to go. Now especially since I have to lose 30 more pounds to get two knee replacements. I am very positive and have just completed a five year battle (medication after surgery & treatments- for the second time)) with breast cancer.

I am an illustrator by trade, so though I've tried to retire, it didn't happen. Hubby is retired. Married 7 years with two brilliant sons and now two step-grand daughters, 14 and 11, who I enjoy so much, teaching them arts, crafts, cooking and lifeskills.

Thank you for posting back Jen. Means a lot to me.

Seems like everyone has stopped posting here. What happened? Used to be a busy board. Now it looks like it is dead as a door nail.

Maybe someday I can post again about my "Funny Farm" but right now I am so empty inside.

Thanks again for answering.

HUG'S

Been awhile since I posted here, but needed to tell someone I guess.

For the last few months mom has been sick, and in and out of the hospital and rehab. Got to the point of her having the flu really bad and the medications to help her fight it got to her kidneys. She went into kidney failure and at her age she was not a good candidate for dialysis. She tried but couldn't handle it for 3 hours three times a week. We tried a nursing home with Hospice. It was a hell hole!! She was not taken care of at all there. So we brought her home and I was lucky enough to have wonderful people that I work for to let me go be with my mom til the end to take care of her. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Watch my mom die more each day. The last day and night were the worst of my life listening to her die. I prayed like never before that GOD would take her and end her misery.

Mother's Day is coming now and it is tearing me apart. My mom and I were so close. Now I don't have her anymore.

Thanks for listening to me here.

UPDATE 8 May

Am on third version of patch, now 15 micrograms/hr, and having incomplete pain relief from arthritis and fibro pains. Think will need to go to 20 micrograms/hr, but my GP sent message she will not up the Butrans to 20. That will leave me with unsatisfactory pain management....It is working but I need to be bumped up. Keep posted for my updates.

Jen