Hi Everyone! I am Paula Evans' mother. This is Friday, January 17, 2003. She had her wls on Tuesday, January 14th. She came through the surgery well but is having some complications. She is still in the hospital in southern Ohio. Her father and I stayed near the hospital until this morning. She was supposed to get to come home today. Paula is having difficulty tolerating liquids.She has been up walking a lot -- more than her six times a day. She explained to me that after she started the liquids, gas seems to work up from her lower stomach into her windpipe area and she can't breathe unless she makes herself gag to release the air. This has caused her a lot of anxiety. She was taken off the liquids yesterday and the doctor is allowing her try liquids again today. She didn't want to alarm us this morning and said she was a little better. I don't think she has improved very much over yesterday. She insisted we return home today as she was concerned about the two of us. We really hated to leave her with no relatives or friends in the area, but we felt we should honor her wishes. Dave, her dear husband, will return tomorrow -- if she is discharged. I told her not to rush going home since she is over 2 hours from the facility. We want to make sure she is free of her present complication and well on her way to recovery. Thanks, everyone, for your notes of encouragement and good wishes. She appreciates everyone's concern and she will be writing to you as soon as possible. I promise to keep you updated until she is able. (Has anyone else ever experienced this particular problem after surgery?)