surgery

[Guest guest]

Hello, welcome to the group. Where are you from? What is your name? There are many of us on the site here that has had the surgery. I have had it and the surgery is not bad at all. The keyhole surgery is good cause the recovery time is fairly short. I was back to work in a week after the surgery. As for trying to get food and drink in there are some things you might want to try. First I know being a new mom is stressful and stress does effect how this disease us. Try and relax as much as you can. eat little bites and try drinking with your meal. If you are not getting any water down then I would contact you doctor ASAP cause you need that taken care of fast.

Take a look over the group site and read some of the old posts. There is a lot of information and help there. We are here to support you and help in any way we can. I hope you get relief soon.

Once again welcome to our group and family.

in Suffolk

[Guest guest]

flick8467 wrote:

> ...has anyone had the surgery to cut the

> muscle and could offer me advice or anything they have tried to keep

> fluids and solids down....

The surgery is usually not a big deal. You are back home the next day,

if all goes well. You will need help with the baby though. You will be

limited on how much you can lift. Often this limit is 10 lbs., a little

more than a gallon of milk. The only " trick " that helped me was to be

relaxed and stay calm.

notan

[Guest guest]

Hi Felicity, I am also from Melbourne and have also had the op. Don't be too worried, we all get scared before these things but think of what you are going through and any amount of relief would be great. My surgery was at Austin (public) severals years back, but l had many complications but remember all these are rare but it is always good to go into these things informed. To add to my problems l had a barium swallow following the op, l do not recommend this for any one. As in my case you do have the misfortune to have a perforation barium is toxic to the body, and gastrograph (like used in CT's) is a better alternative, it breaksdown itself. When l was told l was on the waiting list and had a while to go my gastroent suggested to turn up in emergency and explaain l was having problems lost weight and was in trouble. They made me wait a couple of hours but they did the op the next morning. This could work

for you if you are in trouble. I am also a mum of two boys, 3 and 2. You need to look after yourself so that you can be there for your son. Please contact me directly if you want, if l can help in anyway being from the some place. Unfortunately majority of the group is so far away but like your teddy as a kid they are a comfort to have. Just to hear that what we are going through someone can understand. Take care, hope to hear from you soon, Julsflick8467 <flick8467@...> wrote: hi im a 21 year old single mum of a 5 month old and been diagnosed with achalasia.im waiting to have key hole surgery and as every day goes by im getting quite scared.has anyone had the surgery to cut the muscle and could offer me

advice or anything they have tried to keep fluids and solids down. The medication did not work as aparently it is in the really advanced stage.

On 7 Messenger: Make free PC-to-PC calls to your friends overseas.

[Guest guest]

Hi Catdivine--

In some cases, the cholesteotoma erodes the little bones that help you

hear-- I have had prosthesis put in, they do help. The prosthesis are

very small -- that surgery is less intensive than the cholesteotoma

surgery.

I asked my doctor to show me the prosthesis, it was a little piece of

plastic, no bigger than 1/4 inch.

>

> It's has been a week after my son surgery. He's 13 he also tilt his

> head. He has another surgery in 6 months to put in a prosthesis .

Does

> anyone know about this ?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ...

It's not recent, but I had surgery at the age of 42. You can read my

story here:

http://www.scoliosislinks.com/AboutMe.htm

I'd like to encourage you to get a second opinion. Unless your spine

is unusually flexible for your age, you may not get a lot of

correction with just a posterior surgery.

Regards,

>

> Hello,

>

> My name is , I am 45 with a 59 degree curve. All my life I was

> told to just watch the curve, no one did anything about it. Well now

> my new doctor tells me I need surgery. I knew that it would come down

> to this. I am in a lot of pain and my deformity is very noticable now.

> He was the do the posterior approach. Has anyone, close to my age

> recently had this surgery? If so, I want to know about the recovery

> period and what to expect.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thank you for reviewing my e-mail. I went to your website and found

it

to be one of the best that I have researched yet. I have had an

second

opinion. The first surgeon wanted to do both anterior and posterior,

which to tell you the truth scared the heck out of me. The second

opinion surgeon said posterior only. He said he could get the curve

to

a 30 degree. The first surgeon said with both procedures he could get

the curve to maybe 25 degree. Seeing that it is only a 5 degree

margin

we are talking about, I feel the least invasion way is good for me.

I would really value your opinion on this. Also, can you tell me what

is was like for the first couple of weeks after your surgery. Pain

level and stiffness, etc.?

Thank you

Simms

> >

> > Hello,

> >

> > My name is , I am 45 with a 59 degree curve. All my life I

was

> > told to just watch the curve, no one did anything about it. Well

now

> > my new doctor tells me I need surgery. I knew that it would come

down

> > to this. I am in a lot of pain and my deformity is very noticable

now.

> > He was the do the posterior approach. Has anyone, close to my age

> > recently had this surgery? If so, I want to know about the

recovery

> > period and what to expect.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Kristy,

hang in there. It's good you have an experience Doc

doing your surgery. I hope it all turns out well for

you. My surgery is Wed. I'll let folks know how it

turns out.

Sue

--- morrison_pcg <morrison_pcg@...> wrote:

> Well the verdict is in...i went for my CT follow up

> visit today and

> we scheduled a LEFT TYMPANOMASTOIDECTOMY WITH

> REMOVAL OF

> CHOLESTEATOMA for June 23/06...he said it will be a

> minimum of 3

> hours and explained the risks of complete hearing

> loss and facial

> paralasis..he also noted that the scan showed some

> break down of one

> of the hearing bones (?????)...i am to book 2 weeks

> off work and man

> does this suck!!!!!!...Going from no big deal last

> year to major

> delicate surgery this year...man...well i guess the

> up side is he

> said it is best to get them small (like mine appears

> 2 b)and i asked

> him what his record for permanent damage is and

> after he finished

> laughing he told me since he started in 81 he has

> only had 1 patient

> lose their hearing and it was a different

> surgery...that gave me a

> little reassurance..He was also interested in having

> me consent for

> pics as since he has been in this area (less than a

> year...came from

> ohio) he hasnt seen this condition so he says it

> will be a good

> learning experience for the nurses and other staff

> in the

> hospital...im still worried though, just the thought

> of having them

> cut me open..and i hate going under cuz i always

> fear i wont wake

> up...oh well i guess at this point i have no choice

> but to suck it

> up...thanks for all the info i have received and the

> listening

> ears...or should i say reading eyes...lol

> Anyways....does anyone have msn messenger...i dont

> have enough memory

> to download ...if so my contact is

> morrison_pcg@...

> Thanks Again and Best Wishes to anyone who is

> awaiting surgery or

> answers

> Luck and Luv

> Kristy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Kristy

There is no way for the Doc's to predict to anyone how

this will turn out. The affect of all of the side

affects differ from person to person. It took me 6

months to a year to get my sence of taste back from my

CWD, some it takes longer, some it take less. To this

day 25 years plus from my CWD I still have minor side

affects, mainly I still get nerve ending waking up, or

I can get certain tones come, and go. Sounds like you

have a good Doc, be happy for that....

tom hansen

--- morrison_pcg <morrison_pcg@...> wrote:

> Well the verdict is in...i went for my CT follow up

> visit today and

> we scheduled a LEFT TYMPANOMASTOIDECTOMY WITH

> REMOVAL OF

> CHOLESTEATOMA for June 23/06...he said it will be a

> minimum of 3

> hours and explained the risks of complete hearing

> loss and facial

> paralasis..he also noted that the scan showed some

> break down of one

> of the hearing bones (?????)...i am to book 2 weeks

> off work and man

> does this suck!!!!!!...Going from no big deal last

> year to major

> delicate surgery this year...man...well i guess the

> up side is he

> said it is best to get them small (like mine appears

> 2 b)and i asked

> him what his record for permanent damage is and

> after he finished

> laughing he told me since he started in 81 he has

> only had 1 patient

> lose their hearing and it was a different

> surgery...that gave me a

> little reassurance..He was also interested in having

> me consent for

> pics as since he has been in this area (less than a

> year...came from

> ohio) he hasnt seen this condition so he says it

> will be a good

> learning experience for the nurses and other staff

> in the

> hospital...im still worried though, just the thought

> of having them

> cut me open..and i hate going under cuz i always

> fear i wont wake

> up...oh well i guess at this point i have no choice

> but to suck it

> up...thanks for all the info i have received and the

> listening

> ears...or should i say reading eyes...lol

> Anyways....does anyone have msn messenger...i dont

> have enough memory

> to download ...if so my contact is

> morrison_pcg@...

> Thanks Again and Best Wishes to anyone who is

> awaiting surgery or

> answers

> Luck and Luv

> Kristy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Dear Sue, I'm 22 year old college student who has recently been diagnosed with c-toma. I've done alot of research on the disease to prepare me for pre & post operation. My operation has been scheduled for June 1st at Mass General in Boston. I'm extremely nervous about the surgery and would really like to hear your personal experience after your surgery since it was done so recent. How much pain were you in when you woke up from surgery? What pain medicines were you given? I know there is a very small chance of damaging the facial nerve - but how is your face? Is the right side of your tongue experiencing taste discomfort? My doctor said that for a few days I will probably feel imbalances - have you? Are they lasting longer than expect? If you dont mind sharing your experience with me it would be more than helpful. Again, I'm extremely nervous about my surgery - being able to talk to someone who has already experienced it first hand

would not only help me prepare, but comfort me that other people are going through this surgery too. I hope you are feeling well and that the surgery was a success! I really look forward to hearing from you! Best, Ana D.Sue <indigo129@...> wrote: Hey Kristy,hang in there. It's good you have an experience Docdoing your surgery. I hope it all turns out well foryou. My surgery is Wed. I'll let folks know how itturns out. Sue--- morrison_pcg <morrison_pcg@...> wrote:> Well the verdict is in...i went for my CT follow up> visit today and > we scheduled a LEFT TYMPANOMASTOIDECTOMY WITH> REMOVAL OF > CHOLESTEATOMA for June 23/06...he said it will be a> minimum of 3

> hours and explained the risks of complete hearing> loss and facial > paralasis..he also noted that the scan showed some> break down of one > of the hearing bones (?????)...i am to book 2 weeks> off work and man > does this suck!!!!!!...Going from no big deal last> year to major > delicate surgery this year...man...well i guess the> up side is he > said it is best to get them small (like mine appears> 2 b)and i asked > him what his record for permanent damage is and> after he finished > laughing he told me since he started in 81 he has> only had 1 patient > lose their hearing and it was a different> surgery...that gave me a > little reassurance..He was also interested in having> me consent for > pics as since he has been in this area (less than a> year...came from > ohio) he hasnt seen this condition so he says

it> will be a good > learning experience for the nurses and other staff> in the > hospital...im still worried though, just the thought> of having them > cut me open..and i hate going under cuz i always> fear i wont wake > up...oh well i guess at this point i have no choice> but to suck it > up...thanks for all the info i have received and the> listening > ears...or should i say reading eyes...lol> Anyways....does anyone have msn messenger...i dont> have enough memory > to download ...if so my contact is> morrison_pcg@...> Thanks Again and Best Wishes to anyone who is> awaiting surgery or > answers> Luck and Luv> Kristy> > > > > > > > __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann

Here's hoping you'll soon be feeling better. Let us know how the appointment goes on Friday - write down your questions and then you may not forget to ask them.

Kazzy

xx

Surgery

Hi everyone.....well I had my surgery yesterday and thought I was prepared for it but the pain took over and I think I worried a lot about it and ran myself down a bit. the pain was horrible on the scale of one to ten I told them the pain level to be 6 it hurt like hell ....he patched my eardrum with some of the skin from behind my ear and cleaned off the Mastoid bone and scar tissue....my husband said he didn't mention anything about finding any cholesteatoma so at this point everything is very vague to me I guess I should have told my husband to ask more questions than he did......today my neck is swollen and shoulders hurt....there's burning in the ear and I'm getting ready to remove the pity bandage........will keep you all informed. My followup appointment is next Friday. Haven't thought about my hair yet... don't think I will attempt work on Monday or Tuesday but have not made that decision yet..this is the longest I've been out of bed....a couple of hours now. Will post more later. Ann

[Guest guest]

Hi ann,

The first day after surgery is always the toughest.

Just remember, each day should get better and better.

Good Luck!

Laurel

--- polkadot_2005 <mam@...> wrote:

> Hi everyone.....well I had my surgery yesterday and

> thought I was

> prepared for it but the pain took over and I think I

> worried a lot

> about it and ran myself down a bit. the pain was

> horrible on the scale

> of one to ten I told them the pain level to be 6 it

> hurt like

> hell ....he patched my eardrum with some of the skin

> from behind my

> ear and cleaned off the Mastoid bone and scar

> tissue....my husband

> said he didn't mention anything about finding any

> cholesteatoma so at

> this point everything is very vague to me I guess I

> should have told

> my husband to ask more questions than he

> did......today my neck is

> swollen and shoulders hurt....there's burning in

> the ear and I'm

> getting ready to remove the pity bandage........will

> keep you all

> informed. My followup appointment is next Friday.

> Haven't thought

> about my hair yet... don't think I will attempt work

> on Monday or

> Tuesday but have not made that decision yet..this is

> the longest I've

> been out of bed....a couple of hours now. Will post

> more later.

> Ann

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi. Congrats on minimal hearing loss. Your taste

should come back within a few weeks. I remember after

awhile only noticing it with certain foods, then not

at all.

I hear ya about the packing...it annoys the heck out

of me too. My packing disolved a bit on its own, and

the rest was taken out at my 6 week post-op appt. I

didn't think I would make it that long, especially

once the itching started. If that's the worst of it

though, we should all be so lucky:-)

--- morrison_pcg <morrison_pcg@...> wrote:

> I am posting 6 days post op(Fri. June23)..The good

> news is my dr

> thinks he got it all and that there will be minimal

> hearing loss even

> though he had to patch my ear drum and there was

> some bone

> erosion...My question now is about the lose of

> taste...does it return

> or am i destined to taste this way

> forever??..Another concern i have

> is this horrible inner packing...the pressure feels

> think it is going

> to blow my ear right off and i cant hear a darn

> thing. How long does

> it usually take to disintigrate or expel?..im almost

> ready to reach

> in there with a pair of tweezers and pull it out

> myself..it is more

> annoying then the pain of surgery...Hope all are

> well everywhere and

> things are going as good for all you as they appear

> to be going for

> me!!!!

>

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

My BMI was 35 and yes I've had 2 fills...(I've had 3 fills but not sure if I should count the one because it was within a week of my 1st fill, so it really shouldn't count, I just didn't get enough the 1st time around)...I don't go to Mexico...Wish I could but I don't have the money for plane tickets, etc...Not to mention taking time off work...I go to Sheverport, LA which is 2 hours from my home in Arkansas...I found a great Doctor there who charges me $190.00 for a fill w/out fluro he charges an office visit but my insurance pays for that... Hope this helps, Renajanetray0 <janetray0@...> wrote: Rena,Thanks for the input also what was your bmi and have you had a fill yet?If so did you go back to Mexico?Thanks again Janet A.

Have a burning question? Go to Answers and get answers from real people who know.

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I didn't see a response to your post, so I thought I

would send one.

I guess I need more info- what do you mean you are

still healing from your 2005 surgery? What are they

planning to do for the 2nd surgery?

I have had multiple surgeries, and now that I have

found a fantastic doctor, I realize things like " 2nd

looks " are necessary.

Give us a bit more info, and I think we can better

answer your questions.

Laurel

--- tufftyc <c.duff1@...> wrote:

> thank goodness i have found people that have gone

> through c-stoma.

> After recurring ear infections, i was eventually

> referred to a

> consultant - he promptly informed me i was " end

> stage " . No idea what

> he meant and expected to keel over and go to the

> place upstairs. Come

> back when you are deaf and we will give you hearing

> aids was the next

> sentence. I have had surgery at a different hospital

> in leicester

> england, but unfortunately (surgery 2005) it is

> still healing. I go

> back to my consultant on 4th June and i need some

> information from

> anyone that has had more than one surgery to rectify

> this. It is worth

> a 2nd operation? Tinnitus horrendous, right ear

> closed too and with a

> hearing aid. BUT no vertigo - yeh!!!! Please if you

> dont mind give me

> any information, good, bad or indifferent. you are

> the first people i

> have talked to since i found out over 2 years ago.

> good luck all

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Have a burning question?

Go to www.Answers. and get answers from real people who know.

[Guest guest]

Good Grief, Kimi!

You have been through the wringer. I concur with the group: Run like

the devil away from that doctor! I travelled 7,000 miles to have

miracle surgery performed by Dr. Hillary Brodie at UC in

Sacramento and it was worth the trip. They have a huge ear clinic and

he is the head of it, and for good reason. I have trigeminal

neuralgia and my cholesteatoma was pressing on it (the damaged

nerve). He did the impossible! removed it without further damage. It

turned out there was a bigger mess in there than we knew, there were

several tiny c-tomas, and the mastoid was completely infected All of

my docs expected me to wake from that op in screaming pain and I was

set up to start the procedure for an intrathecal morphine pummp. The

very best of luck to you wherever you go, just go for the Very Best

Surgeon you can find.

cherie

[Guest guest]

Miriam,

I am glad to hear you are doing all right. I'm also glad you didn't

have to go straight home on the bus, though I certainly understand

why you want to be home now (Especially the part about your cat. I

have three cats and find them very comforting when I'm hurting or

down).

I hope things continue to go OK for you. Keep us posted!

>

> Except for one day the surgery wasn't too bad. Vicodin tied me up

and I used prune juice which had the opposite effect. At this time I

would rather have the pain then the side effects of vicodin. Some

blood came from my throat? and I still have some weeping and the side

of my head hurts, above my eye. The incision hurts. I'm using wet

wipes to wash my hair. It keeps water away from my ear and the

incision and does a tolerable job on the rest of my hair. I don't

want to go through the surgery ever again. I still don't know what

they did but I do know I seem to breath better through my nose and my

nose has stopped running. I still have some mucous but that also

seems to have diminished. I had one scare because I didn't really

understand what to expect. The ear started to bleed a about 24 hours

after surgery and I thought something had gone wrong. I called 911,

they came and checked it out and did not feel that the bleeding was

profuse. I called the Dr. the next day and the Dr called the

bleeding weeping and said it was normal. The weeping has diminished

somewhat, but the ear is still weeping. Tomorrow I take the

greyhound home and all I want to do is go home. People have been

kind to me here and my friends have been checking up on me from home

but I want to go home to my own bed, my cat, familiar surroundings.

>

[Guest guest]

Jane,

Sorry I didn't reply sooner! You went back to work at 2 months?

That's incredible And you really ramped down the pain meds fast

compared to my surgeon's methods. It's interesting to hear how

different some of the approaches to these surgeries are. My surgeon

will have me on a dilaudid pump while in the hospital, and at some

point switch after surgery #2 to oral meds (norco and hydrocodone).

I will stay on the same (high, but I don't know the exact numbers)

dosage for the first 3 months post-op, then they tell me I will

start weaning down as tolerated. I will hopefully be off all

narcotics at or before 6 months, though that is obviously not

guaranteed - it depends on my personal experience and pain levels.

How are you feeling overall now that you're several months out from

your revision? Are you happy with the results? Have you had any

complications?

I hope everything continues to go well for you

>

> IO had surgery in january - not as radical as the two day process

but

> still pretty serious (over 7 hours). I had seen a documentary on

the

> harrington rod placement and so asked the doc specifically if they

> would be waking me up to wiggle my toes - he said they didn't do

that

> any more - that had an electronic way of checking that. I was

very

> pleased.

>

> I didn't have intubation after surgery. I did have some trouble

> waking up (progably the fact that I took some ativan the night

before

> to help me sleep - but he never asked about that and I never

though

> to tell him. Did eventually wake up - and was in the most pain I

had

> ever had after surgery - definitely more than the original

harrington

> and the first revision-type surgery. Used morphine pump over a

> weekend - then oral morphine/percocets til d/c on day 6. At home

I

> used about 10 days worth of percoxet and oxycotin (I think) then

> regular tyleonlw/ codeine and robaxacet (OTC muscle relaxer)

>

> I am presently good - went back to work after 2 months - yesterday

> was 5 months exactly since surgery. Having pain in the pelvis

where

> they put the screws - some backache - and my foot has hurt since

hte

> operations - but all failry minor.

>

> I am intrigued by all the emails about insurance, etc. Being

> Canadian, +cost NEVER is an issue. I only every had one doc ask

for

> money - during a short period when they were opting out of our

> provincial health insurnace program (the province paid a portion

then

> you toppeded up) and shortly after they outlawed that the doctor

> moved to 's Hopkins I think. I can't imagine the stress and

> strain this puts on people in the US where its obviously a big

> problem. This must be a huge consideration re if/when/where you

> might need surgery. I can't imagine what my bills would be - 3

> surgeries, monthly doctor appointments when I was braced between 1

&

> 16. I've been reading the messages on the website for " Sicko "

> regarding the problems people have had with insurance. I know

that

> the one time I had to seek medical treatment in the US I knew

exactly

> hwat was the matter with me and exatly what the treatment ws - I

> simply neded a prescription - and they couldn't give me a ball

park

> figure where I was able to tell them what treatment I needed (I

just

> watned to know if the visit was $50, $500 or $5000. What a scarry

> system. I know that the first thing you get asked in the US is

for

> $ - here - its for your health card - its like a " get INTO jail

free

> card! "

>

> If you're interested - you should check out the info at

www.sicko.com

> and see the problems othjer have with insurance. (Not as bad as

one

> hospital in England who decided to change beds only afte revery

2nd

> patient - swhich surprisingly coincided with a rise in " super bug "

> transmission.) Another interesting article was on hospital

discharge

> planning (something I do deal with in Canada - but only to do with

> elderly people going to nursing homes).

>

> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/health/19tren.html?

> ex=1183089600 & en=e7e06fdcae77698e & ei=5070

>

> Jane

>

[Guest guest]

Good Luck!I hope that all goes really well!Suecleves_ite <cleves_ite@...> wrote: I am having surgery at 11:45 in the morning. I am having my hearing reconstructed if no cholestetoma has returned. Wish me luck

Photos – NEW, now offering a quality print service from just 8p a photo.

[Guest guest]

Good Luck Cleves hope all goes well!

Hugs caz

Surgery

I am having surgery at 11:45 in the morning. I am having my hearing reconstructed if no cholestetoma has returned. Wish me luck

Answers - Get better answers from someone who knows. Try

it now.

[Guest guest]

Two months ago, I was almost ready for surgery but still didn't to go thru it. I decided to loose some weight to see if that would help. I am 20 pounds lighter now and the pain is not as bad. I can grocery shop again! I intend on sticking with the weight loss.

DennisSee what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

Earline,

I probably should join weight watchers but decided to give it a try myself first. So far, so good. I also tried the lumbar epidural shots which did nothing for me. Also tried the physical therapy which did no good.

DennisSee what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

Dennis: I too am trying to lose weight at my doctor's suggestion. I joined Weight Watchers and it is really helping. I also got the second of of 3 lumbar epidural injections which seem to really be helping. I went through 3 weeks of physical therapy prescribed by the Pain clinic doctor which also helped. Good luck in loosing weight and feeling better. Earline -- Re: surgery Two months ago, I was almost ready for surgery but still didn't to go thru it. I decided to loose some weight to see if that would help. I am 20 pounds lighter now and the pain is not as bad. I can grocery shop again! I intend on sticking with the weight loss. Dennis See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

I am definitely working on that. I've lost twelve pounds but that isn't much when you are my size. I have to keep trying. Thanks. Joan

Two months ago, I was almost ready for surgery but still didn't to go thru it. I decided to loose some weight to see if that would help. I am 20 pounds lighter now and the pain is not as bad. I can grocery shop again! I intend on sticking with the weight loss.

Dennis

See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.

[Guest guest]

I have had several steroid epidural injections which do help for awhile. When he gives me a shot on one side, the other side starts hurting. Nights are the worst. When I wake up, it is hard to get out of bed. Then when I stand up, my legs hurt so much that I feel like I can't walk. After a few minutes, I can walk. Some of this may be due to my arthritis. Joan

Dennis:

I too am trying to lose weight at my doctor's suggestion. I joined Weight Watchers and it is really helping. I also got the second of of 3 lumbar epidural injections which seem to really be helping. I went through 3 weeks of physical therapy prescribed by the Pain clinic doctor which also helped.

Good luck in loosing weight and feeling better.

Earline

-- Re: surgery

Two months ago, I was almost ready for surgery but still didn't to go thru it. I decided to loose some weight to see if that would help. I am 20 pounds lighter now and the pain is not as bad. I can grocery shop again! I intend on sticking with the weight loss.

Dennis

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[Guest guest]

, glad to hear you have a date. I know it is frustrating not knowing.

I've marked my calendar and my prayers will be with you and Merissa as

you go through this.

Good luck,

Maggie

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