I need some advice

[Guest guest]

Hi, . Welcome to the group.

I had my surgery in 1971 and my symptoms are similar to yours. I

have not yet had revision surgery and question whether I should

because I haven't " talked " to anyone who is fully pain-free after

revision. It's a judgement call I am not really comfortable having

made for me by someone who stands to make money and gain experience

by operating on me, though I do want their opinions. I certainly

don't trust opinions from any surgeon who does not specialize in

revision.

The other thing I have in common with you is I'm also in the Boston

area. The only New England scoliosis revision specialist I am aware

of is Dr. Rand. Who is the other one that you consulted? How

much do you know about this person?

I actually got my flatback diagnosis from a non-surgical spine

specialist (by asking him point-blanc), Dr. Rainville at New England

Baptist's Boston Spine Center. He didn't encourage me to seek a

surgical consultation, but he also did not impress me as particularly

knowledgeable about flatback. He prescribed physical therapy. I

meant to take it but never got to it for a variety of reasons, so I

can't speak regarding the effectiveness of PT. I do swim and do

gentle weight-training, which help me keep strong and keep aches at

bay.

I have had a long-distance evaluation of my case by the highly

respected Dr. LaGrone in Amarillo, TX, who was quite willing

to discuss surgery for me, but have yet to consult with Dr. Rand or

anyone else local. There is an ongoing discussion online as to

whether United States revision surgeons are just a little too willing

to operate on anyone with flatback. I'm still not sure, but think

everyone's case is different. I too worry that I'll end up in

serious pain and disability and need surgery when I'm a good bit

older and less able to endure it. Then again, it's taken me 31 years

to get into my current condition. I also worry that revision could

leave me in worse shape.

All I know to do is to seek several opinions from highly qualified

surgeons, learn all I can about the deformity, network with fellow

patients and pray for guidance. It's definately a tough call, and

only you can make the final decision for you.

Best of luck with it, and let's stay in touch.

Sharon in Southern New Hampshire

Congenital scoliosis w/ spina bifida and other vertebral anomalies

1971 Harrington rod fusion, T5-L4, flatback, L5-S1 degeneration, etc.

> I had surgery with Harrington rods in 1978. I have been

> diagnosed with flatback syndrome and have consulted with two

> revision surgeons in Boston. I am still unsure about what to do

> though. I lean forward and have difficulty standing up for a long

> time but I'm not in pain. From your experiences, is there an

> advantage to having surgery before the problem gets worse or

> are there other alternatives to surgery? The doctors I consulted

> with seemed to think surgery was necessary but were unclear

> on when it should be done. I appreciate any advice you can give

> me. Thank you.

[Guest guest]

Hi!I had my revision surgery done in 2000 at age 46 (original fusion

T10 to L4 in 1970). By the time I FINALLY got up the courage to have

the " BIG PROCEDURE " done, my C5 disc was 4 " forward from my sacrum (as

viewed on a lateral x-ray)...I was literally falling forward by

inches. My Orthopedic surgeon here in land attempted to stop the

forward progression in 1998 by performing a (much less invasive)

laproscopic anterior fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation of

L4,5,and S1. Some of my pain was relieved simply by removing the

herniated discs anteriorly below my original fusion. It did not,

however, stop the forward progression being caused by the ever

increasing Flatback deformity. Consequently, by the time I had the

revision I was in constant, daily pain, living on Vicoden ES and

Neurontin. After the revision my pain was somewhat dimnished but the

nerve and muscle damage could not be reversed. In hindsight, I wish I

had not waited so long. The correction they were able to accomplish is

truely a miracle to me; I now have a " normal-looking " back complete

with surgically accquired lordosis! But I still have pain...not as

bad, but it's there. I now am under the care of a wonderful Pain

Management physician who keeps my going with the help of Oxycontin CR,

Oxy IR and either Neurontin or Topomax. My advice...DON'T WAIT TOO

LONG...YOU MAY REGRET IT! I do...

All the best,

Beth

I need some advice

> I had surgery with Harrington rods in 1978. I have been

> diagnosed with flatback syndrome and have consulted with two

> revision surgeons in Boston. I am still unsure about what to do

> though. I lean forward and have difficulty standing up for a long

> time but I'm not in pain. From your experiences, is there an

> advantage to having surgery before the problem gets worse or

> are there other alternatives to surgery? The doctors I consulted

> with seemed to think surgery was necessary but were unclear

> on when it should be done. I appreciate any advice you can give

> me. Thank you.

>

>

>

> Adult scoliosis support; focus on fixed sagittal imbalance. WE DO

> NOT ENDORSE ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE ADVERTISED HERE AND HAVE NO

> CONTROL OVER ADS.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Beth,

I'm sorry your revision surgeries did not take care of all of your

pain. I haven't had revision surgery yet, and my sagittal balance is

off by 12 centimeters, so I lean forward quite a bit. I am very

concerned about the possibility that this is creating irreversable

nerve and muscle damage. Your advice not to wait seems smart to me,

although I realize that reality of revision surgery is a huge thing

with lots of risks and must not be entered into lightly. It just

seems that once this flatback thing starts to progress, surgery is

almost inevitable at some point. Heck, I'm only 43 years old. There

is no way I'm going to last another 40 years without surgery. I've

already severely limited my activity (I stopped work, I rest and lay

around a lot) and I am fortunate that my pain is bearable. But I'd

really rather have a better quality of life than that, and having the

surgery earlier rather that later seems to make sense.

Could you elaborate on whether the nerve and muscle damage you suffer

from is documentable by specific medical tests? I feel the extent of

what is happening with my body (as far as muscle and nerve damage) so

far is not sufficiently acknowledged by the doctors and explained by

the medical tests I've had so far (ct myelogram), although I am

scheduled for an MRI next week. Mostly I am talking about stiff

neck, numbness to lower back, butt, pelvic area, and the private

places one doesn't really want to detail on a public forum. Also

sometimes upper back and neck numbness. So far hardly anyone seems to

think my sensory numbness will translate into motor/functional

numbness, but I just don't believe them. I really feel there is not

enought data available comparing the ramifications of delayed surgery

versus those who have had it earlier.

Sorry I'm in a venting mood today. I hope I haven't opened a can of

worms; that is not my intent. I am taking action to get my issues

resolved. Waiting for the MRI is just making me a little grouchy. I

still do plan to have the revision surgery just as soon as I am

recovered from my soon to be scheduled hip replacement. Time seems to

move so slowly sometimes...

Anyways, thanks for your post, Beth. Best wishes to you and

everybody,

loriann

> Hi!I had my revision surgery done in 2000 at age 46 (original

fusion

> T10 to L4 in 1970). By the time I FINALLY got up the courage to

have

> the " BIG PROCEDURE " done, my C5 disc was 4 " forward from my sacrum

(as

> viewed on a lateral x-ray)...I was literally falling forward by

> inches. My Orthopedic surgeon here in land attempted to stop

the

> forward progression in 1998 by performing a (much less invasive)

> laproscopic anterior fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation of

> L4,5,and S1. Some of my pain was relieved simply by removing the

> herniated discs anteriorly below my original fusion. It did not,

> however, stop the forward progression being caused by the ever

> increasing Flatback deformity. Consequently, by the time I had the

> revision I was in constant, daily pain, living on Vicoden ES and

> Neurontin. After the revision my pain was somewhat dimnished but

the

> nerve and muscle damage could not be reversed. In hindsight, I wish

I

> had not waited so long. The correction they were able to accomplish

is

> truely a miracle to me; I now have a " normal-looking " back complete

> with surgically accquired lordosis! But I still have pain...not as

> bad, but it's there. I now am under the care of a wonderful Pain

> Management physician who keeps my going with the help of Oxycontin

CR,

> Oxy IR and either Neurontin or Topomax. My advice...DON'T WAIT TOO

> LONG...YOU MAY REGRET IT! I do...

>

> All the best,

> Beth

>

[Guest guest]

,

Was your physician able to go through the entire list of vitamins and

nutrients that you take and tell you exactly why you should not take each

one -- especially those for which there is solid science supporting their

hepatoprotective and restorative capabilities -- safe and natural meds such

as alpha lipoic acid, silymarin, schizandra? Did you ask him for the

science citations that support his extreme position?

You should ignore anyone who makes broad, sweeping, outlandish

statements. It doesn't matter if they are conventional or alternative. I

doubt that you have a significant encephalopathy from a decompensating

liver, but it might not hurt to take lactulose. It is safe and inexpensive.

, think of yourself as royalty. Doesn't royalty appoint their

physicians? You should consider the opinions of your appointed physician

so long as s/he does not spout nonsense. Hire clowns when you choose to be

amused.

I need some advice

> Hi,

> I went to the gastro liver specialist at the urging of my GP today. She

> wanted me to bring a list of all the nutrients I take because it was her

opinion

> that my toxic liver/ammonia problem was from my nutrients. I knew it was

going

> to be a problem when he saw that list and sure enough...

> He agreed with her and told me to stop all my nutrients and just take a

> centrum silver. Then he said if I wanted to take some extra E or Calcium

to be sure

> not to take more than the FDA recommended dose. I truly feel that if I

don't

> take my nutrients I will die. But if they are causing ammonia in my blood

I

> will also die. I don't know what to do. I have taken many nutrients all

my

> adult life but I do take extra ones now because I am older and don't have

very

> good health. I feel strongly that my nutrients got me through the toxic

> effects of 9/11 and 20 yrs of living on a bus/truck route in NYC.

> I need advice on this problem.

> Thanks,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

What do you mean by nutrients? If you think denatured man made

vitamins are nutrients instead of the potentially toxic isolated

chemicals which they are, maybe you should research this idea.

Excerpt from just one source of this concept:

http://www.ehendrick.com/healthy/001458.htm

" Care must be taken in treating vitamin D deficiency, since high doses

of vitamin D are toxic and can result in the permanent deposit of

minerals in the heart, lungs, and kidneys. "

Also taking calcium and magnesium without Good Vitamin D will become

another toxin to pollute joints and the whole body.

Whereas natural vitamin D from Sunlight is almost never toxic,

especially when your system has proper omega 3s to utilize Sunlight.

Also the Ultimate Detoxifier - Sunlight will naturally detoxify the

liver. Even hospitals use full spectrum light to eliminate billiruben

in babies.

Rick

> to be a problem when he saw that list and sure enough...

> He agreed with her and told me to stop all my nutrients and just take a

> centrum silver. Then he said if I wanted to take some extra E or

Calcium to be sure

> not to take more than the FDA recommended dose. I truly feel that

if I don't

> take my nutrients I will die. But if they are causing ammonia in my

blood I will also die. I don't know what to do. I have taken many

nutrients all my adult life but I do take extra ones now because I am

older and don't have very

> good health. I feel strongly that my nutrients got me through the

toxic

> effects of 9/11 and 20 yrs of living on a bus/truck route in NYC.

> I need advice on this problem.

> Thanks,

>

[Guest guest]

Very good sense, Rick

Re: I need some advice

> Hi

>

> What do you mean by nutrients? If you think denatured man made

> vitamins are nutrients instead of the potentially toxic isolated

> chemicals which they are, maybe you should research this idea.

>

> Excerpt from just one source of this concept:

> http://www.ehendrick.com/healthy/001458.htm

> " Care must be taken in treating vitamin D deficiency, since high doses

> of vitamin D are toxic and can result in the permanent deposit of

> minerals in the heart, lungs, and kidneys. "

>

> Also taking calcium and magnesium without Good Vitamin D will become

> another toxin to pollute joints and the whole body.

>

> Whereas natural vitamin D from Sunlight is almost never toxic,

> especially when your system has proper omega 3s to utilize Sunlight.

> Also the Ultimate Detoxifier - Sunlight will naturally detoxify the

> liver. Even hospitals use full spectrum light to eliminate billiruben

> in babies.

>

> Rick

>

>

> > to be a problem when he saw that list and sure enough...

> > He agreed with her and told me to stop all my nutrients and just take a

> > centrum silver. Then he said if I wanted to take some extra E or

> Calcium to be sure

> > not to take more than the FDA recommended dose. I truly feel that

> if I don't

> > take my nutrients I will die. But if they are causing ammonia in my

> blood I will also die. I don't know what to do. I have taken many

> nutrients all my adult life but I do take extra ones now because I am

> older and don't have very

> > good health. I feel strongly that my nutrients got me through the

> toxic

> > effects of 9/11 and 20 yrs of living on a bus/truck route in NYC.

> > I need advice on this problem.

> > Thanks,

> >

>

>

>

>

>

> Get HUGE info at http://www.cures for cancer.ws, and post your own links there.

Unsubscribe by sending email to cures for cancer-unsubscribeegroups or by

visiting http://www.bobhurt.com/subunsub.mv

>

[Guest guest]

HI Carla,

How is the weight loss going....just curious as to where you are two and a half months out.....I'm having my surgery in November. Thanks for the food information....information I need to know. I like hearing about all the different experiences.

Barb W.

[Guest guest]

>

> HI Carla,

>

> How is the weight loss going....just curious as to where you are two

and a

> half months out.....I'm having my surgery in November. Thanks for

the food

> information....information I need to know. I like hearing about all

the

> different experiences.

>

> Barb W.

>

[Guest guest]

>

> HI Carla,

>

> How is the weight loss going....just curious as to where you are two

and a

> half months out.....I'm having my surgery in November. Thanks for

the food

> information....information I need to know. I like hearing about all

the

> different experiences.

>

> Barb W.

>

[Guest guest]

--- Barb

I have lost 28 pounds total 23 since the surgery I am down from a

tight size 18 to a very loose 14. I love my band. I find that if I

wait to weigh myself once per week that I don't get as anxious about

my weight.

Carla S.

banded 8/03/05

215/188/130

fill 9/26/05 1.5 cc

[Guest guest]

Jami,

Is there a " maintenance " program where you land after you reach your

goal? Wear a lot of heavy jewelry for the initial weigh-in? LOL Deb

On Saturday, February 18, 2006, at 02:33 AM, JamiGoldWing wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I have been reading all of the posts on regaining weight, and thinking

> about my own recent weight gain (about 8 pounds), and I have decided I

> need to take this matter in hand before it gets out of hand. Right now

> I am just on the " brink " - no " serious " weight gain yet - but I can

> definitely see myself headed in that direction. So I am thinking I

> will join WW just to give myself a better structure and also some local

> support. But there is one thing that is holding me back, and I'm not

> sure how to handle this. I hope it won't sound too silly, but anyway,

> here goes ....

>

> I am, of course, a WW veteran -- been there, done that, many many

> times! All of those times when I would join WW, I would go there and

> sign up and they would give me a " goal weight " based upon my height.

> It was always something like 170 (I am 5' 10 " ). OK, so now here is the

> problem -- I currently weight LESS than 170 (thank God!). I now

> fluctuate between 158 and 162.

>

> Now you have to also bear in mind that I look " thin " and people (even

> strangers who don't know I ever had a weight problem) are always

> telling me that I am thin. For example, today I stopped by a yard

> sale, and as I was looking around at some of the items, one of the

> ladies directed me over to a large collection of shoes that were

> available. She asked me my shoe size, and I told her, 9-1/2 wide. She

> said, " Really?! " and I said, " Yes, why do you sound surprised? " Then

> she said, " Well, I would have thought you would wear, maybe, a size 7,

> ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW THIN YOU ARE. " I was flabbergasted! I even

> thought I may have mis-heard or misunderstood her, so I asked her to

> repeat what she had just said, and she did, verbatim.

>

> So, even though I am not feeling quite so thin these days (after

> regaining 8 pounds), people still see me as being " thin. " I think a

> lot of this has to do with the fact that we, as a nation of people,

> have become progressively fatter and fatter, so that the " average "

> person now is at least " overweight, " if not " obese. " So, by comparison

> with the general population, I really AM " thin. " But compared with my

> size and weight 6 months ago, I am not as thin. But the point I am

> making is that people (friends and strangers alike) see me as " thin. "

>

> So, what is going to happen when I sashay into WW one day,

> looking " thin " and weighing 8-12 pounds LESS than my WW goal weight,

> and say that I want to join WW? Are they going to take me seriously?

> Are they even going to allow me to join? I remember reading somewhere

> in WW's literature that one must be at least 10 pounds overweight in

> order to qualify to join (presumably because it would be too hard on

> the morale of all of the truly obese people to have this one " skinny "

> person sitting there saying " I need to lose weight " ).

>

> So there you have it. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

>

> JamiGoldWing

> 271/160ish

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

, one thing I was told several times by my plastic surgeon is to not

judge your weight from the scales but from the size clothing you wear and want

to wear. He said we can get hung up on weighing a certain weight and don't see

ourselves for what we as being satisfactory and healthy.

That said, from my recollection with WW you can set your own goal weight so

just tell them what you choose to weigh. It's your call. I should also think

your story might inspire some of the people that are at WW if you decide to

tell them about the surgery.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Suzanne Hazelwood

[Guest guest]

Jami, your calculated ideal body weight is 150 pounds. (It starts at 100

pounds for a 5'5 " woman and goes up by 5 pounds for each inch.) Many people

disdain this calculation because it doesn't figure in body fat levels, etc.

But it's a starting point. When you go into WW, they give you a weight

range, not a single weight. You decide what your goal weight will be, and

as long as it's not below the lowest healthy weight, you'll be fine. I had

many people in my meetings who were within their ideal range, but just

wanted to go lower in the range. This is true for me currently. My BMI is

well below 25, but I'd like to be a little thinner. The difference is, it's

now about my appearance, not my health. As I recall, my range was something

like 118-150. And if I had said that I wanted to remain higher than 150,

they would have been OK with that. You were probably told 170 because it is

somewhere in the middle of a healthy range for you.

So I doubt they'd give you a hard time at all. The people who work at WW

have to be successful WW dieters, and I've found they were pretty darned

thin.

Good luck with it!

Joanie

5/25/04

Drs. Walsh and Rutledge

>From: " JamiGoldWing " <jamigoldwing@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: I Need Some Advice

>Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2006 08:33:06 -0000

>

>Hi Everyone,

>

>I have been reading all of the posts on regaining weight, and thinking

>about my own recent weight gain (about 8 pounds), and I have decided I

>need to take this matter in hand before it gets out of hand. Right now

>I am just on the " brink " - no " serious " weight gain yet - but I can

>definitely see myself headed in that direction. So I am thinking I

>will join WW just to give myself a better structure and also some local

>support. But there is one thing that is holding me back, and I'm not

>sure how to handle this. I hope it won't sound too silly, but anyway,

>here goes ....

>

>I am, of course, a WW veteran -- been there, done that, many many

>times! All of those times when I would join WW, I would go there and

>sign up and they would give me a " goal weight " based upon my height.

>It was always something like 170 (I am 5' 10 " ). OK, so now here is the

>problem -- I currently weight LESS than 170 (thank God!). I now

>fluctuate between 158 and 162.

>

>Now you have to also bear in mind that I look " thin " and people (even

>strangers who don't know I ever had a weight problem) are always

>telling me that I am thin. For example, today I stopped by a yard

>sale, and as I was looking around at some of the items, one of the

>ladies directed me over to a large collection of shoes that were

>available. She asked me my shoe size, and I told her, 9-1/2 wide. She

>said, " Really?! " and I said, " Yes, why do you sound surprised? " Then

>she said, " Well, I would have thought you would wear, maybe, a size 7,

>ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW THIN YOU ARE. " I was flabbergasted! I even

>thought I may have mis-heard or misunderstood her, so I asked her to

>repeat what she had just said, and she did, verbatim.

>

>So, even though I am not feeling quite so thin these days (after

>regaining 8 pounds), people still see me as being " thin. " I think a

>lot of this has to do with the fact that we, as a nation of people,

>have become progressively fatter and fatter, so that the " average "

>person now is at least " overweight, " if not " obese. " So, by comparison

>with the general population, I really AM " thin. " But compared with my

>size and weight 6 months ago, I am not as thin. But the point I am

>making is that people (friends and strangers alike) see me as " thin. "

>

>So, what is going to happen when I sashay into WW one day,

>looking " thin " and weighing 8-12 pounds LESS than my WW goal weight,

>and say that I want to join WW? Are they going to take me seriously?

>Are they even going to allow me to join? I remember reading somewhere

>in WW's literature that one must be at least 10 pounds overweight in

>order to qualify to join (presumably because it would be too hard on

>the morale of all of the truly obese people to have this one " skinny "

>person sitting there saying " I need to lose weight " ).

>

>So there you have it. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

>

>JamiGoldWing

>271/160ish

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

_________________________________________________________________

On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to

get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement

[Guest guest]

I think they are going to take your money! Tell them you normally weigh 145 and

you want to lose 10-15 lbs. No harm in it.

regards,

Markham Lee

JamiGoldWing <jamigoldwing@...> wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading all of the posts on regaining weight, and thinking

about my own recent weight gain (about 8 pounds), and I have decided I

need to take this matter in hand before it gets out of hand. Right now

I am just on the " brink " - no " serious " weight gain yet - but I can

definitely see myself headed in that direction. So I am thinking I

will join WW just to give myself a better structure and also some local

support. But there is one thing that is holding me back, and I'm not

sure how to handle this. I hope it won't sound too silly, but anyway,

here goes ....

I am, of course, a WW veteran -- been there, done that, many many

times! All of those times when I would join WW, I would go there and

sign up and they would give me a " goal weight " based upon my height.

It was always something like 170 (I am 5' 10 " ). OK, so now here is the

problem -- I currently weight LESS than 170 (thank God!). I now

fluctuate between 158 and 162.

Now you have to also bear in mind that I look " thin " and people (even

strangers who don't know I ever had a weight problem) are always

telling me that I am thin. For example, today I stopped by a yard

sale, and as I was looking around at some of the items, one of the

ladies directed me over to a large collection of shoes that were

available. She asked me my shoe size, and I told her, 9-1/2 wide. She

said, " Really?! " and I said, " Yes, why do you sound surprised? " Then

she said, " Well, I would have thought you would wear, maybe, a size 7,

ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW THIN YOU ARE. " I was flabbergasted! I even

thought I may have mis-heard or misunderstood her, so I asked her to

repeat what she had just said, and she did, verbatim.

So, even though I am not feeling quite so thin these days (after

regaining 8 pounds), people still see me as being " thin. " I think a

lot of this has to do with the fact that we, as a nation of people,

have become progressively fatter and fatter, so that the " average "

person now is at least " overweight, " if not " obese. " So, by comparison

with the general population, I really AM " thin. " But compared with my

size and weight 6 months ago, I am not as thin. But the point I am

making is that people (friends and strangers alike) see me as " thin. "

So, what is going to happen when I sashay into WW one day,

looking " thin " and weighing 8-12 pounds LESS than my WW goal weight,

and say that I want to join WW? Are they going to take me seriously?

Are they even going to allow me to join? I remember reading somewhere

in WW's literature that one must be at least 10 pounds overweight in

order to qualify to join (presumably because it would be too hard on

the morale of all of the truly obese people to have this one " skinny "

person sitting there saying " I need to lose weight " ).

So there you have it. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

JamiGoldWing

271/160ish

[Guest guest]

Jami,

Put quarters in your pockets!

in NC

Deborah Leeper <deborah_leeper@...> wrote:

Jami,

Is there a " maintenance " program where you land after you reach your

goal? Wear a lot of heavy jewelry for the initial weigh-in? LOL Deb

On Saturday, February 18, 2006, at 02:33 AM, JamiGoldWing wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I have been reading all of the posts on regaining weight, and thinking

> about my own recent weight gain (about 8 pounds), and I have decided I

> need to take this matter in hand before it gets out of hand. Right now

> I am just on the " brink " - no " serious " weight gain yet - but I can

> definitely see myself headed in that direction. So I am thinking I

> will join WW just to give myself a better structure and also some local

> support. But there is one thing that is holding me back, and I'm not

> sure how to handle this. I hope it won't sound too silly, but anyway,

> here goes ....

>

> I am, of course, a WW veteran -- been there, done that, many many

> times! All of those times when I would join WW, I would go there and

> sign up and they would give me a " goal weight " based upon my height.

> It was always something like 170 (I am 5' 10 " ). OK, so now here is the

> problem -- I currently weight LESS than 170 (thank God!). I now

> fluctuate between 158 and 162.

>

> Now you have to also bear in mind that I look " thin " and people (even

> strangers who don't know I ever had a weight problem) are always

> telling me that I am thin. For example, today I stopped by a yard

> sale, and as I was looking around at some of the items, one of the

> ladies directed me over to a large collection of shoes that were

> available. She asked me my shoe size, and I told her, 9-1/2 wide. She

> said, " Really?! " and I said, " Yes, why do you sound surprised? " Then

> she said, " Well, I would have thought you would wear, maybe, a size 7,

> ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW THIN YOU ARE. " I was flabbergasted! I even

> thought I may have mis-heard or misunderstood her, so I asked her to

> repeat what she had just said, and she did, verbatim.

>

> So, even though I am not feeling quite so thin these days (after

> regaining 8 pounds), people still see me as being " thin. " I think a

> lot of this has to do with the fact that we, as a nation of people,

> have become progressively fatter and fatter, so that the " average "

> person now is at least " overweight, " if not " obese. " So, by comparison

> with the general population, I really AM " thin. " But compared with my

> size and weight 6 months ago, I am not as thin. But the point I am

> making is that people (friends and strangers alike) see me as " thin. "

>

> So, what is going to happen when I sashay into WW one day,

> looking " thin " and weighing 8-12 pounds LESS than my WW goal weight,

> and say that I want to join WW? Are they going to take me seriously?

> Are they even going to allow me to join? I remember reading somewhere

> in WW's literature that one must be at least 10 pounds overweight in

> order to qualify to join (presumably because it would be too hard on

> the morale of all of the truly obese people to have this one " skinny "

> person sitting there saying " I need to lose weight " ).

>

> So there you have it. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

>

> JamiGoldWing

> 271/160ish

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

WW will not let you join unless you have at least 5 pounds to

lose ... but remember that a goal weight for WW is a range ... and

then you get to pick the actual number. So .. it might still work.

You could also join the online WW .. where they don't " know or care "

what you weigh and do the program that way.

in GA

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I have been reading all of the posts on regaining weight, and

thinking

> about my own recent weight gain (about 8 pounds), and I have

decided I

> need to take this matter in hand before it gets out of hand. Right

now

> I am just on the " brink " - no " serious " weight gain yet - but I can

> definitely see myself headed in that direction. So I am thinking I

> will join WW just to give myself a better structure and also some

local

> support. But there is one thing that is holding me back, and I'm

not

> sure how to handle this. I hope it won't sound too silly, but

anyway,

> here goes ....

>

> I am, of course, a WW veteran -- been there, done that, many many

> times! All of those times when I would join WW, I would go there

and

> sign up and they would give me a " goal weight " based upon my

height.

> It was always something like 170 (I am 5' 10 " ). OK, so now here is

the

> problem -- I currently weight LESS than 170 (thank God!). I now

> fluctuate between 158 and 162.

>

> Now you have to also bear in mind that I look " thin " and people

(even

> strangers who don't know I ever had a weight problem) are always

> telling me that I am thin. For example, today I stopped by a yard

> sale, and as I was looking around at some of the items, one of the

> ladies directed me over to a large collection of shoes that were

> available. She asked me my shoe size, and I told her, 9-1/2 wide.

She

> said, " Really?! " and I said, " Yes, why do you sound surprised? "

Then

> she said, " Well, I would have thought you would wear, maybe, a size

7,

> ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW THIN YOU ARE. " I was flabbergasted! I

even

> thought I may have mis-heard or misunderstood her, so I asked her

to

> repeat what she had just said, and she did, verbatim.

>

> So, even though I am not feeling quite so thin these days (after

> regaining 8 pounds), people still see me as being " thin. " I think

a

> lot of this has to do with the fact that we, as a nation of people,

> have become progressively fatter and fatter, so that the " average "

> person now is at least " overweight, " if not " obese. " So, by

comparison

> with the general population, I really AM " thin. " But compared with

my

> size and weight 6 months ago, I am not as thin. But the point I am

> making is that people (friends and strangers alike) see me

as " thin. "

>

> So, what is going to happen when I sashay into WW one day,

> looking " thin " and weighing 8-12 pounds LESS than my WW goal

weight,

> and say that I want to join WW? Are they going to take me

seriously?

> Are they even going to allow me to join? I remember reading

somewhere

> in WW's literature that one must be at least 10 pounds overweight

in

> order to qualify to join (presumably because it would be too hard

on

> the morale of all of the truly obese people to have this

one " skinny "

> person sitting there saying " I need to lose weight " ).

>

> So there you have it. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions?

>

> JamiGoldWing

> 271/160ish

>

[Guest guest]

Jami, your calculated ideal body weight is 150 pounds. (It starts at 100

pounds for a 5'5 " woman and goes up by 5 pounds for each inch.)

This sounds WAAAY off to me. I weigh 152ish...up a few pounds from time to

time. I am 5' 7''.This would mean I should weight 110 POUNDS...No matter

what your body frame, I would think I would be heading for a reversal at

that level. I think the VERY minimum healthy weight I could weigh would be

135. I have NEVER seen a chart that said 110. Is that starting height

right? are you sure it isn't at 5 feet tall, 100 pounds?

Geeze, I'm still fat, but I think I will stay this way!

[Guest guest]

No , at 5'7 " , your ideal body weight is 135. Yes, it starts at 5 feet,

100 pounds, and goes from there. And I agree, the IBW is low for a lot of

people, and I don't necessarily advocate going all the way down to that

level. It's just based on a calculation, and is used in medicine for drug

dosing and other related stuff. My IBW is 125, and while I would look

awesome at that weight, I look pretty good right now at 10 pounds over it,

so we'll see if I actually get down that low. My point to Jami was that WW

would accept her at her current weight, since she could conceivably lose a

few more pounds and still be in a healthy range. (lots of people join the

program with only 10 pounds to lose!)

Joanie

5/25/04

Drs. Walsh and Rutledge

>From: " Queen " <valmaboyz@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: RE: I Need Some Advice

>Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 12:19:55 -0500

>

>

>Jami, your calculated ideal body weight is 150 pounds. (It starts at 100

>pounds for a 5'5 " woman and goes up by 5 pounds for each inch.)

>

>This sounds WAAAY off to me. I weigh 152ish...up a few pounds from time to

>time. I am 5' 7''.This would mean I should weight 110 POUNDS...No matter

>what your body frame, I would think I would be heading for a reversal at

>that level. I think the VERY minimum healthy weight I could weigh would be

>135. I have NEVER seen a chart that said 110. Is that starting height

>right? are you sure it isn't at 5 feet tall, 100 pounds?

>

>Geeze, I'm still fat, but I think I will stay this way!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Here is the link the WW page that shows their ranges ...

at 152 and 5'7 " you are dead on at your goal weight .. you are

fine .. wonderful in fact!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/health/asm/calc_healthyweight.aspx

in GA

>

>

> Jami, your calculated ideal body weight is 150 pounds. (It starts

at 100

> pounds for a 5'5 " woman and goes up by 5 pounds for each inch.)

>

> This sounds WAAAY off to me. I weigh 152ish...up a few pounds from

time to

> time. I am 5' 7''.This would mean I should weight 110 POUNDS...No

matter

> what your body frame, I would think I would be heading for a

reversal at

> that level. I think the VERY minimum healthy weight I could weigh

would be

> 135. I have NEVER seen a chart that said 110. Is that starting

height

> right? are you sure it isn't at 5 feet tall, 100 pounds?

>

> Geeze, I'm still fat, but I think I will stay this way!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

It told me my healthy range is 120-144. I actually think the range should

be more like 118-150, based on BMI, but this range is OK. It also says that

if one is under 25 years, the max recommended weight is 138 at my height.

Joanie

5/25/04

Drs. Walsh and Rutledge

>From: " juliewmson " <jwmson1@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: Re: I Need Some Advice

>Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 19:44:23 -0000

>

>,

>

>Here is the link the WW page that shows their ranges ...

>

>at 152 and 5'7 " you are dead on at your goal weight .. you are

>fine .. wonderful in fact!

>

>http://www.weightwatchers.com/health/asm/calc_healthyweight.aspx

>

>

> in GA

>

>

> >

> >

> > Jami, your calculated ideal body weight is 150 pounds. (It starts

>at 100

> > pounds for a 5'5 " woman and goes up by 5 pounds for each inch.)

> >

> > This sounds WAAAY off to me. I weigh 152ish...up a few pounds from

>time to

> > time. I am 5' 7''.This would mean I should weight 110 POUNDS...No

>matter

> > what your body frame, I would think I would be heading for a

>reversal at

> > that level. I think the VERY minimum healthy weight I could weigh

>would be

> > 135. I have NEVER seen a chart that said 110. Is that starting

>height

> > right? are you sure it isn't at 5 feet tall, 100 pounds?

> >

> > Geeze, I'm still fat, but I think I will stay this way!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thanks , I just didn't want to think of myself as " fat " anymore...LOL.

I am very happy with my size whether the 'gods' are or not...just SO glad to

be healthy and in a body that is normal!

N

_____

From: [mailto: ] On

Behalf Of juliewmson

Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 2:44 PM

Subject: Re: I Need Some Advice

,

Here is the link the WW page that shows their ranges ...

at 152 and 5'7 " you are dead on at your goal weight .. you are

fine .. wonderful in fact!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/health/asm/calc_healthyweight.aspx

in GA

>

>

> Jami, your calculated ideal body weight is 150 pounds. (It starts

at 100

> pounds for a 5'5 " woman and goes up by 5 pounds for each inch.)

>

> This sounds WAAAY off to me. I weigh 152ish...up a few pounds from

time to

> time. I am 5' 7''.This would mean I should weight 110 POUNDS...No

matter

> what your body frame, I would think I would be heading for a

reversal at

> that level. I think the VERY minimum healthy weight I could weigh

would be

> 135. I have NEVER seen a chart that said 110. Is that starting

height

> right? are you sure it isn't at 5 feet tall, 100 pounds?

>

> Geeze, I'm still fat, but I think I will stay this way!

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> I would just continue to reinforce that he needs to be in his

bedroom, alone, with the door shut and then ignore it. Those hormones

are taking over and there is no stopping them.

>

> Hope this helps.

>

And don't forget to reinforce that curtains/blinds need shut.

[Guest guest]

For starts, have you done a hair test for him?

Rule out heavy metals.

What else has changed since then? Any vaccines?

no more vaccines if he has or was having any. With the aluminum and

mercury and viruses..it's too much for our kids.

next: have you tried removing gluten/casein from his diet? Many kids

need the gf/cf diet. This alone offers improvements.

Instead of threelac, try a milk free probiotic, and being slowly. He

will go through die off if you begin at too high a dose. you want to

allow his gut to adjust to it. Sometimes treating yeast can help them

feel better. It's also possible that him getting sick after taking

Threelac was coincidence. If he came down with a virus that day, that

is probably not from Threelac. If anything, threelac would help keep

him from getting sick. But if you feel it was the Threelac, then try a

different probiotic. Once he's on that and accustomed to it, then you

can look at a antifungal.

>

> Hi,

>

> Hope you're all doing well. I need a bit of advice. My son Karl was

> diagnosed with autism about a year ago when he was 3. Since then,

> I've been doing developmental therapy with him and he's been taking

> supplements (multivitamin, fish oil, hmf neuro, ascorbate powder and

> we've recently added liquid zinc to help with his appetite).

>

> A course of Threelac (3 days) threw us a bit off track last december

> and I stopped, but his doctor thought if I gave a 1/4 of a pack per

> day to start it might help, after the first day, he woke up with a

> high fever, he was sick for about a week, I've noticed that since

> then (a week and half ago) some of his old habits are back. He's

> looking sideways again, avoiding eye contact, and stimming a lot.

> He's talking less as well, though he will use a few words when I

> insist, I find that he spends most of his time making weird sounds

> more than anything else.

>

> He's still taking all the supplements regualrly, the liquid zinc, but

> it doesn't seem to improve his appetite, he's barely eating.

>

> I'm really worried, please let me know if you have any ideas that

> might help.

>

> I'm looking forward to your feedback.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Dominique

>

[Guest guest]

Threelac and all probiotics with " strep thermophilus " in them were a problem for

us. My

son is over-reactive to anything strep (PANDAS).

But it sounds like he had a virus, and in getting over it his yeast flared up.

I would try

another probiotic with mainly acidophilus and lactobacillus strains. You could

also

consider garlic, Candex (1/2 cap on an empty stomach before bed) or Bragg's

apple cider

vinegar (1 Tbsp in water morning and night) to help manage yeast.

For us, cod liver oil and mycellized vitamin A helped with the sideways glance.

PJ

>

> Hi,

>

> Hope you're all doing well. I need a bit of advice. My son Karl was

> diagnosed with autism about a year ago when he was 3. Since then,

> I've been doing developmental therapy with him and he's been taking

> supplements (multivitamin, fish oil, hmf neuro, ascorbate powder and

> we've recently added liquid zinc to help with his appetite).

>

> A course of Threelac (3 days) threw us a bit off track last december

> and I stopped, but his doctor thought if I gave a 1/4 of a pack per

> day to start it might help, after the first day, he woke up with a

> high fever, he was sick for about a week, I've noticed that since

> then (a week and half ago) some of his old habits are back. He's

> looking sideways again, avoiding eye contact, and stimming a lot.

> He's talking less as well, though he will use a few words when I

> insist, I find that he spends most of his time making weird sounds

> more than anything else.

>

> He's still taking all the supplements regualrly, the liquid zinc, but

> it doesn't seem to improve his appetite, he's barely eating.

>

> I'm really worried, please let me know if you have any ideas that

> might help.

>

> I'm looking forward to your feedback.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Dominique

>

[Guest guest]

> A course of Threelac (3 days) threw us a bit off track last december

> and I stopped, but his doctor thought if I gave a 1/4 of a pack per

> day to start it might help, after the first day, he woke up with a

> high fever, he was sick for about a week, I've noticed that since

> then (a week and half ago) some of his old habits are back. He's

> looking sideways again, avoiding eye contact, and stimming a lot.

> He's talking less as well, though he will use a few words when I

> insist, I find that he spends most of his time making weird sounds

> more than anything else.

Threelac contains milk, and has strep strains. One or both of those

things can cause problems for some kids.

Dana