problems

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/30/2004 11:29:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

ersatz2@... writes:

think it is the permanence of this illness that bothers me

most, the knowledge that in one way or another (hyperT or hypo) I

will have thryroid disease from now until the day I die.

I recovered from Graves Disease after taking ATDs for a few months, and so

far, about 7 years later, I seem to be OK. I don't think the illness is p

ermanent at all. Please go to iThyroid.com (our sister site) to find natural

ways to address the underlying causes of thyroid imbalance, using supplements,

nutrition, acupuncture, etc. to rebalance your system.

To your health,

AntJoan

[Guest guest]

I think it is in remission, I am dealing with the third

bang. But the periods of remission were blessedly symptom

and medication free. However, I do not for one moment think

it is GONE because it isn't.

Elaine

Hello AntJoan

On Thursday, July 1, 2004, you wrote

> In a message dated 6/30/2004 11:29:08 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> ersatz2@... writes:

> think it is the permanence of this illness that bothers

> me most, the knowledge that in one way or another (hyperT

> or hypo) I will have thryroid disease from now until the

> day I die.

> I recovered from Graves Disease after taking ATDs for a few months, and so

> far, about 7 years later, I seem to be OK. I don't think the illness is p

> ermanent at all. Please go to iThyroid.com (our sister site) to find natural

> ways to address the underlying causes of thyroid

> imbalance, using supplements,

> nutrition, acupuncture, etc. to rebalance your system.

> To your health,

> AntJoan

[Guest guest]

I sure wish I would have been a little older and wiser when I got diagnosed then

i wouldnt have had the rai and maybe feel better. Now I will always be hypo no

matter what I do. sometimes its more like shot me and put me out of my misery.

As much as I hate to see others suffer I do have to say these groups have really

been a lifesaver and I am sad I didnt know of them before.

I recovered from Graves Disease after taking ATDs for a few months, and so

far, about 7 years later, I seem to be OK. I don't think the illness is p

ermanent at all. Please go to iThyroid.com (our sister site) to find natural

ways to address the underlying causes of thyroid imbalance, using supplements,

nutrition, acupuncture, etc. to rebalance your system.

To your health,

AntJoan

[Guest guest]

Reply to: etm1935@... -- Your post was very interesting to me &

raised a few questions, if you don't mind my asking.

I, too, had orbital radiation for TED. It did not work and I had to go

on a course of Prednisone, then orbital decompression. The " stare " is there,

but I've elected not to have the " multiple " surgeries which only promise

normal vision when looking straight ahead. I just close one eye when reading,

etc.

Early cataracts? I've never been told of such a possibility. How so?

You say you are getting " old " . Might I ask what age? I am 61.

What is Graves myopathy?

I knew Graves could cause serious heart problems, but thought if on

medication, this did not happen.

Any further info you can give on above ubjcts would really be

appreciated. Thanks so much. Helen in Phila.

[Guest guest]

Helen,

Graves myopathy is muscle wasting, usually gravity muscles,

the upper arms, the thighs. I have had difficulty rising

from chairs. Reaching a proper dose of tapazole can usually

help cure the weakness. I am still not back to 100%

normalcy with muscles.

I had prednisone for seven days before the orbital

radiation. As I said it worked. But I had to sign releases

that the radiation would most likely result in cataracts (a

certainly for most people if they live long enough) within

ten years of the radiation. I believe I am at the very

beginning (no real trouble yet) of cataracts and will ask

for a better timing prognosis at next doctor's appt.

I am 69. This last bout which has been the most severe (I

had several years of remission between three bouts) resulted

in big-time congestive heart failure. I think medications

are turning it around somewhat, I am lucky in that I think I

am basically healthy, but at my age the body is only going

to take so much abuse from a disease.

I understand orbital radiation can be done more than one

time. At the time it was done to me there was a question

about that. I would do it again should I have to. I have

never had double vision since, the stare disappeared, and I

am suspicious this time around that inappropriate ATD dosing

may be pushing my hypo, and being hypo is going to

exacerbate the TED. That is why I check eyes every single

AM, and why I have regular labs to be absolutely certain I

am not being pushed the other way.

Elaine

ADULT: A person who has stopped growing at both ends

and is now growing in the middle.

Hello hkenton

On Friday, July 2, 2004, you wrote

> Reply to: etm1935@... -- Your post was very interesting to me &

> raised a few questions, if you don't mind my asking.

> I, too, had orbital radiation for TED. It did not work and I had to go

> on a course of Prednisone, then orbital decompression. The " stare " is there,

> but I've elected not to have the " multiple " surgeries which only promise

> normal vision when looking straight ahead. I just

> close one eye when reading, etc.

> Early cataracts? I've never been told of such a possibility. How so?

> You say you are getting " old " . Might I ask what age? I am 61.

> What is Graves myopathy?

> I knew Graves could cause serious heart problems, but thought if on

> medication, this did not happen.

> Any further info you can give on above ubjcts would really be

> appreciated. Thanks so much. Helen in Phila.

>

[Guest guest]

I think cataracts are almost a given as people age. But I

specifically signed a specific release mentioning the

possibility that the radiation I underwent would result in

" earlier " cataracts, that cataracts might come within ten

years. Well, hell, I'm 69, what else is new?

Elaine

Hello ebonymood

On Friday, July 2, 2004, you wrote

>> Early cataracts? I've never been told of such a possibility.

> How so?

>>

> I do not wish to be alarmist here but I had a cataract removed in

> January at age 47. The surgeon told me that the rapid deterioration

> in my eye was undoubtably due to the thyroid disease although he also

> said it was unusual for it to have this effect.

[Guest guest]

Hi

Yes I have had trouble accepting having thyroid disease. It sometimes seems so

overwhelming. I had felt so healthy before and now feel wiped out by this

stupid disease. On a good day now, 5 years post diagnosis, I can say 'so what,

move on. That's the way it is'. But many times I just feel stunned and as if

it is a dream and not really me. I was so very active all my life and now I can

hardly make it up my stairs lots of days. When I sit down and rationalize to

myself that I must move on, because nothing's going to change it, I seem to do

quite well. I miss the life I had but I have another, albeit different one now.

I have learned patience - and this has had a major positive impact on my

relationship with my children. I have learned humility. And this helps in all

relationships. And I am in the process of learning assertiveness - never a

strength of mine but necessary now in order to obtain good medical care. So I'm

not the same person. I'm never going to be that same person. But I like to

think of myself as evolving into someone new and improved. When my endo told me

my problem was that I needed to 'embrace my disease' I was so furious. How

could she ever expect that. Now I think I can let go and say so what...But it

is a process I think for some of us, much like grief.

You will be a much better person eventually. Give yourself time to adjust.

Kate

Problems

Has anyone else experienced difficulty coming to terms with

Hyperthyroidism. I was diagnosed two years ago and have been using

ADTs to help control the situation.

I am find that the biggest difficulty is in accepting that I have

thyroid disease and accepting that due to the illness (it has been

severe) I have given up so many of my hobbies and am about to give up

my job. I think it is the permanence of this illness that bothers me

most, the knowledge that in one way or another (hyperT or hypo) I

will have thryroid disease from now until the day I die. Doctors are

unsympathetic, just offering more and more pills and I know there is

no cure, only the removal of one set of symptoms to be replaced by

others.

[Guest guest]

hold on now girls....having thyroid disease is NOT the end of the world.

It should NOT affect your active lifestyle.

I was very fit when dx'd and I am still fit and active 10 years later. I

lead a very active life, my main business is as a pet stylist, which is a

very physical and demanding job, plus two other internet business's. I run a

large farm with 7 horses, and I ride 2-3 times a week , sometimes more.

yes, I have to take my meds every day but its NOT a big deal. Unlike some of

you, I did take RAI treatment because I was SO very bad when I was first

dx'd. Every once in a while, my levels change and I need to adjust my meds.

But I keep on top of it. Also, on occasion, it feels as if the daily med was

a placebo.......no big deal, tomorrow is another day.

What I am trying to say is that having a thyroid problem isn't all that bad,

believe me, there are folks out there far sicker then us, and our disease is

very manageable.

Patti

[Guest guest]

Yes and no, Patti.

I am badly bouncing around right now. This is third bout

since 1991. This may be the worst. Medications are not

settling me down.

I certainly have not stopped living. But my body isn't

quite as cooperative as it was before. The muscle myopathy

is a serious problem when it starts affecting whether you

can rise from a chair. A change in dosing and I have blown

up thirty pounds in a month, much of it water retention. I

am diagnosed with congestive heart failure directly

attributable to Graves. I also am now caught between a rock

and a hard place because I am very protective of my eyes

which have already been orbitally radiated in the past and I

do not want an artificial hypo condition to encourage

another TED bout.

I don't think we have much in common. You said you had RAI.

My thyroid is still perking.

Elaine

Hello Miss

On Monday, July 5, 2004, you wrote

> hold on now girls....having thyroid disease is NOT the end of the world.

> It should NOT affect your active lifestyle.

> I was very fit when dx'd and I am still fit and active 10 years later. I

> lead a very active life, my main business is as a pet stylist, which is a

> very physical and demanding job, plus two other

> internet business's. I run a

> large farm with 7 horses, and I ride 2-3 times a week , sometimes more.

> yes, I have to take my meds every day but its NOT a big deal. Unlike some of

> you, I did take RAI treatment because I was SO very bad when I was first

> dx'd. Every once in a while, my levels change and I need to adjust my meds.

> But I keep on top of it. Also, on occasion, it feels as if the daily med was

> a placebo.......no big deal, tomorrow is another day.

> What I am trying to say is that having a thyroid problem isn't all that bad,

> believe me, there are folks out there far sicker then us, and our disease is

> very manageable.

> Patti

[Guest guest]

Patti I'm glad for you. Not all of us are able to bounce back to a normal life.

I lost my job. For a very long time I wasn't sure who I was. I took RAI (first

mistake) too. But my specialist didn't understand that you can have hypo

symptoms and be hyper and vice versa. My meds were terribly mismanaged. At one

point my TSH was up to 74 and my doctor was still talking about lowering my

dosage of synthroid.

I too led an active life. My job was computer support for 600 computers - both

hardware and software. I crawled under a lot of desks daily. For fun, I taught

how to lead wilderness trips. I can't do any of this anymore. Yess I ended up

with Osteoporosis. And Myofascial pain syndrome (or Fibromyalgia, depending on

who you believe). And depression (what a surprise). My eyes suffered as well.

For a period I had a compressed optical nerve but that is okay now. My heart

was damaged and I am on medication for it. While hyper I gained 40 pounds and I

have gained another 10 since. I am on a diet all the time. This lets me keep

the weight gain down. But I have not been able to lose much. I too am

retaining a lot of fluid - both pitting (my legs) and non-pitting (my ankles).

So you see we are not all the same.

Kate

I had expected to take the RAI, take my medecine and get on wiht it. But that

is not always the case.

RE: Problems

hold on now girls....having thyroid disease is NOT the end of the world.

It should NOT affect your active lifestyle.

I was very fit when dx'd and I am still fit and active 10 years later. I

lead a very active life, my main business is as a pet stylist, which is a

very physical and demanding job, plus two other internet business's. I run a

large farm with 7 horses, and I ride 2-3 times a week , sometimes more.

yes, I have to take my meds every day but its NOT a big deal. Unlike some of

you, I did take RAI treatment because I was SO very bad when I was first

dx'd. Every once in a while, my levels change and I need to adjust my meds.

But I keep on top of it. Also, on occasion, it feels as if the daily med was

a placebo.......no big deal, tomorrow is another day.

What I am trying to say is that having a thyroid problem isn't all that bad,

believe me, there are folks out there far sicker then us, and our disease is

very manageable.

Patti

[Guest guest]

Being a newbie hyper...... i wonder if age and existing problems

play an important role in how the hyperthyroid affects us...??

Flutterbee

> Patti I'm glad for you. Not all of us are able to bounce back to

a normal life. I lost my job. For a very long time I wasn't sure

who I was. I took RAI (first mistake) too. But my specialist

didn't understand that you can have hypo symptoms and be hyper and

vice versa. My meds were terribly mismanaged. At one point my TSH

was up to 74 and my doctor was still talking about lowering my

dosage of synthroid.

> I too led an active life. My job was computer support for 600

computers - both hardware and software. I crawled under a lot of

desks daily. For fun, I taught how to lead wilderness trips. I

can't do any of this anymore. Yess I ended up with Osteoporosis.

And Myofascial pain syndrome (or Fibromyalgia, depending on who you

believe). And depression (what a surprise). My eyes suffered as

well. For a period I had a compressed optical nerve but that is

okay now. My heart was damaged and I am on medication for it.

While hyper I gained 40 pounds and I have gained another 10 since.

I am on a diet all the time. This lets me keep the weight gain

down. But I have not been able to lose much. I too am retaining a

lot of fluid - both pitting (my legs) and non-pitting (my ankles).

So you see we are not all the same.

> Kate

>

> I had expected to take the RAI, take my medecine and get on wiht

it. But that is not always the case.

> RE: Problems

>

>

> hold on now girls....having thyroid disease is NOT the end of

the world.

> It should NOT affect your active lifestyle.

> I was very fit when dx'd and I am still fit and active 10 years

later. I

> lead a very active life, my main business is as a pet stylist,

which is a

> very physical and demanding job, plus two other internet

business's. I run a

> large farm with 7 horses, and I ride 2-3 times a week ,

sometimes more.

>

> yes, I have to take my meds every day but its NOT a big deal.

Unlike some of

> you, I did take RAI treatment because I was SO very bad when I

was first

> dx'd. Every once in a while, my levels change and I need to

adjust my meds.

> But I keep on top of it. Also, on occasion, it feels as if the

daily med was

> a placebo.......no big deal, tomorrow is another day.

>

> What I am trying to say is that having a thyroid problem isn't

all that bad,

> believe me, there are folks out there far sicker then us, and

our disease is

> very manageable.

>

> Patti

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate

And thanks for your reply.

And sorry, everyone, when I posed the question I did not mean to

start a 'war'! However, I think you have, without necesssarily

realising it, answered the question for me.

> Hi

> Yes I have had trouble accepting having thyroid disease. It

sometimes seems so overwhelming. I had felt so healthy before and

now feel wiped out by this stupid disease. On a good day now, 5

years post diagnosis, I can say 'so what, move on. That's the way it

is'. But many times I just feel stunned and as if it is a dream and

not really me. I was so very active all my life and now I can hardly

make it up my stairs lots of days. When I sit down and rationalize

to myself that I must move on, because nothing's going to change it,

I seem to do quite well. I miss the life I had but I have another,

albeit different one now. I have learned patience - and this has had

a major positive impact on my relationship with my children. I have

learned humility. And this helps in all relationships. And I am in

the process of learning assertiveness - never a strength of mine but

necessary now in order to obtain good medical care. So I'm not the

same person. I'm never going to be that same person. But I like to

think of myself as evolving into someone new and improved. When my

endo told me my problem was that I needed to 'embrace my disease' I

was so furious. How could she ever expect that. Now I think I can

let go and say so what...But it is a process I think for some of us,

much like grief.

>

> You will be a much better person eventually. Give yourself time to

adjust.

> Kate

> Problems

>

>

> Has anyone else experienced difficulty coming to terms with

> Hyperthyroidism. I was diagnosed two years ago and have been

using

> ADTs to help control the situation.

> I am find that the biggest difficulty is in accepting that I have

> thyroid disease and accepting that due to the illness (it has

been

> severe) I have given up so many of my hobbies and am about to

give up

> my job. I think it is the permanence of this illness that

bothers me

> most, the knowledge that in one way or another (hyperT or hypo) I

> will have thryroid disease from now until the day I die. Doctors

are

> unsympathetic, just offering more and more pills and I know there

is

> no cure, only the removal of one set of symptoms to be replaced

by

> others.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't think so. I do think stress exacerbates Graves.

I am in my third bout. I was thrilled with the first

remission (never gone but out of sight <smile>), and sailed

along fine to the second bout which involved the double

vision and more problems than the first, and then blessed

remission again (in hiding, ready for a call). Every bout

has been precipitated by a serious life crisis involving a

loved one. This bout has been my most severe. The three

bouts have occurred over a period of 13 years so not all has

been lost, usually the problem was brought under control in

a year.

However, this time I am suffering more problems. And this

is the first time I have thought I made a mistake not going

for RAI and being a medicated (sometimes right, sometimes

wrong) slug.

Elaine

Hello Flutterbee

On Monday, July 5, 2004, you wrote

> Being a newbie hyper...... i wonder if age and existing problems

> play an important role in how the hyperthyroid affects us...??

> Flutterbee

[Guest guest]

Am a little dismayed about the early cataract warnings. I know I signed lots

of " permission to treat " papers, etc. when I had the orbital radiation. I

usually read each and every lengthy one. Don't remember if the possibility of

early cataracts was listed as this was three-plus years ago. It probably was

and I just don't recall.

Dang!!!!! Am basically using just the one eye because of TED so as not to

have double vision (close the TED eye).This results in lots of crows feet around

that eye -- LOL!

You are very lucky the radiation worked for you. I was told -- after

the fact -- it only works on a very small percentage of people. And the cost

was twenty some thousand dollars.

Good luck to you. Helen in Philly PS: The orbital decompression

surgery was something else. Went into the OR at 6:00 p.m. on a Friday evening.

Left the hospital right after lunch the next day. Hospital bill was over

$15,000.00. Only the hospital bill, not the two surgeons bills. I was so

appalled I made them send me an itemized bill.

HAS ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE HAD ORBITAL DECOMPRESSION SURGERY????? Helen

[Guest guest]

I want to thank all of you for being real humans and the generous way you treat all of us.

My GI doctor diagnosed me with esophageal motility disorder. After trying for 3 months I finally got my manometry test back. I do not have it but I do have a LES spincter that is defective(low pressure reading) I call my internist and asked for a body scan as there is much cancer in my family. He did lab work to check liver, pancreas.and kidneys which are normal and sent me for a ultrasound. Now I am awaiting CT scan. Fortunately, I did not have to pay $850.00 myself although I was willing to pay anything. They found stones in my gallbladder but also a right sided pleural effusion. Also, what looks like I had a endoscopic sphincterotomy in that it looks like I have air in the biliary system. I only had a endoscopic done in December. It looks like I have intrahepatic air in the distribution of the bile ducts.

I do not understand this. Do any of you???

[Guest guest]

Wow I am glad that was not in Latin...lol I hope all the information that is gathered will help in finding a way to get you feeling better. As for the low LES pressure maybe you should inflate it some more kind of like when you car tire gets low.... JK. I will pray that the tests renders the informations to help you out.

in Suffolk

[Guest guest]

Gee Beth - that is most confusing ! I really would not like to guess - I could but it would be wrong to do so. This is where you need to take the report to one of your docs and demand an explanation. Was this caused by the endoscopy ? How did the air get there ? Was the pleural effusion caused by you aspirating (getting stuff from your throat into your lungs) during the night or during the endoscopy.

What do they propose to do about it?

Joan

Re: Problems

I want to thank all of you for being real humans and the generous way you treat all of us.

My GI doctor diagnosed me with esophageal motility disorder. After trying for 3 months I finally got my manometry test back. I do not have it but I do have a LES spincter that is defective(low pressure reading) I call my internist and asked for a body scan as there is much cancer in my family. He did lab work to check liver, pancreas.and kidneys which are normal and sent me for a ultrasound. Now I am awaiting CT scan. Fortunately, I did not have to pay $850.00 myself although I was willing to pay anything. They found stones in my gallbladder but also a right sided pleural effusion. Also, what looks like I had a endoscopic sphincterotomy in that it looks like I have air in the biliary system. I only had a endoscopic done in December. It looks like I have intrahepatic air in the distribution of the bile ducts.

I do not understand this. Do any of you???

[Guest guest]

IMHO, it's pretty arrogant of a doctor not to explain things in

" layman's terms " .

Jeff

> I want to thank all of you for being real humans and the generous

way you

> treat all of us.

> My GI doctor diagnosed me with esophageal motility disorder. After

trying

> for 3 months I finally got my manometry test back. I do not have it

but I do

> have a LES spincter that is defective(low pressure reading) I call

my internist

> and asked for a body scan as there is much cancer in my family. He

did lab

> work to check liver, pancreas.and kidneys which are normal and sent

me for a

> ultrasound. Now I am awaiting CT scan. Fortunately, I did not have

to pay

> $850.00 myself although I was willing to pay anything. They found

stones in my

> gallbladder but also a right sided pleural effusion. Also, what

looks like I had

> a endoscopic sphincterotomy in that it looks like I have air in the

biliary

> system. I only had a endoscopic done in December. It looks like I have

> intrahepatic air in the distribution of the bile ducts.

> I do not understand this. Do any of you???

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Please send me your positive energies for my big day tomorrow. I have a CT scan scheduled for the chest,pelvis, and abdomen in the morning. My advise to all of you is follow your inner voice. It will tell you everything you need to know.

Beth

[Guest guest]

Beth, good to see things are moving along for you. I hope the test turns out well and they find what they are looking for. Keep us posted.

in Suffolk

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

I’ll be thinking of you today while

you have your CT scan. I hope all goes well. Let us know how things

go.

Talk to you soon!

Re: Re:

Problems

Dear

Friends,

Please

send me your positive energies for my big day tomorrow. I have a CT scan

scheduled for the chest,pelvis, and abdomen in the morning. My advise to all of

you is follow your inner voice. It will tell you everything you need to know.

Beth

[Guest guest]

,

You are so sweet to ask about me. I had a CT scan of the abdomen,pelvis and chest done yesterday. The sonogram showed evidence of what looked like cancer with the plureal effusion which probably was tumor also. After a traumatic 2 days especially for my poor husband , we have probably had a miracle in that the only evidence left is gallstones. I know this sounds far fetched but all the doctors say I am the luckiest lady in the world. I am awaiting another test on just the gallbladder and then most likely lap surgery to remove it.

I am eating a fat free diet until then. I know that I had something really weird starting November 18th and I do not have an explanation. All of you wonderful people saved my mental life. The courage that you role modeled for me was amazing in having me be able to cope with the mucous, vomiting,public vomiting, chest pain, and navigating the medical system. I certainly have more insight in what other people suffer.

I will be leaving the group. How has this whole experience changed me?? Well I am not going to work full time anymore. I am going to do more just for myself. I am going to wear trendy clothes and bright, trendy colors that will be outdated next year. I am going to toss out everything in my house that I do not use. No more saving for a rainy day.

Again, thanks again for all of your support. I want to especially thank sweet in Canada for signing me in to this spot. it was meant for me to get your address on a site of AOL.

My best wishes for all of you and hope you find a miracle too,

Beth

[Guest guest]

Sounds like great news!

> ,

> You are so sweet to ask about me. I had a CT scan of the

abdomen,pelvis and

> chest done yesterday. The sonogram showed evidence of what looked

like cancer

> with the plureal effusion which probably was tumor also. After a

traumatic 2

> days especially for my poor husband , we have probably had a miracle

in that

> the only evidence left is gallstones. I know this sounds far

fetched but all

> the doctors say I am the luckiest lady in the world. I am awaiting

another

> test on just the gallbladder and then most likely lap surgery to

remove it.

> I am eating a fat free diet until then. I know that I had something

really

> weird starting November 18th and I do not have an explanation. All

of you

> wonderful people saved my mental life. The courage that you role

modeled for me

> was amazing in having me be able to cope with the mucous,

vomiting,public

> vomiting, chest pain, and navigating the medical system. I certainly

have more

> insight in what other people suffer.

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

Thank you for letting us know - I am so very glad for you and hope for further good results.

Please do not abandon us altogether - even if you do not have A you have been part of us for a while and one likes to hear from old friends!

Every good wish for your surgery and for the future!

Hugs,

Joan

Re: Re: Problems

,

You are so sweet to ask about me. I had a CT scan of the abdomen,pelvis and chest done yesterday. The sonogram showed evidence of what looked like cancer with the plureal effusion which probably was tumor also. After a traumatic 2 days especially for my poor husband , we have probably had a miracle in that the only evidence left is gallstones. I know this sounds far fetched but all the doctors say I am the luckiest lady in the world. I am awaiting another test on just the gallbladder and then most likely lap surgery to remove it.

I am eating a fat free diet until then. I know that I had something really weird starting November 18th and I do not have an explanation. All of you wonderful people saved my mental life. The courage that you role modeled for me was amazing in having me be able to cope with the mucous, vomiting,public vomiting, chest pain, and navigating the medical system. I certainly have more insight in what other people suffer.

I will be leaving the group. How has this whole experience changed me?? Well I am not going to work full time anymore. I am going to do more just for myself. I am going to wear trendy clothes and bright, trendy colors that will be outdated next year. I am going to toss out everything in my house that I do not use. No more saving for a rainy day.

Again, thanks again for all of your support. I want to especially thank sweet in Canada for signing me in to this spot. it was meant for me to get your address on a site of AOL.

My best wishes for all of you and hope you find a miracle too,

Beth

[Guest guest]

> 1. How can I make proteins pass easier? Even when I chew them 40

> times, they don't get moist enough and I don't like adding mayo.

Hi Beyza,

I read the files in smartbandster and remember one of them specifying

that bite size should be the size of your little finger's nail bed (the

pink part). I find if I get the bite that small, and chew well, I can

eat almost any protein. If I'm extra tight or the meat is too dry, I

use applesauce, chutney, or fruit salsa to give it the needed moisture.

Trader Joe's has some nice fruit based salsas that are very low

calorie and I'm enjoying trying those out.

Hope these suggestions help!

Liz in Bellevue, WA

-32 since 10/26/05