Hi, welcome to the site!  Thank you for your kind reply to my no income just another statistic blog!  I need to update everyone, I haven't blogged in a while.  The unemployment office found that the company lied about any wrong doing on my husbands part.  So we did about a week ago get unemployment finally, it's not much, but it helps.  The Labor Board investigated also to see if the company owed my husband his PTO (vacation pay) they too found that the company was in the wrong, they have told the company they need to pay that to my husband, they can't make the company do it though, so we may not be done fighting yet. :0)  We'll see.  My hubby found another job, it's not great, but at least we'll have benefits, the pay is 1/3 of what he was making.  We'll get through it somehow.  As soon as my hubby starts his new job I'll blog and catch everyone up, so you are the first to know. :0)

Michele 

I had gastric bypass surgery Sept. 2001. At that time, I weighed over 300 lbs. Now I am 175 lbs.  It took me a long time to get back to normal. I did lose the weight but not without horrible complications. In December 2006, I had to have my bypass redone. The doctor said that I had an ulcer in my esophagus and one in my pouch that had eaten through & adheard to my liver.  After 3 endoscopies they found that esophagus had so much scar tissue that it had become restricted to the point that I could not eat anything except very soft food & liquids. After 3 attempts to stretch the tissue, it was decided I should redo my bypass. During the bypass surgery they found 4 hernias ans repaired them. It has been a little over two years now and I am having the same problems. I am can't to work because I am constantly in pain. I have horrible gastric reflux & pressure.  Since I had to retire, I have no health insurance & nor eligible for Medicare. I haven't been to a doctor since 2007, & can't afford to go to one now. My retirement income is $600 a month. I have contacted all the local & state programs in my area and learned that there are no volunteer gastrointerologists for the uninsured. I try to control my pain with OTC Prilosec & Tums but it balrely works. I now only eat soft foods & liquids. It feels like my food gets stuck trying to go down but it can't, so it comes back up which takes hours some days. If it is a good day, it will come right back up. I need some help!