Mwheel, thanks so much for your comment. I am going to follow your example and check out a yoga class in my neighborhood, and then see what my body has to tell me about that! Westgardener, my understanding is that homeopathic medicines trigger healing responses by providing slightly disruptive reactions. The medication I took was Traumeel, and I've linked to their website if you want to check it out. Traumeel is intended to reduce inflammation. Arnica (arnica montana) is supposed to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation, and heal wounds. Comfrey (symphytum officinale) is supposed to be helpful with injuries to bones, sinews, and tendons. I have found that I respond very well to homeopathic medications when I have serious injuries, but I feel I would be irresponsible if I didn't recommend that you see a practicing homeopath or alternative/complementary medicine professional before pursuing any of these things for yourself. Aromatherapy is, as I understand it, one of the newest of the plant-based healing practices, and is based on the idea that volatile oils carry some essence of the plant that you can absorb through inhalation to promote psychological and physical well-being. I think aromatherapy works slightly differently for different people -- for example, you're not going to get a positive response if you happen to dislike or have a negative association with a particular scent. I read the labels of essential plant oils and then take a sniff -- I can usually tell within a few seconds whether that scent will make me feel better, or different, or not. I used aromatherapy -- putting a few drops in a dish of steaming hot water and then leaning over to inhale, or putting some in an electric plug-in diffuser -- to encourage a more positive mood that I believe supported my overall healing process. I find the scents of bergamot and neroli deeply interesting and freshening, and I liked walking into my living room and being enveloped by their citrusy warmth.

Thanks all for a lot of good advice. I shared this thread with my friend. She is also getting additional feedback from others including professional advice from her doctor. Like some of you commented, Baraiatric surgery today seems quite different than a few years ago. I also asked our family doctor who is quite conservative and his opinion was that it depends on co-morbities like diabetes, high cholesterol etc. For many people this is resolved. However, it is but a tool and lifestyle changes are key. Unlike procedures like Lap band which has issues like slippage, vomiting etc., and more drastic procedures like gastric bypass where there is serious issues with not being able to absorb enough vitamins and such, the specific procedure that she is looking at is sleeve gastrectomy that leaves the intestines intact. She will need to take calcium everyday. A chewable vitamin is good as eating very less food initially is very stressful for the body. But once the sutures are healed, she can eat normal food for most part.. Just less of it and more protein. A very hard decision but she has a good support group among friends and family.

I am so glad that you filled everyone in on what you went through. Indeed, the experience has been a traumatic one for all involved. Now, another perspective. I had a dog that I loved beyond words. In January of this year, I found out my 14 year old Tara had cancer, plus other issues that simply made her life miserable. When I took her to my vet (who I trust with my life and that of my dogs) and she did emergency blood work on her, she told me that day that if Tara would stand a chance of living, she would need what she termed at least a month or two of intensive care after major surgury. Even after all of that, there would be no guarantee of a "good quality of life". Please don't mis-understand how I feel about this issue. I truly believe when you have pets, decisions are individual. After consulting with two other vets who could be considered true "country vets", and I was told all of the things that would need to be done, and what Tara could no longer do, the decision was made to put her out of her misery. It wasn't an easy experience, but for me, I am convinced it was the right experience. One of my "country vets" who I have known for many years, talked to me for a long time about what I was going through. She was originally a city vet, and had two very clear perspectives about the issue. When she told me that she now thinks she put some of her patients through to much when she was a city vet, I knew very well what I had to do. I very much believe in a dog being able to live like a dog, and have dog experiences. That means, running, getting into mischief, barking, annoying me to go out, playing, waging their tail, etc. etc. My Tara couldn't do any of those things. I, as well as you, take great comfort in the decision that I made. I am forever grateful that Tara died in my arms and I was able to feel her slip away. I definitely did not want the experience to happen in some emergency room with blinding light and strangers all around. Good luck to you, SG

Sue, as the spouse of one with sleep apnea and the mother of a son who had his tonsils removed due to sleep issues, I can tell your son the risk of complications from not having his tonsils out greatly outweigh the risk of having a major complication, much less death, from a tonsillectomy. It was hard to see my son wheeled away, even though I knew this was "Minor" surgery. I had similar fears about going under a general to have my meniscus repaired and wanted to do anything to avoid going under. Worrying and avoiding were worse than the surgery. Your son needs to remind himself that his doctor has probably done thousands if not tens of thousands of these procedures. They are competent and skilled, and your DS is going to sleep and feel so much better after this is done. And he will have the expectation of a longer, healthier life with a greatly reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, obesity and possibly even Alzheimer's. I'd get my tonsils out (or my meniscus repaired) twice to avoid all those issues! Getting hm a big Lego set, puzzles or quiet games could be good for Christmas. He is going to need some quiet time