:: Introducing: Dr T ::

This is a story about Dr T.

Dr T is the man I share my life with.

He is calm.
And kind.
And gentle.
And patient.
He is a man of few words. But he cares deeply.
He has the most beautiful soul.
His karma is good.
He makes me laugh.
He makes me happy.
Waking up next to him is like Christmas morning every day.
Nothing fazes him.

Well, almost nothing fazes him. Maybe dealing with an poorly fed, narky woman played mild interference with his usual zen.

See, Dr T has only ever known me with a band; eating more or less like a sparrow (exceptions to this rule include pork ribs and peanut butter & chocolate ice cream of which I seem to be able to eat in normal, non-banded portions!). In the time we have been together, I have rarely eaten three meals a day. Generally, I'm not hungry or I'm too distracted to worry about food. Almost every night our conversation is involves a scolding from Dr T because I have not eaten.

So I have forgotten what it's like to be truly, physically hungry.

On Thursday, fluid was removed from the band during surgery. The surgeon advised this course of action due to the results of my barium swallow the day before which showed that no fluid moved through the band on immediate swallow. In essence, the band was too tight. There was no known reason for it being that way as I hadn't had a fill in months. But it was causing severe reflex and considerable difficulty eating/swallowing. The trouble is that I have no idea how much fluid was removed. But however much it was, I now experience real hunger again! And my word, if I'm not fed within 20 minutes of getting hunger pangs, I'm toey. I'm crawling the walls. I cannot focus on anything other than food. The intensity of my hunger has given me a bit of a fright. And I'm a bit embarrassed by it all as well. I desperately look forward to having some fluid back in.

I never thought Dr T would ever see me truly and ravenously hungry; much less something that morphs into a demon when it's not bridled with a band. It hasn't been pretty. But he has returned to his status quo of being unfazed.

So, Dr T is so the sort of person you want on your side .. especially when you hit some turbulence in life. He's the best.