mnbsleeve

Great post Fullofit!!! Congratulations!!! Looking forward to reading about your progress!!! It's a very exciting journey and I feel so greatful to have been able to do this! Happy losing!!! :-)

Forensikchick, you always inspire me... and crack me up!!! First, congratulations on all your progress! I've posted before that you and I have followed a similar pattern in weight loss in that we're slower, we drop and stall etc. But, we are surely getting there AND I believe you're like me in that we are loosing better than in the past anyway. I'm very happy for your sister and that she'll be ablt to join you in this experience - which I have considered a priviledge! Regarding the bones!!! YES SAME ISSUE!!! Just a few nights ago I was having a similar conversation with my spouse about the bones! I am now finding my knees also smash together when I sleep on my side and I have to rearrange my legs LOL. Sounds so funny. I woke up a few nights ago because of my ribs. NOTE: this is NOT a compaint!!! :-) Congratulations to you on all you've accomplished and thanks for being a supportive board buddy to all during your journey!!! You have a great spirit! PS: The Protein in orange juice was a super great suggestion that's worked out great for me!

YOU ROCK!!!!!

Crop Queen! I love your blog!!! You look wonderful, happy and full of energy. I turned 49 in November. I agree with Retired above. It's never too late to have a happy, fulfulling life!!!! Congrats to both of you inspiring ladies!!!!

You got this Lilee!!!!! You go girl!

I agree with all of the above! Also, as CowgirlJane suggested, switching antiacid can really help. I'm on prilosec and once on a trip switched to zantac (which works differently) and it was a huge negative difference. Check with your MD about switching. Also, get that sipping in! It's really hard in the begining, but you can do it!!!!! One hour at a time. Try popsicles, herbal teas, broths, hot, cold etc. Once sip at a time. Also, as others have said, if you need an IV, do it! You will start to feel better with fluids! Even now this far out, when I am having a bit of a crappy day, it's usually because I am low on fluids... and I get to sipping! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! Seding good thoughts your way!

WOW! You look amazing! I love that red dress on you!!! You go girl!!!!

You look incredible!!! A different person! I would not have recognized you. You look very happy too! Congratulations!!!

Woo Hoo!!! Good times!!! Congratulations ShellBear!!! Enjoy the new you!

Gorgeous!!!! Congratulations! You look beautiful! Thanks for posting these inspiring pics!!!

Candace! You look beautiful!!! I have a feeling you are going to have to get used to this though!!! Guys are probably falling all over you daily! This one was just bold! lol Congratulations! You look stunning! Enjoy the new you!

Don't get too attached to your mother's beautiful clothes! You'll be giving them right back very soon!!!! :-) CONGRATULATIONS on your progress!!!!

EXCELLENT IDEA! I'm still struggling with the same issues! I will definitely try this today! Thank you!!!!

I only juice green vegies, especially leafy greens. Some are a bit more bitter, like spinach. Cucumber is "watery" and has a delicate flavor so it's good to mix in with the more intense ones so they don't taste as strong. It is an acquired taste but very worth it. There's very little calories, very litte to low sugar unless you juice fruits or carrots, and very, very high in antioxidants. I've juiced for years and I find that I rarely catch a cold and I heal pretty quickly. I think it really boosts my immune system. My NUT had me continue juicing up to the day before sugery. I missed it during the weeks after sugery where my surgeon had me on lilquids. There is a bit of a fiber content. When I resumed juicing again, I strained it, even thought it was just liquid! And indeed there was some fiber. Eventually I didn't have to strain it anymore once my stomach healed. I juice organic greens, the greener or more colorful the better - like purple cabbage, which has a very sweet taste! You don't really need a whole lot! In fact, even if you just juice a few leaves of kale and a bunch of parsley you may get 2 to 4 oz and it's plenty. I'll have a full 8 oz. but you don't need to. Some of the leaves render a very rich, green juice but not necessarily lots of quantity. Again, it depends what you juice. I find the cost to be well worth it and definitely not that much... lets say, it's not more than a piece of junk food one may have when not minding our health. Good luck and happy experimenting :-)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Get ready for an incredible journey!!!! Stay close to this board. The support here will help you through any challenges you may face. Congrats again!

Caffeine tends to dehydrate you! So it's best to stay away, at least for a while. I don't generally have caffeine, but I know some folks here on the board do eventually have a cup of coffee a day. I'm sure others will post more. Just be sure you are taking in enough fluids. And I would wait till things settle down.

Barbara, thank you for sharing your experiences, including cost of procedures! I want to wish luck with the procedures and a super speedy recovery! Looking foward to the pics!!!!

I've been away from the boards for a while due to a death in the family and just found your post! What an awesome gift to yourself! I understand it takes a while for the swelling to really go down. A friend who got a similar procedure really started to look fantastic at about 30 days! Within a couple of weeks she looked really good... but then.. WOW, even better. I think it will get better and better as you heal. Congratulations! Enjoy the new you!

CONGRATULATIONS Amanda!!!!! Well done!!!!!!!!

Lots of great advice has already been given but I just want to add some words of support! It does pass and it does get better. I focused on one day at a time. I was prescribed raglan for the nausea which helpd tremendously. I took it for at least a week after surgery. And as others have said, I was on prilosec.... big difference if I didn't take it. Also, I made sure I took some walks/strolls around the neighborhood and deep breathing helped too. I spent about 2 to 3 minute doing rythmic, meditative type breathing. I did it thoughout the day but especially before bed. It really helped me relax all the muscles that tense up when we feel so misserable - especially nauseaus! I found that my neck and shoulders were like boulders! So the relaxing and breathing made a big difference in just loosing that area up and it helped me rest. Best of luck guys! We are all rooting for you. You will get through this tough healing and adjustment stage! I am sure! Remember we all go through it - it stinks, but it's a necesary step! Hang in there! Gets better each and every day!!!!

What a great post Ouroborous! Congratulations on all of the changes you've made in your life! What strength and courage!!!!!

Congratulations!!!! You look gorgeous! Love the handbag story. Made me chuckle! :-) (looks great no matter!)