Smoggy

I'm also totally off plain water. I like adding crystal light but it is not easy to get here And sugar free gatorade or propel are not available at all. So im trying to make my own water mixes. I've added squeezed lemon and lime to a big jug of water and also a shot of sugar free mint syrup. That's quite good - any other suggestions?

When is your date birdy?

Oh- he also made a status update today which will tell you more. I'm sure he will be touched people are asking after him.

He's doing well and messaged me this morning- he is 5 days out and had some issues with low blood sugar but sorted that out with a little thinned applesauce. He says otherwise he is feeling good! YAY for Jonathan!

Great links- thanks!

I can't believe I am three and a half weeks out now- time is racing by. I had to put my poor little cat down recently, which broke my heart so I have had a serious case of the glums. Some things, however have been going well..I helped to move a friend's apartment contents and cat to a new apartment in the same building, and she has given me a key and said I can use the apartment pool whenever I like while she is away on vacation. Since I was cleared to submerge about a week ago I have been swimming every day and I am loving it. I'm starting to really regret that I don't live in an apartment with a pool though - something to think about for next year when we all have to make decisions about whether to take company housing or not. A place with a pool where I can swim sounds great right now.I can't believe I am so enjoying it- which means I must keep it up, even though it is only breaststroke for 30 minutes a day it burns nearly 500 calories and works on the dreaded batwings. Since my first VSG surgeon consultation back in April I have lost 17.5 kgs (38 lbs ) and since surgery 9.8 kgs (21.6 lbs).Not bad- I've had a few 'stalls' but I keep going back to Benjammin's wise words about this here http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/blog/1390/entry-3580-the-voice-of-reason/ and then I just mentally shrug and get on with it. Yes it is annoying but it'll help no-one to dwell on it. I am onto mashed foods now which is GREAT. I have cooked the yummy baked Ricotta cheese and love it. I also eat scrambled egg, tuna mayo, baked grouper, prawn paste, shredded cheese, bolognaise sauce, minced chicken mayo. I have also discoverd that if I add a really strong 2 teaspoons of decaff instant coffee dissolved in a little hot water to my isopure vanilla shake it takes the sickly sweetness away and makes it like a really quite drinkable type of iced latte. So I'm supplementing my protein with one of those every day, and having no problem getting protein in. I am NOT getting water in so easily. As soon as I go out anywhere during the day I can't drink as it is Ramadan which means no drinks/food consumption in public and that really slows me down. I am getting enough liquids in, just not as much as I'd like. I have found if I eat too much my nose runs and I sneeze a lot which is a bit strange but I am not alone in that and I'm glad I have some sort of full signal. Otherwise, I'm physically good, healing ridiculously well, no weird side-effects from surgery and am finally sleeping on my tum. Now to try and stop missing my kitty so much and drag myself kicking and screaming out of the glums.

Hi Nyanbunny- I have another VSGer friend fasting and I REALLY feel for you both- GOOD LUCK,. xox

Hi birdy, I hope you will recover well too! A tummy pillow is just a small (but long enough to fit widthways accross your tummy) but really firm pillow that you can press against the tum when you get up, walk etc. The pressure really helps to support your poor tum and it also helps with the pain. For me it was kinda like a security blanket too! LOL Anyway I don't know what I would have dome without it. I took a small cushion I had at home to a tailor to add more filling so it was much firmer. It was perfect. Good luck!

I was lucky, first day was the worst but they kept on top of my pain with meds. Since then I have recovered in leaps and bounds. I did a lot of walking around the ward and my firm tummy pillow was brilliant to press against me while getting up and walking. I have really had an extremely smooth recovery. I'm swimming 30 minutes of breaststroke every day now ( im a month out today) until I'm cleared for more strenuous exercise . I suppose I was about 10 days out when I stopped feeling like a bit of an invalid.

I have got this stuff but haven't started taking it yet. I'm a month out. It is reeeeaaaly expensive! Have you noticed any positive differences?

I have had protein shakes in the puréed and soft food stage because they help me keep up with my protein, that may be what they mean.

My VSG wa done with three incisions and my belly button incision is the one that healed fastest with the most invisible tiny scar.

Fage Greek yogurt is great for this stage - I add Splenda and vanilla essence and it is yum. I also eat salmon pate. Good luck with your food experiments!

When I woke from anesthesia I was pretty sore but the nurses kept on top of my pain. I had one incident where I felt faint when I had to stand on the X ray machine to do my leak test but otherwise I was OK. I had a REALLY icky dry mouth the first day but lip balm helped a lot, and I was up and walking within hours which REALLY helped. The whole procedure was WAY less painful and traumatic than I expected it to be and I followed my surgeons instructions precisely and still am. I've had a very smooth recovery so far and I LOVE my sleeve!

Not your daughter's jeans- these are meant to be VERY flattering ... I have a secret yearning to have my bum look good in these.

Eggface's ricotta egg bake is basically purée consistency I've been eating this quite a bit. Good luck!

Fantastic! That smile says it all!

Feel free to send a private message to ask something if you are shy. We are all very supportive here, and will help in any way possible. Hugs xoxo

How cool is that Lissa! Enjoy playing with it and keep the "mouth" going!

Well done! ENJOY it, you deserve it.

Great news! No wonder your dating life has picked up, you're looking hot!

I have invented an iced latte type protein shake that really helps the shake go down. I add 2 teaspoons of decaff to a little hot water to dissolve. Then I blend this into my isopure vanilla protein shake with ice. You could use regular coffee too if you are cleared for it.