SleeveGirl-TX

I'm pretty early out in the mushies stage, but I'm seriously trying to figure out how to make this work. I am not a shake fan (although I hate them about 99% less than Isopure LOL). I've read people that say that they don't do shakes and get all of their Protein from food. HOW? Please enlighten me. I know it's temporary, but for now I'm doing good to get the Water in with whatever food I can get down (1-2 oz now on average) and then 2 shakes to bring me up to my surgeon's 70 protein. I'm assuming you guys didn't do protein powders (which I've found that the ones I'm not allergic to, I gag back up). I know, I know... I'm sure in two months I'll laugh at myself banging my head against the keyboard here. LOL. Tell me this changes when you move to solid food. ETA: I should also say that I have weird food allergies, soy is one of them (so no tofu). I'm also allergic to almost all fruits and nuts. Yay!

I always buy two seats and I always fly Southwest. Southwest will refund you the cost of the 2nd seat after your flight if it's not oversold. I've never had one not refunded. I figure it like this. The airline sells a certain amount of space for $X. I use up more than that space, so I pay for two. It just makes the flight more comfortable for myself and anyone sitting next to me. If I can't afford a second seat, I don't fly. But I just put it on a credit card and they credit it back within a few days of me calling them. Just my opinion. I travel several times per year for business.

My chiro has been doing cold laser treatments on them. I dunno if it'll help or not... stay tuned

I'm on purees right now. I'm doing some canned Soups, blend them up and heat up for lunch or whatever. I also make "big" batches of tuna/chicken/egg salad and keep in the fridge so I can just grab it, individual cottage cheese, individual greek yogurt. Going out is great because they'll puree up my Soup for me or I can order salmon and chew it REALLY good and swallow with a bit of ranch dressing and then bring home for 3 more meals. LOL. Hubby made me some of eggface's ricotta bake and put them into individual ramekins and I ate one and had 3 more for later, just zap them in the microwave. I'm all about grabbing and going.

Yeah, I'm allergic to soy, so no tofu. I'm doing all of those things. I did manage to hit 70 today and only have 1 Protein shake, but I seriously felt like I was eating all the time. LOL. I think the swelling has gone down a bit overnight or something because I was able to get about 1/2 more than I usually can in. I know, it's not a race... I had soup today and thinned out chicken salad and refried Beans. Plus a couple of Snacks (yes, cheese! laughing cow FTW!)

I don't use it unless we HAVE to. We use water to saute in. I use Pam on the griddle. If veggies need a little, we use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter. I know, chemicals, but... well... it works for us.

I don't see any reason why not (I really love lemon juice too, but haven't tried it). I mean, the stomach acid is much stronger than lemon juice acid. It might make your reflux act up. Try it and let us know how it goes In other words...you first. LOL

Shout Out to SG-Hubby on here... he made this for me tonight. OMG, it was SO good. I felt like I was eating an actual meal! My kids loved it too (I could only finish one-half of the four ramekins we made and they devoured the other half after their pizza). Six thumbs up!

I think it's a few places on there, but I know it's on her purees page http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/2007/08/pureed-foods.html Shelly's Baked Ricotta 8 oz of Ricotta Cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan 1 large Egg, beaten 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning salt & pepper to taste 1/2 cup Marinara Sauce 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, beaten egg, seasonings together and place in a oven proof dish. Pour marinara on top and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake it in the oven @ 450 for about 20-25 minutes (best) or nuke it till hot and bubbly. I usually made it first in the oven and heated the leftovers in the microwave.

Maddie... she's a real b***h sometimes

9 months, 130 pounds. I'm still shocked. I'm still in the "is this really going to work" stage. LOL I know it will.... congrats again, amazing!

I'm still not able to sleep on my tummy, although I REALLY want to. LOL. I'm sleeping on my side. The first couple of weeks, I propped a pillow under my tummy for support and to keep it from pulling/feeling uncomfortable. Hang in there, it gets better every day!

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. What's your secret? LOL. I'm only two weeks out, but we have the same starting/surgery weights. That's simply amazing, you look amazing. You should be so proud of yourself!!

OMG, this is the funniest thing I've read today. I know that guy (and those like him). I kind of want to shout "oh, shut the **** up" because I did not have a good first couple of weeks. I only started feeling even nominally normal yesterday, at two weeks when I was able to take Vitamins and get off of that Isopure stuff. I still have stomach muscle pain, but it's better as well. It's getting there. Hang in there. Everyone's journey is different. I just keep telling myself that. ... now the challenge is getting enough Protein in. I'm SO not a Protein Drink fan, but it's better than Isopure! LOL

I really do prefer the pillows. You might still take air into your tummy, but I find I do MUCH better with it. You have to breathe only through your nose. It's an adjustment, but it only took me a couple of nights. I ended up keeping the APAP because it was either that or nothing. Lincare, who does my supplies, came and swapped back out the CPAP. It was making me completely miserable. Hats off to those of you that can do it!

I had them BAD the 24 hours before. Hang in there... I did just as the previous poster said... kept asking myself "Yeah, and what if you DON'T do this" Here's what I've lost in the past 2 weeks - 22 pounds - BOTH blood pressure meds - The feeling of constant defeat - And more that I cannot even think of right now! You can do this! I've only been at it for two weeks. My stomach muscles hurt, but so freaking what. I'm rocking this thing!

My doc said 5 pounds for 2 weeks, 10 pounds for 4 weeks.

Talk to your doctor. I was told it's non habit forming. It seems to be too. I quit at surgery because I wasn't having a problem in that arena and I've had no trouble. I fully expect to be back on it when I move to soft foods. I guess I should have qualified "every" day, but if your doctor says you can take it, by all means do... when I'm on a regular diet, I don't play around anymore. I do NOT want another fissure. Ever. Ever. Ever.

Hmmm... that sounds... bizarre. Maybe he's not getting any so he doesn't want anyone else to? LOL That's one doctor's directive I'd probably just... well... cheat Hey! It burns calories!

I was thinking more about this.. have you tried the nasal pillows? That might help with the air swallowing. I use those and notice I do better with them than that freaking mask.

I use an APAP because the constant pressure from a CPAP made me feel like I was drowning. I also noticed that I have a lot less of a problem with gas with the APAP (could be in my head). LOL. But yes, there are some nights I can tell I pulled air into my tummy instead of my lungs and I'm bloated, but those days are farther and father apart. I won't like. I'm looking forward to a new sleep study in six months and hopefully being free of the machine. I don't mind it as much these days because it DOES help me getting a better night's sleep, but I also won't mind chucking it

Austin, baby (WAY North, we're just a sneeze away from Cedar Park, actually)

I work at home for myself. I originally planned on one week and then one week of just an hour or two. I was in my office by day three, but only because it was the only chair in the house that I could sit in comfortably without hurting myself. I had BAD muscle pain. Today, on day 13, it's finally subsiding to where I think I could have gone back to work. I was really foggy the first week. Lack of calories really took a toll on my energy levels and I needed naps daily (still do actually). I didn't really do any real work until around 9 days out or so... I just kind of puttered around. If you can swing two weeks, take them. If you feel great like some people do after a few days, good.. use that time to come up with a long term plan. But if not, you've got that extra week to heal. Be kind to yourself.

Dude, you've lost 1/3 of your weight in 45 days. You've lost TWENTY FIVE POUNDS. That's amazing. Don't listen to the naysayers. Sounds like she might be a wee bit jealous. Sorry you are dealing with it. If you aren't already, you might considering finding a counselor that specializes in weight loss issues. I did before surgery and it's one of the better decisions I've made in my life.

SIX WEEKS? Your doctor is a sadist. LOL, interesting to hear the different answers from different doctors to the same questions...