aubrie

I was a die hard stomach sleeper until age 40. I ended up with arthritis in my spine, and now I can't. Even 10 years later it still bugs me not to be able to. I try. It lasts about 10 minutes then I'm groaning in pain. So I sleep on my side now. With a body pillow. I slept on my back for about 5 or 6 days post op, then used my body pillow to cradle the port area. That lasted another week. I've been fine ever since. It doesn't bother me at all now. thank God for body pillows.

I'm a civilian working for the local Sheriff's Office. I run the county Jail Diversion Program which removes the mentally ill from the justice system or jail (if they meet established criteria) and gets them into treatment instead. It's federally funded through a grant, so I worry about my future employment as well.

Could it be an adrenaline rush?

Puddin, Just an observation here. You say he's been training for 6 months. After six months, he swims 150 yards and needs to rest? Has he had a physical? There may be something else going on. If he's hasn't progressed, maybe there is a problem. Just a suggestion. I'm not a doctor. I noted your age, and assumed he was close in age to you as well. That would even further cause me pause. Of course I don't know that either.

Not to worry Jachut!!! I TOTALLY agree with you and so does my doctor. I've never been told I had to eat a humongo amount of protein. I've only been told to eat it first, and then my veggies and fruit. He highly recommends that I stay away from white bread, white potatoes and white rice, but heartily encourages brown rice, sweet potatoes and whole grains. He likes a balanced diet. I have not had any problem with muscle loss. Matter of fact, he's quite impressed with my muscle tone. I don't obsess about it. I don't weigh my food, or count calories. I know what a portion looks like, and what foods are healthy. I live like a normal person who just happens to eat a LOT less.

I ususally stick to low fat yogurt, yogurt smoothies and the snack cups of low fat cottage cheese for breakfast. Usually have a few berries or a slice of melon with it. On the weekends when I have time, I soft scramble an egg with milk so it's not so sticky. I grew up eating sliced avocado with eggs, and that goes down easy as well. If it's really cold out (rarely happens here) I make the Quaker Weight Control oatmeal and add half a scoop of protein powder. I've put protein powder in my pancake batter as well, but not very often. I use applesauce instead of syrup. My family thinks it's gross, but I like it.

I'll be darned if I can think of the name of it, because it's a Mexican brand, and down in south Texas we have a lot of that, but they actually make a tomato bouillon and a shrimp bouillon that was to die for. I got tired of the ckicken and beef reall quick! I still use the shrimp flavor as a base for seafood recipes. It's awesome.

Well, there is clear liquid diets and full liquid diets. Are you saying the soup is on neither list? Cream soup was on my full liquid list.

I had these for two days after band surgery and haven't had any others since. I was on morphine at the time anyway, so they weren't very severe. After reading the above, I pray I never do!!! How frightening....

My tastes haven't changed to much. I don't crave soda any more at all. The only things that seem gross to me are foods that are dry and tough and donuts. The smell of them makes me Yak for some reason. I still miss a few things like a double cheeseburger and beer..... LOL but for the most part I'm still the same. There are several things however, I don't do well with. Tuna, baked chicken, and the black seaweed stuff on sushi. PB City!!

OMG that is wonderful!!!! I'm so proud of you. You GO girl!!! I haven't been a size six since I was 24. MANY years ago....... I too will never see a size 6 again, but an 8 or 10 would be awesome. I'm in a 14 now, so not to much further to go.

I eat normally, but some foods are a LOT of work, and others I only get about three bites, so I don't crave a lot of food. I don't HAVE to do without on most everything, but choose not to. I eat limited carbs. But I can't do carbonation any more, so I do crave a frosty beer now and then.

Ask your surgeon about taking the anti-inflammatories. NSAIDS are a no-no for a band patient from what I've heard. I'm dealing with this issue right now too, as I have terrible arthritis in my hip and it seems to be getting worse. Not sure what to do..... I hope you find out what's going on and get to the root of the problem. It sounds just awful. Good luck and keep us posted.

I'm not to sure about artificial light for Vitamin D either, but even if it's winter you can sit naked in front of a sunny window for 15 minutes or so. Just turn the heat up for a few minutes!! Sorry if that was to much information.... You didn't mention drinking milk. Do you like it? A glass of skim milk a couple times a day could help. Do you like liver? The only reason I'm asking is that liver is a highly concentrated source of Iron. If you can manage a nice pate on some crackers, it might help. It's so soft and easy to get down. I love pate, and there are so many different kinds now. Eggplant and spinach are also high in iron. I make grilled Japanese eggplant all the time. It's wonderful with a touch of olive oil and sea salt. Peas, lentils and Beans are good sources of Protein. Since it's winter, toss them in the crockpot!

I'm not allowed any carbonation either, and as a DEDICATED beer drinker, this was an adjustment. But I've been pleasantly surprised. I haven't craved it like I thought I would. Only in the summer, at the beach. When someone reaches in the cooler and pulls out a frosty brew with ice sliding down the side of the bottle, I just groan. BUT, I have substituted the beer fixation with an occasional glass of wine. I have no problems with wine, and also like vodka and cranberry juice. Other mixed drinks I used to like have carbonated beverages in them, so they're off limits. I really stick to this rule, but I have to say, on New Year's I did have a few sips of champagne at midnight. NEVER AGAIN. I thought I would die. I burped for over an hour. Even if you can handle it, I wouldn't. There are good reasons for this rule. Pouch expansion and slippage being the two best ones. Not to mention the calories!!

Crunchy at two weeks out? You're not on mushies or purees? I'd ask your doctor first. My doctor suggested nuts to me for a snack. Almonds. I also like those Wasabi peas. Not sure of the Protein content, but the punch the flavor has helps. I found some Austalian soda crackers that I love. They have a cracked pepper flavor that's good. There's only 40 calories in 8 of them. that with a bit of cheese or some Peanut Butter is good.

I'm not allowed protien shakes either. ONLY when I've been sick or 24 hours after a fill. The end. Period. I have to have solid protein, even if it's just a few bites. I'm also not allowed to have ANY carbonation, so I was confused about your comment of diet soda. Have you checked with him/her on this? Other than soda, I pretty much drink anything. I just try to stay away from sugary juices. I drink coffee, tea, a 1/4 cup of orange juice every morning, cranberry juice occasionally, and prune juice if I need it. You won't absorb your calcium if you don't get some vitamin C. I usually eat whole, fresh fruit though. All kinds. I drink 4 bottles of water a day. sometimes more.

I don't know if you can get it where you are, but here I can get vegetable and shrimp flavor bouillon cubes. Sure is a nice change from beef and chicken. I also made egg drop soup. That helped with the hunger. Actually, veggies can make a nice juice. I love beet juice and carrot juice. (If you have a juicer). I only had to do 2 days of liquids prior to surgery, and 10 days of liquids after, so I didn't quite have to endure the stretch that you are. Good luck!

I try real hard not to eat Snacks. My doctor is VERY against snacking. I do great with this all day. I work out after work for an hour, BUT I'm usually ravenous when I get home at 7:30. It usually takes me about an hour to prepare a healthy dinner, so that's my trouble time. I snack then. Usually cheese and crackers or chips. Not a good choice. Yesterday, my day consisted of: Breakfast: 2 cups of coffee with vanilla slim fast, 4 oz. snack size cup of lowfat cottage cheese and 4 strawberries. Lunch: 1/2 baked chicken breast, 5 slices of grilled Janpanese eggplant, 1 small navel orange. Snack before dinner: a handful of chips Dinner: 2 small pieces of pan fried fish and a small salad. 5 or 6 blackberries for dessert.

At three weeks I would think you would still be in the mushie phase. Maybe not just yet. It's one of the more difficult things to eat. Wait a bit, and try some progressively firmer foods first.

My doc is fine with coffee. I never had any restrictions regarding it. Personally, I have to have my coffee. I tend to have a hard time with bowel movements, and coffee keeps me "stimulated". I'd be in a bad way if I didn't have my coffee. I put vanilla slim fast in mine. I get the extra protien and nutrients, and no sugar. I limit myself to two cups. (that's all it takes....) I would say it acutally reduces my appetite. I haven't suffered any ill effects from it yet.

Tell her. I hate to dissappoint you, but this is NOT about you. It's about ME and MY health. As far as comments from you. Save them. I don't need them. Jealousy can be a very ugly thing. Don't let her get to you. Since you don't get along well anyway, just keep your distance for now until she decides to grow up and behave herself.

After a while, the dardest things come into focus for you. I found that I love to kayak!! I wouldn't have dreamed of doing that before. Swimsuits? I took DH with me to shop and I had fun trying all 12 of the chosen ones on for him. And NONE of them had "skirts"!!! I walk around the house in spandex now. My DH thinks it's "sexy"... Me??? In spandex??? Sexy??? Times they are a changin!!! I got two sporty leather jackets for Christmas. I haven't worn a leather jacket since I was 25!!

Are you freaking crazy? There is no way I would do it. I tried with DH ONCE. that was enough. It was so painful I couldn't breathe. It hurt so bad I was literally blinded by pain. I almost passed out. Literally. I can't even fathom ANYONE doing this voluntarily. I'd rather give birth than to try doing that again. Now every once in a while DH will get carried away and "lost", and I'll have to say "Ooopsie.... wrong hole....try again." He's good about it, but he's asked a few times since. I just can't handle it. Matter of fact, the little porn movies we watch have a lot of that in it. Some gals even go at it with TWO guys at the same time!!!!! One in each oriface. Boggles the mind!!! It absolutely fascinates me. They MUST be heavily drugged.

I did tell mine. Initially, they were very supportive and happy for me. My Dad continued to be, althought he didn't say much. My Mum on the otherhand changed her mind and FREAKED out. She saw some dumb shows on TV and then heard some negative stuff about bypass, and nearly had a stroke. She was frantic. She's older, and has high blood pressure and stuff. She worried so much I began to fear for HER health. So I told her I changed my mind. I had it done at Thanksgiving and then went home to visit for Christmas. I had lost 20 pounds and you could already tell. She thought I looked healthy and wonderful, so I told her then. It was easier that way.