amylynns

Thanks Luna!! Talapia I can handle, not salmon yet. Tried it twice, no go. Talapia is alot milder. I have tried chicken beasts too, I can handle about 4-5 pieces and I'm full. Haven't tried beef yet. It's good to be treating your belly careful for now. I did that for a week and a half and I'm sure it helped.

I weighed and measured this morning. Total of 35.5 inches gone and 42 total pounds! Yay!!!

I was having issues with pureed meats? But my NUT told me to try the next diet phase and it's going really really well!! So like for breakfast I had wheat bread thins (1/2 of one) with egg and little sprinkle of cheese on it. Lunch was wheat crackers with hummus. I could eat 3. Dinner was talapia, cauliflower and a couple bites of boiled potato. I feel like a new person not being so nauseated! !! I still get a little nauseated if I eat even one bite too much but nothing like before. My NUT said no more protein shakes unless I'm low in protein for the day but I should get what I need with food...that's the ideal plan anyway. :-)

This is my diffuser necklace. There's a little leather disc in it that you put oil on and then you can smell it all day. :-) today I have Peace & Calming oil in it. Shoot, I guess it's sideways. :-)

@Luna222--Plaquenil is another one I was on, I'd forgotten that. After Prednisone, Mobic, etc... Yeah, I wonder if yours is something else?? I never had much swelling honestly...mine was 95% in my hands. They literally hurt every single day, even when I was on the meds. That's what I kept telling the first Dr. So he just kept trying new meds. But there were times if I didn't get enough sleep or if I was sick, or if I'd eaten a lot of junk food (chocolate is a for sure pain trigger) ...it was literally pain in every single joint in my body, right down to my toe joints. The Dr. at the University tested me for everything under the sun! Sent me to the endocrinology department too, and they did even more tests! I do have something auto-immune going on in my body. I have Graves Disease, which effects the thyroid (also causes joint pain) But I was able to slowly go off meds for that back in 2010 I believe. But I know food really plays a part in it all for me. The "cleaner" I eat, the better my body feels, which kind of makes sense for everyone I suppose! :-) I can't even remember all they tested me for, but I know one was celiac disease and lupus. All they could detect is the Graves Stuff. I use Young Living Brand oils because you can ingest them. I'd use them topically also, but a lot of times I'd just make a little vegetable capsule with a concoction of oils and wow...what a difference! I have not ingested them since my surgery though. I'm sure it's still safe to, but I don't want anything making my picky little pouch angry. LOL! My main ones I use daily are, Valor, Panaway, Deep Relief, copaiba, and peppermint. I layer them, using coconut oil as a carrier oil. (just helps it go further) But for my hands I just rub it right in and I'm good! Frankincense and Lavender are amazing for the skin! I wish I was near you, I'd come to you for skin care, LOL! ( I probably have at least 75 bottles of oil on my dresser at home, LOL--We're oil freaks at our house. )

@Beni-- I haven't done much for exercise either Beni. By the time I get home from work, there's always one of the kids that needs picked up or delivered somewhere and I'm exhausted. And it's pretty much an impossibility for me to get up any earlier to do something in the morning. I've always been an evening work out kinda gal, LOL. Now that I have 2 good days under my belt with no nausea, I am definitely seeing an increase in energy, so my plan is to start back at the gym next week. I think my incisions are good to go swimming too. I can't wait to tone up a bit. Doing that 15 minutes a day will really help. My NUT said the other day even little 10 minutes bursts of some activity a day is really beneficial. I try and do extra loops around the office when I'm up and about. But I'm anxious to really work out, LOL!

Awesome job Beni!!!! Whoohoo!!! Hope you get some answers from your NUT today!!

@Luna222--When I had my lapband back in 2008 I took liquid methotrexate for RA. It was ok with my surgeon. But I think that's a pretty mild med, not sure if it would help you? What were you taking? I also did the injections of Humira and one other one, I can't remember the name of. The first one I had a reaction at the injection site and couldn't take it anymore and I pretty much quit the Humira on my own---I didn't see any improvement and I gained 17 pounds in the 4 months I took it. Wanna hear the real kicker??? I had to switch rheumatologists because of insurance changes---the new one I saw was at a University Hospital, head of rheumatology. He ran a butt load of tests and said I DIDN'T HAVE, NEVER HAD RA!! So I was medicated for 7 years for it, and never had it!? My RA factor was negative (my first rheumy said that happens sometimes) and the MRI's that the University Dr. did on my hands didn't show bone erosion. My first Dr. did 2 MRI's over the 7 years and he said it was consistent with RA damage. So WTH??!! I stayed away from processed foods...NO artificial sweetners, using essential oils, and I am 99% pain free. I hope you get some answers on your liver today! And I pray your insurance will ok you to see a different Dr!! That is just insane!!!

I'm 6 weeks out and haven't thrown up, but have had a lot of issues with nausea. But at 3 months out, if you're eating what's on your ok'd plan, you shouldn't be throwing up.

@bellabloom--So glad you were kidding! So your surgery is tomorrow? You'll do great. I am 6 weeks out, and honestly......I couldn't "cheat" if I wanted to! My version of cheating was eating some tomato Soup during pureed stage. My PA still wasn't happy when I told her because it just slides right through the pouch and doesn't keep you full. BUT...I have YET to even feel hungry, so it must have kept me full enough! This site is great for support--we won't let you lay around and drizzle nastiness into your mouth!!

See what the newbie nurse did to my poor arm when I was getting fliuds. She didn't even have it in the vein and turned the pump on, so it started pumping fluid into my arm. I had a big bulge of fluid in there for a while. So gross.

@Luna222- I'll be curious to hear what happens with your liver. My surgeon also does not do labs until several months from now. I thought that was odd? They've run other labs, checking for infection, dehydration, etc. But not the "big labs" I call them. I'm having Mozarella cheese wrapped in a thin piece of Prosciutto for lunch.

Bronxmerci--Keeping you in my prayers girl! Let us know when you can what happened!! @Luna222--I was having the same problem. My Dr. had me to back to mushies for a week, so cottage cheese, yogurt, broth, juice/water--etc. I was getting so frustrated. Weak, from lack of calories, and not drinking enough Water. Then Monday I had the long Upper GI with small bowel follow through done. That was all clear, yay! Then saw my Dr. after that--I was dehydrated again...2nd time in a week. They pumped in 2 bags. She then had the NUT call me and we chatted about foods I had been trying, and getting sick from. She asked if I'd tried hummus. I asked what I could put it on. She said a wheat cracker or wheat bread, toasted really well. I said, "Oh? I can go to Phase III foods?" She told me to double check with the Dr. but I should be able to. So I called the Dr. back and she said let's give it a try. She said maybe I was having just such an aversion to the pureed food it was making me sick. And seriously the thought of anymore pureed food makes me want to puke! LOL! So...this morning I had 1/2 of a whole wheat sandwich thin with some scrambled egg/salsa on it and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. It took me an hour to eat maybe 3/4 of it. It was delicious!! And NO NAUSEA! Yesterday I tried the hummus on crackers too. I could only eat 3 crackers. I probably should have stopped at 2. I was uncomfortable, but not sick to my stomach. I'm not sure what I'm having for lunch yet. But I'm so excited that Breakfast went that well!! Also added fresh lemons to my water. (My Dr. had told me not to yet, because of the acid, but the NUT said do it, it's fine, LOL!) It's making drinking water today much easier. I'm weeks out and have a glimmer of hope I'll feel "better" very soon!!

I haven't been on here in a few days. I've gotten really behind on posts,but @@Bronxmerci, I'm so glad you're doing better!! Your pics look amazing!! I know it's been such a struggle for you since the beginning though. I'll pray for smooth sailing from here on out for you!! I've lost a total of 40 now. But I would trade some of those pounds to be feeling better. I'm 6 weeks out tomorrow and I can still only eat soft/ pureed food. Otherwise I'm sick. And 1/4 cup or less per meal, or I'm sick. My surgeon wants to do one more test tomorrow. The Upper GI with small bowel follow through. they said it'll take about 4 hours. I'm really anxious about drinking the barium since I've only had one decent bowel movement in a week. I really feel the test will come back normal. I think my pouch is just snarky! I'm really, really tired of eating what I'm eating though!! I need to catch up on posts!

My Thanksgiving pureed meal tasted like crap. Good thing everyone else enjoyed it though!! It's going to take some getting used to the food not being the center of get together with family. I have to work tomorrow and I'm pooped. Better head to bed.

My gosh. I hope the tests will reveal what's going on so they can take of it quickly!!!! Praying for you girl!!!

Prayers! Let us know what happens. Goodness girl!

Finally made it to the ER...should be getting juiced up soon here...yay.

Oh Beni....I'm sorry. Rest friend. I wonder if it was the consistency or the sweetness.

I will, thanks! It might be worth just calling in to run that by them. And the foaming...what is up with that anyway?? Drinking too fast? Too much? I get that too. SOOOO uncomfortable!! I'm not earning my pay either, LOL---but getting done what "has" to be done. No energy to do more at this point.

Looks like I'm heading to the ER this afternoon. My Dr. called this morning to check on me because she knew my labs showed I was dehydrated the end of last week, but was hoping I could get on top of it over the weekend. Nope, and dizzy, have a headache, feel like I'm in a fog--like my head is floating. So weird! But.....I'm at work right now and can't leave until 2:00! Then I have my daughter's conference (which was just moved up from 3;30, whew!) and THEN I'll go! She also said she talked with my surgeon (the "she" is the PA that handles all the after care, love her) and he'd like to me have an upper GI with a slow bowel follow through?? Or something like that--said it'd take 4 hours! Geesh! So that's Monday because this week is too crazy to try and take another day off. Unless they want to do it on Thanksgiving! Not like I can freaking eat anyway!! I think they're looking for strictures? Back on liquids for now. She said I can have yogurt and cottage cheese. The cottage cheese sets well, but yogurt is a toss up depending how picky my tummy is at that moment. I think it's just because my tummy didn't adjust to the "chunkier" type pureed foods. Tuna/ veggies. I don't know, but guess it's good to rule out the bad stuff.

Yes! And I'm working full time...with 5 kids at home. Has your Dr. ran labs at all? Might be something you're lacking that they can take care of. I'm evidently dehydrated, but it sounds like you're at least getting your water in?

Thank you, thank you. Today was better, but all I've had is popsicles, cottage cheese and broth with Protein powder. I've managed to get in about 45 oz. of water/watered down juice. I really appreciate your assurance that it gets better. I just bawled and bawled last night and this morning. My honey finally embraced me and let me cry it out. Then he said, "Ok, you're in this babe. Let's step back...when were you not nauseated?" When I was on liquids....and cottage cheese seems to set well. "Ok, so let's do that for a week or so and see how that goes." What I don't understand is I did pureed meat/veggies for a week before I started getting sick every time I'd eat. So maybe I Just got lazy and didn't chew enough, had bigger portions than I thought I was having...? I don't know, but I'll give my belly a rest for a while. If anyone has any other suggestions, I'm open to them! :-)

I've had one huge pity party all week pretty much. I've been beside myself with nausea. Major regrets. I've been crying non-stop all evening. I had a scope procedure done on Thursday with them thinking they'd have to stretch the opening into my stomach. They didn't have to, but did say the area where the stomach connects to the intestines is still raw/red, and stitches are still there. So I need to go back to mushies/soft stuff for a while. Although today I ate just 4 bites of yogurt and I was sick. Then had cottage cheese and was sick. (both of which I've been able to eat before) Diarrhea all night and day... It's like there's no rhyme or reason to what makes me sick--so I can't figure out what to change. Just had some broth with Protein mix. We'll see how that does. Drinking watered down white grape juice too. My body doesn't like the artificial sweetners, but I might try the pink lemonade crystal light if it'll help. This post did make me feel better, knowing there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm just moving through that tunnel really slowly!

My plan says I can have 1/2 cup, but my body is saying it's too much. I'm sick constantly. I also am so weak, and working full time, so I feel like I need more calories in just to function, but it's not going well....My Dr. told me this week, no more meats for a while, back to the super soft mushies. (My surgery was Oct. 20th)