Marlena

On my meal plan we can't have Beans until 3 mos. out. This recipe made me really, really hungry for them! I can't wait.

I love pinto Beans, they are a low fat meal and have a decent amount of Protein. Plus they taste great on a winter day!

I like to make them the day before I plan on eating them, the tastes just seem to marry overnight.

4 cans of pinto beans (I like to buy sun vista or any other mexican food brand)

1/4 of a small white onion diced

1 small clove of garlic minced

garlic salt to taste

Take your diced onion and garlic and pour a tiny bit of juice from one of the cans of pinto beans into your cooking pan. Sweat them on low for two or three minutes getting them nice and soft. Pour in all the beans and juice from the cans. Cover pan with lid and cook low and slow for 45 minutes. I add garlic salt while cooking usually about two teaspoons. When in a hurry i have cooked a smaller batch on a bit higher of heat for 20 minutes or so and it worked fine for a meal.

After the cook I will have a small bowl and put the rest in the fridge and reheat the next day. They taste even better then.

Lightly brown a couple corn tortillas in a grease free cast Iron skillet and serve up on the side.

What I started doing pre-op is asking the server to bring me a take-home box at the BEGINNING of my meal. Most people won't notice when you start filling the box or how much food you are putting in. No one at the table even asked me why I did it. I was ready to respond with, "I'm eating light nowadays and I'm going to get another meal out of it." Asking for the box at the beginning of the meal will also keep the server from asking you if there was a problem with your meal.

Thanks for the info! I found some instructions for making a hair ratt. I'm guessing that a lot of people would have my initial reaction of "Oh gross!" but when you think about using someone ELSE'S hair to enhance your own, what's the difference?

I looked around and they are officially called "hair receivers"

Here are a bunch of them! Perhaps we need to revive an old practice...when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

When I first read this about a hair saver/bun plumper I thought it sounded really weird and a little gross but now I must say I am intrigued. I haven't started losing hair yet but I know it's inevitable. Thanks for posting this idea!

People used to keep their hair in a "hair saver". Then they would make a "rat" out of it and use it to plump up Buns or on top to boof their hair up. I think I might try this when the hair starts falling out. At least I might get a big old bun plumper out of it!

Hi Danielle. You asked what hungry feels like. I had my surgery on 11/17/10 so I am 10 days out. I can relate to your question because I am confused too. After 3 days on Clear Liquids I am now on full liquids and I'm hungry. I have at least 4 more days before I get to the puree stage and I'm SO ready. I talked to the nutritionist a few days ago and she said she would be surprised if I am experiencing actual physical hunger and told me to drink some Water and go for a walk when I feel that way. Well I can tell you that my body is not requesting a drink of Water and a walk; it wants calories. That said, I am deferring to her knowledge and experience and toughing it out. I'm pretty sure that as I adjust to my new stomach I will return to some new normal and figure out these urges and sensations. It's just strange to have to second-guess feelings that seemed pretty clear-cut before.

Marlena

I did get a prescription for Omeprazole (Prilosec) and started taking it 2x/day when I got home but I don't think it has fully kicked in yet. And no, I didn't get a Rx for an anti-nausea drug. I even asked when I was being discharged and the nurse said they would give me a final dose of anti-nausea meds through my IV to help me during the ride home but that I wouldn't be getting an Rx. Things are getting better at 5 days out but I still have waves of acid burn and nausea now and again. Oh, and I'm also really, really hungry and dizzy from not enough calories. Thanksgiving's going to be tough on this liquid diet!

I am 3 days out now. Is anyone else having bad nausea? I'm drinking small sips of Water all during the day and eating a sugar-free popsicle twice per day. I'm not dehydrated. I haven't actually vomited but did dry heave on the day I came home, which was very painful. Can anyone offer any suggestions for dealing with nausea? I'm also having burning sensations from my stomach that come over me like a wave every now and again. The burning isn't around the clock, just here and there. I'm on Stage 1, Clear Liquids, until tomorrow. Thanks for any help/advice.

I had my surgery on 11/17. The gas pain was horrible in the beginning. I walked a lot in the hospital and when I got home and I think it helped. I actually had a BM today without taking any sort of laxatives. I felt like I could have done it yesterday but I couldn't work up the courage to apply myself. LOL. The abdominal pain from the surgery is what I'm experiencing now. I keep a pillow pressed into my gut to support it, but especially when I walk or cough and do my breathing exercises. I've had bad nausea and I dry-heaved once yesterday which I would pay a million dollars never to have to repeat. I seriously thought my guts ripped open. Ugh. But on another note, I can't believe that some of you are already feeling good enough to get out and about! I'm happy for you and hoping that my time will come sooner rather than later. We will all get through this together.

I'm really curious as to the pain that everyone talks of? Are you talking tummy muscle sore or gas pains or something else? I haven't experienced any pain except for gas pains (which my tummy rumbles some too and I'm sure it's gas) and the gas HURTS at times! I burp A LOT because I'm not one to "pass gas"! hehe The first night in the hospital they kept telling me just wait, everyday you will feel better and of course right then I was like yeah right whatever! LOL But really it is true, each day I have felt better and better!!! Even started working again (from home of course) as soon as I was out of the hospital! LOL

Ugh... I hurt. I had my surgery yesterday, 11/17, and today has been hard. I know that's to be expected but what I didn't expect is just how much pain I'd be in today. I was released from the hospital today (Kaiser Richmond) and have been taking the max dose of liquid Vicodin and even cutting short the time between doses a bit just to get through the pain. I've been walking and sipping Water so I feel like I'm doing the right things. Thanks to everyone here, I know this will get better. One good thing is that I'm not mourning the loss of favorite foods. I will check in again tomorrow.