Madam Reverie

Small hole. Fluids and gases moving up and down through small hole. Voila. Noises that sound like a drain.

I've been in a stall for over 5 weeks. Whilst you're stalling, you need to measure yourself. Your body is doing weird things. Like shrinking. Get the tape measure out. Stalls aren't nice, but they appear to follow a pattern. I have found that I stalled at week 3, stalled at the BMI 31 point (which is practically the same weight as you are stalling at, Sandy) and have stalled at 198-199 for the past 5 weeks. Its like my body is actively resisting moving beyond the 'onederland' point. Aint nothing you can do apart from hang on in there. It will come off. Least I hope it's bloomin' gonna! More Protein and more Water.

Try and stay away from butter and cheese and sugar. All of these things are triggers for dumping syndrome (which is full evacuation of your bowels at the speed of light). They also can stimulate over-production of saliva, which can make your stomach feel gripey and lead to the slimes (over-production of white sputum) and vomit. Keep things clean, unprocessed and light on the seasoning. Tastes like badgers arse and will drive you to distraction at the end of the phase, but its better that than heaving. For now give your stomach a rest.. Maybe two days of blandsville (plain yoghurt/protein shakes (if you can take the artificial sweetener) and very basic bland soups. From here, you can take a very small mouthful of something. Mull it around. Leave it. Let your stomach talk to you and see if you can take a wee bit more. Trial and error. Try not to worry, you'll get there

I'd say after the first 3 small mouthfuls, a good minute - 1 minute 30 seconds. A good bit longer when you start to hit the solids. Because those beasts hit like a brick. Save 30-40 minutes to eat your food. Even if you only get a few bites in, give yourself a wee bit more time and a bit more notice. Listen to your sleeve. (Or in my case, it was listening to my sternum) You knew what went wrong today- in that you got too hungry and ate it a bit too quickly. We've all done it. Trial and error until you find your groove. I'm approaching 6 months and I've only just found my groove and even then, I can try something and think 'Whooooa.. no baby, no more of you is going into my mouth!' This is largely fatty and sugary stuff, so I'm lucky in that respect. I know that at 7 bites (of pretty much most things), I'll be nigh-on full. So i stop, mull things over and if I want more, I'll wait a little bit more then give it a try. More often than not, the last bite is most definitely the last one!!! Don't worry about the 'full feeling'. It will be with you presently!!! What you need to focus on right now is making the right choices for the small capacity you have and sustaining your energy, Water and Protein levels. Listen to your body and you'll get there.

If the hospital gave you a PPI - I suggest you take it. The smells and how delicious they are, are all in your head. Trust me, you would not feel very groovy putting whatever it is in your mouth right now! You're doing fine. Try and block your nasel passages, take your PPI, drink your Water, make your way home quickly and rest. Rest well

Recycled has a point, my dear. I appreciate people can have a myriad of conditions which make them gain weight.. But if it's not related to food, how comes you're considering bariatric surgery? Surely if it was something medical, they'd be giving you alternative therapies - not suggest having your stomach cut out? That aside - welcome to the madness

One bite. Chew. Swallow. Wait. One bite. Chew. Swallow. Wait. Ad infinitum prevents ad nauseam.

Yep, that's me too... If I didn't take it, I would be drowning in it.. I smoke, too.. We're bad girls

Worked for me. I think those photos are cool!

You could say health and safety have discovered mice or suspect mice on the premises and as a consequence, ALL foodstuffs need to be retained in cupboards and locked draws for the foreseeable future. it'd get it out of your face. Maybe I'm a bit oldskool here, but you're in an office. Not a pantry party. Having foodstuffs lying around willy-nilly is not the way to go. If they want it - put it in your desk - your own assigned space. Or better still - in a fridge. The woman who is bringing it in is only dishing them out to salve her own guilt from chowing down on them. Just my thoughts on the matter....

Sorry you're having a hard time, but you know what you have to do. Throw that crap out of the house, own your surgery, own your accountability to it as an adult, put your head down, grit your teeth and attack this. Mealy-mouthed whinging will get you no where - and you know that. It might get a few platitudinous pats on the back of 'there, there, it'll be okay'.. But you already know... If you put crap in, you'll get crap out. Simple mathematics.

Whaddya mean there's no volume in Scotland?! We're all the volume required, darlink; just the two of us As for the international conference aspect? Yeah, I could go for a bit of that.. Just as long as everyone had badges detailing their internet names. And it was made mandatory to wear them. Why? Well, when the fur starts flying, I want to be able to identify the main parties, recount what had 'gone down' accurately and whilst happily chomping on my protein-rich popcorn and sipping my diet margaritas, I could take bets on the 'favourite' of the day. Win: Win Just for you sweetie I will wear a placard saying that I said it, I did it, I'm sorry..as I walk into the room....Better to be humble from the get go you know then let others take you out. Would love to see you and all the of the others that have helped me along the way!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome Rev. Aww, loves ya. You have no need for a placard, darling - unless it says simply 'Wonderful RJ'. I could have a field day creating some for a few others though.... S'okay. You can sit next to me and help me collect the bets, chomp the popcorn and drink the margaritas. How does that sound?

Whaddya mean there's no volume in Scotland?! We're all the volume required, darlink; just the two of us As for the international conference aspect? Yeah, I could go for a bit of that.. Just as long as everyone had badges detailing their internet names. And it was made mandatory to wear them. Why? Well, when the fur starts flying, I want to be able to identify the main parties, recount what had 'gone down' accurately and whilst happily chomping on my protein-rich popcorn and sipping my diet margaritas, I could take bets on the 'favourite' of the day. Win: Win Volume? Volume? Between the two of us. we've lost a good sized person (we could take them with us to the conference...) Now if you're talking quality then of course that's a different story... but let's not talk hair volume, lmao!!!! Play on words chickadee.. I was referring to our audible volume! And yes! DON'T MENTION THE HAIR!

That, is an awesome result. You must be elated.

Whaddya mean there's no volume in Scotland?! We're all the volume required, darlink; just the two of us As for the international conference aspect? Yeah, I could go for a bit of that.. Just as long as everyone had badges detailing their internet names. And it was made mandatory to wear them. Why? Well, when the fur starts flying, I want to be able to identify the main parties, recount what had 'gone down' accurately and whilst happily chomping on my protein-rich popcorn and sipping my diet margaritas, I could take bets on the 'favourite' of the day. Win: Win

If anyone has had this, would you mind sharing your experience of it. Cost, recovery time, technique used, pluses/minuses, etc. This saggy, flat-butted individual is mulling things over.....

Morphine (or coming down off it) makes your skin itch, too. Has your scratching made it worse?

Just remember - out of the 300-500 questions, there are going to be some that are identical or of a 'theme', just written in a different way. Try to remember what you selected on the first question and replicate (to a degree) the same answer on the second one. So... If the first question is 'I often feel like I am alone' and you select 'never'. When it comes to the re-worded version, which might be written like this 'I enjoy past times where I am on my own, instead of being with people' (or something equally trite), you might select 'sometimes'... This would be 'normal' as everyone wants everyone to bugger off and leave them alone sometimes! Reading a book for example, is not a 'group' activity! Try to keep a clear head and be mindful of the alarm bell clanging questions such as 'I have no control'... 'I often think about death'... etc. etc. You'll be fine

This, is a non argument. The guy made a choice (we all did). The guy lost a bunch of weight (we all have). So, he's a politician. He still has bowel movements (like the rest of us. Sometimes). I shall now go back to sleep, save I feel the need to groan loudly, slip down in my chair in a state of dribbling unconsciousness to remain comatose until someone wakes me up with, well, the heady aroma of a slice of pizza or summink.

That'll be a no. This hair shall stay tied up until it grows back. Failing that - its all coming off...

Today.. I cut my hair off. A good 4-5 inches. I hate it. But... it does look healthier.. Urgggh... no hairstyle-hair.....

It is that. I, too have fine hair. I'm thinking a good hatchet job or a wig!

Don't you believe it. I was give or take, exactly the same weight as you on surgery day. My weightloss has been slower, I've done everything I could do and it's still falling out. I think it's just in the hands of the gods and how your body reacts to the surgery itself. It sucks!

I still get hungry every 2.5 hours, so dont worry, you,'re not alone. I was told to snack on nuts and dried fruit. I do this and also stuff some deli ham or roasted chicken down my neck. Milk is good too, for seeing you through. We're clearly part of the hungry brigade :0)

The love you have for your child shines through. Beautifully written. My thoughts are with you. x