Madam Reverie

Sweatshirts? I wear head-to-toe North face. Even my slippers are North face and suitable for 80 below... I am that sad and that cold...

Consider it done....

Erm.. you could say that...

Well, I've only had the one bison grass vodka, water and apple juice.. But boy, is it going to my head and going down very well!

Yep.. it's all about the cold these days...

Tonight.. I am drinking hard liquor. I make no apologies for it and given the week I've had, it is entirely warranted. Empty calories and all. So there!

I'm a road warrior too and 15 days out. I think we'll be able to get what we need through contact with the expat communities for the long term. You'll get everything you need in NZ, it's just China and India which might be a little trickier. If you can't find a body-building shop to stock on the bare minimum; as you rightly say - poached eggs ahoy!

By day 7, a little cloud lifts.. It's almost like it comes in stages. Hang on in there, you'll be fine. x

I have a pretty brain-taxing, but relatively sedentary job (unless I'm ramped up about something and I'm like a sodding tornado). As SleeveFox experienced; I get 'brain fog' and I'm 14 days out. Which, if you're making pretty hefty decisions and having to analyse stuff all day, is not great. This is compounded by having the concentration span of a gnat. I'm hoping it will improve in the forthcoming weeks (well, I could do with it improving in the next week), 'cause I don't want to be making silly professional errors because I just simply haven't got enough carbs or calories in my system to function. I'd say, take as much time as you can and find your rhythm before throwing yourself back into the deep end... Best of luck x

Check this one out.. Improvements in systemic metabolism, anthropometrics, and left ventricular geometry 3 months afterbariatric surgery

Easy.. Click this link: http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&q=metabolism&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp= Google Scholar.. An excellent tool.... Refine your search and boom, you're golden. Alternatively and if you have a very specific enquiry after doing initial research on there, I can have a look at the University library I have access to....

Yeah, I wouldn't be happy about them not taking blood, either... That aside, you're in the best place, they're pumping you full of the good stuff and at least your situation will be managed and monitored until they work out exactly what is going on. Sadly, you're at their mercy - but at least you're safe and will be well. Better that, than being at home on your own and things going very very wrong. Hang in there, my dear. Deep breaths and all will be well shortly x

Damn skippy! We didn't colonise India for nothin' you know!

So sorry to hear this, my dear. Did they not take blood from you yesterday? Glad you're properly under their care now. Guess you'll just have to wait for them to diagnose you... In the meantime, are you being kept in the hospital?

I think Nutella is disgusting.. But then again, we've had it over here since forever and I don't like fake chocolate. Hate Fererro Rocher, too.. I know, I'll go and sit in the naughty corner now..

Yep, it will growl like a tiger and generally after something hits it. Mine is LOUD and very amusing!

I dunno.. I get in about 4-6 bites.. rest a bit.. another 3-4 bites. Admittedly they're small... But I think its quite plentiful for 14 days out. I may have to re-strategise the protein thing....

I am finding if I eat carbs, I get hungry very quickly afterwards. I made a soft tortilla with lots of deli ham and a little bit of cheese in it. I portioned it into 8. I ate two pieces today and I swear, I was hungry 1 hour later. I'm starting to get worried about this hunger thing.. Nothing seems to last longer than 2 hours, at the most and I'm getting 1500ml of fluid in a day.. what's that? 50 oz? I am, as the Irish would say, confushed....

Being situated in the far north of the UK, it is already very dark and very gloomy, with little sunshine or warmth. Subsequently, I have an electric blanket that I don't put on my bed - I sit on it and wrap it around, so it warms me all over. Food wise, in winter I tend to do a lot of meat, vegetables and gravy dinners. As for snacking, being a savoury hound, I'm more likely to have a bit of hummus on a cracker. If my sweet tooth kicks in (which is rare), I'll head for a bit of rice pudding made with evaporated milk (as opposed to condensed milk and cream) and top it off with some nutmeg, shove it in the oven and serve with a dollop of fruit compote. I'm sure at some point, I'll get some unflavoured protein powder and whack it in there.... As for hot tea? I normally drink about 5 cups a day anyhow.. However, this has markedly decreased now I have a stomach the size of my index finger! Booooooooo!

You're very welcome and don't worry, It'll appear soon. I, myself, am waiting on the nirvana whereby I can chow down on a plate of vegetables or salad.. And not the mushed-up beyond recognition variety!

If your painful incision is on the left hand side, on the waistband, in the middle of the line of incisions, it is likely to be the one they pulled the remnants of your stomach out of. Apparently and according to sources, that particular incision is far more sensitive because there is allegedly some tethering done with the stomach muscles. That aside, I am 14 days out today and I can barely feel it any more. Only if I scrunch myself up on that side, or eat a bit too much, am I reminded its there. As for the gas, mine went after 7 days. Don't panic everything you are experiencing is totally normal. Take your drugs, drink your fluids, sleep when you can and you'll be golden in a couple of days. Promise x

Aww, that's very sweet, thank you. So she started off well by hitting a rather raw nerve.... As an aside though, other than to express empathy with your employment efforts; what in the holy-blue-hell was she passing comment about employment prospects for females in certain age groups???!! Is she pinning that on you for a reason as to why you're eating, or was it just general comment? Are you paying for this privately, or is health insurance covering it? I hope it's the latter. Judging by that comment, I would definitely put her in the 'flippant' category and if she did it again, I'd be very tempted to say 'Excuse me, no disrespect intended, but unless the commentary about the lack of employment opportunities for women in their 50's is in some way going to be tied into my endeavors to lose weight and my long-term relationship with food; I'd prefer it if we could get on with the task in hand please... Hmm.. I think this therapist talks too much... (Says the woman who talks far too much herself ) How about asking her straight about what her therapy entails. If you tie her down to methodology and expected deliverables it might focus the discussion more; as opposed to you having to suffer her commentary on social employment issues and whatever other random things pop into her head at any moment!

Hmm.. If she's witty and asked good questions, maybe she's trying to put you at ease - albeit in a bit of a clumsy way... Is it a possibility that because you're a bit brighter than your average, it has left you a little bit skeptical about the profession and their representatives? I can imagine that as a consequence of her perceived 'flippancy', it has got your guard up a bit. There's no judgement in this - and I, certainly, would have raised a few eyebrows about the familial history interrogation. Fundamentally, she should be shutting up a bit and letting you speak; THEN asking some questions. Bottom line, I think this chick means well, but has a bit of.. hmm.. what could we call it? Mission drift... My advice? Give it one more go and if she goes 'off plan', get your verbal scythe out. After all, if you don't, you'll only be wasting your time and hers. x

I think you'll find if they're specialist in Anorexia and Bullimia, they're going to be well academically versed on subnormal relationships with food...In whatever form it comes....

I wouldn't mind doing a PG degree with Johns Hopkins, but I guess that's not relevant. I shall shut up now!