Madam Reverie

Sounds like you're doing well on the food front. Hoover up those pieces of steak and cod as much as you can. I'm only 4 days post op and I'd sell a kidney for a plate full of steak, chips and pepper sauce! OMG.. I'm drooling....

I feel for you, Nene. Is there a pattern to your reflux? i.e, does it come on after you eat specific things? Being told I had to get a bypass would break my heart... Is there no other option for you? x

Today was.. good.. but upset with a bad dose of acid reflux when I tried to go to sleep last night. Took all of today to get rid of it. I'm okay now though and still chipper - if not a bit tired - thanks for asking. How are you doing today?

Susan, I'm starting to get the acid burn, too and would love some advice on how people manage it post op. I used to get acid reflux, but only when I ate fatty foods and laid down pretty quickly afterwards. This coming on last night and continuing on today, 4 days after surgery knocked me for six. Particularly as the drugs they've given me are rubbish. I woke up last night and it felt like I had molten lava crawling its way up into my throat. Maybe I should have tried to vomit it up, but didn't want to jerk my sleeve around. Didn't really know what to do. To all you GERD vets out there, any advice would be greatly appreciated x

OMG that's amazing! Congratulations! You look healthy, happy and beautiful x

As long as I can manage it - only my man knows. I don't want anyone up in my business and to be honest, people just can't help commenting on things and their delivery often leaves a lot to be desired. My excuse to people who don't know my history? 'I had my gallbladder out'. If it's noticeable in the future in social situations? 'I have a wheat and gluten allergy, so I have to be really picky with what I eat now'. I'm hoping that will suffice.... Time will tell! Good luck to everyone x

This is sounding most promising. Particularly the bit about steaks and sausages... I LOVE THEM BOTH!!!! lol. Another good thing, is that I have a human dustbin beside me, so what I can't eat, I'm sure he's going to love scarfing down! Thanks for making me feel better about the future! x

All I can say is Babe, you've dealt with Cancer. The rest of this is just sweating the small ****. Be amazed at yourself for how far you've come. So what, you had a wobble?! I had a wobble! I was supposed to go in on the 2nd Sept, but had too much going on in my life and in my head, that I rolled it till the 19th Sept. Yup, I'm 3 days out. I'm alive, I'm well - yes, I'm a bit sore - but I am very optimistic. This WILL change my life. And, if there are hurdles (which I'm sure there will be), then I'll cross those bridges when I come to them. I know you say you have an addictive personality - but I think most of us food-lovers have a food addiction at some level. I hope to swap one shower of crap traits for a load of healthier and happier ones. Like, for example, wracking up extensive debt for all the designer clothing I shall be buying! Huzzah! (Only kidding - to a degree ). If you need more time, take more time. If you need to talk to someone - talk to someone. If you want to bounce ideas in this forum - we're all here and every viewpoint is valid. However, it is important to note that no matter what is said - the decision ultimately lies with you. As it stands, I think you're amazing on many levels. Surviving cancer so courageously and baring your soul so openly and honestly on here being two of them. You're a survivor. Take a deep breath, weigh up the pros and cons like you had to do before, make your decision and be comfortable with it. Whatever you choose, we'll all be here rooting for you. xx

Clearly I was speaking Japanese?!

I'm like Diesel. All mine is on an Excel Worksheet with V-Look-up functionality to track my intake, losses/gains and associated measurements. As for advice from people on here, I kinda like hunting for whatever is on my mind at that moment. If I get really bored in time, I may embed photos into another summary worksheet... and on that note, I think I need to get out more! :|

You could always try what I did for my man this evening; as a substitute for bacon and as a means to ween him off his total bad-food diet. I pan fried lean delhi pork ham in a pan with a very small knob of butter. After that, I added some scrambled eggs. He said it tasted good?!

Try My Settings and then look to the left for 'Notification Settings' (or something similar). Should find everything you require to hush your inbox accordingly!

I'm trying to be. Went for a bit of a too long walk to Tesco's this evening. After walking round the shop, I gave up standing at the checkout and went and sat down. The walk home required a 20 minute sitdown outside a pub. Gave the man an opportunity for a pint - but I really shouldn't have walked that far. I came home, flopped on the bed and ate 3/4 of a small pot of ambrosia custard for dinner and it did me wonders! (I'm also surprised I could eat that consistency, too) I'm trying to be upbeat. I know the hardest points for me will be when I try foods that I formerly loved and find out that I can't eat any more. I'm pre-emptively freaking out that I won't be able to eat salad with balsamic dressing and other wonderful things like that. Have there been any foods you used to love that you can now no longer tolerate?

I hate to say it, but I'm pretty good. Just whinging about the hiccup - the evil hiccup! Must say though, that bruising is fierce! May I ask what day you woke up and the pain had disappeared?! I shall note it in my diary and have a party accordingly! x

Holy Mother of GOD! You look Sooooo sore! No wonder you were necking all those drugs! What's with all the bruising!?! Why did they have to bruise you so much?! Okay, I'm going to shut up whinging about my painful occasional hiccup. I have nothing to complain about in comparison to that! x

Feeling alright, thanks, love. Pleased with the amount of protein rich fluid I've managed to get in.. I'm just getting odd hiccups. They don't result in a series of hiccups. Just one, really painful one. Don't know what's causing it and don't know how to stop it. Quite painful and has left my wound site throbbing.. or it feels like throbbing. Any suggestions? x

Holy cow, it's like you've shaved 15 years off your age! Well done, you! xxx

That's a fabulous story. Hope I have the same x

How bout trying a small sip of red wine? Good for you and won't blow you up?

Sassy, you're right about that. Pain meds make me want to smoke more. Alcohol makes me smoke more. Heck! Everything makes me want to smoke more! But you're right.. it's the pain meds which are making me smoke like a train at the moment. Good identify there, lady!

Like Indigo, my nutritionist used to be a big-boy, too. He tackled his by practising what he preaches. I also got the impression he'd also been 'banded', too. Either way, I feel that people who have walked a few steps in your shoes can identify with your predicament and can assist you more effectively. As for yours, you really don't know what has rendered her a little on the unhealthy side. Could be anything. She could be taking steroids, she could have thyroid issues.. As you know yourself, the list of culprits are endless. If you think her weight might potentially undermine her credibility - call her out on it. If she shrugs and says 'yeah, I really should practice what I preach', then it might raise an eyebrow. However, you're gonna feel pretty bad if she pipes up with 'yeah, I'm a recovering cancer patient and they've still got me on steroids which makes me bloated'... I would say judge it by her professionalism, confidence and credibility of service delivery. If you're in doubt of that, then elect for someone else - as is your right. The best of luck

I'm a smoker and yes, I am still smoking. I am only day 3 post op (which yes, I know, is terrible so no berating required), but I have had about 5 so far. I have been smoking since I was 11, so am a card-carrying nicotine addict. For someone like you, that's not addicted? I wouldn't bother sparking up a proper ciggie. Why not get one of those fake ciggies? Like an E-ciggie with no nicotine. There is no point in you picking up a dangerous new habit, just because you 'fancy it'. As for the beer? I hear ya. But, obviously, the gas would no doubt render you in a lot of pain, I would have thought? Maybe you're craving the wheat in the beer? Have you thought about trying a gas-free stout like Mackinsons (if you get it in the states), or letting a normal stout go flat, such as Guinness? Lot of goodness in that - although there are a lot of calories also. Just a thought, but if you fancy it, there's obviously a reason you're craving it. I would probably try to identify exactly what it is you're craving and search for viable alternatives? If it's an alcohol buzz, my partner suggested vodka Jello shots last night. Naturally, I raised an eyebrow! Best of luck

I was told 4 weeks until I could fly internationally and 6-8 weeks before I could go to the gym and lift 'weight' and do gentle squats, etc. The doctor was primarily concerned with 'crunching' the operation site or the excess pulling of it. I guess it's all about listening to your body. If you can, I'd go to the doctor for advice in the first instance and if you feel you're 'good to go' - take it as easy as you can in the workplace and avoid all the 'big' things for a while...

Sounds like you've got it totally right. I'd already made the decision to eat whatever goes down, stays down and has good nutrition in it. So far I've managed natural yoghurt, simple chicken soup and some jelly. I'm lusting after prawn cocktail though - which is weird. Hope that can constitute as 'mushy'... only 12 days to wait! As for leftovers, I have the human dustbin currently sat next to me. He's loving getting everything I can't eat or can't finish! It won't be affecting his waistline though.. he has the fastest metabolism known to man. The bleeder!

That's amazing! You're amazing! Thank you so much for typing that up. I have often felt that it's a bit doom and gloom on here with regards to hair loss, etc. To be honest, that's one of my biggest fears. It's great that you haven't lost yours - despite having practically 9 days of no nutrition! How did you cope with that? What did the Docs have to say about you not being able to eat or drink anything? I think there's a lot to be said for getting the 'real stuff' in as soon as possible and you are testimony to that. Well done! As for those recipe suggestions, I am sooooooooo doing those! Thanks xx