Orchids&Dragons

Wow, that sucks. Sounds like you've connected with a couple of losers. Just keep true to yourself. If the right person comes along, be open to the possibilities, but if not, know that you are a complete and worthy person in your own right and you'll be fine. It's much better to be single than to be stuck with an a$$hat.

Well, we're not doctors, but it sounds like a stricture is the likely culprit!

At this point water is more important than protein. Make sure you get your fluids in! Liquids don't stay in your stomach, they pass through. You won't start feeling restriction until you move on to soft foods. Believe me, you will know the difference! You really can't stretch your stomach with liquids. Relax! Yes, it is hot. 86 degrees when I drove in to work at 8:00 this morning! Definitely try exercise videos. There are even tons of them on youtube for free. I, too, got reallllly burned out on sweet things. Buy/make some soups that you like and strain out the chunks after you heat them up (it's easier.) There are some really good soups in the grocery stores now. I loved roasted red pepper, butternut squash (they were both smooth soups to begin with) and homemade chicken with veggies. After the soup has been heated, stir in 1/2 - 1 scoop of unflavored protein powder. That way you get to count both liquids and proteins toward your daily total. It does get easier as you go along, I promise! Good luck!

To look for the stricture, they sedate you and put an endoscope down your throat into your stomach. If they find one, they use a balloon to expand/stretch it, similar to how they open blocked arteries.

Grab the 15th if you can, lucky day at my house! My birthday, hubby's birthday and our anniversary (29 years.) Our twins were even due on July 15th, although they only made it to June 30th!

Thanks, Kitty. While I am very forceful advocate for my kids, not so much for me. I need to be more assertive. Unfortunately, I spent hours googling this and didn't find any type of treatment. In general, I doubt that it's a big deal for the general population because they just drink with their meals. I will call the surgeon's office Monday and see about a referral, I promise!

Well, it's been 10 weeks already with the possibility of another 10 I'd be surprised if it's not a balanced diet, though. I make my own soups with plenty of vegetables. I really would like to get to a whole food diet, though. I really don't like so many processed protein sources (supplements). My vitamin levels were fine at my 12-week checkup. In fact, 2 were too high, iron and calcium. I've reduced my calcium supplement by 1/2 and I'll start taking the vitamins w/iron every other day and vitamins without iron in between. I had never heard of nutcracker esophagus so I looked it up. Seems like we're opposites. Your contractions are too strong, mine are pathetic and uncoordinated. Gravity appears to be my only friend (and LOTS of liquid). Is there a treatment for yours to make the contractions less intense? I spent hours on google and didn't find any recommended treatment for mine. I hope they can help you!

Thanks! I have no problem taking any pills because I can drink when I take them. I'm on omeprazole 2x a day for the acid and then Tums as needed. Thanks so much for providing entertainment for the party!

First, congrats and best wishes on your surgery and for a speedy recovery! Awesome idea for the motor home if there's somewhere to park it nearby. But, if your car seats recline, they're probably enough. Good luck!

The revision would be because of the reflux. He's just afraid that it could cause erosion or ulcerations in the esophogus and make it even worse than it is now. He might be giving the meds a bit longer to see if they can help. He did tell me to put cinder blocks under the head of my bed. I asked "Instead of my wedge?" He said no, keep the wedge, too! Maybe I will call up on Monday and see if they will refer me to a gastroenterologist. I was just caught completely off-guard and didn't come up with any good questions. I'm great with numbers, not so much with words

Don't worry, your body is just catching up. You usually lose inches when you don't lose weight. Weight fluctuates a lot. It will be fine!

Yeah! That's awesome!

Thank you for the excellent explanation!

I'm no doctor, but it sounds like you may have become lactose intolerant. That would explain both the nausea and the diarrhea. You also might be sensitive to the sweeteners in the shakes. I hope you figure this out.

Congratulations and best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Yes, I know that. I was confused about it being "open". I thought that part was cut away.

What do you mean that your fundus is open? Are the contents of your stomach leaking into your abdomen? Sorry, if I'm being dense, but I can't picture what you're describing.

Best wishes! I'm so happy for you! Hope all goes well!

White bean chili with chicken - YUM! https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/white-bean-chicken-chili except that I use ground chicken rather than cut up. It came out delicious and not very spicy. Put a little shredded cheese or Greek yogurt on top with a little green onion.

If you're missing "meals", try something savory. You can eat pretty much any soup out there if you strain out the chunks. (I'm assuming you're on full liquids because of the milk.) After the soup is heated, you can stir in some unflavored protein powder to increase the protein. Soup counts toward your fluid goal. There are a lot of good choices now in the grocery store. It doesn't need to be "chicken & stars"! But don't add the protein powder before you heat the soup! It can get all clumpy. UGH! I couldn't handle the "sweet" overload. Good luck!

It's not as fun as getting out to the gym, but you might try doing exercises at home with resistance bands or something like that. The exercise would help lower your stress level, too. I can't imagine how challenging it is for you right now. I hope you find a way for things to get better.

Oh, my! You great planners out there. I just winged it. And, like you, Ash, my husband doesn't know any passwords, doesn't even know the pin for the ATM. He walks into the lobby to get $. He doesn't know where on the computer I keep the financial files, hasn't looked at our taxes since we started filing electronically. Even before that he signed them blindly. Never asked about the numbers at all. I have always known I was going to die in a car accident (I really am a dreadful driver), I've even been in at least 3 accidents when my car wasn't even moving! So, dying from any other reason just doesn't process in my brain. Might be stupid and short-sighted, but there you go!

I just love how long it takes my brain to make connections. Now I understand why there were so many foods that other people bragged on that I couldn't eat at all. @sillykitty loves the 34 degree crackers so I bought them. Could only eat 1 or 2 and had to stop. I couldn't figure out how/why she enjoyed them. Makes sense now. They've moved to my "verboten" list

That's hilarious! I had an Irish Setter that was much more direct. If her food bowl was empty, she picked it up and threw it at you. No communication problem at all

@Matt Z Beautiful pups! So sorry about Dutchess. It is very painful to lose a member of the family.