amylynns

@Luna222--When I had my lapband back in 2008 I took liquid methotrexate for RA. It was ok with my surgeon. But I think that's a pretty mild med, not sure if it would help you? What were you taking? I also did the injections of Humira and one other one, I can't remember the name of. The first one I had a reaction at the injection site and couldn't take it anymore and I pretty much quit the Humira on my own---I didn't see any improvement and I gained 17 pounds in the 4 months I took it. Wanna hear the real kicker??? I had to switch rheumatologists because of insurance changes---the new one I saw was at a University Hospital, head of rheumatology. He ran a butt load of tests and said I DIDN'T HAVE, NEVER HAD RA!! So I was medicated for 7 years for it, and never had it!? My RA factor was negative (my first rheumy said that happens sometimes) and the MRI's that the University Dr. did on my hands didn't show bone erosion. My first Dr. did 2 MRI's over the 7 years and he said it was consistent with RA damage. So WTH??!! I stayed away from processed foods...NO artificial sweetners, using essential oils, and I am 99% pain free. I hope you get some answers on your liver today! And I pray your insurance will ok you to see a different Dr!! That is just insane!!!

I'm 6 weeks out and haven't thrown up, but have had a lot of issues with nausea. But at 3 months out, if you're eating what's on your ok'd plan, you shouldn't be throwing up.

@bellabloom--So glad you were kidding! So your surgery is tomorrow? You'll do great. I am 6 weeks out, and honestly......I couldn't "cheat" if I wanted to! My version of cheating was eating some tomato Soup during pureed stage. My PA still wasn't happy when I told her because it just slides right through the pouch and doesn't keep you full. BUT...I have YET to even feel hungry, so it must have kept me full enough! This site is great for support--we won't let you lay around and drizzle nastiness into your mouth!!

See what the newbie nurse did to my poor arm when I was getting fliuds. She didn't even have it in the vein and turned the pump on, so it started pumping fluid into my arm. I had a big bulge of fluid in there for a while. So gross.

@Luna222- I'll be curious to hear what happens with your liver. My surgeon also does not do labs until several months from now. I thought that was odd? They've run other labs, checking for infection, dehydration, etc. But not the "big labs" I call them. I'm having Mozarella cheese wrapped in a thin piece of Prosciutto for lunch.

Bronxmerci--Keeping you in my prayers girl! Let us know when you can what happened!! @Luna222--I was having the same problem. My Dr. had me to back to mushies for a week, so cottage cheese, yogurt, broth, juice/water--etc. I was getting so frustrated. Weak, from lack of calories, and not drinking enough Water. Then Monday I had the long Upper GI with small bowel follow through done. That was all clear, yay! Then saw my Dr. after that--I was dehydrated again...2nd time in a week. They pumped in 2 bags. She then had the NUT call me and we chatted about foods I had been trying, and getting sick from. She asked if I'd tried hummus. I asked what I could put it on. She said a wheat cracker or wheat bread, toasted really well. I said, "Oh? I can go to Phase III foods?" She told me to double check with the Dr. but I should be able to. So I called the Dr. back and she said let's give it a try. She said maybe I was having just such an aversion to the pureed food it was making me sick. And seriously the thought of anymore pureed food makes me want to puke! LOL! So...this morning I had 1/2 of a whole wheat sandwich thin with some scrambled egg/salsa on it and a tiny sprinkle of cheese. It took me an hour to eat maybe 3/4 of it. It was delicious!! And NO NAUSEA! Yesterday I tried the hummus on crackers too. I could only eat 3 crackers. I probably should have stopped at 2. I was uncomfortable, but not sick to my stomach. I'm not sure what I'm having for lunch yet. But I'm so excited that Breakfast went that well!! Also added fresh lemons to my water. (My Dr. had told me not to yet, because of the acid, but the NUT said do it, it's fine, LOL!) It's making drinking water today much easier. I'm weeks out and have a glimmer of hope I'll feel "better" very soon!!

I haven't been on here in a few days. I've gotten really behind on posts,but @@Bronxmerci, I'm so glad you're doing better!! Your pics look amazing!! I know it's been such a struggle for you since the beginning though. I'll pray for smooth sailing from here on out for you!! I've lost a total of 40 now. But I would trade some of those pounds to be feeling better. I'm 6 weeks out tomorrow and I can still only eat soft/ pureed food. Otherwise I'm sick. And 1/4 cup or less per meal, or I'm sick. My surgeon wants to do one more test tomorrow. The Upper GI with small bowel follow through. they said it'll take about 4 hours. I'm really anxious about drinking the barium since I've only had one decent bowel movement in a week. I really feel the test will come back normal. I think my pouch is just snarky! I'm really, really tired of eating what I'm eating though!! I need to catch up on posts!

My Thanksgiving pureed meal tasted like crap. Good thing everyone else enjoyed it though!! It's going to take some getting used to the food not being the center of get together with family. I have to work tomorrow and I'm pooped. Better head to bed.

My gosh. I hope the tests will reveal what's going on so they can take of it quickly!!!! Praying for you girl!!!

Prayers! Let us know what happens. Goodness girl!

Finally made it to the ER...should be getting juiced up soon here...yay.

Oh Beni....I'm sorry. Rest friend. I wonder if it was the consistency or the sweetness.

I will, thanks! It might be worth just calling in to run that by them. And the foaming...what is up with that anyway?? Drinking too fast? Too much? I get that too. SOOOO uncomfortable!! I'm not earning my pay either, LOL---but getting done what "has" to be done. No energy to do more at this point.

Looks like I'm heading to the ER this afternoon. My Dr. called this morning to check on me because she knew my labs showed I was dehydrated the end of last week, but was hoping I could get on top of it over the weekend. Nope, and dizzy, have a headache, feel like I'm in a fog--like my head is floating. So weird! But.....I'm at work right now and can't leave until 2:00! Then I have my daughter's conference (which was just moved up from 3;30, whew!) and THEN I'll go! She also said she talked with my surgeon (the "she" is the PA that handles all the after care, love her) and he'd like to me have an upper GI with a slow bowel follow through?? Or something like that--said it'd take 4 hours! Geesh! So that's Monday because this week is too crazy to try and take another day off. Unless they want to do it on Thanksgiving! Not like I can freaking eat anyway!! I think they're looking for strictures? Back on liquids for now. She said I can have yogurt and cottage cheese. The cottage cheese sets well, but yogurt is a toss up depending how picky my tummy is at that moment. I think it's just because my tummy didn't adjust to the "chunkier" type pureed foods. Tuna/ veggies. I don't know, but guess it's good to rule out the bad stuff.

Yes! And I'm working full time...with 5 kids at home. Has your Dr. ran labs at all? Might be something you're lacking that they can take care of. I'm evidently dehydrated, but it sounds like you're at least getting your water in?

Thank you, thank you. Today was better, but all I've had is popsicles, cottage cheese and broth with Protein powder. I've managed to get in about 45 oz. of water/watered down juice. I really appreciate your assurance that it gets better. I just bawled and bawled last night and this morning. My honey finally embraced me and let me cry it out. Then he said, "Ok, you're in this babe. Let's step back...when were you not nauseated?" When I was on liquids....and cottage cheese seems to set well. "Ok, so let's do that for a week or so and see how that goes." What I don't understand is I did pureed meat/veggies for a week before I started getting sick every time I'd eat. So maybe I Just got lazy and didn't chew enough, had bigger portions than I thought I was having...? I don't know, but I'll give my belly a rest for a while. If anyone has any other suggestions, I'm open to them! :-)

I've had one huge pity party all week pretty much. I've been beside myself with nausea. Major regrets. I've been crying non-stop all evening. I had a scope procedure done on Thursday with them thinking they'd have to stretch the opening into my stomach. They didn't have to, but did say the area where the stomach connects to the intestines is still raw/red, and stitches are still there. So I need to go back to mushies/soft stuff for a while. Although today I ate just 4 bites of yogurt and I was sick. Then had cottage cheese and was sick. (both of which I've been able to eat before) Diarrhea all night and day... It's like there's no rhyme or reason to what makes me sick--so I can't figure out what to change. Just had some broth with Protein mix. We'll see how that does. Drinking watered down white grape juice too. My body doesn't like the artificial sweetners, but I might try the pink lemonade crystal light if it'll help. This post did make me feel better, knowing there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm just moving through that tunnel really slowly!

My plan says I can have 1/2 cup, but my body is saying it's too much. I'm sick constantly. I also am so weak, and working full time, so I feel like I need more calories in just to function, but it's not going well....My Dr. told me this week, no more meats for a while, back to the super soft mushies. (My surgery was Oct. 20th)

This nausea is seriously going to kill me. (not literally) My gosh. I don't know what to do!? I took my Pepcid, omeprozol, and Zofran before I ate at about 8:30 (like I was told to) I ate 4 bites of yogurt, over about 25 minutes. Sick to my stomach. Tried using my peppermint oil. (works for nausea generally) Didn't work this time. Waited an hour, tried to drink some sips. Got some down, but totally sick to my stomach. Then took my antibiotic. (for the UTI and incision) Finally at 12:30 I decided maybe getting something more in my belly would help. Ate my 1/2 Cup of cottage cheese, over a 45 minute period. Pretty much ok, until after the last bite. I've just been trying to hold it in since then. I also had woken up at 2:00 with my sick 8 yr old and then proceeded to have diarrhea every half hour until 5:30. Slept until 7:30. Have had 3 more bouts of it since being at work. I am in tears, beyond frustrated. I just don't know what to do? I hate to call my Dr. again. They're at a loss. I've done everything they told me to.

I am so darn proud of you!!!! But now "I" need to quit using the excuse "it's too cold out!" If you can do it there's no reason I can't bundle up and go too! So thank you for sharing that!!! It's great motivation for me! I do prefer to workout in the evenings though. I'm not much of a morning girl. Lol. Now I just need to get hydrated and over the infection so I can physically do something! :-) Have you ever done yoga? I love yoga! It's relaxing yet a hard workout that's easy on the joints. It uses slot of the core muscles though so I need to wait just a Little while longer to do that until my belly muscles don't hurt. Off to bed I go!

I'm glad too!! Thank you! I'm looking forward to feeling better! :-)

Yumm, that looks amazing! I think I'll try it too. Hopefully the 12g of sugar won't be too sweet on our bellies. But even a bite or 2 would be great. I'll still be on pureed. My plan is to puree turkey (with a little gravy). I usually make a corn pudding too. But my NUT says no corn. :-( I think I'll puree a little stuffing with gravy too. I'm having the same kind of cravings! A nice green salad with lots of fresh veggies. Oh, hummus, how I miss you!! And sushi!! Good things come to those who wait, right?

Hi Joan! Congratulations on your surgery! I've lost 33 and I don't see it so much in the mirror, but my clothes are hanging off of me. Can you tell a difference in your clothing? I think for me, I've hated myself for so long that it's hard to see the good now. Try not to focus on your imperfections you're seeing. focus on what you're doing to make yourself a healthier you!! You deserve to love yourself! :-)

Thanks Beni. It is SO hard to get in all that Water. Like you said, when you can't drink 1/2 hour before you eat and another hour after you eat. But yet, we're supposed to eat something every 4 or so hours...and I'm supposed to get 80-90 oz in between all of that?? It will be a little easier if I'm not constantly sick to my stomach though. I've gotten my 32oz in between noon and now. I guess I could stay up all night and drink water, LOL! Or not! I got a whopping 355 calories in today!

Thanks Luna! A couple years ago I had a bad UTI. I didn't have any pain then either. I went to the Dr. because my pee smelled REALLY WEIRD! The Dr. pretty much scolded me for letting it go that long because it could go from bad to worse really quickly and you could have permanent damage? Really? But I didn't have pain, so why would I have gone to the Dr. earlier? I did just notice the last couple days that even when I'd wipe, it was really dark yellow, even on the TP. (sorry, TMI) You should definitely check with your Dr. to see if you're dehydrated though, Luna. The leg cramps are for sure a sign of that.