Thanks Candy! I am doing better now and have been having a few days with being able to keep things down...it looks like things are finally starting to move! I am glad that you are feeling better and I am glad that they found the stricture so soon, that way you can get back on the healing path quickly! Great WOW moment, by the way....I didn't even think about my bath towel! Keep up the great work and take care! Heather

Lisa, I just had the surgery a week ago with the same situation -- started Lapriscopically & convert to open. I'm feeling your pain but I'm just a few weeks behind on the surgery date. I feel like in some ways that I had double the pain. First there is the pain from the lap surgery due to the gas they pumped into my abdomen for that. Then there is the pain from that huge foot long incision that runs belly button to breastbone. All that on top of the pain from the internal rearranging of my organs. I don't know if you have worked on getting rid of the gas. Its probably gone for you already. It sounds gross but I've been forcing myself to burp as much as possible trying to lose the bloat. Then there are the massive cuts and one big cut on my abdomen making walking, sitting, standing or pretty much any movement at all painful. My back is killing me because my stomach muscles can't do their work anymore and my back muscles are trying to take over with little success. I don't try to do more than I have to. I've been a big baby about the pain and meds so far. I don't like the narcotic oxycodon my dr prescribed. I hate that dopey feeling. The liquid tylenol and motrin the dr recommended to replace it gave me the diarreah I think. So I've been try to make it thru without any pain meds and hating every minute of it. I don't sleep much. I feel pretty much like a beached whale on my recliner only getting up every once in a while to eat, drink, bath or pee. Its nice to know I'm not alone out here either. Good luck and God Bless. ~Judy

Same here guys...TIRED....each day is different...but come Thursday after working full days all week I just wanna fall out....I walk in the door and literally fall into bed... My loss has slowed ...only 24 since surgery on 8/28...but I know my water intake is mostly to blame cause I barely eat and do make sure to get my vitamins and protein in. Have you tried to Body Fortress from Walmart...chocolate honestly taste like chocolate milk...my family has started drinking it too. funny how everyone is different.......but I must admit to being disappointed at it slowing down. My followup they said do protein drinks in place of food.......well that they prefer I get my sources from drinks and not depend on food yet.

Hey guys....today begins week 6 for me and I have stalled on week three and last week....and only lost 24!!!! So Im jealous of you guys...I get all my protein but not all my water....I cant stomach it...and same here..meat and I dont get along too much lately...all was fine at first but when something gets stuck....OUCH!!!! Im trying not to get discouraged though I know I could awake tomorrow and drop another 5 maybe so.....but it sucks with it not being steady when Im taking all my vitamins daily and eating right......... Guess I will stick with my liquid protein and water and see how it goes... My energy is getting better since I started taking extra iron.... So congrats to yall 30+ pounds is GREAT!!!!

Dear Carrie: You sound a bit discouraged but look at this: you ARE down 30lbs. in spite of how you feel. Your plateau is coming from something--your doctor will help figure that out. I too have had a bit of baked potato but if I eat too much of even something soft I feel horrible. I read postings from people who say they never taste a bit of noodle or potato or NO carbohydrates of any time. I can't say the same but I think we'll both do best if we WRITE DOWN what we eat. I know I always was in denial before about how much I ate. I don't want to go down that road again. Remember, we are in a transitional phase. You will lose 100 lbs. or more just because of the surgery or you'll pop your pouch trying to overeat. This tool we have acquired is just that, a help in getting control of the balance of food in/exercise out that we have to get a handle on to manage this "disease" of obesity. We're not like "normal" people. Yes, food is a trigger to our emotions, we WANT TO eat like some people want to breathe but we just friggin CAN'T eat like other people. What's going on in your head about food very likely doesn't match what's going on in your body. Your pouch doesn't want much, doesn't want a lot of texture, spice etc. Your mouth and your mind does. It's a lifelong habit that we are breaking. The other day I was eating some almonds for protein. They were crunchy, kind of stale, and I realized I was popping some in my mouth when I was actually "full" in my pouch. I stopped when I realized this is the kind of mindless munching that got me fat in the first place. Give yourself time to get well from this disease. Step by step. I'm sure the books you talked about are helpful. I'm going to order a copy. As for me, I'm going to keep writing it down so it's there in black and white staring me in the face//what I eat, what I drink, what vitamins I take, what exercise I do, how much I weigh, my measurements. If I don't I'll lie to myself. My best to you. Keep on, keepin on.