Out to dinner with the girls...Bucca

Hey all.. I tested myself in the ultimate eating out experience since surgery...anyone ever been to Bucca? It is a family-style Italian restaurant and very, very yummy. I asked our server for a slice of cheese and I am here to tell you it was the yummiest I have had in a long time...melted in my mouth...so I got 2 oz of cheese in and it was good. My friends were so encouraging, they kept telling me how great I am doing and that was just what I needed to hear...although I never felt tempted to eat what they were. I even got in my 68 oz of water today..and walked for over an hour at the mall. Oh, I want to mention my emotions have finally gone awry...completely crying all the time since Wednesday and I feel this anger that is so extreme....I can't wait for my emotions to settle back down again.. How is everyone doing? Jenn Jenn

Hi Jenn! I had a similar experience Friday at work when my co-workers wanted to take me out for lunch. They asked me if I could go for chinese and I said no (I was thinking all breaded and fried, not for me ). I asked them if we could find a place where I could get some kind of simple soup or shrimp ****tail maybe, so we went to another local restaurant instead. I looked over the menu and decided on a bowl of french onion soup. When it got there I pulled out the wad of bread (it was probably bigger than my stomach) and I took out most of the cheese too (there was way too much). I took a few bites of the melted cheese and primarily drank the onion soup broth (slowly). It was good enough! My co-workers were very encouraging too and more than half of them are nurses which is a a big help! They told me they were so proud of the way I've handled everything and I told them that the surgery really cuts down on temptation. I don't want to make myself sick or risk hurting Oscar the Pouch! But I agree with you, it IS nice to hear. Good for you on the water!!! I still can't get in that much water. I used to be a HUGE water drinker and now it all tastes so weird to me. Do you add anything to your water? I've tried crystal light and all kinds of teas, and I'm still not getting close to 68 oz! Everything I drink tastes funny to me since surgery. By the way, my emotions seem to have calmed down for the most part, although I did almost lose it when the waitress asked me FOUR times if I was sure I didn't want anything to drink, not even water! I finally said in a kind of rude voice, 'NO SERIOUSLY!!"... after she walked away though, I told my co-workers that I was tired of people questioning me when I said I didn't wan****er with my meal and from now on I think I will just say yes and let them bring the water and just not drink it.

Hey there Vi - Was sorry to hear about the water tasting funny. Have you tried distilled water? That is what I drink as it has no flavor at all. (It's cheapest at WalMart, if you want to just try a gallon at first...) Just a thought! Take care and keep up the positive attitude, girl! You Rock! Later, Nancy

Actually my mother in law bought us this $300 reverse osmosis system (house warmning gift) that gets installed under the kitchen sink and I've been using it for about 5 years now since I never liked tap water in my area. I tend to think my taste buds are just wacky right now? Maybe I should put in a new filter...

Hey Vi - I, too, have a reverse osmosis system and believe me, the water does taste different than distilled water. I don't really care for the reverse osmosis water and use it for cooking but all my drinking is distilled...just a thought! Later, Nancy

Hi Nancy, Thanks for the tip. I'll give the distilled water a shot. Hey, I'll try anything that might work! Vi

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond... I cannot stand tap water so I bought a Brita that attaches to my faucet and it really makes a huge difference....It was under $30 and to me is better than constantly lugging home big trays of water from the grocery and less expensive in the end...and if you are a recycler like me you won't be adding more plastics to the landfills.... So, my question about eating french onion soup....since we are suppossed to eat protein first..but never liquids with proteins...how do you work that one? I hope that makes sense... BTW...so glad work is going well for you...I bet you are glad you started back after Halloween... Jenn

Hi Jenn, we have a $300 reverse osmosis water filtration system hooked up in the kitchen and I always drank a lot of water with no problem so I tend to think it's just ME that's got weird taste buds right now! About the protein question, I don't have any rules about not drinking liquids and proteins together... we were just told to stop drinking 1/2 an hour before and for 1/2 an hour after meals so that the pouch wouldn't be full of liquid and not have room for the meal. But I'm allowed to have soup as a meal, even if it has protein in it. What I did at the restaurant was that I had a couple of bites of the cheese and then I drank the broth and I was fine. The whole soup issue does sound kind of contradictory since it has liquid in it, but you got me on that one? Maybe it has to do with the fact that your eating the soup as a meal and not as your liquids for the day?

Oooh...I want a reverse osmosis so bad...tha****er rocks and tastes so great....my friends have one and I always get a big glass of water at their house.... One time I wasn'****ching the clock and I ate apparently while there was still liquids in my tummy and I dumped for hours...I get scared now to mix food and liquids...I know it might sound nuts, but that experience was really rough....I think I will call docs office tomorrow and ask them since it makes me dump. I actually dumped on sugar free gum..I think I am gonna be a big time dumper...the gum has 2 grams of sugar alcohols per piece....and I dumped on tuna with a teeny bit of mayo....no more tuna for me...unless I can think of something else to moisten it with... Jenn

HI Jenn, I totally understand why you hesitate, since you've already dumped. Thank GOD I haven't dumped yet! Last night I had 2 grapes and a piece of melon and ate ever so slowly just in case, but it didn't affect me at all. I also put bananas in my protein shakes and have no problems, so I'm guessing I'm one of those who won't dump. I think it's a good idea to ask your doc! Let me know what he says! Vi