Today is day one of the 5dpt for me. I decided to give it a try and see just where my pouch is these days. I plan on following the rules to the tee. Sunday seemed like a good start day so I will be done by the weekend and hopefully have less cravings. We will see. I am going to make the pumpkin soup and the ham and cheese soup. I hope they taste as good as they sound! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Valorie

Kim, I feel so badly for you. They couldn't give you any time frame for the "stick it out, see if it resolves on its own?" That is so frustrating. Bet those doc's never had such severe pain or they wouldn't expect it from you. I wish I had some advice for you. All I can say is that my thoughts are with you. I sure wouldn't rule out the second opinion. Even if it means sitting in an ER for hours. Hugs, Valorie

I'm here. Nope, no hospitalization. They ordered a CT Scan of my abdomen and I just got off the phone with the doc with the results. I have a thickening of the bowel wall at the jejunum. Well, that's where the tube is, and is somewhat expected. He said it is also not uncommon. And shouldn't cause all the pain or swelling. So I'm supposed to stick it out, see if it resolves on its own, and see Dr. D. on my next appt. on March 10. Keep taking my pain pills to have some semblance of life. Man I hate this. So I'm considering if I should go to Adventist and get a second opinion? I don't necessarily need to go to ER, but i don't know where to go and how to get an urgent appt. with someone else. Any advice?

I tend to graze alot also, but I try to eat the healthiest snacks possible, such as fruit. But sometimes I just crave something salty, like chips. It's so weird though, because I was not a chip eater before WLS. My favorite snack from the early days is SF popsicles. I LOVE THEM!! I can't handle sugar too well, I seem to dump every time I eat sugar (more than 12 grams per serving), which is good. But I could eat SF popsicles ALL DAY LONG!! Salads are my favorite entrees, they don't give me any problems, I can eat more of them than anything else. I stick to low-cal dressings and grilled chicken. I admire you, Valorie, for your courage to admit what you have on this board!! I, too, have been stuck at the same weight since September (185-190) and I don't seem to be too worried about moving!! I would LOVE to get lower, but I can eat what I want and it fluctuates between those two weights. I'm sure if I really stuck to it and followed my program, I could get it down lower. But I admit, I feel like a failure sometimes because I haven't gotten lower, as all the other girls have who had surgery the same time I did. I hardly post at all anymore on here, I just read it every day. I know I am not a failure in my weight loss, because I did manage to lose 130 lbs. and I feel wonderful and don't look half bad in my clothes. But when I compare myself to the others (which I know I shouldn't do), I don't feel AS successful, but I am working on that. I just wanted to commend you on your courage and strength!! Deidrah

Some friend of mine in Tenn turned me on to this yogurt. The protein is similar to greek fage yogurt - which I have not tried. I've seen it and it was not cheap enough that I would eat it every day. I thought that the Carb Master Yogurt was probably a national kind that was just branded as Kroger - you know - but if it is I can't figure out what else it is like. The yogurt is one of my favorite food finds. My doctor says shoot for 60 - I usually try for 80-100. I can and do loose when I follow my plan well - or as I am doing now if I cheat a little I'm able to maintain. I'd like to get away from the cheating and loose a little more. Good luck with the 60 - I know you can do it! Trudy