Just talked to Jen

She says everything went fine and her DH is doing well. We'll be trading war stories but it sounds like he's pretty much textbook (like I was!) and recovering well. I'll post more info when I have it... Feel free to leave well wishes here or on her surgery page Thanks everybody!! Stef

So glad to hear he is doing well!! and you too. Send her my love and good thoughts Giovanna

HEY you haven't told me how your doing??????? I didn't get my date before your surgery...lol but at least I finally got one and approval!!!! HUGS, Katie

HEY Katie!! Hopefully this reply will suffice for Lori and Cathy, too (and anyone else who's interested)... I'm doing very well.. slowly but surely. Things are still kinda hard.. I wondered where did all the weight go when you started losing it.. it doesn't just evaporate.. but I think maybe I sweat it out at night because anytime I wake up during the night, I'm damp. Not hot, exactly.. just damp -- like I've been working and I'm sweating because of it. It's kinda strange -- but okay. The pain is getting better.. seems I still have frequent gas pains but at least I feel like times when it IS moving to the nearest exit, it's doing so in a productive way and that makes me happy. I'm trying to rely less and less on the pain medication but you know sometimes you just have to cave. And for my second full day home, I'm still making poopies so that's good! Yay for poopies. (the pain medication can cause constipation) I'm pretty sure I'm getting all my vitamins in -- even after a sort of a screw up yesterday with taking iron and cal-mag at the same time (oops).. my pouchy pouch sure likes those vitamins though.. it starts me gurglegurlgling right away.. I'm gettin gin about 4oz per meal.. though the last meal I ate was the first one I didn't feel bloated at the end of.. could have been what I ate.. could have been that I've been eating too much til now.. *urp* I'll still stick to 4oz until I can expand it to a little more. I go onto pureed foods Monday. I also get my drain out on Wednesday -- though I can't remember what time (man, I'm a dork). I still use my inspirometer to make sure I'm breathing well and my lungs stay clear.. I walk about once an hour -- even if it's just to the other side of the apartment.. and today was my first big foray to the first floor of my building to check my mail! I'm wiped out! Like I said.. slowly but surely.. I've been using regular boullion cubes with a cup of water and a TBSP of my soy protein -- it makes it look sort of like a cream soup.. but it actually improves the flavor (whoda thunk that?!). I had the Atkins Advantage Cafe au Lait shake this morning but it wasn't as good as the Boost Shakes I have. I like those better. And I love Jell-o but I haven't made any yet. Just no energy. One step at a time. I'll be glad when my food options expand a little. So that's the latest.. and I think I'm gonna go back to the couch and Stef

Hi I just wanted to say you are doing great but my dietician told me the soy protien causes gas you may wasnt to check on that. I say lets not cause any unnesessary discomfort!! Good luck, Denna

Wow, I never knew that! Thanks, Denna! I typically prefer Soy because I like the additional benefits.. but I do NOT like this gas pain.. so.. I'm switching to whey to see if it makes a difference.. Thanks a million!! And how are you doing?? Stef

Thanks Stef Glad to hear he's doing well. Hope you are, too! Cathy