Steph, I would go hard core and cut out all animal fat except the cream in my coffee because no, but that may not be actually necessary.

The surgeon told me no red meat, no dairy, no eggs, and no shrimp. But then I'm looking at things like crackers, where the % fat is like 35% and I'm second-guessing whether I should eat them.

This is why I don't diet, in a general sense. I mean, I am on board with this 1-week gall bladder experiment, but it's already making me crazy.

no red meat, no dairy, no eggs, and no shrimp

That seems drastic enough to me, as long as you're not eating the entire box of crackers.

For real -- I wish I could post a picture on Facebook, but I won't, so I have to share it here -- right now we have 2 different medical booklets on our couch: "Gallbladder Surgery" and "Understanding Vasectomy."

We are getting a LOT out of our medical insurance this year.

I'd be interested in learning more. My mom used hypnosis to quit smoking. If I remember right, she had one session and quit cold turkey.

Yep. That is totally possible! In fact, it is one of the areas where hypnosis is most effective. Smoking, drinking, stress, phobias, self esteem, nail biting, bed wetting and sleep issues are the headliners, but there is a process for pretty much anything you need.

I'm really intrigued by hypno-birthing too, but I think that will be a ways off.

I'm looking forward to getting really good at smoking cessation. Being allergic to cigarette smoke, I want to help people get clear of that habit (if they really want to, of course). It will be good for me too!!

Thanks! It is painful and weak, and also stiff. It's weird, it isn't only the ankle that hurts, it's the Achilles tendon and the muscles/ligaments on top of the foot. Basically, I need to exercise it, but that hurts, so I can only handle so much a day.

Ugh. Whenever one part is hurt, and you compensate for the pain/instability, it strains everything else. Many more vibes for healing.

"Understanding Vasectomy."

An old friend's wife went through ivf, got pregnant and then six months after the first son was born, she fell pregnant with the second. When she was 3 months pregnant, he called me to chauffeur him to the clinic. I was amazed by how easy it was for him. Miracles of modern medicine!

When I was waiting for my gallbladder to get evicted, I ate a ton of oatmeal, graham crackers and those protein steamer blends with rice and lentils and beans.Surgeon had warned me off my salads as well, but that was for different reasons I can't recall. But I'd already had a bad attack that probably woulda got me admitted and surgery had I gone in that night; this was about avoiding another attack until I got over a cold.

"Understanding Vasectomy."

An old friend's wife went through ivf, got pregnant and then six months after the first son was born, she fell pregnant with the second. When she was 3 months pregnant, he called me to chauffeur him to the clinic. I was amazed by how easy it was for him. Miracles of modern medicine!

Since my cervix of steel refused IUD #3, after considering all the other options and weighing the potential health consequences, Tim getting snipped is the easiest option. And it's led to us yelling "I GOT YOU SOME ICE FOR YOUR CROTCH!!!" at each other: [link]

those protein steamer blends with rice and lentils and beans.

I may go get those at the store tomorrow. There are a lot of those things now, and I can eat them because they don't have noodles and the protein isn't all breaded!

Tim getting snipped is the easiest option

It made my marriage so much easier.

Ultimately, I ended up having myself snipped and that has worked out well too, but was not. fun. Though, it was a loooong time ago, so I'm sure that technology has improved as well.

Any suggestions on how to remember to take a pill once every other day? I don't want to mess this one up, but I'm terrible st keeping track of such things.

I need that too. Sometimes I think I should have one of those timed pet-food feeders to remind me to take supplements.