melodymouse

It was 8 days after my surgery before I had my first BM. I have struggled with constipation and gas since my surgery even though I get 64 oz of fluid a day. Just the way my system is. I did however just learn at my 1 year check that it is perfectly normal to only go twice a week. Stool softeners do help when taken correctly. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids all day but especially in the evening and then take 1-2 Ducosate Sodium softgels at bedtime. Just make sure you DO NOT buy the type of stool softener with added stimulants as they can cause long term problems, dependency and nerve damage to name two. One of my favorite sayings, is "When in doubt, check it out!" You should ALWAYS check with your doctor before taking anything new. We can only tell you what worked for us. Good luck!

My doctor had me on each phase for 2 weeks. You shouldn't try to be in too big of a rush. Personally, I feel it is more important to follow your doctor's recommendations. They have a lot more experience than we do. You can always go back to any previous phase at any time to boost your weight loss. Right now, they want you to progress to make sure everything is functioning properly.

That's why food tastes funny again. It's the Ketosis. Your body is burning fat and the "exhaust" so to speak, ruins the tastes of everything. Not much you can do about it while you are losing, except smile. When the fat is gone, it will be too!

I know what you mean! My skinny 21 year old son picked up my jeans and started putting them on. He came out of the bedroom and said "Geez Mom! You're so skinny! I thought these were my jeans!" What a great feeling!! I have been obese for all but the last year of his life. Moments like that, make it all worth it!!

I use Nectar unflavored. It is available from Bariatric Advantage.com. It is 10 g of protein. It does not work well in warm-hot food/drink as it clots. I mixed it in the liquid I had before or after a meal when I was having something it wouldn't blend well with. It tastes like watered down milk.

So true Chris R. Alcoholics and drug addicts can avoid people who use those substances, but everyone EATS! Not to mention there is a fast food restaurant on every corner. Multiple food commercials on every channel, every hour. Such a difficult challenge. I am glad there is now scientific proof that certain foods are just as addictive as heroin!

Just a reminder, before you take any meds, check with your doctor. If you are early out, your body did go through a major trauma and is trying to heal which means increased circulation to your stomach that can make you feel like its hunger pains. Make sure you're getting enough protein. When you do, you shouldn't feel hungry. As for the noises, that is normal at any stage. It seems louder cuz it's now contained in a small space. Take a dozen children and put them in a small room and it can get pretty loud. Put those same 12 in an auditorium, and you hardly notice the same noise. I am 14 months out and my tummy is still very entertaining!

Very normal, same as any diet. Just stick to your program and pretty soon you'll be amazed!!

Sorry you're struggling. Remember your new stomach is just like starting over as an infant. They can't tolerate more solid foods immediately either. It is a full time job at first, you are putting something in your mouth every 15 minutes. Try going back a food stage and see if that settles your stomach. You can also try a different brand of protein. I used Nectar for the first 4 months because it was so much easier to digest. As for exercise, it is really important to stay active, as that helps trigger the process to move things out of your stomach. When the weather was bad, I would walk laps downstairs. My cat would attack my ankles because he got so annoyed. (Haha!) I am 14 months out and have lost 122 lbs. so don't give up. Just keep trying different things til you find what works for you!

No worries Tink. Where ever it comes from, it still wants to challenge us. We just have to put it back in its place! I'm just glad that most of mine went in the scrap bucket with my stomach! = D

If you just got your sleeve, it is most likely just some blood left in your digestive tract from the surgery but a good rule to follow is "when in doubt, check it out". Hugs to you and Congratulations!!

One more Rant and then I'm done. Have you ever noticed that the people who say this is the "Easy way out" are people who have never done it? Easy to judge from the sidelines. I wish Oprah would have done it. We would be getting a whole lot more respect or at least understanding. Note: A closed mind has no room to grow! My very best to all my fellow sleevers. You dared to take the risk to improve the quality of your lives and that takes great courage. Wether you achieve your weight loss goals or not, you have already overcome so much to get to this point. Don't allow anyone to drag you back down! You are AWESOME!!

It is truly a shame that momto6ix believes she is the only one allowed to be "blunt and honest" while ALL of the rest of us are just "mean and defensive". I believe the purpose of this site is that it is to be used as an online support group for those of us who have had the courage to take such a drastic measure to heal ourselves. It should not be a place for someone who has never walked in our shoes to come ask for our advice and then disrespect what we have to say!

Getting everything in at first is definitely a full time job! I was constantly putting something in my mouth. I still take a bottle of water to bed with me a drink every time I wake up enough to think about it! Take care! It does get easier!!

That happened to me. Go back to basics. Start back on the week one/liquid protein only for a few days and you should start losing again. Make sure you drink all your water and take your supplements. I was at the same weight for 2 months. I thought I was done and went out and bought a new wardrobe. And guess what? I started losing again and wound up losing another 23 lbs so now those clothes are all too big. I think it's because I let go of the worry or disappointment that I felt because I had just fallen short of my dream goal and that letting go,made it happen. Best wishes! Stay strong!

Most people don't know that thirst in its early stages presents the same as hunger. Make sure you are getting enough water. If that makes the pain go away as we'll, you might just be thirsty.

Per Kaiser: You should have 400-600 calories a day 1 - 3 months, 600-800 3-6 months, 800-1000 6-12 months and no more than 1200 at 1 year plus. You should also have 60-80 g of protein thru 6 months, 80-100g 6-12 months and 100-120g from 12 months on. Note, the lower number is usually the best for women, the larger for men. Remember, protein first! Stay away from things that have higher calories because it usually means there is hidden sugar, like in the yogurt. Try eating Greek yogurt, it has double the protein than regular yogurt. Buy plain flavor and add your own fresh fruit, like natural applesauce and a pinch of cinnamon. Or your own vanilla or other extract. You can use artificial sweetener to make it sweeter. Reading labels essential to successful weight loss. I am 14 months out and have lost 104% of my excess weight! Even with bypass the estimated loss is 75%! So you can succeed with a sleeve if you want to! Hope that helps. = )

When in doubt, check it out! Better to feel a little foolish than wind up in the hospital. Make sure you are taking tiny bites and chewing your food completely before swallowing (30 chews or until disintegrated). Using baby silverware really helps to keep you from taking too big of bites. It also helps if you make sure the food is wet enough. Dryer food tends to get stuck easier and wont let anything else move down. Good luck!

Most doctors have you on clear liquids while in the hospital and FULL liquids when you go home. Protein drinks that are thinner like Nectar go down easier. Just do the best that you can. At first you are constantly putting something in your mouth. Every 15 minutes you should be drinking an ounce. I still take a bottle of water to bed with me and drink some every time I'm awake enough to think about it. I am 14 months out and chose to keep my stomach smaller so its still challenging to get 64 ounces of liquid in every day. You just have to make everything you put in count! Best wishes to you!

Sorry, obviously that should have been 800-1000 @ 6-12 months!

To Skinny Malink- you should have 400-600 day 1 - 3 months, 600-800 3-6 months, 800-100 6-12 months and no more than 1200 at 1 year plus. You should also have 60-80 g of protein thru 6 months, 80-100g 6-12 months and 100-120g from 12 months on. Note, the lower number is usually the best for women, the larger for men. Hope that helps. = )

Don't beat yourself up, choose to be strong. It is just your body trying to "recover" itself. It is sooo important to keep the weight off for that year after you level out until your body creates a new set point weight. (It's new normal) We have a Dr. that comes to our support group who has spent his life dealing with the medicine of obesity. He told us how they are now using functional MRI's to prove that certain foods, even just the smell, triggers the same neuro-pathways as heroin. They are just as addictive. Unfortunately, just like in drug addicts or alcoholics, even a taste of sugar or fat, even the smell of one of those old unfriendly foods, can make your body remember all those "good times" and trigger your food addiction. The best way to get off of it, is to go back on your week 1 post surgery diet. Protein and water only for 2 weeks. You will lower your blood sugar levels and detox your body. This will quash those cravings again. You did it once, you can do it again. Then Stay Away from the crap food. You worked too hard to go back there!! Good luck!

Walk, walk, walk is great advice. It could still be the gas they inflate your abdomen with. The only way to get rid of it is exercise so your cells can absorb it. If you still have your gall bladder, that could also be the cause if walking doesn't help.