angelface811

Mine came 3 days post-op which was 7 days early. They said it's very normal for that to happen. I was afraid it was going to be very heavy but wasn't to bad. So I input the new date on my free menstrual cycle tracker app and my body adjusted back to a 28 day cycle which I am hopefully going to end soon. I had worse cramping than usual and heavy flow. It has also lasted a bit longer. Hopefully it stays on that 28 day cycle because I use my app to plan stuff...lol. Really be on top of the fluids and foods and you may want to lighten up the exercise (I did a little to much and it caused heavier flow) ...

I would think going on a cruise will work beautifully with WLS surgery. I went on my Alaskan cruise while I was "dieting" and lost 7 pounds. They have so many food choices...some can take you off track...but they also offer a ton of things you can have. Soups, salads, fruits, yogurts, lean meats, lean fare options, tons of water and many are offering sugar free dessert options now. You may take a bite of something else but what's also great is being active on the ship and at the ports. You will do great! Have a wonderful time...enjoy

I actually was admitted to the hospital for being impacted. Constipation has been my number one problem. I was given lactulose which is a very sweet syrupee laxative and 4 enemas. I was discharged with a rx for lactulose and my stool softener was increased. At this time I take 2 doses of miralax a day, one teaspoon of sugar free Metamucil with about 5 oz of water. I also take 200 mg of sodium ducosate as well as milk of magnesia 2tbsp twice per day. I was so use to being more than regular on my diabetes meds then I was taken off after WLS surgery(yay!). I am still in puréed food phase and have been checked thoroughly for other problems. I have faith that once I am in a food phase where I can get my fiber up to about 30g a day and workout at a higher intensity things will improve. On top of this I have a rx for another laxative but cash price is $385...not covered by insurance. Too much protein can cause constipation but so can to much fiber...eek! Just gotta find that balance. I am so very thankful for the surgery we just have to work out some kinks! I take full responsibility for that...

Have they tried the scopolamine patch behind the ear for you? I had pretty severe pain as well plus the constipation to the extreme. I walked a lot, used heating pad and doctor said why don't we try a muscle relaxer. So we did and I believe it helped. But I was pretty hunched over for about 2 weeks. It will get better...

You look awesome! May I say your tummy looks great!!! What is your workout routine? Any tips?

My surgeon said he doesn't recommend it because of the pain medications yes but also because it causes pulling on your incisions looking over your shoulder and such and potentially puts others in danger because if we are in pain we may not be 100% when we drive...hope that made sense. But my doctor really emphasizes how important recovery is and what can happen internally if we do not follow our directions for recovery. But complications can arise regardless...

My surgeon really encouraged us to come back in if we start regaining our weight back. He will do a full assessment and make recommendations. He said not to feel embarrassed about needing to come back in it happens sometimes. I might be getting this term wrong but he said sometimes fistula's will form off of the stoma. It's like these things that decide to build little cul-de-sac within your pouch which leads to your pouch being able to take in more. He said they correct those if that's the case. I really felt encouraged that my weight loss team put that out there. Not that I plan to gain the weight back but not to feel ashamed. To seek help ASAP.

In all of my courses and with my surgeon carbonation was a forever don't...thank God I am not a soda drinker. But I was also told by my surgeon and his residents that there seems to be a gateway drug to regaining your weight. Carbonation! Typically in the form of soda. It's just a pattern they have noticed. This applied to all the weight loss surgeries they offered. Every doc is different though...

I sure hope so mama. I know ideally you probably want to go laparoscopic but you may need the large incision. I was a size 18 the day of my surgery and carry most of my weight in the middle. Well my liver ended up being fattier than they thought. My surgery lasted 4 hours because they had to keep lifting the liver up and out of the way. I managed to get away with 4 incisions. If you have insurance you might want to see if they offer a patient advocate. You can also get to know your surgeons staff which goes a long way. The bariatric coordinator, his nurses, residents etc. Try to communicate as much as possible. They may be doctors but they are human just like all of us. Some have a God-complex but empower yourself...keep that chin up. Best of luck to you...

I think educating my husband on the anatomy of the surgery was very important as well as educating him on the risks. My surgeon requires for your spouse or closest loved one to come to a 2 hour class a few days before surgery. You know in order for this all to happen for me it took a small village. Some people might think I'm strange but I also educated him (as well as a few other support people) on some "normal" psychological responses that people having WLS may go through. I needed to hear from them if I experienced any of them that it was normal. For example having major anxiety over surgery. Because you hear some men say "well isn't this what you wanted." Yes! But anxiety and fear are normal. Some people also experience "buyers remorse" over their WLS. Normal. Depression after surgery. Normal. I think you get where I'm going. I told him that I needed him to be on me to walk after surgery. I told him everyone having this surgery have different recovery times. My surgeon writes off for 6 weeks. My husband took the first shift being with me for 6 days. My sister then came in to help me, help with the house and with my son. Then I slowly took over. After surgery he became more attentive than ever. He was just on it. He saw more of my body in that first day of surgery than in the last decade. He would do a wound check everyday on my tummy. I never liked him seeing my tummy after our son was born. But he was just tickled. He put my binder on me all the time. I did have a complication arise and I had to be in the hospital overnight and he was being not so understanding. Honestly I think he was just tired but I had a talk with him. I told him what I needed and for me it's the "emotional support" that's most important and has been the most important in my recovery. For someone else it could be "physical help"...we are all different. But this is how I have managed to stay positive and supported. Yep I'm weird!

I decided to go with Eggland's best. I had so many doctors for teachers in my nutrition classes and sometimes it would get confusing. One teacher was all about eating a real egg, using real milk and butter because she thought our bodies were made to process them better than substitutes. Then you get a teacher who is all about using artificial products if it gets your calorie count down. Ahhhh!!! The choices!!! Anyhow I ate my first egg scrambled with a little milk and salt (oh how I enjoyed the salt after all the sweet). I also could only eat half. I am only 25 days out. Can't wait for the addition of some new foods. But have to admit the hunger is under control at this phase. Yeah....

My referral began in April 2013...classes started in August 2013. I had to take a couple of 8 week courses on nutrition and psychology. A monthly support group. Monthly dr visits. Dietician. My surgery date was May 5th.

I have been doing my 30 minute walks everyday but I live in a desert. Yep nearing 100 degrees. So I started back on my Leslie Sansone walking videos. You actually burn a bit more calories than just straight walking. I have been doing the mile and 2 mile workouts. I highly recommend these. I will gradually work up to my more difficult videos. Then back to my workout classes. I can't do 60 minutes of Zumba at this point...lol. That's the plan. As soon as I can lift weights I'm working on these arms.

Keep the updates coming my fellow May people. Would love to know how your doing? Tips? Struggles? Triumphs? Recovery? Exercise? Weight loss?

There are a couple of surgeons whose names get tossed around when it comes to reversals. One is Dr. Elliot Goodman in NYC at Beth Israel Hospital. I don't know if any of your docs have done exploratory surgery just to get a firsthand look at things. Sometimes they rely to much on imaging and the radiology report. If you have insurance I would ask if you can be assigned a patient advocate in hopes they can move things along. The reversal is not an easy surgery and carries a lot of risk as well. I'm so sorry for your suffering...you are in my thoughts.

I have read about the surgery being reversed under extreme circumstances. It requires a surgeon with a very special skill set. Not just any bariatric surgeon. Have you looked into this possibility? Or are you trying to exercise every other avenue? (Which I totally don't blame you for doing)

I would also recommend taking measurements. I do neck, forearm, wrist, bicep, bust (no boobs), waist, hips, upper thigh and calves. Phew!! A lot right. But sometimes you can see loss of inches when you hit a plateau. There a couple of free apps to track your weight, bmi, etc. Lastly don't overpack for the hospital... just the basics and great Chapstick!

You are so stinking cute. I love your style it totally suits you. The bow in your hair suits you and you look wonderful. So well proportioned!

Wow! What a beautiful hourglass figure you have going on...feeling inspired

Welcome ladykatie, So glad to have someone new join us. It's wonderful to have the support and share our experiences. I had my surgery May 5th and I actually have lazy bowels which makes us have opposite issues. As far as shutting off that valve I am not sure. I have been focused in opening mine (tmi). I am now on duco, miralax, Metamucil and just finished a prescription strength laxative. Amazingly I am still losing. I have lost 24.2 lbs since the day of my surgery. I am blown away by that amount. The nausea on the other hand I was prescribed the scopolamine patch for behind the ear and the dissolvable Zofran. Usually surgeons will call these prescriptions in without needing to see you. I did notice in the beginning sitting straight up was better when I tried to drink or eat. It helped with nausea/needing to vomit feeling. The Zofran worked pretty quick. I am on the puréed portion of the diet and will go to soft foods in about 8 days. I am 37 years old and live in California. Everybody asks me what do you want to get down to but what I have observed with others having this surgery is there bodies kind of determine that for them if they do all they should. I dunno maybe I'm wrong. I am currently a size 18 bottom and 14/16 top. I really haven't tried to put jeans on yet so I don't know if there looser but I already can see the physical change in myself. Yoga pants are my friend and sun dresses. Hope to learn more about you. Sincerely, Angelface811

I had surgery May 5th so I am 22 days out. Even though I am still not quite myself I am recovering at the speed my body is wanting to. My incisions are really starting to itch (but I dare not touch them) and my left side still has some burning pain but it has been explained. Anyone going to use mederma or vitamin e bio-oil etc? My surgeon says there really is no scientific proof they work but once my scabs fall off I am welcome to put whatever I want on them. I still need to work on becoming more regular but graduating to the part of our new way of eating...it's not to big on fiber initially but I'll get there. I am being super careful with my eating and drinking. I can't wait to graduate to soft foods but I will wait until day 30. All in all I have lost 24.2 pounds and I am in shock! I do not weigh myself everyday I weigh every 4 or more days. There sure is a lot to adapt to but all in all I think I am doing the best I possibly can. -----what are your updates?

Hi Faye my dr prescribed dissolvable Zofran and the patch for the nausea/ throw up feeling. It works great for me. They should be able to call something in

Anybody experiencing any dizziness yet? I am 20 days post op. Just started puréed foods. I am taking in about 64 oz of fluid / 60 grams of protein/all vitamins/ about 400 calories per day. Usually feel it come on during early evening. All vitals are excellent (I monitor temp, bp,sugars and pulse).?????

Ironic that some of the last few posts were on constipation. I was just hospitalized for major impaction. I was in tears and shaking like crazy. So now in addition to the liquid stool softener I have been taking we are adding miralax twice per day, Metamucil, and lactulose. It's very difficult at this stage (puréed) to get much fiber. I am an excellent water drinker and was well hydrated going into the hospital. I was given 3 enemas (joy) and the lower portion of things have been evacuated but the upper portion is making its way down. Some of these things will be temporary and I was told I have a lazy bowel. Stopped my pain meds altogether even with that burning left side pain. I have also been pretty active. But hey! It was my choice to have the surgery and I absolutely don't regret it. This was a possible complication but a minor one. I share this with you just in thought that it might help someone else. My ahem! hurts like never before but it could've been something way worse. We will get through all of this!! Sorry about the TMI...

Thank you for the advice. I will definitely give it a try. ????