HealthyJudy

Not sure about it for constipation but I know I'm not supposed to take calcium for at least 3 months after sleeve surgery (I) I have to check since it might be 4 months -- I just know it is still too soon for me.) When I do take it, it needs to be calcium citrate chewable. I already ordered both the calcium citrate and chewable multivatimins from unjury since it seemed hard to find the chewable calcium citrate in stores without adding a chocolate chew with carbs and sugar. if you find something please let me know.

Thank you Vanessa for such a powerful post. I am so sorry you had to go through all of this. I'm still having trouble with constipation. I wouldn't mind just going every 3 days but I find that my weight won't budge and on third day I have lots of pain. So, today I took MOM and I'm expecting it wil eventually work. I know it is not a long term solution. I am increasing my Fluid intake since it was closer to 50 and now working on getting to 64. I am adding more vegetables but since I can still onky eat a small amount each day I don't really think it will help. I have a prescription drug but even that is not working -- either does nothing or causes explosive diarrhea with lots of pain beforehand. I don't want to take it (and once free samples end I was told it cost around $200!). Kindle - Do you know how long after surgery we need to wait to add ground flax into our diet? Years ago I used to add that to shakes (way way pre-surgery) but had forgotten about it. I remember it got clumpy -- do you have a way you add it so that does not happen and how much do you add each day? Other than this constipation I feel great and am ecstatic with my almost 50 lb loss (is was 50 2 days ago but went back up when I stopped pooping!) I am ready to get that scale moving down again...especially since I am so close to being out of the morbidly obese BMI level (3 more lbs to lose). Looking forward to getting rid of that awful word "morbidly" and just being severely obese! 53 more lbs before I become plain old overweight.Not sure I'll ever get to "normal" (and who is to say what that means anyway) so my goal is to be overweight!

This has been a major issue for me. I was told not to take milk of magnesia on a regular basis (although the two times I took it, it really helped. I am on 3 stool softeners a day. I also take a medicine Amitrol (or something like that) an am trying to find the right amount (too little does nothing; too much and I feel like I will explode.) Today I have an acupuncture appointment and I have high hopes that doing 1x week acupuncture for a few weeks will really get things going : )! And by then I hope to be eating more stringbeans and other things with fiber. Good luck everyone. And my big news -- today I finally hit the -50 lb mark that I've been waiting for (I stayed between -48 and -49 for a long time!) Yeah

Can someone remind me how to edit my current weight on my ticker. i want to show that 50 lb loss!

Well I did have a vegetable burger for dinner (so wonderful after only really eating eggs for the last week) but I still needed more Protein and carbs and calories!. I love shakes but now that I'm adding solid food my body is happier! What foods are you adding? I tried a tofu hot dog but did not like it at all. Looking forward to being able to add chicken soon but I also know that with chicken it will be harder for me to stop after just 2 ounces. What foods are working best for you?

I'm around 5'2 and my goal weight is 140 (although I would be thrilled to even be 160) so that seems similar to your 130 at 5'1. I just hit the 50 lb loss mark -- after staying at 48-49 for a week. I'm thrilled -- and right now my stomach, throat, entire body is talking to me...don't think it likes that I am trying to quickly get in another shake before bedtime since I am too low today. had intestinal issues this morning so got behind in my eating/drinking. Isn't this fun! I just love losing weight and fitting into smaller size clothes! And this is only the first month! Imagine what we will all look like and feel like at 6 months!

Today is one month for me. Down 16 lbs post surgery and 32 presurgery. Not as much as I had hoped but on my way and enjoying smaller sized clothing.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have a long list of "remedies" to ask about at my doctors visit tomorrow. I did have success today after taking milk of magnesia but I know that is something they said they did not want me to take on a regular basis...but after 6 days I could not wait any longer!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I now have a long list of "remedies" to check out during my doctors appointment tomorrow. I did have success today after taking Milk of Magnesia but I know they do not want me to take that as an ongoing solution.

Will ask doc tomorrow but I think it is in list of things I can't take post surgery. Did your doc approve it?

J'm still constipated and I haven't lost weight in 6 days! I have an appointment with an acupuncturist on Wednesday and I am hoping that will help but right now this is frustrating!

Wow - I'm impressed. My 1 month mark is in 2 days and I'm only down 15 post surgery (and 32 presurgery.) I know everyone is different but I sure would have loved to be a quick loser! I am enjoying fitting into smaller clothes.

Hope it helps. The person I see did not have an opening until next Wednesday. Please let me know how yours goes -- and if you go LOL!

For last 2 days my weight has gone up rather than down -- not a lot, but a little up each day. Very frustrating. I was so close to that -50 lbs and now I've gained back a lb despite sticking to plan. Ahhhhhh!!!!

I have used it for several things in the past. It will help with indigestion if that is a problem. I am lucky in that I have an acupuncturist (several actually) in the same suite where I work.When I had knee surgery a friend of mine came to my house and her treatment led to my first bowel movement. She also did a few needles to help the scar heal. I hope it helps you.

I had one or two really painful days but for the most part I'm just going every 3 days. Not comfortable when I go. But I just remembered something thaI assume is allowed and that really helped me get going again after I had knee surgery -- acupuncture. I had forgotten. And it is a wonderful thing to do after surgery to restore body balance. Can't get an appointment this week but plan to start next week and go for several weeks. I think (and hope) that will be a real help. The other thing about constipation is that my weight actually went up today and I did not like that one bit!

I'm going to check with doc tomorrow about Smooth Move. I know herbal tea is fine but so many things usually used for constipation are not allowed yet that I want to check this one out before using it. Thanks of the idea. And, for whoever asked,as far as I know decaffeinated green tea is fine. Problem I have is that I spend all day getting in my protein drinks so really no time to drink tea or anything else.

Hi everyone. I'm 65 and Wednesday will be 4 weeks since my sleeve. The first 2 weeks were easy. The last 2 have been more difficult with constipation and other body pains. I went back to work after 2 weeks and that seems fine (other than then one day when I had severe constipation pain.) Not ready to retire yet -- maybe in 5 years. Including presurgery diet, I've lost 48 lbs. So much fun fitting into all the clothes I had saved in my basement. I'm having a charitable pick up come by every 2 weeks to pick up all the 3x's and 2x's that are now too big! Looking forward to getting to that 50 lb mark soon. I'm surprised that some people haven't noticed my weight loss yet (different from those who you can tell notice but are being polite and not saying anything. Others just don't seem to even notice!) Has that happened to any of you? To me I look so different already.

I've been having the same problem. I was told not to take miralex or anything with fiber. I use 3 stool softeners a day plus a med that the doc gave me that helps the bowel absorb Water. When I was in total pain last week I was told to take milk of magnesia. It worked and I felt so much better but I was told not to keep taking it. I am at a high does med but still only going around once every 3 days. At times it is fine and at times it is painful. I know the Protein shakes cause constipation and it is hard (dare I ay impossible to get in 64 oz of Fluid when my stomach can't hold a lot at once.) Weeks 1 & 2 were easy. I'm finding weeks 3 & 4 much more challenging. I go back to doc again on Friday and hope this gets better. Please be careful what you take. Lots of the normal constipation remedies are not okay with the sleeve (or at least within months of surgery.)

I have that too. Started at around week 3. The bubbles sort of feel like champagne is popping open in my stomach.I'm very aware of it but it does not hurt. I do hear other noises too. I think it started when I went from all liquid to a teaspoon of soft food. I had an easy 2 weeks but the last 2 have been more difficult with my stomach trying to adjust and my intestines not doing what intestines are supposed to do!

Felicia - Your post was so helpful to me. I'm in week 4 and my bellybutton (removal site) started hurting and I had no idea why. So grateful to hear that I'm not the only one. I have more aches and pains now than I did in first 2 weeks - my belly button,my intestines (having some constipation), sometimes my sleeve(think it is having trouble dealing with teaspoons of food) and some heartburn too. Nothing serious but very noticeable to me. The good news is that after a mini stall of a few days I have now lost another few pounds. Down a total of 48.4 including pre-surgery loss. Still awaiting that exciting 50 lb mark (my husband already has a gift waiting for when I get there- my favorite cologne which I conveniently ran out of last week!)

You have lost 18 lbs in 20 days. That is awesome -- and a rate that can not continue so of course you slowed down. Someone mentioned a 3rd week slump. I'm in it now and while it is frustrating it helps to know that others have experienced it and that it will pass. I bet your doctor will tell you that you are doing great. My surgery was also on June 10th and I've lost 14 lbs since then (32 presurgery, for a total of 46. I would love to be down 50, I know I will get there in a week or two. Patience! This is a long process and it won't happen overnight so hang in there.

Today I moved in to post op phase 2 -- went from all liquids to a teaspoon of soft food (scrambled egg.) My stomach seems to be tolerating it so I get to have another teaspoon soon. Now if I can get out of this 3rd week slump I will be a happy camper! Really I am very happy. I'm 3 weeks post surgery and have lost 46 pounds (including 32 presurgery.).

Glad to hear wonderful amounts of loss and also about the 3 week post surgery stall. I hadn't heard that before but I am in my 3rd post surgery week and this morning I weighted .6 more than yesterday! It had been so much fun losing every day but I knew that would pause for awhile. I lost 32 lbs presurgery and another 14 post surgery (18 days ago) so a total of 46. I'm looking forward to the 50 lb loss mark! No July 4th bbq this year.. but i will be up to a tablespoon of food 6x a day by July 4th. Looking forward to that scrambled egg! So grateful to everyone on here. It helps so much to compare notes and learn things like I'm not the only one having a 3rd week stall.

So sorry to hear this Donna. I am hoping and truly believe that you will feel better over time. You are less than a month post surgery and some depression is normal. If you stay feeling this way I hope you wil get some professional help to assist you in dealing with this.