UCLA man

I do believe the separation is diminishing as I lose more weight. At this point I don't plan on getting a surgical repair. I have found many core strengthening exercises that I'm hoping will help close the separation. Best wishes!

So I had a consult with a surgeon to discuss surgical repair of my abs separating. I'm only halfway to my weight loss goal and told him so. Surprisingly he said that he thought the separation will close when I'm at my weight loss goal so no need to research further and plan for a surgical repair in the future. Has anyone else experienced their separation closing after weight loss without surgical repair?

Are there really people defending Cheez Its on a WLS board?? No wonder I never post here anymore. Pathetic. And @@UCLA man, you had surgery in May. You MUST be an expert on all things bariatric! You would be the first person I would listen to in this thread!! This isn't a support forum anymore. It's a coddle members to keep them in order to make Alex more money forum. It's completely gone to the sh*t. Oh, I almost forgot and ETA: This is MY opinion. Perhaps your surgery was so long ago you can't remember what it was like shortly after surgery. It is a challenge for some. Some have nausea, vomiting, etc. My stomach couldn't tolerate everything. I ate mashed potatoes at that stage. (OMG may I be struck by lightening!) If she is only getting 300 calories a day. She said she is having a problem getting much in. Her doctor approved saltines. I think the need to get more calories at that stage post surgery is more important than the insignificant difference in nutritional value between a saltine and a cheez it. That was my point. Not that cheez its have the best nutritional value or eating 35 servings to reach the Protein goal. ps. "This isn't a support forum anymore. It's a coddle members to keep them in order to make Alex more money forum." I couldn't disagree more. Keep doing what you are doing Alex!

"They don't have any protein." You should check your facts...3g protein. 3 grams protein to 150 calories is a lousy protein to calorie ratio ratio. 35 servings is 100 grams of protein. 35 x 150 = 5250 calories. I stand by my statement. Who eats 35 servings of crackers to achieve their protein goal? LOL When you have to take something to an extreme to prove your point, then you probably don't have a point. I had mashed potatoes when I was at the same stage. That doesn't mean I had 25 cups to make the protein goal. Your statement was they don't have any protein, which is wrong.

"They don't have any protein." You should check your facts...3g protein.

If you want to get into a pissing match over the best food choices, I raise you kale, quinoa and salmon. Don't be so judgmental over someone else choice. She asked about a cracker.

again, she asked about crackers. She didn't ask for the 'best idea'

String cheese is not a cracker. She asked about crackers. Sometimes you just want to have a crunch.

I also felt hungry all the time when I was 5 days post op. This didn't change for me until I progressed to pureed foods. I think having liquids only was the cause of the hunger. Now 3 mos post op I'm rarely hungery, rather I have to remind myself to eat.

Cheez it's are good. Baked and 3g Protein. Just chew well to a paste like consistency.

First came the tailbone pain 2 weeks post op. Then came low back pain 4 weeks post op. As bad as I've ever had it. Spent the next week in bed. Prescribed norco, slelaxin, pt and mri. 6 weeks later still limits my standing and sitting. I wish I could move more to help with weight loss. I haven't lost much since this happened. Worst of all being in chronic pain takes my mind to food for comfort. I will be so glad when this passes.

Best wishes!

I already had surgery, a month before you.

Thanks for sharing. I do agree that I need to wait and see. I am surprised more people aren't aware. A hernia doctor identified this years ago when I was gaining weight. To see if your abs have separated simply lie and the floor and perform a crunch. A ridge protrudes running from below the chest to the belly button because the abs have moved to the sides. Separated abs compromise core strength which is important for low back pain.

So I had a consult with a surgeon to discuss surgical repair of my abs separating. I'm only halfway to my weight loss goal and told him so. Surprisingly he said that he thought the separation will close when I'm at my weight loss goal so no need to research further and plan for a surgical repair in the future. Has anyone else experienced their separation closing after weight loss without surgical repair?

This all sounds so terrible.

Ginger ale, no Sparkling Water, no If you really need to, then Mountain Dew is allowed

You should be scared to take a whole pill so soon after surgery. I was instructed to crush pills because of the risk of the whole pill getting lodged in the incision

If the person asking has a weight problem I will tell them the whole story. Anyone else I say 'portion control'

I am not sure exactly how long it took because my doctor's assistant handled it and I she wasn't honest with me on many issues. I would guess 1-2 weeks. The first time it was denied because the surgeon wasn't approved as a Center of Excellence surgeon. I told her on 2 different occasions during the 6 month diet that UHC/Optum Bariatric was telling me the surgeon wasn't on the approved list. Her response was 'that's not true, of course your surgeon is on the approved list' Not having the surgeon approved delayed surgery another 2 months. I could never figure out what impact my weight loss during the 6 mo diet had on getting approved. I started at 320 and 6 mos later I was only down to 290. Losing 30 pounds over 6 mos didn't seem like a successful diet to me. Did they want to see that I couldn't lose weight without surgery? If I lost more weight would I not have been approved? Would I have been approved if I didn't lose any weight? Who knows? Perhaps the purpose of the 6 mo diet is more about education than results. Perhaps the purpose of the 6 mo diet is to weed out people that aren't serious and committed. In hindsight, I thought about weight loss surgery everyday during the 6 mo diet. So I was more prepared mentally and emotionally for the challenges and changes that were to come.

I had this same behavior before surgery and it didn't go away after surgery. Eating is very well controlled during the morning and day. From to dinner to bedtime, though,I can't stop wanting to eat. I know it's behavior/habit that I must change. What I'm doing now is choosing sugar free popsicles. I eat probably 3-4 during that time period. This is really a shift for because the last time I chose to have a popsicle was 40 years ago. But it's working for me. They keep me away from other food with calories. Perhaps there is something low calorie you can shift to until this habit changes. Best wishes!

The reasons I was in a bad mood were pain, no longer having the pleasure of food, limited activities and social interactions. This didn't improve for me until weeks 3-4. Be kind to yourself, it's too soon to expect feeling like doing cartwheels down the street.

Sounds like the same symptoms I experienced with sleep apnea. My sleep apnea went away by 6 weeks post op due to the weight loss. Sorry I don't have any other ideas.

Clear liquids like vodka, gin or tequila would be best.

I agree everyone should have a food scale. Without a food scale, I couldn't keep an accurate food log.