John Kitsu

Oh man, the struggle is real.
I used the Smooth Move tea. It's best to take it the night before, pray to your deity of choice and try again in the morning.
I will never ever again laugh at anyone who complains about Constipation. I really had no clue how bad it could be.
Pushing is bad for you so I would sit there and "crown" for a long time, then I would make the mistake of pinching and that log beast would quickly retract back in like an unlocked tape measure!
After two days of the same, I actually started rocking and bouncing on the toilet until I finally gave birth and nearly wept in relief and triumph.
When I finally emerged from the bathroom, my dad was wearing headphones...

I too have started taking Smooth Move at night whenever I notice it's been a couple of days.
Actually, I've started typing a poop emoji into my calendar on days when I've gone because it's way too easy for me to let days pass before I realize that something has been missing, and in my experience by the time you realize you haven't gone in several days that boulder of death has already formed and is waiting around the bend!

I had surgery around the time you did and plain white chicken meat is a bit tough for me too. My doc told me to stay away from turkey which is even more fibrous and dry.
If forced I could chew down chicken thigh meat, especially if it is simmered in sauce or cooked with a bit of butter/fat to help it slide. Minced or ground chicken is fantastic though and I have no problem with that. I've had in the form of Chinese Chicken and Egg Drop Flower Soup, Chicken Bolognese (w/o the pasta), and tsukune (Japanese ginger chicken meatball skewers).
My doc said there really is no rush, it's not a race, in fact more problems are caused by people pushing themselves too hard. Even though they would like me to follow a 5-week plan to normal foods, he told me realistically there is no concern unless I can't get to that point by 3 months, which is the end of November.
I would also say—and I am mostly saying this to remind myself—when you feel that lump-in-chest feeling—don't eat or drink for a while. Give it more than the 30 mins. Act like the meal ended and go about your day before ingesting anything else. That should stop the vomiting and let your system process whatever you just ate.
Best of luck!

I too have started taking Smooth Move at night whenever I notice it's been a couple of days.
Actually, I've started typing a poop emoji into my calendar on days when I've gone because it's way too easy for me to let days pass before I realize that something has been missing, and in my experience by the time you realize you haven't gone in several days that boulder of death has already formed and is waiting around the bend!

I did not, I won't lie.
BUT
Sometimes when dumping syndrome happens I do start looking for my receipts
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Word of encouragement:
"If wishes were horses we'd all be eating steak..." -Jayne

I too have started taking Smooth Move at night whenever I notice it's been a couple of days.
Actually, I've started typing a poop emoji into my calendar on days when I've gone because it's way too easy for me to let days pass before I realize that something has been missing, and in my experience by the time you realize you haven't gone in several days that boulder of death has already formed and is waiting around the bend!

Regardless of where you are towards your goal y'all have made great progress

Similar CW, same goal weight, may we both make it SOMEDAY. Watch out World, here cones Fancy Christine and ME!

I too have started taking Smooth Move at night whenever I notice it's been a couple of days.
Actually, I've started typing a poop emoji into my calendar on days when I've gone because it's way too easy for me to let days pass before I realize that something has been missing, and in my experience by the time you realize you haven't gone in several days that boulder of death has already formed and is waiting around the bend!

Thankyou Jesus! and I mean that lolol thanks for your reply ☺☺☺

Definitely will be able to. The Sausage King of Chicago is right.....it’s all about Portion Control. Best of luck!

One thing I’ve noticed is that I can have half of anything. Half a hot dog, half a McDonalds Breakfast sandwich, etc. etc. So, one day, at minimum, you’ll be able to have half an enchilada.

Just turned 40 in June. I'm having surgery in about 10 days and it is finally hitting me!
My old doctor proposed weight loss surgery wayyyy back in 2011. I'm sort of thankful I didn't do it then because it was the band and just sitting in the waiting room for a consult and having everyone discuss their adjustments made me uncomfortable. Also the surgeon seemed hurried, like he was running an assembly line, so I bolted.
Ideally I would have had surgery about 3 years ago when I was not in-between jobs, but it took me a lot mentally to get here, breaking out of my delusion that my yo-yoing was not real, that years were passing by and that it would happen without surgery tomorrow.
I'm also interested to hear what others in their 40s think.

It just takes a while for you to get used to having something in the stomach. I couldnt each much at all the first few months. Now, a year and a half later i can eat about 6 wings.

Cant say much about the hair since mine was gone long before surgery.

This is blowing my mind too because I'm 11 months post op and still can only eat a few bites of salad. I kept trying to eat a salad for lunch at work and I finally just accepted my stomach prefers straight Protein instead. So I'm the goofball in the salad bar line filling a bowl with chicken breast chunks, diced ham, hardboiled egg, and a pinch of dressing

Just turned 40 in June. I'm having surgery in about 10 days and it is finally hitting me!
My old doctor proposed weight loss surgery wayyyy back in 2011. I'm sort of thankful I didn't do it then because it was the band and just sitting in the waiting room for a consult and having everyone discuss their adjustments made me uncomfortable. Also the surgeon seemed hurried, like he was running an assembly line, so I bolted.
Ideally I would have had surgery about 3 years ago when I was not in-between jobs, but it took me a lot mentally to get here, breaking out of my delusion that my yo-yoing was not real, that years were passing by and that it would happen without surgery tomorrow.
I'm also interested to hear what others in their 40s think.

My coordinator told me that when I’m allowed chicken on my soft food stages, it needs to be super moist- like cooked in the crockpot and drizzled with sauce moist. She specifically used rotisserie chicken as an example of what not to eat when I enter soft foods.
I love crockpot recipes, and while I have tons of favorites a good simple one is chicken (thigh will be juicier, breast if that’s what you prefer) with a can of cream of mushroom Soup. Cook it on low for a few hours until it easily shreds. Mmm my mouth is watering now- I can have this in two weeks!

Thanks, John Kitsu. That is good to know, especially since turkey was on their calendar for lunch today. LOL. Oh dear. It sounds like all of my grocery shopping I just did won't do me much good now.
I really am appreciating everyone's feedback a great deal. It sounds like you are all finding some wonderful methods and your coordinators have had some great suggestions. Thank you for helping!!

I had surgery around the time you did and plain white chicken meat is a bit tough for me too. My doc told me to stay away from turkey which is even more fibrous and dry.
If forced I could chew down chicken thigh meat, especially if it is simmered in sauce or cooked with a bit of butter/fat to help it slide. Minced or ground chicken is fantastic though and I have no problem with that. I've had in the form of Chinese Chicken and Egg Drop Flower Soup, Chicken Bolognese (w/o the pasta), and tsukune (Japanese ginger chicken meatball skewers).
My doc said there really is no rush, it's not a race, in fact more problems are caused by people pushing themselves too hard. Even though they would like me to follow a 5-week plan to normal foods, he told me realistically there is no concern unless I can't get to that point by 3 months, which is the end of November.
I would also say—and I am mostly saying this to remind myself—when you feel that lump-in-chest feeling—don't eat or drink for a while. Give it more than the 30 mins. Act like the meal ended and go about your day before ingesting anything else. That should stop the vomiting and let your system process whatever you just ate.
Best of luck!

Strangely this makes me more relaxed, it's as though I know I'm not the only one after all.

I’m so glad I found this thread. I already suffer from diverticulitis and will have my sleeve surgery by the end of the year. This will be a major battle for me as Constipation is my enemy. I’ve already planned on IV therapy for a while, but I’ll make sure I am diligent with adding miralax into my daily routine when the time comes.

Oh man, the struggle is real.
I used the Smooth Move tea. It's best to take it the night before, pray to your deity of choice and try again in the morning.
I will never ever again laugh at anyone who complains about Constipation. I really had no clue how bad it could be.
Pushing is bad for you so I would sit there and "crown" for a long time, then I would make the mistake of pinching and that log beast would quickly retract back in like an unlocked tape measure!
After two days of the same, I actually started rocking and bouncing on the toilet until I finally gave birth and nearly wept in relief and triumph.
When I finally emerged from the bathroom, my dad was wearing headphones...

Thank you so much for your kind words.




Thanks everyone! I am feeling MUCH better now and am almost back to my pre-issue liquid levels, but have been REALLY scared to try things like Jello and yogurt and runny oatmeal and runny cream of wheat after that. I tried 1 ounce of plain 0% Fage yogurt with a sprinkle of dried sugar-free jello mix and that was ok, but was mucous-y, but not awful. I also have since tried some sugar free jello which was okay and only had 3 ounces over 30 minutes. Definitely sick of the Protein Shakes. Also learning that temperature plays a big role in how it sits with me. Room temp is GROSS, really warm like tea sits well, and ice cold sits well too. So strange. I have 1 week until I am allowed to start soft foods, and may do my own pureed foods week before actually going into the soft foods out of fear (babyfood style). Definitely going to try to stick to whole foods, except for some low/nonfat Condiments and sugar free condiments). I am still dealing with some reflux (my stomach is downright sick and tired of not having real food to process I think, as I'm taking Pepcid twice a day). Overall, feeling much better. Thank you!

I just went through this unfortunately and checked myself into the hospital. I did a barium swallow and an ultrasound with a ton a contrast dye which was terrible since I was barely swallowing due to the pain. They didn't find anything.
Retracing my steps I feel like it was caused by not taking my time with the foods. If your body is rejecting the potato base, it's okay to go back to something safe. You can try again later. I am also chewing and sipping much more slowly. I was chewing thoroughly but after feeling a lump in my throat I would continuing eating once the lump was gone, when really I should have stopped completely until later.
Also this is just what I've noticed, but the symptoms got better the more I got to a normal Fluid level. Even if it meant drinking stuff like ice tea with diluted apple juice or watered down gatorade, stuff that isn't recommended due to the sugar but I knew would go down easier than straight Water. Something about getting back to the optimum level of fluids soothed that lump and pain feeling more than the prescribed meds alone. Dehydration felt like a vicious cycle to me—the less I drank the more pain I felt in my esophagus which led me to drink less and exacerbated the pain.
So I would make it a goal to get back to those high fluid levels. Hope you feel better.

Oh man, the struggle is real.
I used the Smooth Move tea. It's best to take it the night before, pray to your deity of choice and try again in the morning.
I will never ever again laugh at anyone who complains about Constipation. I really had no clue how bad it could be.
Pushing is bad for you so I would sit there and "crown" for a long time, then I would make the mistake of pinching and that log beast would quickly retract back in like an unlocked tape measure!
After two days of the same, I actually started rocking and bouncing on the toilet until I finally gave birth and nearly wept in relief and triumph.
When I finally emerged from the bathroom, my dad was wearing headphones...