Victoria Wank

You can also get unflavored protein powder and add it to drinks that you do like, such as broth, diet juice, tea (iced or hot), etc.

It’s “Dilaudid.” It’s a descendant of a drug called Laudinum, which you may hear if you watch shows that feature doctors practicing medicine pre-1923 (i.e., 18th and 19th century).

That’s because liquids are more easily excreted. Your surgeon doesn’t want any still-digesting food to come back up while have a tube down your throat. It can cause asphyxiation.

When there is a chance I might get hospitalized after a visit to the ER, I bring my meds, so that I’ll have my Oxycodone, just in case the nurses ignore/won’t listen to me.

I’m so sorry you had to go through that when the “doctor” could have simply called in the prescription to your pharmacy. I’ve had a couple of experiences where doctors at Patient First didn’t listen to me, misdiagnosed me and gave me medication that is contraindicated because of my history of kidney disease (on that one, the “doctor” looked at my back and said “It looks infected.” Well, DUH! 🙄). Turns out I have cellulitis. Like you Hydrocodone does nothing for me. Same thing with OxyContin. Only Oxycodone takes care of my pain and the Restless Leg Syndrome. I’ve had to deal with that a bit the last 2 months. Turns out one of my aides was stealing my Oxy, which caused me to come up short.

It’s going to be difficult to get the recommended amounts of fluids at first, and having a reduced appetite doesn’t help. It will get better. The surgical area needs to heal. Did your surgeon tell you that it will be difficult to get the recommended amounts in at first? Also, drinking protein will help the healing process.

I just had the second procedure in my bariatric revision. The procedure is called Endoscopy with Argon Plasma Coagulation. Basically they go down my esophagus to the top opening of the pouch and zap it. It causes scar tissue, which makes the opening smaller, which means my stomach can’t accept as much food. I lost 40 pounds with the first procedure, which my surgeon said was great. I think I’m going to try some of the clear liquid protein that BP sells. I also use Atkins Shakes, especially the chocolates and the mocha latte.

Constipation is the “stall bringer.” Stalling every 10 days has been my experience also. You have to keep after it. Take Miralax daily, even if it’s a lower dosage. You might also ask your surgeon for a prescription for Lactulose.

I experienced the weight stall and constipation. However, the weight that I have lost took a big load off my back, and I’m not in as much pain from that. I actually ended up in the ER because I was so constipated. I had tried to get it out the natural way, but it got stuck, and I was in so much pain and didn’t know what to do (this was the first time I had ever been constipated), so I called 911. Now it’s something I have to watch out for. I have Miralax and Lactulose on hand if it gets really bad. Try the Miralax first. Get incontinence pads, like Tena, and place them in pairs in the usual place and behind those (you’re going to leak). Also get disposable incontinence Chuks for wherever you sleep, because you’ll leak there, too. Have disposable gloves on hand and be prepared to glove up and get it out manually when it gets stuck, and you can’t push it out without feeling like you’re going to split in half. I know it’s gross, but I lost 6 pounds in about 5 days. I spoke with my surgeon, and she told me that stalls and constipation are to be expected with revision surgery. Talk to your surgeon about your concerns, and ask if there are other options that you can do. I learned that the Argon Coagulation surgery I had was only the first of several to expect.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/argon-plasma-coagulation-for-weight-loss

I understand the “let me eat it all now, because I won’t be able to eat it after the surgery.” I’ve done it, too. I know you’re scared about the surgery. The only thing I can suggest is for you to think of the reason for the surgery. You’re not having “weight-loss surgery.” You’re having a surgery to fix another problem. Actually, that’s how we got the Roux-en-Y. It was for a different gastric problem, and the patients and doctors noticed the weight loss. Then they started using the surgery specifically for weight loss. You’re fortunate to have a very supportive husband. It will be helpful during your recovery and the weight loss that accompanies it. You can do this!

You nailed it about the “mind hunger.” I didn’t have it as much with the original bypass, probably because those no-no foods felt uncomfortable and/or I dumped, always out the back way. It took almost 2 years to be able to eat the bad stuff. After what turns out to be Part 1 of my revision surgery, it took a lot less, plus I don’t dump. I spoke with my surgeon to say that I wasn’t sure the Argon zapping was working, and she told me that the revision process takes several surgeries and that I should have been contacted by their obesity management team and scheduled for the next procedure. They’re working on scheduling that for August, and I’m in contact with the team. She also suggested calorie counting, as well as some of those online weight management sites like Noom. It’s as much about how you think of food and realizing why you overeat. I was getting therapy, but it was once a month, and I don’t think it really helped.

I had the Argon-zapping revision surgery in June 2022. I started losing weight, to the extent that people noticed. I lost 40 pounds from my pre-surgery weight. My 16th-century dresses fit better. I noticed that I would get stuck at a certain weight. I also got constipated. Getting unconstipated helped with the weight loss. At 40 pounds lost, I got stuck for a long time. I got frustrated. At one point, I got an appetite for pastries, and I went on a tear. I gained 20 pounds. I thought that perhaps the revision wasn’t working. I have lost 13 of those pounds (being poor-ish helps). I just had a telehealth visit with my surgeon. She said that I am at a better place than expected! She gave me more information about revision surgery. One procedure isn’t enough, and I should have been scheduled for the second procedure and been followed by their obesity surgery team. I will be scheduled for the next surgery in August. If you’re frustrated about weight loss after revision surgery, speak with your surgeon, and ask if there are further surgeries that are part of your plan. One surgery isn’t the end-all of your plan!

Not only follow-up, pre-surgery education about what to expect in terms of weight loss, and that there is a series of surgeries to be done before the revision is complete.

When I had my original surgery, I added black pepper and crushed red pepper flakes to my broths. It got me through the bland phase. I know it’s difficult the first few weeks until you can eat more solid food. What I’ve done with ricotta cheese, yogurt, sugar-free pudding and cottage cheese is to add Splenda and extracts or professional flavorings (like cake decorators use; I did some cake decorating). Missing pumpkin pie? Add pumpkin pie extract or flavoring to ricotta cheese. I use flavorings by Lorann Oils. You can find some at Michaels, Joann, and local cake and candy supply stores. You can also order them online at www.lorannoils.com.

Hi Bebaeg, Thank you so much for asking. I had my revision on May 9. I’ve lost 33-ish pounds. I get stuck in the middle of the next 10 pounds, so right now I’m fluctuating between 264 and 266. When I first stalled, I realized that I was severely constipated. I’m finding that that happens a lot. Unfortunately, the solution leads to the opposite problem of diarrhea. 🙄 I’m grateful for what I’ve lost, but it’s still frustrating.

Thank you! That does explain why people experience the stall without being constipated. It may have been a concurrent phenomenon, but all I know is that as soon as I got all that stuff out of me, my weight started dropping again and is continuing to. I also wish my surgeon had warned me. I’m going to ask if she agrees with the concept of the early stall.

Yes. In my 3rd to 4th week, my weight loss stalled. I was consuming the same things I was when my weight loss was steady. Last week I realized that I had not had a bowel movement in a while. I tried taking Colace and Senna, and it felt like there was stool on the way. When I tried to expel it, it got stuck. I tried to get it out manually, but it didn’t work. After an afternoon and evening in the ER, I was sent home with prescriptions for Miralax and Lactulose. For several days I used a gloved finger to get the big, hard chunks out when I pushed and it got stuck. When I weighed myself on Monday, I had lost 6 pounds. Six pounds of poop. Since then, my weight loss is back on track. I hope that helps. Some here say that a 3rd week stall is normal. Maybe for some. I only know my stall ended when I got rid of all that stuff in me.

Are you constipated? How long has it been since you had a bowel movement? If it’s been enough that you can’t even remember, you probably are. Call your doctor, and tell them that you’re constipated. Some on this forum are saying that a 3 week stall is normal. I don’t think that’s correct. I don’t recall getting constipated with the original surgery.

That would have been a great help for me. I’m going to suggest it to my surgeon. Thanks!

I was just looking for this topic. I had revision surgery on May 9, and I was losing at a nice pace, and then suddenly I can’t get past 20 pounds. I realized last week that I hadn’t had a bowel movement in a little bit, so I started taking Colace. It started feeling like it was coming, so I tried straining. It started coming out and got stuck. I was in immense pain! I was sweating and breathing heavy. I didn’t know what else to do, so I called 911. At the hospital they offered me a couple of options. I asked if they could give me an enema at the hospital, wait a bit, and then do some “drilling.” Oh Boy! The doctor sent me home with prescriptions for Miralax and Lactulose. I had disposable gloves, which I used to go it and dig out the big pieces when they were stuck halfway out. You can get Miralax OTC. I don’t know if Lactulose comes OTC. It’s the Lactulose that really does it, but don’t go anywhere for a while. Buy overnight-size pads, because you’re going to leak. That’s the Miralax. Call your doctor/surgeon and tell them you’re constipated and stuck in your weight loss. I lost 6 pounds of poop, and I’m back on track. It took 3-4 days to get that much out.

I suspect you’ll still get saggy skin. I don’t know that the pace of weight loss affects that. One way or another, your skin is losing its padding. I was able to get a panniculectomy (the skin below the bellybutton) in 2007 due to skin breakdown. Unfortunately, I don’t think the insurance companies have gotten in-step with post-weight loss needs like saggy skin.

Cheryl, if you’re still experiencing pain when you ingest anything else but protein shakes at 7 months out, you should tell your surgeon. There may be something wrong with the post-surgery anatomy.

Another way to get past the protein shakes taste is to add fruit powder to the shake. You can get them on Amazon. I’m always in search of the best banana milkshake. The banana protein powder alone isn’t really good. I added banana powder to it, and it really punched up the flavor.

I buy a 32oz container of nonfat Greek yogurt and add sugar free fruit preserves and maybe Splenda if needed. Blend it with a mixer. Nonfat cottage cheese also.Also Genepro Unflavored protein powder added to your fave broth or sugar free drinks.