DownInSocal

I don't know about all of the rest of it but your bra size is pretty hot!

Funny, both my doctor and two pharmacists said I could open the capsule because the beads were the time release portion not the capsule. One pharmacist showed me with Vinegar how the capsule dissolved in about 2 mins. Maybe I am the only one taking a close look at stuff when it comes out. Not that I am a freak like that or anything. :001_huh: Oh and I have not noticed a difference in the effectiveness. http://www.effexorxr.com/about-effexor/dosage-information.aspx Straight from Wyeth.

I can only speak for what my doctor said. I could have apple juice in moderation. You must get some calories. Just don't drink surgar drinks because you body may not be ready to deal with that much sugar. I only drank maybe 20 oz over a 4 week period of apple juice. Not much at all.

I do better with direct questions Anything not answered yet in this thread feel free to ask me. I am in week 6.

I too take Effexor XR. I don't chew that one don't worry. I just pop open the caps and put the little balls in a medicine cup. I take a "sip" of the balls and wash it down with Water. After I have taken them from the cup I take a few swishes of water around my mouth and swallow to make sure i got them all. Sometimes one will hide out and I will get a bitter taste a few mins later but water takes care of it. Hijack and TMI alert: Has anyone else noticed on Effexor that sometimes not all the little balls are fully "digested". Like you can errr see them in the toilet? This was going before surgery so I don't think it has anything to do with surgery but it is odd. I feel like I am not getting all the medicine if the balls are not disolving.

Wow I am soooo jealous! Keep up the great work. So no stall for you yet eh?

Welcome Nikski! This is a great forum. I have always found the support and advice I need here.

I would do no food past 5 to 6 pm and no liquids past 10 pm. And don't drink like a gallon of water right at 9:59 either! lol. Don't forget when brushing your teeth to not swallow any water or toothpaste.

This is actually a win win situation! You allowed yourself a treat. That is human and ok! You didn't gorge on donuts until you were sick. You didn't buy 10 and that is all you ate for two days. You are allowed a treat now and then. The other part? You are going to throw that other donut out to show that inner fat girl is not in charge anymore. Normal people throw out extra goodies and you are a normal girl now. You are not longer taking orders from the inner fat girl. She is going to have to find a new place to live.

So what is the plan Vampy? I am just wondering what your doctor is going to do. I would not want that thing trying to move out of my pyloris valve. That will be painful. What a mess. Please keep us updated. I am worried about how you/your doctor are going to get it out.

Thanks Vegas. Your support is great as usual. Your not alone Helen. I also used a gloved finger to figure out what the heck was going on. I guess sometimes it can be broken up but really something a medical pro needs to do. There is a nerve called the vagus nerve that can cause trouble if stimulated wrong. There was no breaking up this though. You know Skinny I don't know what to tell you. I know my doctor prefers Metimucil to Benifiber. My doctor never said anything about Miralax. I know he would prefer me not to use stimulant laxatives. I am not sure if Miralax is. I have had a rule since surgery that nothing goes in the pouch unless my doctor is ok with it, as far as meds go, OTC or not. I cleared the fiber with them and an OTC stool softener. I think you should talk to your doctor about adding a fiber suppliment gradually. Don't start off with the maximum dose. 3 tsp is the Metimucil's full dose but I will work up to that.

The short answer? Yes. Most pills settle at the bottom of your stomach and disolve. You don't want to irritate your staple line right now. I never had problems with being sick to my stomach if I ate some Jello and then took crushed pills. I don't even bother with the crusher now. I just chew them. Yeahhh I am that hardcore :001_unsure:

HA! So funny you said this if you saw my other thread. I should be listening to all the old timers here. You guys are pros. All the newbies. Listen to the old timers. They have wisdom beyond what they realize. Anyway. I now get to go to my therapist every week for awhile. She feels I am in danger of developing anorexia if I continue down this path. I have done a lot of soul searching and realized this crazy thinking is a direct result of feeling so out of control in so many areas of my life over the years. Mainly eating and my train wreck relationships. Please be honest with yourself about your food issues. I see so many people (mostly other boards) who are in denial about their food issues. Most people would not be overweight if we did not use food as a drug. I need to learn to have a healthy relationship with food. This surgery will make me healthier and help my self esteem but it will NOT fix my underlying emotional problems that I can not ignore any longer. I have never regretted this surgery. This is just one step in begining to love myself again and believe I am worth taking care of. My assignment this week is to write an obituary to the hunger monster. You know that orange guy that sits in the back seat in that commercial? Well he is dead. There is no reason to punish myself for previous eating. Maybe I will post it here. Dunno. Might be too dumb :lol0: to share. Wonder what my therapist will have in store for me this next week? :001_unsure: As always you guys are awesome. Love ya all. :scared0:

Hi Skinny, I am rowing in the same boat as you. My weight is going up and down by 2 lbs since 9/13. It is irritating! I know it is a stall and I will start losing again. Try not to get too down. I have had a few setbacks in recovery so I have not been able to walk as much the last week. I think when I can get walking things will move again soon. Hang in there hon

This was a problem for me the first several weeks. I also kept a bottle of water by the bed and drank some when I woke up. It goes away I promise. It is just hard to get as much fluids as you need the first few weeks.

I can't wait to see your blog! I am glad you decided against the pizza. Staying on track is hard. Sometimes it is just sheer willpower that keeps us good before surgery. After surgery your stomach will make you be good the first several months but you still need to work on your thought patterns that cause overeating patterns. I think recovery is a daily activity. Keep us updated. We will all being thinking about you on October 8th!

That sucks! My doctor told me coconut was a no no forever because it can ball in the stomach. This must be what he was talking about.

Thanks for your support guys. I am going to share more for others to read. I know there are lurkers here but I have not been feeling well. Caught something I think around the office and bathroom issues related to surgery. I'll be around later.

I went and talked with my therapist about my issues yesterday. I was given some things to do. First was basically to eat, something, anything. I bought some cottage cheese and ate it after the appointment. I didn't realize how bad I looked but the front desk was so worried about the way I looked physically she got my psychiatrist (meds doctor) out of a meeting to come take a look at me and talk. Then my therapist got to me and I got a talking to! They also threatened to call my surgeon who would give me a good talking to also, he might even call my husband. So I am back on the plan. No more of this nonsense. We talked about some of the reasons I am doing these things. I will elaborate later when I am not at work. Maybe it will help someone down the road. I did not realize how foggy I was thinking and how bad I looked until I was marched in front of a mirror. :crying: Today I have had my morning shake (7 am) and I just ate my "snack", 2 slices swiss cheese with 3 oz hummus. I am full but I am trying. I have two meatballs and a shake to go before 5 :ohmy: We will see.

Oh I love grits. Too me they taste just like cream of wheat that I would take over oatmeal anyday.

Umm I have to look at what I take. I take one in the morning and one at night. I open the capsules and drop the little balls right in my mouth with some water. They don't taste bad. I will look when I get home.

I love to see others having success too!

I am not a surgeon but that seems like a lot to me. I have a 32F and at 5 weeks I can hold 2 - 3 oz. 2 oz for me is the rule but some real soft foods I can hold 3 oz (like pudding or yogurt). Maybe you should talk to him about a smaller size? Ask what size he is using and why. It is your body, you have a right to ask. I seem to remember that it is difficult to revise again once you have been sleeved because the staples can't be found after healing has taken place. Seriously, this might be your only chance. Be cautious even if it means a delay in surgery. Just my humble opinion.

LANK are you on an acid reducer? If not ask your doctor for one. That might be contributing to your hunger.

Yeah! You guys are getting close. Does everyone have their dates on the calendar? I feel like a broken record but it is the only way I can keep up! I hate missing surgery dates.