DownInSocal

My period situation is a mess. I am actually visiting my doctor today about it. My cycle has gone from an always 28 days to 20-23 days. I flow now for 7 days, super heavy and rich red. Then I spot for a few days and then it is done. But when your cycle is only 20 days you spend half your life on your period! Ugh. I know hormones are all messed up after surgery. I am more going to the doctor to get reassured than anything. I will let you know what he says.

My best friend was on board and all for it. However my best friend is male and thin. You are doing this for yourself. You may find after surgery that your personal relationships change. Some of mine have changed a lot more than I ever expected. I think this friend might be afraid that after you get thin you won't want to hang out with someone fat. I would reassure her that your friendship will always be there but you are moving forward with surgery. Your friends comment was rude and hurtful. You may not need a "friend" like that anyway. Good luck.

OMG. That is great!!!!

That's great! I know wonderland was being elusive for you. You look so good.

I don't know how you are doing with the headaches but you may need to drink some sports drink. The calories in a few ounces won't hurt. You may need a little more calories in your post op diet. As far as the food advice. Just tell people "Thank you for your concern but I am following my surgeons instructions." if they are rude or pushy tell them to beat it. It is your body. Congrats on your new tummy!

Well I have been honest about surgery. I have received positive and negative responses. I am so happy with myself and my results that the negative responses just role off me. By far I have found that after surgery people are much more accepting and are curious as to how you eat and live. Before surgery was a different story though. People were judgemental and downright rude sometimes. Maybe because after you have had the surgery people don't see the point in berating you or because when you are thin you are a part of the "club". I dunno. I have many times just simply said "I had a surgery and my stomach only holds 4 oz. The ribs (or insert other barbcue item) were great. Thanks so much." or I just say "I am watching what I eat. Thank you for the wonderful spread you have put on! You must give me the potato salad recipe." Redirection always works well. If you are speaking to an overweight person you will get a black or white response I found. Either they are mad right away and walk away or they want to knnow more when they find out you had surgery. You will find your own way to handle it I promise. Just remember you did this for you. Anyone who doesn't like it can shove it! They can also continue to shovel those incredible mounds of food in their mouths! If you decide to have surgery you will be sleek and healthy, not stuffed and unhealthy.

Congrats Tiff!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sure you already know this but I have found that sizes between brands in jeans vary by up to a sizing. I can fit in some 10s but not others. Right now I am wearing a 12 but that won't be for much longer. If you are in between sizes try an 11 junior or a "relaxed" fit 10. Good luck in the jeans hunt.

Keep updating!! I can't wait to see the little one. Hey when is your due date? Or did you say and I missed it?

I only had to do 3 days liquid, or maybe it was 2. I can't remember. I didn't have to do the two week thing though. I know that for sure.

I wish I would have done it sooner. It was the best thing, hands down, I have ever done for myself.

I just wanted to share a female NSV I had today. When I was young and thin I always knew when I was ovulating. I would get a little cramp in my abdomen and get a couple light pink spots. I also felt bloated for a few hours. If I counted I would see I was at my ovulation date. That all stopped when I got heavy. I still had my period but never felt ovulation. I am assuming I was though. I felt it today! I used an online calculator and sure enough today is my ovulation date. Not trying to get preg but it is still kind of cool to feel your body working right again!

Hi Guys, this is long but important. I can't be bothered with spelling, sorry. I have not been around much because I had a complication. I was also struggling with whether I should post it or not. I am not shy so the topic does not bother me but I don't want to scare people away from this wonderful life changing surgery. I decided it could be a good cautionary tale to keep people on program with fluids. Don't screw around. Sip, sip! It is THAT important. I, like many others, have been struggling a little with constipation. When you don't eat much there is not much there to make a BM. No big deal right? Well not for me....... I started to feel constipated for the second time since surgery on Monday, Sept 30th. I kind of ignored it as bathroom habits are all out of whack for everyone now. By Wednesday I was feeling really constipated and uncomfortable. I emailed my team and they said drink Milk of Magnesia. It will be ok. It was not even close to ok. Wednesday afternoon I could tell I needed to have a movement but when I would go to the bathroom nothing would happen. I didn't strain because I thought it would just happen on it's own when ready. Wednesday evening this "mass" (as you will see later) was really trying to come out. I was starting to get involuntary pushing on the toilet trying to expel this movement. I could tell it was large and very hard. This is when I started to notice a lot of blood, mucus, and Water moving past the mass. I was also cramping very badly and upset about the whole situation. I called my mother who is a nurse. She felt I might be "impacted" and needed to contact my team in the morning. She recomended I take a Valium (to stop the painful spasms) and try and get some sleep. "Impacted" is when there there is a large mass of BM that will not move on it's own because of the size and hardness. I did not have a fever or any other problems. I did not feel my pain was worth a trip to the E.R. I took a Valium and went to bed. At about 4 a.m. Thursday I woke up with the feeling of needing to have a movement. I went to the bathroom and the involuntary pushing started. The only way I can describe it is when you have bad diareha and can't control the way it comes out? That is the contractions I am talking about. I couldn't stop pushing. After about 30 mins of this I was ready to tell my husband to call an ambulance. I was in terrible pain in my rectal area. I finally passed a movement the size of a water bottle that was rock hard. No joke. No exageration. Needless to say a lot of blood and mucus followed. It was very painful and traumatic. I screamed through the whole ordeal. My husband was very upset and didn't know what to do but tell me he loved me and hang in there. My mother was sleeping after her night shift (I didn't want to wake her) and I was feeling a little better (though very sore) so I went to work. I emailed my care team and told them what happened. Later in the morning I started to spot bleed from my rectum and started to get worried. My team told me to get to my PCP who was waiting for me. I was begining to feel a lot of pain at this point. Of course I got a flat tire on the way to my doctor's office and had to walk the last 3 blocks. No easy feat when you have been through what I had just gone through. He examined me (NOT fun) and found I had fissures and tears all throughout my rectum. This is what was causing the bleeding. I now have an internal pain killing cream I put in with a syringe thing, a cream I put in also, more Loritab, and Valium for the rectal spasms that almost make you want to pass out. I should heal in 7 -14 days. Walking makes the area spasm so walking much is out of the question right now. The whole experieince has been very painful. To top it off I am in a stall right now. My weight is flucuation 2 lbs, back and forth. Why did this happen? Because I did not get enough fluids! I really believe this was the root of the problem as I live in a hot climate and sweat during the day often. I also was getting no Fiber (none of us are at the begining), and eating lots of cheese for Protein (well lots for us with small tummies). It was a perfect storm. I am using Metimucil's Clear Metamucil Clear & Natural now. This stuff is great. I am starting with 1 tsp a day to get my system used to it. It has no taste. I can't even tell I have put it in my water. I am eating less cheese. I am getting all my fluids and not kidding myself about getting enough. Measuring is the only way I know I am getting what I need. Please talk with your doctor about adding this fiber to your diet and make sure you are getting fluids. This whole thing was my fault for not getting fluids. I have learned my lesson. Don't follow in my footsteps.

How did it go with your doctor? I have the same problem if I am lame and don't take my acid blocker twice a day. I feel this is probably an acid issue.

Did you call your surgeon?

Ugh. I have lost a lot of hair also and have zero advice. At least I know it happens to everyone.

Yeah! Here you thought you would never have surgery

While this is a good cautionary tale does it need to be in every area of the forum?

How are things going Ruby? Military wives are so strong. We never give ourselves credit for what we go through and manage to acomplish alone. I want you to give yourself some credit for being so strong right now. Huggs.

I fully understand how you feel. Sometimes I get sad reading posts because our self esteems have been so battered we don't even love ourselves enough to do something for us! Try and introduce new thinking every single day. Tell yourself how awesome you re for taking care of yourself. Over time you will learn to love yourself again and it will come easier to work out. Edit: I by far have NOT conqured my self loathing demons. I just take baby steps every day.

I believe you need antacids also. Your tummy still thinks it needs to produce all that acid. I am 3 months out and still need it twice per day. Sometimes I am lame and miss a dose for several days. I pay for it with burning also.

I don't have medical knowledge but wanted to share my opinion. I have found I need to still take Prilosec twice per day. If I miss my morning dose for several days (the one I always forget to take is morning) I will get more hungry and the acid discomfort in my stomach when hungry is intense plus I get some reflux. If I take Prilosec it is ok. I have not been able to find complications from long term Prilsec use until about 5 years of taking it. I am the type of prevention instead of complication. Why take the chance? I would take it a little while longer just to be sure your staple line is fully healed. An ulcer can be devestating if it is at the staple line. Just my humble opinion.

I second the say no to Reglan. Just google it. It is not worth the risk. Ask for Zofran.

Ugh. I have struggled with it. I think you need to get a new doctor though. Mine had a lot of suggestions. None worked but at least it was not "all in my head". Now that I have lost weight I think it is getting better! I have only had 3 periods since surgery (maybe 2? dunno) and they were not that bad. I am hoping they stay that way.

I have a american flag heart thing on the upper hip area of my butt, where it starts to curve back into your back kinda. I got it when I was about 10 lbs heavier than I am now. It stretched when I gained weight. It looks so much better now. The color is more vibrant instead of washed out. It will be interesting to see how it looks after another 40 lbs. I hope it doesn't look like a pancake or something silly. I understand your worry. Hey I have a question for you! I want to get a simple tattoo on my outer upper thigh area. If you feel your hip bone on the side and slide down just a little I want it to start there. It is a simple line and small flower design. The famous question: Do you think that will be a sensitive area? I don't have much fat there anymore. My thighs are rock hard now. Very little wiggle if any. My butt only brought tears to my eyes when it got close to the back where there is no padding between skin and bone. The design: TATTOO TRIBES - Shape your dreams, Tattoos and their meaning - seagulls, forget-me-not, flowers, sea, freedom, love, adventure, escape Minus the seagulls. What do you think? Give me your honest opinion on the design as a pro. Also with the flowers that small is the color going to appear to bleed a lot as the tat ages? I want to have the lines black, the flowers blue with yellow in the middle of the flowers. Just like forget me nots. Thanks so much!!! My appointment is in 2.5 weeks.