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I'm almost 3 months post-op and feel a HUGE difference! Updates: -My weight loss actually EXCEEDS my non-PCOS sleeve friends. I really attribute this to all the Protein I've been having. I've been very strict about only having Proteins, with certain fruits/veggies and maybe whole grains as a treat. I've also been swimming 4 times a week and boxing once a week. -I don't have those crazy mood swings I had pre-op. -My period seems more normal. it's not always on schedule, but I'm no longer "spotting" in between (TMI I know ) -I don't have any pain in my ovaries. -hair loss: Last year, I had huge bouts of massive hair loss. Nothing helped except reducing stress and taking a bunch of Vitamins. Right now, I feel a few more strands falling out, but nothing extreme. My hair looks very shiny and healthy, better than it did before surgery. -The most important thing : THE EXCESSIVE HAIR has almost been resolved!!! This doesn't have to do with the surgery, but with the Dermatologist I went to. I went to American Laser Centers for a YEAR and didn't see any results, honestly I think they're a scam! I went to this particular dermatologist just ONCE and 2-3 weeks later I no longer have to shave everyday. The stubbly dots are mostly gone. Let me tell you, my excess hair was EXTREME. She said my results were the best possible due to my pale skin and dark hair. So if you tried laser without success, go to an actual dermatologist to try a different type of laser. At my next laser appointment, I will ask her what type she used so you can try it out to see if it works for you. I am so extremely pleased and grateful for these results. I can actually go swimming without makeup! I would have never gone out without make up/shaving everyday before laser treatment. The procedure itself actually hurt A LOT and it took my face 5-10 days to heal. I only started seeing results 2 weeks after, but they were unbelievably worth it. As someone with severe PCOS (which meds like Spiro and Byetta coudln't help), I can honestly say there is great hope for a cure!!! That's it for now. I hope this is helping anyone interested in doing the surgery. It was the best decision of my life, just make sure you do the best you can! Please message me if you have any questions.

I'm 4 days post op and have experienced the same rumbling in my belly. I have been suffering from terrible gas. I keep hoping that the rumbling is NOT hunger! The gas is starting to work it's way out, but now I have the runs. You know what that means.....grrrrr! (I know - TMI) Should we be feeling any hunger with the band?

I went from not having a period for 15 months pre-surgery to having three in six weeks immediately post-surgery. Now almost five months post, I am back on monthly schedule but, oh boy, is this one a doozy! At the risk of TMI, I got out of bed this morning to go for a walk but needed a shower and to change my bed instead!

Good Morning everyone. LOL... it's actually noon. Um I have been sleeping a lot, which has helped with my recovery I think. Feeling much better this morning and am moving around a lot easier. Still full of gas. Haven't had a BM yet, so it's off to the store to get a laxative . (tmi-i know) Did a lot of walking yesterday. Anxious to start eating the mushies Thursday. Sooooo wanted to eat a bowl of cereal this morning. Getting by on popcicles and soup. Try the cream of chicken and mushroom soup. It's really thick and fills me up. AND it's yummy too! Back to work tomorrow. It's going to be a change there. For the most part, people know that I have been banded so I think they will be more sensative to not offering me food that I don't want or need. Husband has been super supportive and I am glad I have him to lean on. Looking forward to the positive changes coming in our lives! Hope everyone is doing well and feeling well. ~Shannon

Welcome everyone..post op day 4 and im feeling great....all the pain had subsided. I finally went to the bathroom.. ..sorry Tmi.......feeling great though.....post op diet is ok..although I was staring down my sons hot dog yesterday.....

My questions is what is PB'ing? This is what happens to me and not sure why, or if its something different: I am about two weeks out since my surgery. My questions is that, I dont have much restrciction, i do feel full but I feel I can eat as much as I did before ( if I allowed myself I could do some damage) Sometimes when i eat, especailly mushy food I find that this flem is stuck in my throat. ( sorry for the TMI) kind of like when u have a cold. well i make it come up and its white/clear and slimmy. What is this and why is it happening? am i eating too much? or too fast? If this has happened to anyone, i would appreciate feedback. Thank you !

That's not TMI, that's AWESOME!!!!! Keep up the great work!

Sorry to be so personal, but the new sex positions we've been trying are awesome! Oh and lets just say I can see what's going on a lot better these days. By the way, I'm 68 lbs lighter since my June 6th surgery.

I hope this isn't tmi, but I've pretty much have had diahrea since the surgery. I just always know where a restroom is where ever I am! Also, early on I had some nausea and still occassionally do. I can't really predict when it will happen, but it's very rare now. So, nothing serious and nothing that I can't deal with.

Hi Everyone! So I was sleeved last Thursday and am about 4 days out. At first, I didn't want anything except liquids and the surgeon said that was fine. But the last day and a half or so, my tummy's been making these weird rumbly sounds and it feels like a combination of gas/hunger pain. I tried expelling some gas (sorry for the tmi!) but it was still doing it. So then I tried eating a bit of a small, mashed up turkey meatball (low fat high Protein ). I made it about 3 tiny bites before my stomach shot sharp pains at me telling me it didn't want anymore. How do I communicate with my new stomach? Was I hungry? Is it just gas? Is it just talking to me? Any experienced sleevers willing to give me some advice on how to understand my sleeve?

I went to the surgeon's office friday and just cried. I told them i'm so sick of being so tried i can barely function. I'm normally perky to the point of nausea! the Nut told me i looked very pale and tired..gee thanks! My 2 biggest complaints were tiredness and the (now 27 day) menstrual cycle...(sorry TMI) The GYN's office took a week to call me back (after i called 3 times) to tell me they wanted to put me on an antibiotic since i must have an infection....nope just got off a course of antibiotics for a REAL infection in my incision site..but noone asked me. She said she'd check with the doc again and call me back. At 3pm on fridays they shut off their phones and your Out of luck till monday. My surgeons NP insisted i call the "doc on call" and demand they do something after a week of no information. I did and they have put me on birthcontrol (3 a day initially for 3 days then 2 a day for 3 days then one till the end of the pack). So i ask the nut if i was eating enough Protein, low carbs, exercising ok and what not...she insisted i was doing everyhting to the T perfect....yet not lost any weight since 9 days after surgery (this friday it will be one month since surgery). They seem to think that this 27 day cycle is holding back my weight loss...GREAT! They drew bloodwork and called me today to tell me I have low Iron leverls ( shocker...) and upped my iron to double what i was taking and increase my B12 to 4 times a week form 1 time a week and keep up the hard work..... i'm frustrated with my body...knowing how angry it is with the sleeve, the hernia repair and the cycle form hell.....but it's got to start giving up the weight soon ( i am praying)! Frustration...frustrations...frustrations...but all i can do at this point is keep on keeping on.... sorry i guess this turned into a HUGE rant and i should have posted this to rants...but i guess i'm a lucky person compared to people with leaks and major health concerns...got to keep the positive thoughts going! Gayle

I am a military mom of three. Very fortunate to be able to have this surgery. I introduced myself a while back, and decided now was the time to fill you in and maybe ask some questions. My house is very busy (8-9 at a time) so I didn't have alot of time to do or think about anything. I cleaned my room up to my standards, and got it prepared for when I return. I have a wonderful support system. I am hoping all goes well (ofcourse tomorrow is full moon,LOL I am superstitious!) I am not a crier but I do have anxiety, major anxiety, like maybe dumping syndrome before the fact? (TMI, sorry) I am nervous, but I am excited. Question: Did you lose a lot of weight pre-op on the shakes? And if so do they hold that against you? I lost about 20 pounds. I want to do this by the book. I don't want to mess this up at all. Any good vibes would be wonderful. My thoughts are with you all, no matter which phase you are in. Take care!!

That is wonderful!!!!! (NOT TMI.....) Deb

Awesome, and it's definitely not TMI! Theres so much that's embarrassing around weight issues, but you are in good company here, and we can ALL relate!

I stalled about 2 weeks out,coincided with my period starting (sorry if TMI!). I stalled for about a week and then noticed some movement on the scale this morning. I should also take the once-a-week scale advice but I haven't so far. There are lots of posts on here about stalls, all the veterans can reassure you that they all hit stalls and their weight did come off. Hang in there!

I love the reality of your posts. Never TMI, just much appreciated honesty that we can all relate to at some point in our journey!

Definately not TMI!!! That's awsome!!!!!

I've been taking measurements...and my 60" tape wasn't quite long enough to measure my hips (gulp) ...but today, THE TAPE FLIPPIN' TOUCHES!!!!!! (TMI perhaps...but that includes the 'apron')

OK so I'm sure this will be tmi but I had the same problem and when I needed to go it was expressly hard in more ways than 1. I went to whole foods and talked to a staff member, she suggested flax seed oil. I have only been using it for four days and OMG what a difference. It's tasteless and u just squeeze a little into your protein shakes or other beverage.

I felt just like you described, except I also felt like someone had a corset around me and was squeezing it so tightly that I was having to pant and gasp. I think my friend was afraid I was dying...she kept asking me "does this happen a lot" (she knows about the surgery and is a doctor, although not for humans, lol) and I couldn't even talk to answer her. I never threw up, but I felt really nauseous. My main doubt that it was dumping was that it occurred at least 2 hours after I ate. I had not eaten all day because I felt kind of overall yucky (which isn't a normal thing and what made me think stomach flu) and I finally decided I had to eat something before I went to meet my friend. The only thing that sounded good was some Cookies (I know, poor choice, but everything else sounded unappetizing). I ate them and felt fine until I was waiting for my friend. I told my DH on the phone that all of a sudden I was hurting. He knows when I say that I am hurting that I am serious...I have a seriously high pain tolerance normally, so he said he knew right then something was really wrong. When my friend came we walked into the restaurant, and as soon as I felt the heat from the kitchen/smelled the food everything started going to a pinpoint of light and I felt like I was going to faint. I sat down and told her to call DH and have him come get me...it took me three tries to even be able to tell her DH's number where he was at. I felt like I couldn't breathe in fully and I was panting like a dog and unbuttoned my pants...I'm sure my friend was mortified and all the other patrons were staring ...lol, I don't care....probably won't be going back to that restaurant for awhile! I went and sat in the car and debated whether I was truly dying, and had my friend put the AC on full...that helped the most. She kept trying to quiz me down medically, but I couldn't even really talk for most of the time. After about 15 minutes it finally started to subside. DH showed up about then and took me home. I felt much better, but still not good that night and (TMI alert) did have diarrhea. Same for the next day, but now I am just sore. I told DH that I think it may just be a strange reaction to stomach flu or food poisoning since my stomach has been altered so much. I am sure that when you have those things your stomach swells in reaction, and if it is restricted, wouldn't it make sense that it would hurt much more? I don't know.

POSSIBLE TMI - you have been warned. I slept almost all the way through the night. And then I woke up and had diarrhea. And yes, I do think that's awesome too. We went to bed around 11:30p. I had a hard time falling asleep. It shouldn't be because Jess was in the bed. I couldn't stop coughing. And since I can't get a real cough in, I couldn't dislodge whatever was stuck. After a while I figured out I could brace my 3 middle incisions by putting very light pressure on them with my hand while coughing. I also used my inhaler once and that seemed to help. I finally coughed out some icky stuff. Not a lot. Jess ran and got me a roll of tp so I could spit it out. After that it was much better. I woke up around 1 / 1:30a and I had to pee really bad. First time that's happened in a while. I took more pain meds and went back to bed, I didn't bother walking around. I slept till around 7:50a when I heard the front door close. Jess had left for work. I felt like sleeping more but I had to go to the bathroom, so I got up. I felt like I had to poop. I wasn't expecting that. In the binder it says that you probably won't poop for 5 to 6 days after surgery. Technically I am 5 days out. I just wasn't expecting it. It was fantastic! I had to brace my stomach with my hand so I could push everything out and it took a bit of effort. I'm surprised at how much came out and just the fact that anything came out at all. I wonder if it's from the broth I've been having. The last time I drank broth was years ago when I was sick. It went right through me and I haven't drank it since being post-op. I was curious if it would have this effect again. I also started taking my vitamins yesterday. I took 2 Calcet Creamy Bites. The chocolate has 4 grams of sugar and the lemon has 5 grams. So I wonder if that did it too. I'm sipping broth now and get the feeling it was the broth. Yesterday when I took my multi it made my stomach hurt. This morning I took 2 sips of broth, then the multi, then 2 more and had no pain. It takes me a good 3 minutes minimum to eat each chewable. My parents are going to stop by today. That means I have to take down my board in the kitchen and hide my meds and kaiser paperwork. My mom knows but my dad doesn't. So it'll just be like I have a weekend off for once. I feel like I'm going to get the runs again. It's gotta be the broth. I haven't had a creamy bite yet. I called the pharmacy where I live and I could barely hear the lady, but what I got was that I should refill my liquid vic when I have 2 days worth left. I'm confident that I am at that point, so I emailed my dr to refill it since calling the number on the bottle would probably refill it 45 minutes away where my surgery was and I want it sent to the pharmacy where I live. Hopefully he will email me back soon. Today I am going to walk around (and maybe dance a little too) to music after I post this. Then organize my meds. I bought an organizer at Target yesterday. I can't do much cleaning b/c I have a weight restriction for lifting. Once my mom calls saying their leaving I'll take a shower. They live about an hour away. I'm having a hard time working carafate into this. I did it 3x the day before yesterday and not at all yesterday. Well, better get on with my day. I'm sure I'll post more later. ~Liz

I haven't ever registered a gain. I do sometimes "hang out" at a particular weight--sometimes for a week or 10 days!--but it eventually goes down. I don't see much fluctuation with TOM any more (I'm almost 49 and it's sort of petering out, thank goodness), but I do see less loss with fewer bowel movements, sorry if TMI. As long as stuff is moving along, I seem to be heading in the right direction, and when stuff isn't moving, the scale doesn't, either. I weigh every day and probably will until I really "get" that that's what I weigh now. I still can't quite wrap my brain around it. "235, 235, 235" was my mantra all day yesterday--for someone who was over 300, that just seems incredible--and I vividly remember topping 200 for the first time (grad school), so I feel SO CLOSE to getting where I want to be. YAY sleeve!!!

I was using miralax every few days to help keep me soft (I know, TMI) but have now switched to the walmart brand of benefiber. I use the clear which I mix 1 tablespoon in the morning with 16 oz of Water and/or with a drink mix powder to flavor my water and then again in the afternoon. This mixes well and has no taste what so ever. I cannot eat enough fruit or veggies to get my Fiber in any other way. I may not go everyday but this was the only way I could get in enough fiber without causing serious pain. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the time of my sleeve and if we push/strain too much I could get another. Now my husband does not have an issue at all with his plumbing (LOL) and he does not take any extra fiber at all. I just do this when I take my Vitamins. As for the scale. I gain and lose all during the day (for me this is normal) so I just keep to morning and night weighing....It is an addicition I can not give up but I understand. As long as I am not gaining and not losing it again, I am not going to worry. Good Luck

That really wouldn't surprise me. My hair is starting to thin. However, on that topic, I'd love to know why the hair on my head is falling out while the hair on my legs and pits continues to flourish. TMI? Maybe, but it's the truth and you'd think it would all grow from the same source of nutrition.

I was going to suggest it was a calcium issue too. I had a thyroidectomy in 2009 and they had to 're-plant' my parathyroid and part of the problem with it is your PT regulates calcium. It was the most horrific tingling in my hands and feet - to the point that i couldnt concentrate enough to pee (tmi) when i sat down. LOL Thankfully my PT recovered and i just supplemented for a few months while it healed. Hope you are feeling better!