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I'm very impressed with your successes. I've been banded since December 2009, and I'm down 56 pounds. I've been sick with the seasonal nasty cold for about 3 weeks. I'm feeling much better this week, but my stomach is really bothering me. I have what feels like lots of gas pain and some diarrhea and some hellacious heartburn which I have not had in the past. Sorry, if TMI, but I just wanted to get your take on what could be going on. Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much

Question: If my little demon kitty finds sitting at my feet to be his favorite place, does this mean I've hit another NSV moment? As in I've lost my belly so my boobs are 'hanging low' (no shelf) and instead of my food falling on my boobs, it's actually falling to the floor? Bahahaha...ok TMI I think. Melody

yeah...tmi....lol

OK so today overall was a bad day. It started out well, went to the gym 1 hour cardio I felt really good after. I has a poached egg and 1/4 of o piece of wholemeal bread toast. Lunch about 1/2 a cup of chicken salad (with a teaspoon of low fat mayo and 1 of low fat greek yoghurt) After noon I had 1 chocolate chip cookie, and 12 mini carale slices,i know i know, i shouldn't have done that, still in losing stage. Was out with the childre all afternoon came home starving. Had a few flakes of smoked salmon and a few spoonfulls of mashed potatoes, way to quickly and it all came back up again and I was sick, a horrible feeling of chest oppression and nausea, not nice at all. It might be TMI but just so others don't make my same mistake, always have healthy snacks that you can tolerate when you're out and about so as to 1) not eat fattening junk 2) not arrive home starving and eat too quickly! I won't be doing that again for sure!

Well, I weighed myself at the gym yesterday afternoon and wasn't happy with the results. I thought my...um...constipation might have something to do with it. I took the laxative and it had its desired (plus) effect. I weighed again today first thing after riding my bike to the gym. I was wearing lighter weight clothes today as well. Hmmm, I don't know if I'm making things better or just digging the hole deeper. Probably TMI.

I know constipation is an issue after getting banded..... here is my problem.... last week~~ tuesday I started getting gas pains? pains in my belly below my belly button.... bloating ...pain when I have a bowl movement and pain when I pass gass.... pain even to sit down....and pain during intercourse now the pain comes and goes.... my bowl movements were hard but I was having one every day yesterday and today my bowl movement is water and solid???? I called telecare....and well Im probably not going to get in to see my family doctor anytime soon....go to the ER???? anyone ever have these symptoms?

Lori, so glad to see a hard core criminal do hard time. The justice system worked in you DH's case. So sorry for you friend's loss. Losing a child any age is tough. Linda, believe me, I am not a techy. My kids only use text now......so if I want to talk to them I have to text. I will not do twitter. TMI. My oldest DS does and it goes on his FB status. I had to unfriend him because he was junking up the place. I don't want to read about his sports crap. I need to send you Julie's recipe too. It is really close to pecan pie and really easy. I love Paula Deen's recipes. They are really heavy on the butter, but O so Good! Well, exDIL came by for a visit. I think she was hoping I would dish about DS's new woman. She reminds me of my dog Charlie. When another dog comes over or he smells another dog on me he goes in my closet and marks his territory.....just to remind me he is in control...and I belong to him....lol.

i hate the feeling of stuck food- like a crushing chest pain, shoulder pain, having to TMI gag yourself desperate to dislodge the offending asparagus(or whatever) finally so desperate you heimlich yourself and then if still unsucessful wait wait wait npo, spitting saliva all day long until at least saliva will stay down, staying nothing by mouth for 24hours and gradually starting clear liq again......please say it isnt so with the vsg I'm considering

The best advice I can give to you guys is to stay in the hospital an extra day if you can. I was fine the first 2 days but the 3rd (was rough) and I was happy I was somewhere that I could get help if needed. Also nice to have someone bring you broth when you are tired and feeling crappy. *at the risk of TMI it was also nice to have a bathroom close by* I also think I had an easier time because my husband and I walked a lot the 2nd day. We were both still on morphine so it made it pretty easy honestly. Don't forget to do your breathing exercises... it is counter-intuitive to breathe deeper when it hurts a little but in the end you will be happy you did!! That first week I will admit was a little rough. Not impossible, but you really need to take it easy and take care of yourself. : )

Any one else have to take 2 bottles of Magnesium citrate the day before their surgery??? I have never taken it but I have been told by other that one bottle will seariously clean you out! So two kinda scares me! :scared0: I was suposed to pick some one up at the air port that day and I think I am kinda scared to leave the house. I mean all I will have in me is protien shakes and lettuce for 10 days prior, and I have been told that when you drink it, when you feel you have to go then there is no waiting you have to go right then and there better be a bathroom near by!!!!:bored0: If there is any one out there with experience on weather I will be able to leave the house or if I need to fine some one to pick the person up so that I can stay leashed to the toilet I would greatly apreciate the feed back so I can do the plaing ahead of time. Thanks

AniO said: Concrete bowels is so right! Hope it's not TMI, but this morning I covered my finger with some Saran Wrap and used it to apply some A&D ointment to my behind to help it come out more comfortably. It was a relief AniO: I had concrete bowls about a week out, had to do more than just apply ointment to help it out, I actually had to put surgical gloves on and some vaseline because it just wouldn't come out, sorry i think this IS TMI but as Jordien just said, once you've had kids nothing seems to be like TMI!!

lol... kinda like talking about our babies. once you're a mom and have done this sort of stuff, nothing seems like TMI! lol... I hope things get moving for everyone. I give that oatmeal to my little guy who's 4, just realized it. I always buy the high fiber. Figure it can't hurt. Tastes the same.

Same problem here. My doc told me to get 80 oz of water in a day. a colace (or it's generic) in the morning and in the evening. He also told me to take MIlk of Magnesia to get a "breakthough," but not regularly. I have to start the extra water and colace tomorrow. Concrete bowels is so right! Hope it's not TMI, but this morning I covered my finger with some Saran Wrap and used it to apply some A&D ointment to my behind to help it come out more comfortably. It was a relief.

I agreee, just keep trying things and be creative. Hey check the thread further up, I posted about these 2.5oz shots I got that have 28g of Protein. THey're made by Hormel and not TOO terrible. mp I started out thinking about just hydrating, but I had so little energy, I decided to add in protein. It def. gave me a pep in my step (not literally.. lol) and I needed it. TMI but after anesthesia, I have trouble peeing. It's happened every time I have aneths. So of course it happened again. I'd be all night long having to pee, but couldn't go. Add to my hospital experience being straight-cathed twice, JUST so I could pee... omg... so I was super paranoid about peeing. Making sure I'm getting enough liquid to keep going to the potty!!! I think if there was something to be paranoid about, I'd find it!!! I really need to take a chill pill soon! lol.... I am going to get on the scale tomorrow I think. I haven't been on it yet. Kinda crazy with fluids, surgery, a drain still hanging on me, bandages, but I'm curious.

Mine was wicked crazy!! My cycle started on 7/24/10...lasted for the normal 4-5 days that mine regulary do. I had my surgery on the 10th of August....and got my period again on 19th of August. I then had it for 4.5 weeks afterwards. Some days were regular, some days were light, and some days were super heavy with thick clots. Sorry...TMI, I know...but just sharing! I had a visit to my OB-GYN and she said that everything looked fine. They drew some blood b/c she wanted to do a test on the hormones and to see if I was anemic from all of the bleeding. I haven't had the results....but I was just pleased to hear that she thought it was from the 22.5 lb weight loss in a month and a half that caused it. Plus, my surgeon said that surgery is such a stress on your body....that it'll end up doing some weird things! Yup...he was right! :biggrin: I'm just glad that it is over!

Good morning!!! Plain...you're still a turd in my book, but I don't have the confidence to deliberately wear a see through shirt!! LOL. I joined the sagging wagon a long, long time ago. (TMI...but right back at ya!!). Add to that the muffin top and boy...I got it goin' on!!!!!! Sorry girls...send me the bill for your dramamine/pepto bismal! I do love to laugh and joke and I hope everyone is reading the humor in the posts from the last week or so. I am sorry if we offended anyone! Back to work... Angela

:smile2::mad: Let me know if the red font is too much. I had to confess, it's good for the soul. I didn't leave the shoes for the dog, they were stinky from my last walk and airdried them on front porch (instead of lanai) b/c of afternoon sun. Anyway, I bought new Brooks yesterday. Had to get men's b/c of my wide feet. Sigh. So depressing. Went for a brisk 3 mile walk this morning after the bus stop. I did lunges down at the docks and can already barely walk. I got out of shape these last two months w/o my trainer. Plan: 2 weeks of walking and getting some strength and then starting with a new trainer in a new gym. It's called THE FACTORY. The owner is the BF of one of the female MDs in DH's group. He's eye candy for the cougar. She's puertorican and he's black and in PERFECT shape and a cutie! They say he is tough but with the right balance. I need it. Trying to get DH to go, but won't count on it or push it. The hamburger was a homemade one, not that big. It's all I had but shouldn't have had the bread.(I did put a slice of avocado!) Point was that I was ABLE to do the bread and before was NEVER able to w/o PB. Thus decided on slight fill yesterday. Feels perfect amt. (I like to call it my choke collar for when my head isn't on straight). The weight was down 2 today. Took some senna natural lax. Feel so much better. Guess (TMI), I was FOS. :mad: Julie~ I am so sorry you are still having pain. I can't remember if you ever tried the acupuncture? My chiro had a Chinese med specialist and he did WONDERS when I was going through infertility/gaining weight/had back pain. Might want to add it what they are doing. Thinking of you. Apples~ I know you are gone to the lake- hope you are having fun. Next yr we HAVE to have internet for you there. Jodi~I mean, the phantom. No lecture for me about Mr. LV. I have been there- done that. As long as you can sep. the head/heart, then have fun. I LOVE the cirque shows. During the holy times, can you have the DVR running? I guess as long as it is programmed ahead of time? I remember working at Mt. Sinai in Miami and the elevators stopped at each floor so no one had to press buttons. : ) Enjoy the time with Dassi. Sounds like you have great control of the exercise and eating. WTG! So proud of you!!! Linda, Lori & someone else asked about the PET. The original cancer mets locations were cold. But there was a NEW uptake in the spine. They are recommending MRI, but his doc wants to repeat PET in 2 mo. But now, medicare is giving him a hard time. I try and support them (but even this last PET I thought was unnecessary, as it didn't change the plan). But can't tell them that. My parents are very sensitive. If I even go 1 day w/o calling I get on the "list". They are going through the toughest battle of their lives. They had so many plans for these years. They saved $ their whole lives and now cancer is robbing them of that dream. Dad said that 75% of his friends are gone already. At 76 he feels lucky to be alive. He said he won't do anymore treatment. Mom is crushed. I respect his wishes. So new mets is in the spine at T3 level. Clear as mud. (BTW, unusual presentation for return of CA. Usually with his kind would show up in liver/lungs/original tumor location.) Melissa~ glad you like the new job! so happy for you. : ) hugs. Arlene~ i wouldn't worry about the no loss with the new working out. Muscle weighs more than fat. : ) Just stay on plan. Phyl~ Glad you are back. Love to Zoey (though I don't like dogs licking my face). Maybe That's why I don't have a dog! It's the licking privates and then licking us that I cannot handle. LOL I am missing others- sorry. CRS. Hi to you all. Felt bad about the ME ME ME post last night. I am in a bit of a funk and trying to stay positive. I know I have so many blessings in my life. I just hate that I am not losing (and I know what I need to do and just can't get myself motivated to do it). I need to STOP being happy with maintaining. It's not ok. will cbl............peasout.. Laura

You'll have different weights different days. For example, (this is gross and possibly TMI) I decided I would do an experiment. I weighed myself before I had a bowel movement, and then weighed myself after. Guess what? I lost a pound! I try to weigh myself once a week with my personal trainer. I record that weight. I do weigh myself other days, but for entertainment purposes only. Your weight will different mostly because of Water. So don't stress yourself. Try only to weigh once a week.

I also had the liquid in and liquid out during pre-op. I am 2 weeks post-op now and things are still pretty much coming out the same way they are going in, only now it's the mushies...I know it's TMI but sometimes you wonder if it's OK. I asked my Nut and she said this is the way it works, LOL, until I can eat more solid food there isn't much to poop out.

Janet, I think my yoga helped my digestion. Not only was I able to have a good bowel movement (Iknow TMI) and I ate real meals today. Breakfast, 2 wheat thin flatbread with laughing cow and humus, Lunch green bean with a small serving a spaghetti, watermelon. Dinner is going to be taco soup. I feel so much better with food! Steph, so what went on at home? Are you ready to share? Candice, any gigs this week? Phyl sound like fun, wine is a finicky thing, or so I'm told. Well I need to go to homework. Need to do some reading.

Dont blame you lol. I am on Optifast shakes for a week. However, I have stopped them for a bit now. Had to have a piece of dry toast as stomach felt very empty. Daren't have another shake as don't want to make a mess on the operating table (TMI lol). What we have to go through eh! Good luck for Thursday.

I'm scheduled to be sleeved on Sept 29th! WOO HOO, FINALLY! I have been put on a two week liquid diet. My instructions are to have 5 suger free Carnation Instant Breakfast w/1 cup of skim milk for each pack...to which I also have to add an extra scoop of about 20g Protein mix. I use that extra scoop at night, with "dinner" and pack an extra protein punch at night when I'm at home...to keep the hunger away. Works good. Other than that, it's Clear liquids. chicken and beef broth are my best friends, cause it's something salty and more savory. EVERYTHING else is sweet, so I need that. Plus, each can has a total of 6 grams protein, and drinking it hot really helps with feeling more satisfied. Gotta check the labels on the chicken one though. A lot only have 1 gram protein per serving. Oddly enough, I found Swanson brand to have the 3 per serving...but ONLY the one with 33% less sodium...with a pop can like top. If it's the 33% less sodium with a regular top, it only has 2 grams per serving. Will NEVER figure that one out. Anyway...here is my TMI question...is it normal, or has anyone else dealt with this? Liquids are what goes in...and liquids are what comes out!! Doesn't matter which "#" I go...it's pure liquid!! Seems logical. But seems to me I heard that just because you're not eating "food", doesn't mean you can't/won't have normal bowel movements. But I'm seriously questioning that theory! Is something not right, or is this just one the "rites of passage" into sleevedom? And the GURGLING that goes on...holy mother of things that are loud!! :cursing:

Glad to hear everyone is still doing well. I'm finally wrapping my head around the fact that this surgery is really, truly working. It's amazing to me. While it's not effortless, it almost feels that way, especially when I consider the extremes I used to go to just to lose a bit of weight (only to ultimately be sabotaged by endless, insatiable hunger). I'm now 1/3 of the way to my goal - in just over nine weeks. Once I lose seven more pounds, I'll be saying goodbye to the 200s for the very last time. I'm down from a very snug size 20 to a very comfortable 16, and I'm pretty sure I'll be down another size over the course of this month. Or at least into the "snug" 16s, since I have a pile of 16s that fit great and a pile of 16s that give me muffin top. Stupid women's sizing. I will say to the women that YES our monthly cycles suck heinously. I gained three pounds last month and it took until about two days after I was done to get back to my pre-period weight. This month I only gained 1.8 pounds and midway through I was back to normal. Now, at the end of my time (TMI, sorry), I'm already DOWN two pounds. I hope it gets to be less and less of an issue each month, though I'll admit the PMS and cravings still kick my butt. I hope for my husband's sake that I'm more human as time goes on, because I was a major beast this month, too. I start exercising (real exercising, beyond my current long walks and our weekend hikes) next week and I'm very excited. I'm focusing on strength training and building muscle because I have no doubt the fat is going to burn away - I want to build up the muscle before heading into a super fat burning type workout. My arms are already showing a teeny bit of sag and there's no way I'm going to let them turn into batwings! I can see my chest is going to be an issue as time goes on and I'm pretty sure that if I opt for a tummy fix once I hit goal (I did have twins, after all, and that is already a trouble zone) I'll be adding in some lifting and possibly augmentation for my upper half. I think that for every pound I lose my face looks a tiny bit younger and my breasts age a year. Ugh. Coops: You have had a heck of a time the entire time since surgery, haven't you? Your body just does not want to let go of your weight. Maybe tracking would help, though I admit it's a pain and I hardly do it myself anymore. I'd say fatsecret is fairly easy to use and I love that they let you count net carbs. None of them are exactly fun to use but it might help you out. I hope it gets easier for you and you get a surprise drop in weight soon. La: You sound like you'd hit the exact same mindset as I've hit. I no longer freak out about every calorie or carb. I still watch what I eat, but I've found that the more calories I take in (never getting more than 800, though) the more consisently I lose. The less I focus on food, food, food, the less stressed I feel and the more weight I lose. There has to be a connection. If I start to head the wrong way on the scale I'll go back to basics, of course, but for now I'm just enjoying the ride. Everyone, keep up the great work. I'm so glad I made the choice to get my sleeve! ~Cheri

Hey Gang Well I got my pantry all cleaned out and organized - went to Target & Marshalls and got baskets to put stuff in - looks really nice - had to throw out expired canned food that's been in there since surgery - have all but 1 cupboard straighten out - junk drawer cleaned.. That's my exciting day :0) P.S. Got that cupboard done :0) Now don't know what I am going to have for dinner - maybe take out - but that means getting dressed - I was cleaning in my bra & undies (tmi :0) the priviledge of living alone :0) But now have jammies on -

I am loving these responses, thank you SO MUCH ladies! and, for the record-- there's no such thing as TMI in my book :scared0: I'm SO WORRIED about my boobs. I know I have to just suck it up and get over it but I'm 23-- saggy boobs are going to be a real downer for me, I just know it. Not that mine are super fab to begin with, but they at least have shape and size on their side. I'm lucky that the boyfriend had Bypass 2 years ago so it's not like I have to be super self conscious, but at the same time it makes it a little more difficult to talk about. He's a jokester and "couldn't care less if you're all saggy" which is nice albeit somewhat dismissive. I CARE! Anyone had any luck keeping the sags at bay with water/exercise? Obviously I'm trying to keep my expectations reasonable, but I'm really hoping to not totally hate myself naked after this. Even fat I at least dig my butt and boobs.