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Lynette617;555079]TMI coming up, but I've had the worst case of constipation the last day and a half. Never had to use anything in that area, ever, but imodium to stop things up so this was all new to me. Wonder if the fill had anything to do with it cause I had to go on liquids for 2 days after, don't know, but it was bad. Had to send my DH out twice for two different things to try. Finally I have relief today, but I hurt so bad I was crying. Hope to never feel this again, so I need to know what others do to prevent this. Do you take something daily? I've always been a regular person, so maybe I just need to take something around fill time? Oh well, any info would be appreciated!! Lynette- I had the same problem and my doc had told me in advance to use Benefiber. It is the best thing for this. Let me tell you it works!!!! Gives releaf rather quickly too. You can mix it into anything you are drinking or food. I put it into my ice water and there is absolutely no flavor or color. It doesn't clump up either. Mixes in so well you would never know there was anything in what ever you put it in. It is awsome if you need it!!! Give it a try!!

Hi everyone- Would love to say my mood has totally turned around, but I hate to lie to friends! I am better, just kinda enjoying my grouch I think!!! I have done the old turn it on, and turn it off thing today, so I guess it isn't too bad. Went to Red Lobster for lunch with my folks, and Kinsey, and oh yeah that one guy, the one who kept me awake all night with the friggin TV!!!! Then went to the farm, and picked all afternoon....now have an evening of shelling peas ahead of me, then I am freezing them, so it isn't too bad. Have lots of new potatoes, so going to make some creamed peas and new potatoes tomorrow. Tonight, I am doing easy burritos, nothing much to do, once it is in the pot! Terry---now this may be TMI---but here goes. Back when Ricks heart valve failed, he was having issues with his hands, and feet, and other extremeties (!) not getting proper blood flow...because the heart was not pumping enough oxygenated blood to support his body. Nothing ever quit working, it just did not work at optimum levels!!! Well the heart got fixed, and he is like a 13 year old boy---he thinks he has a new toy!!! The sex is always good, there has never been an issue with that, if the sex had been bad along with the TV---I would not have been grumpy, I'd have been downright bitchy!!!!! LMAO!!! Between his new and improved heart, and my weight loss---we feel like newlyweds again! I was banded in April, they discovered his failed valve less than 3 weeks later. So we "healed" together!! Tracy, the jeans are an awesome accomplishment my friend!!! Remember back just a few short months ago, when I sent you the clothes you though you would never be able to get into? They have all been passed on, all too big! You have done so well!!! You know I don't wanna do this...but I just gotta!!!! TOLD YOU SO!!!!! Gina might have a point if the stomach ache does not go away, or if he gets nauseated, or feverish. Have him lie on the bed, and put his feet on the floor, if he can put them back up on the bed without assistance, it is likely not acute apendicitis---if he can't---have him checked! Back about 6 years ago, on the 3rd of July, Rick got sick, his belly hurt, he tried everything, refused to go to the hospital...until about 1 AM. When we got there, they did all the testing they could, they were running a skeleton crew for the 4th (idiots). They thought it was appendix, but he hurt all across his belly, so they were worried he had a twisted intestine. They finally determined it was appendix between the feet on the floor, and a CT scan. They ask if he wanted it done laproscopically, he said whatever was fastest just get it done! When they got in there his appendix was HUGE. A normal appendix is smaller than your pinkie, and inflamed on about the size of your thumb....Ricks was 9 1/2 inches long!!! They looked it up to see if it was a record, the record was 13 inches. It was a record for our Dr., and this hospital though! He had this hilarious and sexy as hell nurse, named Patrick, and he was so much fun, he made a sign for Rick's hospital room door that said Man with the HUGE appendage...then scratched out appendage and wrote appendix in little letters!!! Rick hated him, because he was always making us laugh---and post op laughing is not fun!!! They said with the size of it, the amount of poison it held could have killed him almost instantly if it had burst! So I am a firm believer in getting it checked out! Better safe than sorry!!! Laura, I am sorry you are still having OOMTOM's---that really sucks!!! Good luck finding someone to talk to. DD is not thrilled with their family therapist. She is unhappy.....hope they get it figured out, same as you! Rick called, and wants me to make reservations to go to Vegas the end of the month for bike fest. We thought he would be working so didn't think we could go, but his coworker needed to trade out a different weekend....so maybe we will!!! WoooHooo!!! Well I need to go stir my thawing green chile, I tell ya I am working hard on this dinner thing!!!! TTYL Kat

Forgive me if this is TMI but I have been really constipated for the last 2 days. I called my Dr today and he said to take some Milk of Magnesia. He said it was a common occurrence. Has any one else experienced this? I don't think I'm drinking enough water, it makes me so full. I'm spacing out the time between drinking and eatting but it's hard to get in 34oz let alone 64oz.

Sorry if this is asking TMI but does the gas that you all have and talk about usually expel in burp form or do you pass it the other way a lot too? :embarassed: Just wondering what to expect.

Update on ME! Today is day 7. I feel better each and every day. I can tell the swelling inside the stoma is going down because its easy for me to put down soup, water, etc. Much easier.... if you can remember back to day one and that first sip of water you took, or even your first ice chip! How scary was that? I've lost 12 pounds so far and I can see it in my face. This makes me feel good. My skin has actually cleared up and I look refreshed. I've graduated in foods. I am eating similar foods to my 11 month old son! LOL ~~~~~~ I was able to tolerate oatmeal today. It really filled me up for about 4 hours. I noticed as soon as I drink some water I could feel more hunger. Oatmeal is the first real 'substance' I have had. In addition to oatmeal, I also stocked the kitchen with creamy soups, yogurt, SF popsicles/fudgesicles, V8. Creative: Mix cream of broccoli soup with cheddar cheese soup. Of course they are the 'light' kind. Really good. Stiches are a bit itchy, port is still a tad sore and I've only had two BMs in a week. (tmi) Next week we all get to eat eggs and cheese! Yummy! I'm makin' breakfast next Monday! Wish you all lived closer! Haha... Dana

I hear that lots of people have the same bathroom problem you are having...I am having the exact opposite problem. I am not uncomfortable or anything, but I have barely gone in the past 2 weeks. I figured that it was because I have not really been eating. Sorry for TMI! Back to work tomorrow!

Kat - that is just so horrible, but it sounds like Rick was worth the wait. there is hope for me yet. LOL TracyK- me, no prom, homecomming either.... i so regret that sometimes we went to drive ins last night, saw ratatulli (sp) it was actually really cute. my phone range early so i'm up, going to enjoy my last day and then shake central here i come! I have a horrible yeast infection which is just horribly uncomfortable - I have to go get some meds this morning, but since I'm running with no health ins, i pray it works..I've had much worse but this one is obnoxious, not getting worse or better, just hanging around.. I KNOW TMI... sorry I have super sensitive skin and changed laundry detergent (mom picked it up) and then i got this, i have ezma rashes popping out all over my body. I am ready to re wash all my stuff, even if one has nothing to do with the other - or does it. Uneventful Labor day planned for today, we are just going to hang out, may go apple picking, the orchard opened up on the 1st. going to shampoo carpets and move furniture. I hope everyone has a good day - off to breakfast with mom and the kids.

NewCC, hang in there with us. You can do it, just limit yourself, and sit back an ask yourself if you're satisfied, not full. We only need to be satisfied from the food we eat. If you eating until full, then you could be overdoing in this stage a little, and the fill will help you. Te excercising will help if you are overeating a little, to work off the extra calories. Don't beat yourself up, we all do it, and it's going to take more than 5 weeks to change the thinking we've done for years. We've got plenty of time, there's no hurry, just enjoy the ability to eat a little more now, as you'll not be able to do this after the fill. Good luck to you. Dini babes, you're home!! Sounds like you had a fab time in Italy, and got to treat yourself to a little R&R and some beauty things. Don't feel bad about leaving Annafrancesca for a few days, you do need the time with Adam. My mom is watching Hunter tonight for us, so we can have a night out. It's a holiday here tomorrow, so we're off work, and can have some time together. Hope everyone's having a great weekend. No cookouts here to attend, but I'm kind of glad. Haven't been feeling the best. TMI coming up, but I've had the worst case of constipation the last day and a half. Never had to use anything in that area, ever, but imodium to stop things up so this was all new to me. Wonder if the fill had anything to do with it cause I had to go on liquids for 2 days after, don't know, but it was bad. Had to send my DH out twice for two different things to try. Finally I have relief today, but I hurt so bad I was crying. Hope to never feel this again, so I need to know what others do to prevent this. Do you take something daily? I've always been a regular person, so maybe I just need to take something around fill time? Oh well, any info would be appreciated!!

OMG!!!!!!!! I'm glad I'm saying goodbye to my pannus! TMI TMI TMI!

I haven't given up the milk products actually! The list of foods my nutritionist gave me to eat for the next two weeks is kind of limited, and most of the food items have milk in one form or another on there (cottage cheese, cheese, Protein drinks, etc)! The gas doesn't bother me when I'm home and can burp as much as I want (sorry if that's tmi lol), but when I'm at work, and sitting up at my computer desk, it sucks! What do you normally eat for lunch/dinner? I've heard some people complain that products with whey in them (like the carnation protein drinks) can also cause digestive problems for them. Everybody's different in what they can tolerate. I'm not lactose intolerant, but even before the surgery I knew that milk products sometimes gave me problems. I hope your pain goes away!

Update on Dr. appt. about my lump in chest. Turns out that since my weight loss, I WAS feeling the low end of the sternum which is mostly cartilage and soft tissue. When I would push on it and messing with it, I was making it inflamed and made it tender and sore. He offered an anti-inflammatory and I said I was happy to kick the naproxen after many years and I didn't want it. He said then you should just stop pushing on it and irritating it and should be fine. Ok...lol I was stressed all day because of work and this appt. I was thinking the worse possible news I would get from this. I was stressed over something at work and had a sharp pain in my chest. That just about put me over the edge..lol My BP was great, but I had a slight fever. I have been struggling with nasty constipation lately, but will soon get relief. I know TMI...tee hee Thanks for your help and concerns. Peace, Judy

Mine's not too bad. I was banded 8/14 and was on liquids until last friday (8/24). No hunger up to that point. So after 4 days on mushies, I definitely have times when I am starting to "feel empty"/think I'm hungry but can't really tell. I can only eat about 1/2-1 cup of mushies before I am FULL. (like I have to burp and can't. sorry a bit TMI.) I have had an evening "snack" at times (one of my old bad habits that I am trying to break.) but have been good about keeping to the texture portion of my recovery. Whew. Mantra: One battle at a time. It took me 30 years to get to 250+ pounds: I'm not going to be able to reverse those habits overnight. I just have to keep trying. My first fill is 9/14, exactly one month after my surgery. I'm looking forward to it. the mad frog lady.

Ok I'm in a dilemma here...well 2 of them. Let's start with #1. 1) I'm supposed to have a fill tomorrow, and I've been able to eat just about anything that I want, and in more of a quantity than I should be able to. So I've been SO excited about this fill coming up, and what happens tonight at dinner? I PB for the first REAL time. I've gotten stuck before, but this time I actually hurled in the toilet and stuff came up (along with some brothy slime - sorry TMI!) So now I'm not sure if I need a fill or not....I'm thinking because I'm so stressed out today (and yesterday) that I'm just much tighter than I normally am....has anyone else had this dilemma the night before a fill? I don't want to get tooooo tight either. 2) Second dilemma. My daughter called wanting to come back home tomorrow. I asked her why not come back home tonight (because I wanted to know the answer), and she said because she's going to see "some guy" tonight. I'm not sure what to do. My head tells me "Denise stick with it. Tell her that unless she is willing to go back through rehab, that she's on her own". My heart says "let her come home Denise, you don't want her to think that you don't care about her. You don't want her to walk out of your life with the possibility that you may never see her again". I should have went to an Al-anon meeting tonight. I printed out the schedule but then got off work and the meeting started 40 minutes ago...Any advice??? Thank everyone for your words of encouragement too...I've had such a rough 2 days, and I have a feeling I'm in for more! :think

Your right kermit, im in Spain now, waiting for my laundry to be washed. I am so pissed off right now because i could eat a whale too. And also one of my wounds is infected. i dont know whether to visit the doc over here, it will probably cost me a fortune. My medium sized wouond went a bit green and it now has formed a litlle pinhole and is weeping. Sorry for TMI. My dad thinks i should go the doc but he will probably give me antibiotics and then no Sangria for the rest of the week. Boo hoo. How are you getting on.

I know that liquid in=liquid out but the cramps are fierce. It's 4:30am and I have been up for an hour with bad cramps and diarrhea...sorry TMI! I have taken Pepto but I am really uncomfortable. Should I take Immodium? I haven't been perfect on the liquid diet, some ice cream in the Protein shakes and gazpacho Soup (bad, bad idea) but I was pretty good today so I don't get it. Will it get better once I'm on mushies? A cracker and ginger ale would be good right now. Feelin' yucky, at least the Red Sox won two games today! Amy

Hi all. So sorry I haven't been posting lately. I get on here every night and read everyone's posts but haven't posted myself lately. I was afraid of jinxing myself. I had been on a platea for 2 weeks and it FINALLY broke this week. Since Monday I have lost the 6 pounds that I had gained and an additional 3 so I am now on the losing side again. Hope like hell I didn't jinx it now by getting so excited and sharing with everyone. LOL I have really been having a hard time getting my Proteins and calories in in a day. This past week I have just not been hungry but I am sure that is due to 'aunt flo'. My 'aunt flo' is a little wacko compared to others from what I have heard. She calls and annoys the hell out of me for 1 1/2-2 weeks before she actually gets to my place. I am soooooo hungry during that time and seem to always be on the 'hunt' for something to eat but about 3-4 days before she actually gets here and during her whole visit I don't hear from her and the hunger just goes away and I am not hungry AT ALL. See why I say she is wacko. She goes from one extreme to the other. LOL OK sorry if that was TMI Lynette- congrats on Hunters 2 eval. Don't fret over what they said at the first. Gosh how long had they known him before saying what he 'couldn't' do?! She sounds like a little social butterfly!!!! LOL Dini- hope you have fun in Italy. We will miss you. Miss reading your posts. auntie phyl- stop being auntie phil? You can't do that. You have become auntie Phil to all of us. LOL Sunny- I am SOOOOOOOO sorry for your loss. I had a yourky about 7 years ago that was stollen. I had had her for 4 years. I just couldn't sleep or eat. We put fliers all over town and drove around constantly looking for her. I cried so many tears for her and still miss her. I bought a Shitzu about 3 months after she was taken thinking that would help but honestly he just didn't fill that void. He was a wonderful dog but just not my Trixie. My kids dad had become so close to the dog so I let him have him and I waited 3 years before by the 2 yorkies I have now. I just love 'my girls' Couldn't imagine losing either of them so I totally sympathize with you. The picture I have in the corner is one of my girls (Mitzi) I have the M & M's. Mitzi and Mia. LOL Can you see why I am fat. I named both of my girls with the letter M being the first letter of their names because I love M & M's. LOL Chim- congrats on the loss. Your doing great!! Indiogirl- I know what you mean about obsessing about the calories when you eat out. I have found myself doing the same. At least we are keeping ourselves honest. Everyone else that I didn't mention, congrats on getting your fills and the weight loss. Everyone is doing fantastic!!!! We are a rockin group!!

My dr. says to eat the protein first. When there is mostly protein in my system, it causes me the same problem. I'm not sure there is an answer for that. I had my gallbladder out in Nov. then the band in March. I never know from one day to the next if I'm going to be running for the bathroom or so clogged up that I can't go. I know...tmi, but it is the facts of life. Slim-Fast drinks and protein bars really "gas" me up some days and I have to be close to the bathroom other days, so that is not my solution either. I do drink them and eat them occasionally and I'm always in a hurry, so those are quick and easy for me.

Hey everyone! I haven't been on in a while and I was reading back a couple pages. I saw that someone people were discussing the loud noises their stomachs make and possibly gas issues ... I just so happened to talk to my doctor about that today! Turns our the loud rumblings are just the digestion and they seem louder mostly because it's at the forefront of our minds. Also as far as the gas thing goes he told me I am having all the trouble because I am swallowing air. He said I need to concentrate on taking smaller sips. Just FYI and maybe TMI

Valzie You have the right mind set, pick yourself up and start over:clap2: I chewed and spit out (I know tmi) but it worked..:nervous Good Luck !!

Hi all, Ok I need input here. Im really NOT feeling well. oh the ways.. My huge issue is this searing pain i had posted ab. a few days ago.. It is still searing and i feell like my muscle is ripping. i know the dr. said som'g ab. cutting some nerve endings. but it is totally limiting and immobilizing me and i'm NOT happy... the pain is shooting to my back now... i dont' know.. Then, Whenver I drink I right away get a tightness in my chest area.. just by 1 or 2 sips of Water... I continue because that is it but the pain is still there... and stays... (oh get a load of this.. everytime I eat my husband pats my back and i very nicely burp.. and i'm HOW old???) I am constipated. NOT a happy place to be in... this morning steristrips came of one of my wounds and I noticed it has pus coming out of it ... ??? other ones are itching like crazy which is supposed to be a good sign.. Now i lifted up another steristrip slightly and I do NOT like the way it looks.. I guess i have to call the dr. Monday morning and till than i happen to hae bactroban ointment and i'll put gauze.. OH then the WIERDEST thing. I got my period ab. 3 weeks ago.. I'm totally irregular and took medication (provera) to bring it on.. I go to bathroom tody and BOOM i'm bleeding again. Wierd.. I never have this problem after i take provera... and also the color is different.. (sorry for the tmi.. i'm just so wierded out) any thoughts on this??? :help::help::help: Thanks,

Susan you should be OK.. I chewed and spit out tostidos (i know tmi) that was my only slip and i did make soupy mash potatoes - my my doc gave your creamed soups to eat on the 1st 10 days - then on to puree food 10 days and soft 10 day then regular. Ask your dr if you can have healthy request cream of ck Soup - make with skim milk and add some Protein powder - you will be in heaven and you will be getting in your protein - tell him all this sweet stuff is just to much - it can't hurt to ask. Good Luck...

Congrats to your son Lisa. And congrats to Pinkylee on selling the house. I went to Lake Tahoe for 4 days. I had never been before. We had a great time. I go back to work on Monday . Good news is....I was 175 this morning! We went to the gym each morning at the hotel we stayed at and went swimming twice, so that helped. I did have a really bad PB yesterday which lasted for 2 hours(sliming, etc.) UGH! I think it was from a chicken wing. Sorry-TMI! Have fun at your Dallas get-together. I wish I could be there!

Yep Kathy - I am right there with you - I had it happen about 1 a.m. this morning - but ok this a.m. baby poop as i call it. It's not as bad as it was a couple of weeks ago. Try some imodium i took one pill and it helped alot - as back then i was really just pooping water (tmi sorry) :confused:

Hi y'all well well. sitting by computer since sitting is the most comfy position. All went well thank god and I'm soo happy to be home! got banded at ab. 10 am.. was up ab. 11:15 and I just remember in recovery waking up.. coughing.. still had tube down my throat.. :girl_hug:. so they took out right away. and all i said was "paiinnn" "paiinnnn" they asked me how much 1-10 i told them a 6 1/2.. got some morphine.. a little while later i said "paiinnn" so they gave me some more.. lol.. at 12:30 i was up in my room already! Got up right away to go to bathroom and put on my pj's.. adn then I slept till around 2 ish.. (funny side note. my sis was banded 2 weeks ago.. when i was telling her my "paaainnn" story in recovery she BURST out laffing. she said that were the first words out of her mouth.. "paiinnn" painnn".. lol - i guess when we're tired we conserve our energy for the impt. stuff) walked around again w/ my hubby... and had this EXCRUCIATING pain on my right side, next to inscision area.. like a 1inch by 1 inch area taht was burning and stabbing me to my back.. coudln't stand straight. Otherwise everywhere else felt find. Thankfully I really did not have any gas pains.. I've had it from previous surgeries so I am soooo thankful that I didn't have that. So back to this pain. I didn't know what hit me. had a massive anxiety attack. (lovely) husband called nurse and they couldn't figure out why i was having pain in that spot. no'g there. It hurt when the fabric of my t-shirt was rubbing against it!! They gave me Toradol IV.. and that dulled it.. I was able to sleep some About 1-2 hours later Dr. Ren came and said I had some swelling on my right side of muscle when she did surgery.. ( I did have pain on myright side from a rib that kept on going out of place.. went to chiropracter twice and then figured what the heck.not gonna keep on going once a week to snap back into place. so lived with the discomfort and mild pain)so it seems she cut through some nerves there. and the pain that im' having is nerve endings that were cut. and that pain / discomfort will be there for a few weeks (GEE THANKS! :faint:).. Other than that and feeling like I had a truck run over my stomach.. which is bearable. i'm really doing well. i'm sorta hungry. but more in my head.. cuz i can't really drink much.. get full and a little nauseous and start burping :whoo: lol.. life is soo much fun the nerve pain kills when I walk.. it hurts to lay on couch.. but sitting in a chair is ok. problem is my butt KILLS already..:heh: from all the sitting. Vicodan does NOT work for me. never has.. and advil that i took ab. 2 hours after 2 vicodan also hasn't worked. called dr. and nothing can do. cuz can't call in a narcotic to pharmacy.. so i'll have to wait until tommorow. great. there goes another night of sleep. helllo late night TV once again! i wandered the hospital all night. Met some great pple who had the surgery too and it was therapeutic for all of us to talk and share experiences. still constipated but PETRIFIED to push.. lol. sorry for TMI... have aches under breasts. probably the little gas I have.. and incision sites are ok. a little painful.. i'm coughing up stuff. but taht is probably from tube. which is why my throat is killing me too... nervous ab. the cough but I put a pillow on my stomach. cuz i don't want incisions to bleed/pop.. (sis had that by gall bladder surgery and ended up in hospital all infected) all in all this is something I would do again if the results happen. which their is no reason it shouldn't!! I hope all of you are doing ok!! MissNilsa.. how u feeling? any better than this morning???? Did u get some sleep?? will keep u posted! Pemy

Hello all!!!! So sorry I haven't been posting lately. Just been busy. I am officially in bandster hell!!!!!!!!!! I am so wanting my fill now!! I won't be going until Sept 5. I feel like I can eat ANYTHING!! I haven't tried everything because honestly I am afraid to thank GOD!!! If it weren't for the 'fear' I think I would be eating and eating and eating non stop. I am so hungry. I have a hard time limiting myself right now with the things that I CAN eat. The surgeonss PA told me that I shouldn't be alarmed if I am eating more than a cup right now because I have NO restriction but I want to do this right from the start. I know I have over eaten a few times and felt that discomfort feeling. UUUGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH I tell you what that fill could not be any more welcome than it is now. I get so frustrated sometimes!!!!:phanvan mango- I bought some benefiber today. Hoping that will help because I am having the same 'problem'. Miserable feeling. Can't wait til things start 'moving along' again. Sorry if TMI Kethy- I am right there with you girl just as most of us are now. Gosh I wish I could get a fill at 4 weeks instead of 6. Right now I am trying to focus on maintaining what I have lost and not regaining rather than gaining. It is really hard to do but I think I will drive myself batty the other way. LOL After we all get our fills the world will be a better place again.:girl_hug: Hang in there!!! Kathy I loved spicy food before banding. Have always been the one who says 'the hotter the better' but since surgery I just can't handle it. Can't even use much pepper on my food for flavor. Burns my mouth!! Jeanie- I love your new picture!!! Sounds like you are soooo busy right now getting ready to go back to school. I know you are dreading it but I have to tell you I am counting down til the day the kids go back. It is time. They are bored out of there minds!!!