Search the Community

I know this is probably TMI but it's like I'm sitting on a terd when I KNOW (being a grown woman and all) that I'm not. Very uncomfortable. I do have a travel pillow that I bought that I keep in my car that adds enough cushion to make driving ok again. It was less then $4 at Walmart and fits my seat perfectly.

hey there! been healing away. since i am now one week post op, thought i would give an update!!! was doing well overall with lots of soreness and some actual pain. had trouble getting liquids for about three days but finally am doing a lot better. (did about 23-28 oz those three days sipping as much as i could… then have been increasing since) was burping with every single sip for three days. also had issues with gas pains that would randomly come on and feel like my sternum would rip in half. moving makes such a big difference !!! i Tuesday and wednesday i started to have a lot of pain/tugging and difficulty with my main incision … the bruising around it spread like deep healing bruises do and i think that was part of the issue. it also felt like a hard lump under the incision area there. i talked to my surgeon and said that was all normal and just keep at it as long as i didn’t get fever over 100 or it started getting red… this morning it feels a lot better, but still hurts… big victory for today is that i can sit and stand more comfortably than the last two days!!! i was finally able to “go” 5 days po.. no real problem but had the runs yesterday… i know, tmi but it’s what we go through zero real hunger and no real desire to even drink but doing it because I have to … i am only down 4.4 lbs so far (actually went up for the two days i was in acute pain this week) … but i am ok with that because my body is healing and know that is more important during this first healing stages… i am wary about going back to work next week part time. know i am going to be slow and really take it easy… i should be fine but know how doing nothing exhausts me lol (i am in bed before 830 every night… used to be 11 easy) hows everyone else in the early stages of post op????

Sorry ahead of time, this is going to be a long post! Let's talk a bit about what causes stalls/plateaus: The most common reason for any stall (including the dreaded 3-week stall), is simply that you are retaining more water. There are a few reasons this happens, from hormonal shifts, tissue repair, illness, or changes due to glycogen vs. ketone metabolism. This post would be even longer if I spent too much time here, but suffice it to say that for many people (especially early in the process), they are just retaining water and not actually failing to lose fat. As you lose more weight, your overall metabolic rate will slow down. People sometimes think fat is not metabolically active, but that's not true. Losing fat means your metabolism slows down, even if you retain the same amount of muscle mass (which most people don't). This means that as you lose weight, it takes less effort to move or even just live, so the amount of calories you burn both during exercise and just living also drops quite a bit. On the intake side as you progress after bariatric surgery, you'll be able to eat more. This isn't a bad thing and is by design, but obviously you should be able to see the problem here. Your metabolism has slowed down and now you can eat more. This can lead to you basically eating as much as you're burning. When that happens, weight loss stops. Especially if you're not tracking intake closely by weighing and measuring your food, you can easily be eating a lot more than you think. Some studies have shown people underestimate caloric consumption by several hundred calories on average. This is more than enough to cause a stall. This one may be TMI for some, but you may simply be retaining more stool. Feeling constipated? That will definitely impact your weight. This is going to be hard for some people to hear, but I can tell you one thing it's not, and that's hormones. Yes, various hormonal processes negatively impact weight loss in a myriad of ways, but they don't overcome the basic fact that if you eat fewer calories than you are burning, you'll lose weight. What these hormones can do if they're out of whack, is bad things like slowing your metabolism even more, increasing your hunger, screwing with water weight, or even fooling you into thinking you're eating less than you are. So, that's all great, but what do we actually do if we're in a stall? Well, I think it depends on when it happens and how long it lasts: If it's early (a.k.a. the 3-week stall), just keep doing what you're doing and you should be fine. I know people don't like that advice, but as I said it's just water, so don't worry about it. Later on, especially if the stall is lasting longer than 2-3 weeks. that's when I think it's important that you look closely at what you are actually burning, as well as really tracking what you are eating. If you don't know your RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate), you should. The closer you are to goal, the harder it is to get the balance right between intake and output to make sure you're not eating too much, so fixing this starts with knowing your RMR and accurate food logging. There's a lot of anecdotal advice thrown around about "ways to break a stall", but there seems to be little scientific evidence for any of it. It certainly won't hurt to try things like breaking up your routine in terms of diet or exercise, but just understand that this change may or may not have any impact. If it makes you feel better to be proactive, go for it. Longer term, there is one piece of solid advice that's backed up by lots of research: Even if you don't really like working out, do it anyway. Those WLS patients that make a regular habit of exercising for 45 minutes to an hour most days a week are significantly more likely to reach their goal and maintain the weight loss. (One caveat here: significantly changing your exercise routine can make you retain water and possibly even add muscle, so don't freak out if you see a stall or even a gain.) I'll take that exercise advice one step further and say you really should be doing some form of strength training. This is also backed up by lots of studies, but the great thing about strength training is that it makes your burn more calories even at rest (in other words, it increases your metabolic rate). There are lots of other benefits, but the metabolic benefit is the most germaine to the stall question. Those that do strength training are less likely to stall during weight loss and are more likely to reach and then maintain their goal weight long term.

Started purees yesterday, which feels like a big change. My digestive system has definitely woken up! Possibly TMI, but after two weeks of very infrequent visits to the toilet I suddenly understand why they say to try new foods at home :/ Honestly, I wish I could just stay on the clear whey powders! But I am committed to doing what the clinical team tells me, because I know my relationship with food is f*cked and they are actual experts. And I’m happy to say I’ve lost over 20lbs in the first two weeks - that plus my weight loss from the pre op diet means like I’m already almost a third of the way through my weight loss! That’s pretty crazy, but also ridiculously motivating.

I had the Loop DS (which is a little different) January 23 2020 (right before the Covid crap storm). From what I remember... I didn't poop a whole lot the first two or three weeks since I was on liquids and then puree and barely ate anything so from my own experience maybe your plane ride will be fairly normal. I did have overactive bowels once I hit stage 3, but hell, when I hit stage 4 I actually got constipation issues (and then learned it was because I was taking too much iron. Went from taking 3 multi's with iron to 2 and then finally down to 1 multi with iron. My family actually tends to hyper absorb iron and I forgot about that so... I actually don't need as much of it and still test in the normal range. Smack dab in the middle of normal at that). They probably won't warn you, but there is the rare chance it'll happen to you too so... 1. I vomited old blood after my surgery. It hurt like hell, but only happened 4 times so... not too bad, I guess. And, 2. Any surgery with malabsorption has a 3% chance of you developing either a wheat allergy or Celiac Disease (I got the wheat allergy). Also, when you do get put onto general diet try to avoid fatty foods because they will likely cause stomach issues (at least they did to me earlier on. And still kinda do that to me now). And if you wait too long to eat your stomach may decide to empty everything in your bowels (I can't be the only one who had this surgery that this happens to. Also, I'm not joking). It's incredibly annoying, but if I have constipation issues I know how to solve it lol. Problem is though that you will be in and out of the bathroom for a few HOURS because your stomach will not settle and my surgeon warned not to take imodium because it can cause bowel blockage and with this surgery you REALLY don't want that. So you'd be stuck at home. Best thing to avoid this is have something like a granola bar next to your bed so you can eat if your stomach wakes you up (mine does. but I'm stupid and ignore it sometimes because I'm tired and I pay for it later... bright side, if you can call it that lol, is that after the day spent in the bathroom you'll drop 2-4 pounds and no, I'm not joking. You really go that much. Or I do, at least. TMI, sorry). Also, regarding needing to be around a bathroom... not necessarily, but make sure you know where it IS. If you need to go then you will get a rumbling in your tummy and you will know when you need to rush to the bathroom. So make sure you do know where it is just in case. Also, the thing they say about never trusting a fart? Don't gamble because you might lose lol (I'd say 80% of the time it's an okay gamble, but the other 20% could be embarrassing if you were in public). Again, sorry for the TMI, but I figure it's info that you'd probably need to know. I'm happy with the surgery I chose, btw and have no regrets (other than wishing I hadn't had to take a med for my Trigeminal Neuralgia that made me gain 18 pounds back and even if I lost half of that since I switched meds I still can't lose the other 9 pounds for the life of me. But really that's not the surgery's fault, it's just my stupid ass TN that decided it was going to crap on my happy parade and send me into absolute agony and force me to take meds that make me gain weight... and yes, I'm still upset about it since the flare is still going on 7 months later and even if it's mostly under control now it's a progressive disorder and I REALLY don't want to have brain surgery AGAIN! Sorry. Rant over). Anyway, I wish you the best and hope everything goes well for you!

Post op gas sucks. Sipping has helped because it can make me burp. Have felt it move to my shoulder and neck. The moment that I feel that I start gently moving that area and it usually disappears quickly if I start on it right away. If I wait to move the area it turns into more pain and I don’t want that at all. Lots of gas bubbles that feel like they are under my sternum and those are tougher to deal with until they move somewhere else. Walking in general helps those some. It hurts to sip some still. Not as bad as day 1, but I have also learned how freaking tiny the sips have to be. Using the one ounce cups from hospital (30 ml) I can only sip about 5 ml at a time comfortably. If I did over ten ml it huuurts ! I am sure that will be better with time but keeping it very small and frequent. getting up and down sucks, but walking hasn’t been bad for me. Just slow and deliberate. I walked around my yard with my pecan gatherer (weighs about two pounds) and used it like a walking stick that picked up pecans yesterday. No bending, nope nope - not going to happen. Dumped it every ten or so nuts (I just turn it and dump into a box.. does not strain any bit of me).. sat on my outside swing frequently too. Enjoying the sunshine and resting between nut walks. The swing movement was helping with the gas too. my big incision hurts, the others I can’t really even feel. The big one I have to hold my hand against going up or down and will ache at rest. All of my incisions have big bruises around them, the big one is the worst. Dr apparently told my husband and mom that he could tell inside that I had already lost weight because the fat in my internal areas were already looking good for someone my size. husband made me an enriched beef broth for me last night (he pressure cooked meat and veg in beef stock and strained it through my fine mesh strainer). Tasted good, and warm things soothe and don’t hurt as bad going down (but sips need to stay the same..) And in the TMI category - be aware that this surgery can also trigger your period to come early. Another joy of womanhood. At least I don’t usually get cramps, just more to do when I go to the bathroom to pee.. (last month it came early when I got terribly sick with the flu too) other than that.. I am down 2 lbs already from surgery weight. I was expecting to be heavier because of all of the fluids and other liquids they put into me in the hospital. 149.5 lbs to go to get to ONEderland lol time to go do some more nut walks !

my body does that too!! i will stall for days/weeks then all of a sudden i will have a drop of 5-15 lbs over a couple of days (the 15 lb drop was fantastic lol) …. i also (tmi) notice that i go pee a lot more for a day or so before a stall ends

Thank you so much for the kindness. I ended up speaking waaaaayyy too soon. The last 12+ hours have been miserable. I was discharged from the hospital last night and I’ve dry heaved/vomited three times. The first one I can explain away because I took my pain med on a practically empty stomach without protein (which I didn’t know I shouldn’t do until after the fact), but the other two there’s no rhyme or reason to them. I’m not even taking any medications because I keep getting nauseous / dry heaving — except for the nausea patch behind my ear (which clearly isn’t doing anything for me), Zofran, and the Prilosec. I know for a fact I’m not drinking near enough between my fear of vomiting and then the fact I am (TMI) spitting up bile and some of my liquid the last two dry heaves. Worried I’m gonna end up back in the hospital at this rate. Also sucks that I’m heaving because I can’t take any pain meds to ease my pain — though most of my pain is when I get up and down or bend more than anything

Sorry for the novel folks, but maybe before getting to tips and tricks, let's talk a bit about what causes plateaus: First, the most common reason for any stall, including the dreaded 3-week stall is simply that you are retaining more water. There are a few reasons this happens, but around the 3-week mark it comes down to the fact that your body is adjusting to a low carb intake after converting from glycogen to ketones for energy. More water is needed to burn glycogen, so you were retaining more water pre-surgery than you are now that you're using primarily ketones for energy. At about the 3-week mark, your body eventually recognizes that the water loss is long term, so other mechanisms have started kicking in to start holding on to more water. This water loss due to the change between glycogen and ketones is the primary reason for "keto flu", and something that increases your risk of dehydration early after surgery. The other "reasons" for plateaus really don't apply as much at the 3 week mark, but will become more important later in the process. Let's cover those too though so you're prepared: As you lose more weight, your overall metabolic rate will slow down. People sometimes think fat is not metabolically active, but that's not true. Less fat means your metabolism slows down, even if you retain the same amount of muscle. As you lose weight, it takes less effort to move, so the amount of calories you burn from activity also drops quite a bit. As you progress, you'll be able to eat more and especially if you're not tracking intake closely by weighing and measuring your food, you can easily be eating a lot more than you think. This one may be TMI for some, but you may simply be retaining more stool. This is going to be hard for some people to hear, but I can tell you one thing it's not, and that's hormones. Yes, various hormonal processes negatively impact weight loss in a myriad of ways, but they don't overcome basic physics: if you eat less than you are burning, you'll lose weight. What these hormones can do if they're out of whack, is not good things like slowing your metabolism, increasing your hunger, screwing with water weight, or even fooling you into thinking you're eating less than you are. So, with all that sciency stuff out of the way, what do we actually do if we're in a stall? Well, I think it depends on when it happens and how long it lasts: If it's early (a.k.a. the 3-week stall), just keep doing what you're doing and you should be fine. I know people don't like that advice, but as I said, it's just water, so don't worry about it. Later on, especially if the stall is lasting longer than 2-3 weeks. that's when I think it's important that you look closely at what you are actually burning, as well as really tracking what you are eating. If you don't know your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), you should. The closer you are to goal, the harder it is to get the balance right between intake and output to make sure you're not eating too much, so fixing this starts with knowing your BMR and accurate food logging. There's a lot of anecdotal advice thrown around about "ways to break a stall", but there seems to be little scientific evidence for any of it. Most of it certainly won't hurt to try, e.g. breaking up your routine in terms of diet or exercise, but just understand that this change may or may not have had any impact. If it makes you feel better to be proactive, go for it. Longer term, there is one piece of solid advice that's backed up by lots of research: Even if you don't really like working out, do it anyway. Those WLS patients that make a regular habit of exercising for 45 minutes to an hour most days a week are significantly more likely to reach their goal and maintain the weight loss. (One caveat here: significantly changing your exercise routine can make you retain water and possibly even add muscle, so don't freak out if you see a stall or even a gain.) I'll take that exercise advice one step further and say you really should be doing some form of strength training. This is also backed up by lots of studies, but the great thing about strength training is that it makes your burn more calories even at rest (in other words, it increases your metabolic rate). There are lots of other benefits, but the metabolic benefit is the most germaine to the stall question. Those that do strength training are less likely to stall during weight loss.

to those of you post op who had sleep apnea and cpap/bipap machines….. Did your sleep apnea improve? How long/how much weight before it did? Did you stop using your machine/when? i am down about 50 lbs already since my in lab sleep titration test (70+ since my at home sleep study) and I was severe and needing bipap. (tmi but i was having issues with hypoxic morning migraines and sleep paralysis) I hate my machine but like not getting hypoxic at night so I still wear it. Just went to sleep dr and they were not really helpful with the question. said I would need to loose “significant” weight before I would need retesting or come off the machine, kinda discounting my loss so far… said if i had a “miraculous” weight loss over the next few months to call, otherwise they would see me in a year. Just wanted to hear experiences from everyone, but especially high bmi peeps thanks!!

Even if you have no oral intake (or only water, etc) your body will produce some waste. I would say if you haven't had a BM within 3-4 days then I would ask your surgeon. It takes a bit postoperative for your intestines to get back on track (sedation and pain meds slow motility of the intestines), but also most people have less fluid intake for a few days which can slow it down and make it difficult to pass as well. TMI- I had my 1st one on day 4, and it was awful. Not because of the surgery itself, but because I didn't have enough fluids to make it "normal". It was extremely difficult to pass. I wish I had gotten a stool softener instead.

Day 4 post op vsg over here. It hurts less today to walk and move around. I slept in my bed for the first night instead of the recliner. I started my morning off with half a fairlife protein shake (this next part is probably TMI, sorry 💩) and about 10 minutes later was struck with the most intense diarrhea of my life! I'm talking doubled over, whole body sweating, crying in stomach cramp agony. It was my first post-op bowel movement, and may have been worse because I also had my gallbladder removed. It was followed by an emotional breakdown where I just sat and cried and questioned every choice that led me to this moment. I don't regret having WLS, but I am having a difficult time reminding myself that there is a light at the end of this tunnel. A little tip I found (if your new stomach can tolerate cold liquid) is to freeze gatorade zero into popsicles! I ordered 4oz popsicle molds on Amazon and find it much easier to suck on a popsicle than sip 4oz right now.

I have an issue with constipation. I take 2 colace in the morning and 1 at night and after talking to my team about it last week I've added fiber gummies with some success. I was going 1-2 weeks with no bm and then pooping what felt like solid boulders(I know TMI!!!) Pushing to the point of almost passing out. I eat food, healthier food but food. Definitely no longer on the liquid stage. Thing should be at least every other day. Hoping the new gummies will help. Sent from my SM-F926U using BariatricPal mobile app

There were two things that really surprised me, despite all the research and reading I did. I didn't know that the first week after the surgery I might not lose anything. I knew that some people come home a little heavier than on surgery day, but coming home 10lbs heavier and then not losing anything for over a week was startling to me. My nutritionist explained that it was normal, and that given the amount I lost during the LSD, I could expect to lose less than normal in the first month. I was expected to be between 279-275 on my next appointment (last Friday), but she said not to worry about it if I didn't hit that. I hit 280.2 the morning of my appointment. The second thing, and if you don't want TMI scroll on, was the surprise appearance of my period more than a week early, accompanied by horrific cramps and clotting. Again, I'd read that it could cause your cycle to run early, or late, but I was not prepared for the worst period of my life. I'm at the tail end of my next cycle and this one hasn't been nearly as bad, but still a good bit worse than I'm used to, so there's a heads up on that lol.

Oh my goodness! I miss reading this forum so much! I've been trying to really focus on myself to heal. A week after surgery around September 6th, I had this horrrrrrrible pain out of no where at 10AM. It was the front and back of my right side. My boyfriend rushed me to the ER, and it was packed!!! I was screaming in pain and throwing up absolutely nothing. All the rooms were occupied and I was #3 to be triaged. I begged my fiance to lay down on the floor in the waiting room of the ER. As soon as I laid down they brought me to a different room to treat me, Well guys I had a kidney stone! It was THE WORSE PAIN in my entire life. I had my eyes close from the pain the whole time. TMI - Please be aware!!! Ever since surgery I was only constipated one day. Ever since then I've been having very very oily orange stool. Straight up like grease. When I had my sleeve in 2018 I was constipated every month. I can't even pass gas normally because it will leak out. My nurse and dietitian said I am not storing my fat nutrients. I'm excreting it way too fast which is not normal, I have to go in and possibly be prescribed a fat enzyme. Every time I eat I have to go super bad within 30 minutes. If i don't get it resolved i can develop IBS. I am soooo scared at this point, Also is anyone prescribed Ursodiol to prevent gallstone problems?

I have a TMI "negative victory." I realize that's an oxymoron, but I'm serious. Sex hurts. My husband is rather well endowed and since I'm losing some butt fat, he is bottoming out and it KILLS. Gonna have to start doing squats to build my back end up with muscle instead of fat, so it restricts his motion again 🤦‍♀️ Told him just to shave an inch off and we'll be fine ... he didn't appreciate that. 🤣

Of course last night I got my period, a week early, thinking it was all the stress. Sorry if that's TMI just worried about it, im sure the nurses will have delt with it before but it's still a little weird for me.

I want to add that I'm sorry if I came off as ungrateful that I was able to have the surgery, I am grateful and i am planning on working my program. I was very emotional and upset when I was typing out what happened. I think I'm more upset that I didn't stay in a different town for my recovery.... and I'm hoping to never have to go to this hospital again if I can help it... The doctor just make me feel like me feeling dizzy, not being able to drink much, and not going to the bathroom in over 10 hours (probably tmi I'm sorry) was all my fault and I deserved it and had no right going to the hospital for help..... I have another surgery I'm supposed to have done in 8 months (for my back) and u will definitely hold off until I'm able to save enough to stay in a different town for recovery. Sent from my SM-G996U using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm back from my bypass. They were going to let me go after the 1st night but I was having trouble eating any food. Everything I tried to swallow except for water felt like I was trying to swallow acid. Luckily it did get better by the second night and today is even better. I have not hit my water or protein goals but I wasn't expecting to be able to do that so soon. I am surprised at how much I can drink though. I don't have to take tiny sips, my normal pre surgery swallowing amount still works. I am not hungry but I also can't tell when I'm full either. From what I have read and seen, 2 oz should be the size of my stomach but I can hold more. I asked my dr about it and he said it was a good thing and that it will help me reach my water and protein goals better. I asked him if maybe my stomach was left too big and he says he makes everyone's stomach the same size because they use a guide instrument. He says I will start feeling the restriction much more after I can start eating more solid foods. He also thinks that I can move to pureed food after my drs appointment next week. I thought I was on liquids for 2 weeks but I'll take only one week as long as things go well. In the meantime I'm still limiting myself to 2 oz to make sure that I don't stretch anything. As far as recovery is going, I'm doing better than I thought I would. The only really bad pain was when I was waking up after the surgery. I was still so groggy that I couldn't open my eyes but I could hear the nurse and she kept giving me doses of pain meds until I was comfortable. After that I was moved to my room. I was soooo happy to find out that they were letting my husband stay with me. Poor guy had to sleep in a reclining chair but at least he got to stay. He was amazing help when trying to get out of bed to go to the bathroom and to walk the halls. I did not get bad gas pains but I still have a lot of bloating but I can tell its inside because I can hear it travelling the loops of my intestine (sorry of that tmi) I have been taking gas x but its not being too effective yet. Its a tolerable pain though so I just have to get through it. Another tmi is that I still haven't had any bowel movements but the nurse wasn't worried and I honestly haven't eaten that much so maybe there isn't anything to go. The weekend before surgery while on the liquid diet I had the worst constipation and that finally broke the night before surgery. So maybe I was cleaned out enough that I have nothing to go atm. I have laxatives if needed and I my dr approved fiber powder to add to my liquids if I wanted to. I did request a belly binder is what I've called it, but its got a better name that I can't think of atm lol. It is amazing with how much it lessens the pain of moving. Getting out and into bed has been the hardest but once I got that on, I haven't taken it off. So now I just have to get all my liquids in and figure out what full feels like. I'm very happy not to feel hungry and also happy that so far I'm still ok with the taste of my premier protein shakes. I was going to be sad if I couldn't drink anymore of my pumpkin spice shakes. Sorry for the book but I am a talker lol

*TMI* WARNING *TMI* I didn't know about the serve constipation. I've been struggling so bad trying to pass this lumpy stool. NOTHING seems to be working, had to leave work early. I'm in sooooo much pain. I'm in the 2nd week of my 2 weeks pre-op liquid diet. Do anyone have any suggestions? I might not survive this.

Some cycles I have no food differences, but some (like this one lol tmi) it comes with lots of cravings as hormones fluctuate. Often it’s sweet and junk foody cravings.. (been resisting but hard!) Also been wanting more volume, but been adding extra veg to satisfy that.

I started yesterday, a week and a half early and omg the cramps! TMI but clotting too which I haven’t had since I had my son 22 years ago! You’re not the only one :(

As you are early out contact a doctor at your surgery, go to the A&E or ring 111. You need to know what is going on. Its tough when you are having surgery in a different country as you are not able to get their direct input . Unfortunately they are not bariatric surgeons but they will check for symptoms It could be as simple as the Covid or a reaction to the sugars in the shakes. Also tomato soup is very acidic and could hurt your new tummy, try strained chicken soup or diluted bovril stock cubes. My Uk surgeon believes in plain skimmed milk not shakes. Its cheaper too. Just a thought ... How are your bowel movements ? Sorry TMI, I know but we speak freely on here as we have all been there done that Please feel free to ask me anything

I can honestly say this is the one of the worst things I went through in the first 6 weeks. I tried everything and 14 days later still nothing. TMI alert - I put on a rubber glove and went in. The relief was wonderful. It happened once more then I have been ok ever since.

I tried to edit my post but it wouldn’t let me….. anyway, I also wanted to add that you should tell your surgeon you think you may have an ulcer that could possibly be bleeding. I think that would account for the very dark stool. (I know, TMI but, hey, we’re all friends here.)