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I have taken miralax off and on for about 10 years now. It works by drawing water to the stool. I would be much more concerned about the lack of a bowel movement than I would be taking Miralax. everyone is different though.

Hey hon! I also have PCOS. I had my son naturally but then had 10 losses before I was diagnosed with PCOS (even though I have all the classic signs and symptoms, not a lot of doctors knew about it). This was back in 2005. I went on birth control for a few months, then had to take Metformin and Clomid to get pregnant with my daughter. I had her in 2006 (my kids are 8 1/2 years apart because of the PCOS) and after I had her, I was never able to get pregnant again. My hormones are all over the place and I CANNOT lose weight and keep it off no matter what I do (I always have initial success but it never lasts). I was told that bariatric surgery is huge in helping PCOS patients get pregnant because weight loss is the #1 thing that helps. It *can* help with hormones, but not always. The weight loss is really the biggest factor for PCOS patients. But that can also make birth control pills (which regulate periods, add estrogen to low estrogen hormones) more effective, as well as fertility meds (Metformin and Clomid, Femara, etc) more effective. Also makes your body healthier for pregnancy (almost no diabetes or high blood pressure issues). So the surgery is definitely huge for helping PCOS patients have a baby. Good luck!!!

The Post Op: Sounds ominous, doesn’t it? Just what are these questions? Can you flunk the test? The good news is, this isn’t a test, but the questions can test your patience a bit, and might be challenging to answer. The goal is honesty, so just do your best and don’t worry, we’ll go easy on you. It won’t take long to figure out that there are many more questions where these came from (and the answers will likely be the same!) What the Nutritionist told you (and hopefully the psychologist, your PCP and the WLS surgeon, as well): 1. In some way, shape or form, during your pre-surgical preparation, the dietician told you that in order to keep your weight off over time, you are going to have to eat “healthy” portions of the right foods (and by “healthy” we do not mean “healthy” = huge; we mean “healthy” as in nutritionally healthy portions = measured/reasonable amounts of food). Questions: a. Did you get this message during your pre-surgical preparation for WLS? b. Did you agree that you would, indeed eat “healthy” portions of food after the surgery (with an implied, forever more)? c. Did you mean what you said when you agreed to maintaining “healthy” portions of the right foods after surgery? (I’m fairly certain you did mean it.) d. ARE YOU DOING IT? Are you maintaining “healthy” portions of the right foods ever since you’ve had WLS? a. If not, what’s up??? b. If not, what are you willing to do in order to get back on track with this? 2. In some way, shape or form, during your pre-surgical preparation, the dietician told you that in order to keep your weight off over time, you need to eliminate or reduce/minimize the simple carbs that you eat (meaning white rice, white potatoes, pasta, white bread, most “baked goods,” “junk food,” and sugary foods (most “baked goods,” candy, soda, sweet tea, cake, cookies, etc.). Questions: a. Did you get this message during your pre-surgical preparation for WLS? b. Did you agree that you would, indeed eliminate or reduce/minimize the simple carbs that you eat (meaning white rice, white potatoes, pasta, white bread, most “baked goods,” “junk food,” and sugary foods (most “baked goods,” candy, soda, sweet tea, cake, cookies, etc.)? c. Did you mean what you said when you agreed to eliminate or reduce/minimize the simple carbs that you eat (meaning white rice, white potatoes, pasta, white bread, most “baked goods,” “junk food,” and sugary foods (most “baked goods,” candy, soda, sweet tea, cake, cookies, etc.)? (I’m fairly certain you did mean it.) d. ARE YOU DOING IT? Have you eliminated or reduced/minimized the simple carbs that you eat (meaning white rice, white potatoes, pasta, white bread, most “baked goods,” “junk food,” and sugary foods (most “baked goods,” candy, soda, sweet tea, cake, cookies, etc.)ever since you’ve had WLS? a. If not, what’s up??? b. If not, what are you willing to do in order to get back on track with this? What the Physician told you (bariatric surgeon and/or primary care physician): 3. It is important that you utilize the first 12 – 18 months (the “honeymoon period”) to establish healthy lifestyle habits regarding food and exercise. a. Did you get this message during your pre-surgical preparation for WLS? b. Did you agree that you would, indeed utilize the first 12 – 18 months (the “honeymoon period”) to establish healthy lifestyle habits regarding food and exercise? c. Did you mean what you said when you agreed to utilize the first 12 – 18 months (the “honeymoon period”) to establish healthy lifestyle habits regarding food and exercise? (I’m fairly certain you did mean it.) d. ARE YOU DOING IT? DID YOU DO IT? Are you/Did you utilize the first 12 – 18 months (the “honeymoon period”) to establish healthy lifestyle habits regarding food and exercise? a. If not, what’s up??? b. If not, what are you willing to do in order to get back on track with this? 4. It is important that you engage in and maintain some form of physical exercise (keeping in mind your physical conditions) more days of the week than not, in order to maintain your weight loss. e. Did you get this message during your pre-surgical preparation for WLS? f. Did you agree that you would, indeed engage in and maintain some form of physical exercise (keeping in mind your physical conditions) more days of the week than not, in order to maintain your weight loss? g. Did you mean what you said when you agreed to engage in and maintain some form of physical exercise (keeping in mind your physical conditions) more days of the week than not, in order to maintain your weight loss? (I’m fairly certain you did mean it.) h. ARE YOU DOING IT? Are you engaging in and maintaining some form of physical exercise (keeping in mind your physical conditions) more days of the week than not, in order to maintain your weight loss ever since you’ve had WLS? a. If not, what’s up??? b. If not, what are you willing to do in order to get back on track with this? What the Psychologist/Mental Health Provider told you: 5. It is important that you fully understand that unless you do what the doctor and nutritionist tell you to do for the rest of your life, you can (and most likely will) regain your weight. Are you willing to follow through with the nutrition and exercise guidelines after surgery in order to keep the weight off? (And if you’re lucky, they encouraged you to seek therapy if you struggle). a. Did you get this message during your pre-surgical preparation for WLS? b. Did you agree that you would, indeed, do what the doctor and nutritionist told you to do for the rest of your life, or you could (and most likely would) regain your weight? c. Did you mean what you said when you agreed to do what the doctor and nutritionist told you to do for the rest of your life, or you could (and most likely would) regain your weight? (I’m fairly certain you did mean it.) d. ARE YOU DOING IT? DID YOU DO IT? Are you doing what the doctor and nutritionist told you to do in order to prevent regaining your weight? a. If not, what’s up??? b. If not, what are you willing to do in order to get back on track with this? ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO THERAPY? The Post Op & The Doc: Above we have noted five topics basic to nearly every surgical weight loss program in this country: 1) the need to eat healthy portions of healthy foods, 2) the need to minimize simple carbohydrates, 3) using the first year to learn and implement healthy habits, 4) engaging in, and maintaining healthy support, and 5) it is possible to regain weight after WLS if you don’t follow what you were advised to do. The Post Op & The Doc have seventeen years collectively working in this field. We have seen and talked with thousands of patients who have shared with us that they did hear this information before surgery, they agreed to do what they learned, and they meant it. Yet many have been unable to follow through. That’s normal. It’s difficult to make the behavioral changes needed to keep weight off. If you start to regain, you can catch yourself and get headed in a healthy direction. Many people are doing what it takes to get back on track so that they can get and keep their excess weight off. They do what they set out to do when they decided to have weight loss surgery: Improve their health and have the ability to do more of the things they want to do. The best way to get into the habits needed to maintain a healthy weight or to get back on track is to use the Gotta Do Em's. The Gotta Do Em's are what it takes to get and keep weight off: 1. Make Healthy Food Choices 2. Maintain Portion Control 3. Exercise Regularly 4. Drink Water 5. Eat Breakfast 6. Plan Your Meals and Follow Your Plan 7. Keep a Food Diary 8. Keep an Exercise Diary 9. Use a Healthy Support System 10. Get Individual and/or Group Therapy There are lots of excuses for not following the Gotta Do Em's. It would be easy to say that you were overwhelmed with all of the information you were given pre-surgery and couldn’t possibly understand everything you agreed to. It would easy to say that you were just trying to get your forms completed so you could qualify for surgery and you therefore agreed to whatever you needed to. It would be easy to say you didn’t know then what you know now, so you were committing to things you weren’t prepared to honor. Well, none of that matters because, the truth is, you can do what you said you would do and, if you really want what you say you want (improved health and a better quality of life), you must do those things you said you would. The good news? You don’t need to do them alone. In fact, as A Post Op & A Doc always say, “No one can do this for you, but you can’t do it alone.” We all need support to sustain the Gotta Do ‘Em's. So utilize the support offered by your medical team, your program’s support group, and the people who love you and do the things you said you’d do! You’ll feel great about yourself and will get the results you were looking for as you headed into weight loss surgery. A Post Op & A Doc have a copy of the Gotta Do ‘Em’s (and a lot more free handouts for you) at www.conniestapletonphd.com/apod and on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/apostopandadoc . Cari DeLaCruz (The Post Op) cari@apostopandadoc.com www.conniestapleton.com/apod Connie Stapleton, Ph.D. (The Doc) connie@apostopandadoc.com www.conniestapleton.com/apod

I am 19 days post op and Im eating tuna, yogurts, eggs, any kind of soups, and of course shakes.

Ok, I cheated. I am having surgery March 13 and I had a bean burrito today. I feel awful. I've lost 10 pounds and was so close. Do you think this will stop my liver from shrinking?

I'm completely fine now, like it never happened! Totally my own fault. It came on fast- like 10 minutes after I finished drinking. I've been handling liquids really well and wasn't even thinking this morning when I drank the shake SO fast 🙊 It was a lesson for me to slow down and be more mindful of my new stomach.

I have been seeing decent results lately with Fasciablasting and dry skin brushing. It isn't plastic surgery results, but a definite improvement. Especially on my thighs. I'm not doing weights because my goals are mainly to look good in clothes not naked. My arms are already 2x the size they should be because of the amount of skin hanging on them. Luckily the skin compresses pretty tightly so I can stuff my arms into most things. It is really causing a problem with dresses. So if I added muscle to arms that are already too big from some size 8/10 dresses and tops. I would be stuck wearing 12 or larger which look like tents on me. Same issue with legs. My waist is really small even with the skin. I wear a lot of shapewear and compression clothing when I work out. My skin is pretty empty for the most part, not much fat left in it, so is compresses nicely in clothes and tight clothes are the most comfortable because they don't allow the skin to move. Skin flopping around can be really uncomfortable, so compressing it and holding it tight is really comfortable. Shorts are not in my future any time soon, even with plastics I have never seen a picture of a good thigh surgery, good enough to wear shorts. I'm a grown woman at the end of the say so wearing dresses in the summer is a better option anyway. As far as summer/beach/water. I do active stuff water activities so I wear like surfer stuff with rash gards and it covers everything and holds it tight. I like a lot of meshy stuff, its see through so still cute but it holds you.

Hello Bariatric Op - I actually ended up on a second round of antibiotics but, that time she put me on Florastor to help get the good bacteria built up. It worked, thank goodness! I've been off the antibiotics now for ...hmm...about 3 weeks and everything seems good. My weightloss has slowed down tremediously though. My metabolism is shot and has been for years. I'm hoping it will pick up soon! I just got back from Disney in Florida...walked about 10 miles a day, did my best with protein and didn't eat any junk yet gained weight. UGH!!!! So ticked. Although I can tell I'm retaining fluid it still stinks knowing I passed on all the fatty foods etc while there. OH well....I know this works and gotta kick up my exercise and fluids. Back to work on Monday...back to the grind of meeting all the nutritional things. How are you doing?

Everyone's sweet spot is very different. I have a 10 cc band and at one point I was at 4.8 cc which was too tight. They actually had to take out all the fill because it was too tight and I got sick. They started filling it back again and this is my 3rd fill and I only have 2.8 cc. I don't have a lot of restriction, but I am starting to feel it. After my surgery, I has 3.5 ccs. So according to my nurse, they started with a high amount so now they after they took out all the fill, they are refilling it back very slow. So, I guess 4.8 was too tight so I still have to find my sweet spot. I'm thinking I still need about two more fills before they find it. I have stopped loosing weight due to this. However, I'm back on track!!!!

First of all good for you! And I completely agree that group classes are the best way to go. I just got a gym membership too and I'm trying to take advantage of all the classes. I love love LOVE Zumba. It's so much fun and gets your heart going. I also really enjoy yoga. It's a much gentler exercise and just makes me feel good when I'm done. As far as gym equipment goes. I would just go to the strength training machines and get on them and do a few reps. My husband told me to aim for about 10 minutes on arms, 10 on legs and 10 on abs. Then go get on the elliptical for another 20 to 30 minutes. I can't start the strength until I'm officially 4 weeks post op though, which is a week from tomorrow But I think just having some kind of a plan before you go can really help. I know for me the main thing right now is to try and form a habit. Just go and do something, even if it's just for 30 minutes. Set a goal for yourself. I tell myself that I need to go 5 days of the week. I may only be able to fit 30 minutes in, but I need to do it. I'm hoping that it will eventually just be second nature. I've always hated exercising though, so like I said, I'm really trying to take advantage of the classes. They're more fun and it would be rude if you just walked out in the middle of it Hope I helped some!

You might want to lower your expectations? 1-2 lbs average per week is normal. 10 lbs is above average imo.

I ate salmon at about 4 weeks post op, shrimp at 8 weeks, and other fish closer to 10 weeks. I wouldn't say any seafood is off limits for me now, depending on the preparation. I'd just recommend be patient and all those things can be integrated back in a couple months. It can take up to 3 months for your stomach to fully heal. I'd recommend treating it like a new born baby.

I thought that it might be kinda of cool to get some recipes from all you Nymphs (especially those that can cook). I have made a few in the last few weeks that taste great and are getting me through. Since my last fill, I have not been able to eat anything comfortably in the morning this this Protein shake has been a God sent. Cindy's Fruit smoothie 1/2 cup 1% milk 1/2 cup non-fat strawberry yogurt 1/2 cup mandarin oranges 1 scoop of Any whey or powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein powder 4 frozen strawberries 2 tsp Splenda 4 Ice Cubes Blend until the ice is crushed. This is my new addiction...I love it because it tastes so friggin' awesome. Almost to good! It also nets a huge glass. For you Low Carbers this is great alone or on veggies or with RF Wheat Thins Cheesy Spinach & Bacon Dip 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained 1 lb. (16 oz.) VELVEETA Pasteurized Prepared cheese Product, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cut up 1 can (10 oz.) RO*TEL Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, undrained 8 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, crisply cooked, drained and crumbled or 1 Jar of real bacon bits COMBINE ingredients in microwaveable bowl. MICROWAVE on HIGH 5 min. or until VELVEETA is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 3 min. Cindy

Hello I'm having surgery 2/19 I'm ready. Could you give me some do's & don't? They say you can only drink small amounts does that mean 3 swallows, 1/4 cups before you feel full? IzzeiBell

APPROVED!!!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY.... MAKING SURGERY APPOINTMENT TOMORROW. Had a voicemail on my phone during a hard sweaty exercise. Called the clinic back. They approved me. Less than 48 hours after paperwork was submitted. words can not describe how happy I am. I am thinking that I will be having my surgery on Sept 10.

Yes I have lost 10 inches on my hips and 4 on the thighs and I am very excited about that, but of course the dilemma with the thighs is that I still have to wear alot of the same pants from before I lost 75lbs. and they are extremely big in the waist cause I have this pear shape. I try to wear dresses all the time, but with the cold weather coming, pants are going to be needed at some point. I am happy for my progress, but I so HATE my thighs!!

I think it tastes a lot like chocolate milk. Not thick, not too sweet. (I'm talking the lite liquid one in the box)I think its 10 or 12 gms protein.... the ESA is more.

Hello. I was told to always weigh and measure everything I put in my mouth. After surgery I didn't have a full feeling like I did prior. I was also told just because I could doesn't mean I should. Measure out your food, eat dense protein first, and then see if you can get some veggies in. I too at first felt I could have eaten more and then one day my pouch said "hello!" All of the sudden I felt the restriction that I thought I should have had. Your body of healing so give it a minute but my suggestion would be to weigh and measure. I still do it at almost 10 months out and plan to continue. It helps me to stay on track with weight loss and to know how much protein, carbs, and fats are in my diet.

Remember your doc knows best.... Drinking for me was very hard in the beginning. I needed my liquids room temp for several weeks. Plain Water is harder. Try flavoring the water. I've read on here that it helps the water molecules separate.... weird but it helps. Tiny sips! and I mean small. For the first several days I had many measuring cups lined up on the counter and I would fill with barely an oz. and sip 1 every 10 minutes. VERY time consuming, but this is all there is at this point.... I'm about to start my 3rd month and my stomach STILL cramps if I drink too fast or I shock it with a big gulp and it is super cold. It does get better a little bit every day.

A year ago spring, I was the fittest and smallest I had been since getting sleeved July of '10. I was so SO proud of my size 10 Levis, even though I had to pour myself into them and had to wear a tunic length top to hid my front pouchiness, the fact is is that they fit and they made my but look goo-ood! Today, I am wearing a pair of khakis from Old Navy, Diva cut straight leg, they fit perfect ... and they are a size 18. *sob* *weep* NOOOO!! I still have the Levis, I look at them in sorrow.

The creator of this forum Alex Brecher posted this a few months ago for those who want a more informed, balanced and complete study of the different WLS. DO THE MATH 164 Studies, 161,756 Patients Over Nearly 10 Years: What Does This Add Up To? BARIATRIC AND METABOLIC SURGERY IS EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AND GETTING SAFER! A new meta-analysis of studies carried out between 2003 and 2012 shows higher remission rates of diabetes and high blood pressure and a lower mortality rate than previously reported. The study, published online in JAMA Surgery, is an update to a meta-analysis of studies conducted between 1990 and 2003 and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, Buchwald et. al.) back in October 2004. Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reviewed outcomes from nearly 162,000 patients in 164 studies (37 randomized clinical trials and 127 observational studies), over almost 10 years. They discovered 92 percent of patients in randomized clinical trials experienced diabetes remission after surgery, slightly higher than the 86 percent remission rate found in observational studies, but significantly higher than the 76.8 percent remission rate found in the 2004 JAMA study. Remission rates for hypertension were about 75 percent in both the randomized clinical trials and observational studies, while the remission rate in 2004 was 61.7 percent. Body Mass Index (BMI) loss five years after surgery ranged from 12 to 17 in the new study. Before surgery, patients had an average BMI of 45.62. "With the 2004 study, we now have 22 years worth of data from over 180,000 patients and 300 studies," said study co-author J. Esteban Varela, MD, MPH, MBA, Fellow of the ASMBS. "The data continues to prove bariatric surgery is not only safe and effective in providing significant and sustainable weight loss, but is the most effective treatment today for diabetes, hypertension and an array of other diseases and conditions in people with obesity." In the new study, 30-day mortality rate was 0.08 percent, down from the 0.3 percent reported in 2004. Complication rates ranged from 10 to 17 percent and the reoperation rate was about 7 percent. Complication and reoperation rates were not reported in the previous meta-analysis. By procedure, gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy resulted in the greatest weight loss, but had a higher rate of complications and mortality than adjustable gastric banding. Gastric banding had the highest reoperation rate (12% in randomized trials), while gastric bypass had the lowest at 3 percent, followed by sleeve gastrectomy, which had a reoperation rate of 9 percent. The new meta-analysis included sleeve gastrectomy, which was not available in the 1990s. Of note, sleeve gastrectomy had comparable weight loss to that of gastric bypass at 5 years. "This is but the latest study to validate the high degree of safety and effectiveness of bariatric surgery," said Ninh T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and Vice-Chair of the Department of Surgery at UC Irvine School of Medicine. "Today we are performing operations that are as safe or safer than gallbladder and hernia repair surgery." According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 78 million adults were obese in 2011–2012.1 The ASMBS estimates about 24 million people have severe or morbid obesity. Individuals with a BMI greater than 30 have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death compared to healthy weight individuals as well as an increased risk of developing more than 40 obesity-related diseases and conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.2,3

I am 10 days into my sleeve and this morning I have noticed my stomach starting to rumble which stopped after I finished my protein shake. Whats weird is how my brain is processing it and the best way to describe it is confused. I am eager to move to full liquid to see what my sleeve will handle with semi solids like yogurt. Is this normal at all? I have not deviated from the clear liquid at all yet. I havent felt that tingling or full sensation since day two when I first began to sip liquids. I can handle 8oz of liquid so far no problem but havent attempted to go beyond that. I have my first follow up on Thursday.

I dream of that very moment....it was tooooooo long ago (10 years and I am only 29) that I fit into a size 10!!! Congrats to you!!!!!!!!!! You are at my goal! :huh2:

Crishell; That was me, in the car when we left the store I got a little teary eyed. Hubby had no clue what was going on and I couldn't really put it into words. I felt like I could hear Marvin Sapp's "Never would have made it" was playing in the background. Me a size 10, couldn't be, can't be. I thought something must be wrong with the pants, or maybe they're cut really big. It took A while for my mind to grasp it.

I was also banded on 10/31 So we are soul Sisters in Bandland. Let me know how u r doing ,