Search the Community

Good to know I am not alone. No I am not going regularly and I have had some problems with going to the bathroom. I usually go every 3 or 4 days and I have to take stool sofners. I stopped taking them and when I finally had to go to the bathroom it was the worst episode yet. I was in the bathroom for over an hour and the pain was horrible and I had to handle business (gross). It's been about 3 days since that and I have been taking my stool softner again and I hae gone 2 times now and it has been a lot better. I have been getting my Protein from food not shakes because I can't stand them anymore and Ithought that would help but I am still on the soft food stage so maybe after this week when I can go on all foods and I can start having salads and stuff I will go more regularly. So you think the pain is just from not going to the bathroom and getting stopped up? How come it feels better when I eat? Did yours feel better when you ate? Thanks again

It's nice and encouraging to know I am not alone! Thank you for the advice Babbs! I will do exactly that to get back on track because i also went on a sugar and breads binge. Able2cope, I'm in Argentina. I'm sure after 3 years things are harder but let's try what Babbs sugggest and I'm sure we will get results. Let me know how it goes. Thank you so much for your reply girls!

I am 5'5 and 29 years old. I had surgery on November 7, 2013. I am a few weeks away from my 1 year post op date. I started at 260 pounds. 11 months out I am now 165. 5 pounds away from 100 pound loss. I really wanted to hit that by my one year, but honestly I just don't see it happening. The past few months, I have been stalled at 165-166-167. I just can't get out of those numbers. I really thought by 1 year I would be a lot smaller than 165........ Just kinda disappointed. I am also disappointed in clothing size. I can wear a 12 at American Eagle. 12 is still BIG. 12 is still at the higher end of the clothing sizes (before you move into plus size)...... I can wear a Large shirt at American Eagle. I know there are lots of people out there who would love to be those sizes, but I just thought going to the extreme of surgery would increase my chances of being smaller and getting into smaller sizes of clothes. I just still feel big.......still feel the same......still consider myself "bigger" in crowds..... I constantly compare myself to others and think about how I am still larger than they are..... I am just feeling bad lately about myself. I feel like a disapointment and maybe that I didn't do too well during this past year. My husband of 7 years is 164 pounds.... He wears a Medium/Large Mens shirt and 32 jeans..... neither of these come close to fitting me. I am dreaming of the day I can wear his jacket or that he can give me a piggy back ride in a photo! I just feel like maybe this is the end.... 166 is where I will be.....

At five days out? Probably not. But at five months? Yeah, you'll be fine. My surgeon's plan had me cleared for regular foods (including lettuce and other raw veggies) at 6 weeks. Some are more conservative, but in any case, you will be well into regular foods by then.

Ok, I have to share this with someone that would understand what a big step this was for me. I went for my last appointment with the surgeon yesterday and I expressed by what if I fail concerns with him. We talked for ahile and I was reassured I have every opportunity to succeed at this as anyone. The line that struck me was - We'll (the MD staff) will be there with you every step of the way on your weight loss journey even at 3 am. You'll never be able to forget we are in this toegether once you have the surgery - OK a little corny - but it worked for me. I stopped my Last suppering that I've been doing all month and I actually had the nerve to walk into VICTORIA SECRET today. I broswed like I belonged there and I will belong in a few months. I am not afraid to success. ROAR!

I definitely felt the same way after surgery. Every day was an improvement, but those first few weeks for me were really just about surviving and getting enough fluids in. It was WAY more emotional for me than I ever expected. Physically it was ok, but it was an emotional struggle. I promise it gets way better and you will be so pleased with the results if you stick to the plan.

My surgery was 11/9. It was a rough first week. I appreciate your honesty! I don't know if anyone could have prepared me. I haven't had it as hard as many do, but I just want to feel semi-normal again. Today was my first day back at my desk job and it was so hard. I am usually so tough and have a high pain tolerance...not this trip. Did realize that jacking up my back the first night home was a huge set back. I was taking pain meds for my back and slept way too much and didn't walk enough. Been drinking decaf for a long time and poured out 3/4 of my morning cup of coffee at 4:30 this afternoon. Depressing. I know this will pass, but I just want to chew something other than a bioten gummy.

Hello fellow Pal I am on the pre-op journey along with you, I just got scheduled for my surgery Sept 15th! I have been researching all the most budget-friendly options as well. Protein shakes & all the supplements are definitely pricey & a big consideration when you're on a small budget but I'm hoping purchasing less in groceries will help offset the cost. I found a few things for myself that may help... First off, each doctor has different guidelines and requirements, many doctors require you to purchase a specific brand protein and Vitamin supplements for pre/post op. Unfortunately, the doctors requirements are often quite expensive & must be factored into your surgery cost & as far as I know, most insurances do not cover this portion. You'll have to check with your own Dr/insurance. Early on, I checked into the "Insure" program I found on this site that offers to get your protein shakes covered by insurance & gave the info. to my Dr & nutritionist who checked into it & discovered they are largely a scam! The protein shakes they offer are "Premier Protein" anyway, widely available at costco (cheapest) & I've found them at Walmart, Winco & many other stores, depending on your area. I tried the Premier Protein shakes (30 gm protein in 11 oz), I like the chocolate one pretty well, tried the strawberry too & just didn't like it as well. This is one of the most inexpensive brands I've been able to find. The cheapest I've been able to find works out to be about $1.20-$1.50 per shake (that's for my area in Northern California). I've also tried the Syntrax nectar (personally I like having fruit flavored options better than most the other powders). I discovered something not widely advertised, the company offers a "variety sampler" of 1 packet of each of their 15 flavors for $17. I ordered this & got it, tried only 1 so far (not horrible but I tried the cherry & that just won't be my flavor), but that's when I started hearing all about how my taste-buds could change after surgery so I decided to wait to try the rest of them after surgery. 23 gm protein each. If I decide to go with the Nectars, it will be cheaper to purchase online, about $35 or more for a 2lb/30 serving canister. If you want to order the "Variety Sampler" you order directly from the company - you can take a look at their Facebook ad here: https://www.facebook.com/officialsyntrax/photos/pb.139333966120689.-2207520000.1440194636./770066349714111/?type=3&theater However, one of my favorite recent finds is LiquaCel, it's 16gm protein in only 1OZ! In fruit flavors, it's a concentrate that you can either take straight if you just can't choke down more (especially post-op), or dilute in liquid. You can get them in individual packets for $1.50 each or 32 oz bottles for $34. So far I like these the best for taste! I've tried the orange (undiluted) & the lemonade mixed in Crystal Light lemonade & I liked them both far better than the powdered protein shakes. I have the other 2 flavors too, just haven't tried them yet & I just ordered more. However, I know that after surgery taking it straight in the concentrated form may be too strong for me, but it can be diluted in less liquid than traditional protein shakes. You can find them here: http://www.procarenow.com/search.asp?keyword=LiquaCel&search=GO As far as vitamins/supplements, this has taken even more research... for me, I found ProCare Bariatric Multi-Vitamin chewable, very similar ingredient amounts to Celebrate brand, only $12 for a month supply & it includes Iron. I checked them with my Dr. & she was good with these. They are from the same company as the LiquaCel: http://www.procarenow.com/Bariatric-Complete-Chewable-MultiVitamin-Once-Per-Day--Formulated-for-Roux-en-Y-Vertical-Sleeve-Duodenal-Switch-30-Day-Supply_p_10002.html For Calcium, I am having a really hard time with the soft-chews, they all taste like chalk to me. Once I am able to swallow pills again, which my Dr. is OK with shortly after post-op, I found Puritan's Pride calcium citrate +D "miniatures". Smaller pills than the the more common huge horse pills, if they're still too much for me after surgery, they can be cut, crushed or disintegrated in applesauce. It works out to be 200 mg per tab, so I'll need 3 tab 2x day to get 1200 but I can handle tablets better than chews. 3 bottles $17.50 6 for $35 (6 mo. supply). Available here: http://www.puritan.com/calcium-citrate-337/calcium-citrate-vitamin-d3-miniatures-033195 I'm also going to be adding Biotin gel tabs from Costco post-op, hoping to prevent hair loss & the Dr. will let me know if anything else needs to be added after blood work is done post op. These have been all my best finds so far. Hopefully some of these can help. This is definitely no easy journey and affects every aspect your life, including financially, but I'm trusting it will all be worth it & at least I'll have a life! My mother & grandmother both passed away in their early 50's & both morbidly obese when they died -- I am planning on breaking that cycle! It is such a big help to get support from all the others who are going through the same thing or have been there! Just imagine how much better life will be at this time next year! All the best on your journey! Warm Hugs, Kristina

I had a little bit of spotting for about a week after WLS. Someone posted an article about how it's from the rapid weight loss and the excess estrogen. I also got a zit! But my body sorted itself out after about a week. I've even had my old Mirena taken out a new one put in since WLS, and no issues other than brief spotting again.

I had it done 3 years ago and after surgery I was bleeding for almost a whole month and cramps my obgyn said it was normal after surgery.

I don't remember but I think it was weeks after surgery. I had a hard time just getting water down.

I had surgrey on July 6th. I started taking my liquid, chewable, and sublingual vitamins the first day I was home all day - which was July 8th. I thought I had read somewhere that I shouldn't be taking calcium for a couple of weeks, but I checked with my dr. yesterday and he said I should be taking them too.

I'm a low BMI person too. I'm also 3 months out, and have lost 50 lbs since starting the program-30 of them post-op. I've been hungry lately. Thanks for the recommendation about saffron. I'll give it a try.

Everything is going. I started the two week liquid diet..day six and it sucks. I had my class, blood work, pre op anaesthesia appointment and now just waiting for the day. In the mean time i am finishing this semester of classes and working. Trying to focus on work and school is difficult when I am on this diet. The thought of not having "food" for a while is daunting.

Ditto. I'm 11 weeks

I started loosely back in January. I got really serious in April when I did my intro meeting. They told me to eat 1700 calories a day and to get moving. I started using MyFitnessPal to track calories and began wearing a Nike FuelBand every day then also committed to working out 4x a week in any way I wanted - swimming, walking, whatever. I had to change a lot, but figured that would be my life post-surgery anyway. Now though still very nervous like everyone else :-) It's easy to lapse so even now takes work to be on top of it.

Hi All, I had my surgery on Thursday, 10/15 - late in the afternoon (2PM). I stayed in recovery until 8PM when I was moved to my room. I was able to do a walk down the hallway and back at 10PM and began drinking Water as soon as I got into my room. I am thrilled to say I have had absolutely no adverse reactions. Sure I would get a little fluttering in my stomach and tad bit of nausea but never came close to feeling like I needed to throw up and the gas pains were minimal - I never exprienced the gas pains in my back or shoulders that others warned about. I was sipping decafe coffee, chicken broth, and Jello for Breakfast the next day and did two more strolls down the hallway. I was discharged at 4PM the following day and opted to walk out vs. using a wheelchair. I will admit that walking out of the hospital and into my house wore me out and made my legs weak for about 24 hours. I have continued to follow my doc's orders and diet. I began full liquids on day three - again no problem or reactions other than a little fluttering in my stomach which I took as a sign to stop eating. I've been eating cream of wheat (mixed with unflavored Protein poweder), greek yogurt, protien shakes, and homemade blendered tomato Soup (with protein powder). I even took a small trip to the grocery store (didn't drive) yesterday. Again it wore me out and I napped for 2 hours afterwards but then had plenty of energy after the nap. Overall I am extremely pleased with how my body is responding. I am giving a lot of credit to the fact that I am sipping the Isopure bottled clear Protein drinks for my main liquid intake - I even made jello and popsicles out it. I'm taking all my suppliments too. The only odd side effect I've had is taking my cholestrol meds - I take a lot - 3 different prescriptions but 6 pills in total. The first night I took them I spaced each pill out by 10 min but that didn't seem to be enough time as I was burping up a bad chemical/medicine taste about 30 min after taking the last pill. So now I spread them out throughout the day and have not had that problem. What about weight you ask? When I got home that next day I got on the scale and I was 5lbs heavier than when I went in for surgery - realizing it was mostly trapped gas and all the IV fluids in me I didn't freak out. As of today I am 5 lbs lighter than the day of surgery.

Looking for friendly sleevers in Chicago to be sleever/workout buddies with. New to Chicago and do not know anyone who has had this procedure! Looking for support and friendship. I'm IN Chicago, not in the suburbs. Sara

How much did you weigh surgery day? I am almost 4 weeks out. I am 5'3.5 and I have lost 17 lbs. surgery morning I weighed 201.9

I am 6 weeks out - how many calories are you guys consuming and how's is it affecting your weight loss ? I see the average is 800 or so, if you work out should you up your calorie intake .... As suggested on my fitness pal ? Any thoughts ?

I'm almost 7 weeks out. I eat about 800 cals a day as well.

I am going for my surgery tomorrow!! So nervous! Just been to the supermarket to buy a few things for when I get home. What did you drink (I know it's liquids only) for the first week? I got some miso Soups, coconut Water, yoghurt drink and soups to strain. I read somewhere that if you add Protein power to coconut water it's a good way to stay hydrated and get your protein in? Anyone recommend anything else? Also Vitamins I bought Biotin, Calcium and a Multivitamin. Would love to hear any tips! ????

So I got this weird allergy. It started on my chest as red bumps about 5 days ago. I then noticed they turned into brown patches. Then I noticed it was on my back, and really bad!!! I'm about to be 3 weeks post op on Tuesday. Should I be worried? Mom wants me to go to the hospital, I think I can wait to see my PCP. I'm just scared it's one of my organs or something lol

I have been experiencing some heartburn the last week or so. Wondering if anyone else has this problem. It has been a couple of months since my last fill and I was thinking of scheduling another since I am not really losing. What causes the heartburn? Any suggestions? Thanks in adance!

I am 32 days post-op. I did not lose any weight for 3 full weeks then this last week I lost 5 lbs. It will start coming off. Try not weighing yourself. Good luck!