Search the Community

So I went to Walgreen's today to buy some cotton balls that I need for an upcoming out patient procedure and I went in the candy isle and bought two bags of these things and man am I paying for it by eating the whole first bag talk about chocolate rain (tmi)

So, do any of you find that you have lots of gas since being sleeved. I am not talking about burping...LOL. Man, I constantly have gas and it is gross. I seriously pass gass, I know, probably 45 times a day. It is annoying! Is it because our bellys are so small or what? Kelly

Nah, don't feel silly! It's all good here. 1) - Probably you'll be naked (the issue is that they don't want even the slight chance of static electricity from the panties in an environment of flammable gasses). The gowns are spacious and offer personal privacy. Don't worry about possibly having your period...the OR nurses deal with this ALL the time. No big deal. 2) - Nope. If anything, the post-op diet combined with the pain meds left me a little constipated. TMI? No such a thing!!

I gained 7 lbs since my initial consultation in June. I sort of had a feeling that was happening, because I have been so stressed and out of it through the whole approval process. Then again I weighed in the midst of PMS so that could be part of it. I'm worried that if I lose 10 lbs, the doctor will tell me I didn't lose enough. But if I lose it, then my liver will shrink anyway regardless won't it? I mean isn't the 10 days the same regardless of how much you weigh in? I don't know, I've lost 5.5 in the last 2 days. Again, part of that could be that as of tomorrow I won't have PMS anymore. (I know, TMI). I also feel as if I've hit the wall, and I'm not hungry anymore. I was in bad shape yesterday, I had a headache, was irritable, wanted to cry all the time. I was never tempted to cheat (knock on wood), but I just wanted to fast forward to next week or sleep until then. At the rate I'm going, I could drop 20 lbs before my surgery next week. Considering that next week I have a 3 day liquid diet. Who knows. I'm mad at myself for gaining that weight, but it is what it is.

I feel the same way!! I am 16 days out. The urge...Please send me a message if you find any info on what to do. My nurse said to talk milk of magnesia, but I dont want to have to take it just to have a bowel movement. Sorry...TMI

Welcome to VST!! I'm glad you decided to post. It's nice to see who is hanging around. Congrats on having a surgery date! As for telling people, that's entirely up to you. Just so long as you have a support system in place to help you with recovery, you should be fine. On the hair loss, I suggest Biotin. It's relatively cheap at the drug store and you can sometimes find it B1G1 at Walgreens and CVS pharmacy here. It's way cheaper than a lot of those miracle hair regrowth potions sold on television, so I'd def try the biotin before paying big money for something else. I've been taking biotin since 2 months post-op and I've had a little thinning, but not as bad as I expected. You're right, it is normal to be worried and scared before surgery. And you've got a lot of time before yours to get through. My best advice for dealing with the anxiety is to write your fears and worries down then look at your list. Figure out what you can do something about and do it! Then, pray, meditate, or literally burn the list and let the issues you can't do anything about GO. For example: I was terrified that I would die on the operating table, no, I was CONVINCED I was gonna die. So, I made sure my estate planning docs were put together, then I talked to my surgeon about my thoughts. He reassured me that he would not let me die, but I still had that doubt. I made sure I told my friends and family that I loved them, put the estate planning docs where someone could find them if they were needed, then put my faith in God and my surgeon. Once I relaxed about it, it made things much easier. Obviously, I lived! You're in the right place to research and ask questions about anything that has you worried. There is NO question that is TMI on this board, I've found. Good luck on your journey!!

You poor dear. I hope you get this cleared up soon. My band doc had me taking liquid antibiotics too. But after 3 days all I had was "the runs" (TMI) SO, his office nurse said they obviously were not doing me any good and to stop taking them. I luckily did not have any fever or infections. I do hope you get balanced out and feeling better! Terry:)

I'm right there with you guys. I'm trying to get in my 60 ounces of water a day, but it has been hard. My stomach has been queasy too, and like the pp, I haven't had to worry about constipation...sorry TMI, quite the opposite. I called and spoke to a nurse at my doctor's office and she just said to keep drinking water -- and that my body is getting used to a new system. I'd just like for the stomach gurgling to stop.

I wil be following this closely. I have never took a birth control pill, ever. We have even been told I will probably never conceive - but now I am being told I am responding so well to the weight loss (it has only been 2 months post-op but I was loosing since January '11) that they are concerned my body may reverse "whatever" it is doing. I have not even fully transitioned to daily mushies yet, so this really scares me - that would be so bad for a child! TMI but Hubby is like "what??!!!" when I handed him a sleeve of his own...so that isn't going to last in the long run (and is wayyy not effective enough).

I love Quinoa. I usually substitute it for my rice. It's delicious. There are tons of recipes for using it. In my experience, it needs to be cooked thoroughly or it'll exit your body via your stool. I know that's TMI, but hey...It happens. lol Quinoa is awesome!

I am so sorry you are having such a rough time. You need to talk to your surgeon to get a stronger PPI and let him/her know about lack of bowel movements. But, TMI - I only had one about once a week postop remember than little input equals little output. A softener helps depending on how far out you are. Walking helps with the gas, really. Yes, lactose intolerant for first three months too, this could be upsetting you. Discuss with a medical professional. You are learning the new you and this is not always an easy path. Learn what you can do now and then later when stable, reintroduce some problem foods/liquids as you move along in this journey. At about 6 months out I was totally normal minus the quantity I could eat. I had learned new habits and new ways of eating. So, understand this is a process now. Wishing you the best and hoping you find answers soon.

I had my surgery on 4/3 and the diarrhea started at the hospital and between the day I came home and the following day I had 12 episodes. Each day brings less episodes but when I called the surgeon the PA said not to worry unless there are more then 15 episodes. I trusted her judgement and have been having less and less. Just make sure you are keeping hydrated. She said as long as your urine is not getting darker or more concentrated you should be ok. Also you are not taking in anything solid so you cannot expect any solid to come out. Sorry if that was TMI. Good luck!

Ok...so I'm 3 weeks out tomorrow. I'm wondering if anyone else is having this issue... I had that TOM a week before my surgery, then again a week after...I had three days..count them 3 days of nothing and now I'm back to bleeding....WTH????? Anyone else have this problem??? Does it even back out??? I feel enough like poopie from the surgery, I don't need this to add to it..LOL Ohh but yea, I am down 42lbs over all..pre surgery and everything..yay!!! Help!!!!!!

Good Morning Heather (actually, I doubt it is morning in Portugal now, oh well), Saw your IM yesterday, but it went to my phone, I was still sound asleep:notagree. Sorry you are having such problems. I wish I could offer some advice, but like you, I am starting to have problems too. The past three mornings, (also probably TMI) I have woke up and dry-heaved. There is nothing to actually come up. But, I feel pretty weak too. Aren't you glad we only have to do this for a short time? I have an aunt who weighed 400 pounds and decided she did not want to "turn 40 and be fat". So, she was working for a physician's office and they had brought in some new liquid diet program. They told her if she agreed to allow them to use her as a success story, they would let her do the diet for free. She did it religiously for 18 months and lost 220 pounds during that time (no, I am not kidding!). I don't know how anyone could do that for that long. I am barely surviving my pre-op. Oh, and by the way, on Thanksgiving, my aunt decided she was going to eat real food. She literally went crazy and ate everything on the table and had seconds of everthing. She ate one of every kind of dessert. From there on out, she completely went off the diet and gained all of her weight back in about a year and a half. I felt so bad for her. Hang in there, remember, only 3 days till banding. A couple of weeks of liquid dieting afterwards and this will all be past. You can do this. I truly hope you get to feeling better.

I'm very sorry if this has been asked a million times before, but I am feeling really crook and just want to get the question asked and over and done with so I can rest again rather than sitting on the computer searching through the forum for an hour... I had my surgery 2 days ago and since then I have not had one moment where I feel like I dont have air in my belly.. I keep burping it out when sitting on an angle, but as soon as I sit up again, I feel like I have a balloon stuck in my stomach and it hurts to breath... it hurts to burp when sitting up straight but when I go back on the angle it comes out fine again... is this normal?? I find most of the time I feel like I have air in my stomach is straight after having a drink of Water or whatever liquid I'm putting in my mouth right now... I physically feel it gargle through my band and in the process the bubbles make me sore and want to burp again... its going down ok after the initial gurgle... but if this keeps up much longer I'm gonna cry something cruel hey.... It's probably normal but I'm so worried about it :thumbup: I feel sick and nauseous and horrible and I have wind from the devil... my stomach and guts are just making the most horrible noises and I'm playing fireworks in the bathroom... getting quite dehydrated because all my water is coming out the wrong hole (sorry, tmi). Can someone tell me if I should just relax and let this phase pass or whether this doesn't sound completely normal??

Finally…fill number 4 seems to have done the trick. I have been working closely with one PA at my doctors to find restriction. Each week I have been providing them a detailed food and exercise log. We reviewed my food log and how long 8 oz. meals were lasting (2-3 hours) and agreed that another fill was appropriate. However, they took a very different approach this time. Instead of picking a fill amount and then seeing how it went over the next few weeks. They drained the entire band and then refilled the band while I was drinking water until it would not go down anymore them they backed things off to let a little go through. Prior to this I have felt a definitive ceiling on food consumption (10-12 oz) so I can’t complain that it was not helping…but I never felt like I was experiencing restriction. This is the first time after a fill that a protein shake has had to be drunk in stages. I have gotten away without chewing everything to death; I have certainly slowed down and did chew much more than in the past. However, going forward I am definitely going to have chew much more carefully. I am back to liquids for a few days and finally feel confident that I will be finding a long lasting restriction experience this time. It is good to feel that I am finally getting what we paid for…Despite not having had a full restriction experience before this, I am thrilled with the things the LapBand process has done for me to this point. I am down 98 pounds so far, including pre-op, and have 78 more to go. My goals is to get the last 78 done over the next 6 months and then stabilize for a few months, so I can use our annual shutdown in December to get some PS done and have those 2 weeks to recover for the New Year. It is pretty clear I will have to get reductions on the waist and my “moobs.” (sorry…probably under the heading of TMI)

I need exercises for specific problem areas. 1. My bat wings (upper arms) 2. My inner thighs and 3. A fat roll under my butt! I do some cardio but mostly walking. I've tried to target these areas but to no avail. I've looked up so many online…What exercises do you guys do to help with these areas? Of course I really didn't have these flabby problems until I lost 120 pounds. The extra skin under my butt chafes sometimes and it's a pain. (Tmi I know). I don't think insurance will cover for these areas. I do know that my insurance will take care of my extra skin on my belly. Any exercise suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I'm 1wk 1d post op and feeling ok. I have some mucus build up(sorry tmi) and im not sure if thats my asthma or pneumonia??I dont have a constant cough or anything else just mucus in my throat and chest. I may call the dr later. I never bought a scale because I was afraid to become obsessed with weighing myself, but now im freaking cause i dont know what I weigh, lol. Oh well, such is life! congrats to all.

Sliming-I didn't know the word til this site. Today I tried to eat a KFC chicken bite. By the second one, I felt this sharp pain in my sternum or in the area. Then I started burping kind of like wen you swallow alot of air. Then my eyes and nose started running. I knew I was stuck with a bite of chicken. It goes up or down. Went in bathroom stood over toilet sorry...and just stood there. Bent over and clear slimy spit just drooled out. Then I just spit up a little stuff not vomiting. So hard to explain but this is about it. Stopped and it did it again. I felt unstuck and I don't like this feeling. There are trigger foods for me that don't go down so well. No bread, some chicken, and certain meats and certain veggies. Sorry for TMI. But you need to know and again I was recently filled more and you just don't always know what will work and what wont. http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w3x7zPz/

I've lost a good bit by now (84lbs with 39 to go) my belly button isn't getting any air and it's gross and smelly and wet. Sooo gross. I've tried lotrimin spray and alcohol to clean it but it's still gross. Any advise on how to deal with this? Also when do you start thinking about plastic surgery. Again I still have a ways to go but I'm already seeing belly button issues and thinking I need to wrap my head around another surgery. And also what's the chance I get my insurance company to pay for it? Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 199 GW: 160

I was sleeved 12/24. I was supposed to get my period this upcoming Friday. This past Friday (1 week early) I started having very very dark brown discharge. And a fair amount of it. It is still here, but now I notice more red (sorry again for the TMI!) Is this normal? Has anyone had anything like this happen?

Thank you. The reason I can't tell my dad is because he's bi-polar and unmedicated. So if he knows something then entire universe knows it. No matter how personal it is. And I mean TMI personal. It's taken me YEARS to realize that he doesn't hate me and that if he wasn't bi-polar he might be an ok guy. Might. I just don't feel comfortable telling my sister. I really wish I could, but she always makes snide remarks about fat people giving the impression that to her being fat is the worst thing a person can be. I'm waiting till I see my other BFF in person to tell her. I just don't want to do it over the phone or email or text. She lives 2 states away. Everyone else, it's none of their business. I'll tell people if I feel comfortable. People who I get the vibe that they'd be against this type of surgery I don't tell. Everyone else, eat less move more.

Hello everyone! Well...I'm officially banded. I had my surgery at 9 Friday morning and stayed in the hospital one night. I was not too excited about that, but now I'm really glad that I did. You know...you read everyone's stories and experiences and you feel somewhat prepared, but it's a whole different thing when it is happening to you. The worst part of everything has been the nausea. Saturday after I got home I felt pretty damn good. Even walked around the block in my neighborhood to help dissipate the CO2, etc. Yesterday (Sunday) was much, much rougher. First of all, I was glued to the toilet all day. People talk about constipation, but I had the complete opposite problem. It would not stop. Sorry for the TMI. As the day progressed, I kept feeling more and more nauseous. Around 8 last night I took another slow walk around the block. It didn't help. Around 9:15, I laid down in bed and immediately began feeling like I was about to throw up which terrified me. My husband helped me sit up very quickly, but by then it was too late. He handed me a cup and I began throwing up foamy water. Less than a 1/3 of a cup total. Of course as soon as I could I contacted my doctor and my doctor's nurse. Both assured me that my band was still secure. That it is repetitive vomiting over time that is the enemy. I felt somewhat reassured, but still cannot shake the feeling that I've messed something up. What is strange though, is that after I vomited, I immediately felt better and haven't had any major nausea since. I was able to sleep through the night with no problems. I can even sleep on my side comfortably which I didn't expect to do this soon. While my doctor was talking to me, he asked me if I had been forcing fluids. He said to not be too worried if you cannot get in the 48 - 60 ounces that the literature recommends. I wish someone had told me this sooner. Yesterday I had 8 ounces of chicken broth, 8 ounces of diet cranberry juice, and probably 12 ounces of water. And getting all that in was a struggle. I didn't want any of it. He also told me not to be too concerned with dehydration because for every pound of fat the body breaks down, it produces a quart of water. Right now I'm using my urine color as a guide. It is still very, very light yellow although I am not going very often. I have to say...last night during all of this, I was experiencing a big "what the hell have I done to myself" moment. Is this normal? Did any of you feel this way at any point? Did any of you experience the nausea and retching that soon after surgery? Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

I just did mine... was supposed to be 2 oz of Milk of Magnesia, but it was thick and I have a sensitive gag reflex ... held it down for about 5 minutes then vomited it up (sorry, TMI I know) so then I had to run to the drugstore and get Magnesium Citrate which was akin to hte nastiest cherry soda I have ever had, but easier to drink, and supposedly stronger that MOM anyway... For me, my diet ALL DAY was "clear liquids" which could also include apple, grape, or cranberry juice and Jello. I have had a LOT of Jello today, LOL but am so far fine... it's almost midnight, so i'm getting in my last few sips of Water... My only problem today was I accidentally took one of my gummy vites at 10 pm and didn't chew very well so I guess I technically ate something, but I don't think it will be a big deal, the Mag-Cit pretty much flushed me out... never quite experienced anything like that. I just hope I'm empty enough... I dont see how anything could be left... Saturday all I had all day was a 2 slim fasts and 1/2 a chicken club sandwich, Sunday all I had was Slim Fast and today nothing but iced tea, juice and jello. Best of luck to all!

Sorry, this is a bit embarrasing, but since ive been home from the hospital my stools are loose. Is this normal? Oh, and a bit dizzy once in awhile. Is all this normal?