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I also have issues with constipation and even before surgery. After getting over almost a 2 week congestion virus I just wasn't feeling up to par so I knew I had to clean myself out! I felt like a huge toxin ball. I take lactlose liquid and it helped but I still felt constipated so I went and bought an enema! Not a good choice if you suffer from hemorrhoids! Sorry tmi but I feel your pain. I can handle ground beef but a steak is very heavy for my pouch! Good luck

It's very hard! And you will actually feel like you're starving for the first 3 days or so. Get all different kinds of sugar free jellos and Popsicles. Those help! And the shakes curbed my appetite a lot too. I had to stay busy doing whatever I could to keep my mind off of food. I went to bed early every night. I took some pictures of myself naked and looked at them every time I felt I was gonna cheat. :/ TMI but it helps!! I felt angry and down the whole time and that is normal. The 2nd week is a downhill slide with much more ease! I'm 14 hours away from being sleeved! And I thought I'd never make it! You can do it!

I still get that feeling, and I'm a little over 3 months out. I used to get it much more frequently when I was newly-post op, and from what I've read about it, it (for me anyway) seems to symbolize an irritation of the stoma- the little entry point from into what's left of your stomach. It's much smaller now, and when I ate/drank too fast or took too big of a bite/swallow, I'd get that knot like feeling right under my breastbone. What's even worse, is it would make me want to throw up so badly just to get rid of the feeling (sorry if it's TMI here) but I simply couldn't- of all things, getting on the treadmill and walking briskly was the only thing that helped. Now that I'm a bit further post-op, I've gotten pretty good at gauging what's going to give me that feeling- nearly all breads and meats- boo! Hopefully for you it stays as a symptom of your healing body & goes away

First of all, thank you to all of you who have posted in this thread thus far! It was so refreshing to find folks who can comment on these issues in such an articulate and intelligent way. I was totally (and pleasantly) surprised when I went to the "informational seminar" at my surgeon's office near the end of last year. The message was, "obesity is a disease, WLS is a treatment." No blame! As someone with a healthcare background (clinical pharmacist turned biostatistician), I was familiar with this "new way of thinking." That seminar was the first time I had heard any professional providing healthcare for bariatric patients actually articulate the concept. It really blew my mind! The psychological aspect of this journey toward whole body health is so important! I have worked with several different mental health counselors over the past 20 years. The first three were somewhat helpful but did not have a clue how to address my emotional eating issues, even though that is what I told them I needed to work on. Two years ago, I started working with a clinical psychologist who really "gets it." I wasn't contemplating WLS at the time -- I still thought that I could do it myself with a little help. After six months of biweekly visits, I realized that I did need to have WLS, and then hit a wall with my insurance company. The insurance company requires that you go through a year of monthly 20 minute phone calls with a nice, but totally clueless, nurse reading questions off a script that did not seem to pertain to preparation for WLS. You also had to participate in Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig for a year. Both my clinical psychologist and I agreed that I was ready NOW, but there was no way to penetrate the bureaucracy to see if a waiver was possible. So I gave in, and endured the stupidity for several months -- until about a year ago. My husband and I decided to move nearer to my family and bought a house in NH in June. I was hoping we would be able to move before the end of 2014, so I would not be "in town" to follow through with the program and have my surgery here in VA. That gave me the excuse I needed to quit the stupid insurance program. I think that's what they wanted in the first place! When it became apparent that we would not move until April 2015, I looked into the possibility of having a VGS as a self pay patient. Long story short, when I went to see the surgeon in whose "program" I was enrolled about this option, he unceremoniously accused my of "jumping the line" and said that the wait would be good for me -- I could learn better habits. Then he said he would not talk to me further and walked out of the exam room. As he was walking out the door, he said that he would refund my copay. I have never been so humiliated in my entire life! At that point I looked into having the surgery done with the other bariatric group at another local hospital, and the process has gone smoothly -- I had a VGS done on 2/19 and I a recuperating well. I talked with my clinical psychologist about my interaction with surgeon #1, and she was speechless. She does a lot of the psych evals for patients for both of the local bariatric surgery groups and knows all of the surgeons. She said it was totally out of character, but totally unacceptable. However, Karma gave me a chance to tell surgeon #1 how I felt. I had lower right quadrant pains and was running a bit of a fever and thought I might have appendicitis, so my husband took me to the ER. They admitted me for a couple of days of IV antibiotics for right ascending colitis. While I was in the hospital, the surgeon on call for GI surgery was none other than surgeon #1! By the time he arrived, I was feeling better and I also knew that he would be coming to see me. I was prepared. He said, "You look familiar -- have we met before?" I said, "Yes, I came to see you about self pay WLS a couple of months ago and you kicked me out of your office." He seemed a little stunned and then admitted that he recollected the interaction. No explanations, no apologies, but I feel as if I got my message across. I hope he never does anything like that to another person! I have been ashamed of my appearance for almost my entire life. After growing up as a "fat kid" I was able to get down to a "normal" weight for about 5 years in my mid to late 20's, but once I got married and my husband started having a lot of health problems, I turned to food for consolation and the rest is history. The hardest part about all of this was that I felt that as a clinical pharmacist, I should have known better and should have been able to get my eating under control. As the years went by, I started developing all of the expected illnesses, hypertension, high cholesterol, asthma and a boatload of allergies, depression, and sleep apnea. The thing that lit a fire under me last fall (other than feeling that I was in fact ready and could afford the self pay option) was that my HgA1c's were starting to creep above normal and my BP was no longer controlled by 3 meds. The fact that I knew we'd be moving in April and I did not want to have to go through the whole approval process in a new location weighed on me as well. I think I have gone on long enough in this post -- I hope it hasn't been "TMI." Thanks for listening, and I look forward to hearing what you have to say!

Stephh, u r awesome with that picture taking :-) I will weigh Saturday and see what happens for me. One of my main issues has been constipation but I seem better this week. TMI :-) we will see.

What a great thread! Been married for over twenty years, but it's so nice to hear these body-positive stories. My TMI NSV is to be on top without crushing the poor man.

I have not tired Milk of Mag but I guess I am going to because I am miserable and yes it is "brick hard" and stuck TMI I know but I am in tears every time I "TRY" to go.......

I am going TMI here but even with the weight I have lost my husband's favorite thing because we are both heavy is that our stomachs don't get in the way any more. Sometimes what we fixate on isn't what our partners are thinking about. Sex was getting challenging physically and now it's so much easier and better.

I totally agree with @Goodlife1206. Don't wait until you get blocked up. I hadn't had a BM in over a week a few days ago, and I was absolutely MISERABLE! I felt so bad that I just wanted to cry. ***TMI ALERT*** Mine was so bad that I had the urge to go but every time I went to the bathroom nothing would come out, but when I wiped myself, I could feel the largest and hardest lump right underneath my skin. It finally got to the point where I went to CVS and bought a Fleet Enema. I hate those things, but I just couldn't take the back up any longer. Start now with some Smooth Move Tea, Miralax, or some other stool softener. Please, please, please don't wait until you get as miserable as I was.

TMI alert - I am 3 months postop. Earlier on I had real constipation issues like many surgery patients. It got pretty bad and I had to take milk of magnesia (full dose x 2), and Ducolax to get things going. I almost waited too long. Don't let this go. I am straightened out now and go every few days. Even if you aren't eating much your body still has some waste. I take Miralax every morning in my breakfast shake. Miralax keeps thing going better than breaking up a blockage. Hope this info helps. Good luck and talk to your dr.

Yep me too every sip hurts! And this might be tmi but the dr said if I pass gas I'll feel better but haven't at all!! so now I'm wondering why I haven't! Everyone says it gets easier I just can't wait till it does! GoodLuck and I hope u feel better soon

The mushy stuff goes down easier. As soon as you really start eating solids it will not be that way. I'm 1 month post op and still much of my diet is softer Proteins. I was craving carbs after the gym at work the other day and order a bagel w cream cheese. I ate maybe a third and that took me forever. I later just licked the cream cheese off. TMI but true. I hated to throw it out but it wasn't going in without be being sick.

I was 4 weeks yesterday and am on puree until week 5.. but tried some rotisserie chicken, refried Beans, avocado, chicken noodle Soup and a tiny bit of mashed potatoes. Did ok, but chicken made me constipated (TMI sorry) I still drink 3 Protein drinks and add some powder to non fat Greek yogurt .forgot that. Oh and a few homemade smoothies. I'm looking forward to eating cheese sticks again and fish and more chicken. It's crazy to dream about chicken lol going to try an egg soon!

Dumping comes from the other end! And for those of you experiencing the horrible constipation I def recommend getting your fiber in every day. I was not going to share but two weeks ago I had to go to the ER because I could not pass my BM and had to do a manual kinda thing. I felt like dying due to embarrassment but I'm not going to lie it was like having an elephant off my chest. I learned my lesson and decided on a probiotic and or activia yogurt! Ok that was my lil TMI

I was watching some YouTube videos and there was a personal trainer on there that said that the stair climbing machine is the best thing for hips and thighs so I did just joined a gym I'm going to look and see when I go if they have one of those machines and start using it because I know when I climb stairs I have one hell of a time. I've always felt so self conscious because I can't wear shorts my thighs are huge and I not only have cellulite, but these big bulging fat deposits around my hips and in the back of my thighs I have a big bulges as well. It's disgusting. I've never seen this on anybody else per se and I'm thinking that I will be one of those that's going to have to have like a lower body lift or thigh lift when I'm done. This is always been my problem area.. you could count my ribs and my stomach will be flat but then I have these huge thighs and you can't even see my knees. I know this is probably TMI!

Well I was doing awesome!! As far as surgery goes I think I still am.. HOWEVER these loose bowels are getting the better of me. Yes I got Imodium and gastralite ( spelling) everything is fine till I move around then OMG I hardly every get to the washroom in time ???? I'm day 8 post op. It didn't start till day 4. It's literally made me house bound, not to mention hemroids TMI I know.. I called the surgeon he said it will pass.. I started yogurt in the mornings an I will be starting cream soups tomorrow. I'm getting at least 1 protein shake in a day along with broth and Popsicles. And water.. It's just everything I consume is coming out as fast as it goes in!!! Please help!! Has anyone experienced this? I wrote on a few other forums but not getting any replies... #housebound

Okay, more TMI--the urinary incontinence disappeared a few hours after the last post I made, which was fabulous, but now I am constipated. I find that any time I take a drink, I get gas pains and have to walk them off. They are more annoying than painful, but I think they would improve if I could have a bowel movement. I will call the surgeon tomorrow if I am still having issues. Other than that, things are going quite well and I am not having much pain. I am having a hard time figuring out when or if I'm hungry and then again when I am full. I imagine it will just be something I will learn with time. Hope all is well with the rest of you and please keep us up to date on your progress!

Sometimes I wish he would have. When my surgery happened my surgeon had a surprise that I had intestinal malrotation which basically means my digestive system did not form properly. He had my connected incorrectly and then realized it and made the correction. I hope having this surgery done did not awaken something. Since last night I have had nothing but diarrhea tmi liquid and this morning there was lots of blood. Made an appointment and am going to try and get thru till then but I'm def freaking out

Surgery went well. Been up walking this morning and am pretty sore after. Only used the pain pump three or so times during the night and am trying not to use it now. TMI alert: having a problem with urinary incontinence. I've peed myself several times because it doesn't feel like I have to go. Maybe because of the catheter during surgery? Anyway, hope all is well with the feb 9thers! Sending healing thoughts your way!

I'm totally in that class of people who pick out the big clothes first, thinking there's no way I'll fit into a small or size 4-6, but I do. My ears still perk up at those weight loss commercials and I've noticed now how many of them there are. TMI - but I still feel really self conscious undressing in front of my man... somehow I don't see that my body's not fat anymore. My legs are thin and toned, I have a defined waist and nice, curvy hips.

Greetings this may be tmi but I need help. Sleeved on 2/5 sent home 2/6. Seemed ok but then I couldn't keep anything down. Pain meds made me nauseous and anti nauseous meds barely helped. Stopped taking pain meds. Lots of saliva and was coughing phlegm. Called dock 2/7 got another med that helps keep liquids down but it makes me dizzy for a bit when I take it. At least stuff is staying down. I haven't pooped in 5 days and I'm getting worried. Any advice? Going in today to see Doc. Thank you all for your input.

I went #2 today 5 days post op. It was darker. And I know tmi, but it was soft...meaning I had no constipation issues

Ok tmi time. Have you been #2? Is that darker than usual as well? I read the earlier part of post and someone asked about your swallow test - you said you failed - what do you mean you failed? They couldn't see it go through but you did go home so we're you able to retake it?

Hi everybody. This might be a TMI post, bear with me here. I eat fast. I finally figured out why. If I'm eating lean steak pieces, sauteed onions and mushrooms, for example, I want badly and need badly to swallow beef, onions and shrooms so I can know I'm eating those foods. Not pureed mush where once it's mush, you lose the structure and essence of what you're eating. I can't handle, yet, the mush in my mouth. Feels sick to me. Am I crazy??? Have any of you felt this way and overcome it, if yes, HOW?

Finally I pooped .... I'm happy about pooping haven't done that since surgery