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Wayne, I suffer from gout too. I am almost a year out and have had several bad episodes. I take Allopurinol twice a day but still get flairs. I am not allowed to take Indocin but I am able to take colchicine (even tho it gives me diarrhea- tmi). Ask your dr about colchicine because it isn't an NSAID and shouldn't be on your restriction list. I would suggest not taking it on an empty stomach tho. My dr is a Mayo Clinic physician and they are extremely conservative. Also, make sure you are drinking your water! I have been able to figure out ny pattern on gout. It is almost always a direct result of too many days of just barely getting 64 ounces or stress. Try and get 80 or 90 ounces of Water because it does help. Finally, I did have one really bad attack right before my mom passed away (I was under a ton of stress). It was in both feet even up in my ankles. The colchicine didn't touch it and I had no relief for 5 days. My dr prescribed steroids and it went away a day later. That is an option in extreme cases. I was taking leftover pain medication and it didn't even touch the pain. Sorry you are dealing with gout. It is by far the worst pain I have ever experienced. PM me if you need any more ideas.

Yes I still have the gas 3 days post op. Today I was finally able to reach my protein requirements but certainly not my water, Have only been able to get down about 16 oz so far. I'm going to try to do another 4 and an ice pop before bed. I do find that walking helps with the gas. I do laps around my house while sipping. Hoping tomorrow is better. For me, the incisions are the easiest part. They are a little sore but not bad at all. The gas is bad, the stuff coming out of my butt (sorry TMI) is horrible and I also have an awful case of thrush in my mouth. I am also exhausted. Hoping to feel a little better tomorrow,

I started out wanting the band but chickened out, just wasn't ready. Two years went by and I decided to revisit WLS and went to a meeting at the Hosp near me. I was initially thinking bypass but the more I learned about the Sleeve the more I felt it was a better choice for me. I have a history of A-fib and the dumping syndrome can cause palpitations. Thus I didn't want to go there. I'm a big sugar junkie so I knew that aspect would be a struggle either way. That being said some of us sleevers still experience dumping syndrome if we eat too much sugar or high-fat food. For me it's a fine line with sugar which if I cross it I feel like crap and then I have to go crap! TMI, sorry! LOL! Anyway, I did have mild sleep apnea but none of the other health issues you mention but my starting weight was 325. I've lost 100 and I'm 6'1&3/4" tall so I am close to my goal weight. Many people reach normal weight ranges with the sleeve but my surgeon told my that I could expect to lose about 60-70% of my excess weight from the surgery alone. I have surpassed that and plan to keep going. All this being said, you have to decide what is right for you. Both options are good IMO. Good luck to you!

Yes it sure is telling you that your done.I also start to burp when its time to stop. I know tmi but more info is better then none.

With the two week liquid diet included I have lost 29 pounds! As of today! When I started I weighed in at a whopping 347pounds.. now I'm down to 318.. I honestly can't remember when the last time was that I weighed under 330.. This is the absolute best thing in the world.. I have had a hard time getting in my Protein and Water.. Does anybody have some helpful tips or ideas? My diet consists of cottage cheese, greek yogurt, sugar free pudding & apple sauce.. I'm already so bored and discusted with it, I prefer not to eat.. I also have a tmi.. I have been taking miralax to use the restroom.. But I havent been able to since the hospital.. I'm starting to get a little worried..

I Keep pooping. It's 10:30 and I've had diarrhea 3 x today. It's not smelly or anything. Should I be concerned?

I'm 6 weeks post-op and thought I was the exception to the stall rule and didn't experience the dreaded 3rd week stall. Boy was I wrong. At the 4 week point, I'd gained 2 lbs (TMI moment - likely water retention since I was on my cycle that week). Last week I lost 1 lb and this week I lost another 5 lbs. Stalls come with the territory, but keep doing the right thing and you'll feel good when you come out on the other end!

And now it's time for a TMi moment...... I wonder if anyone outside of Bariatric land knows what NSV stands for? Probably not. That's a "non-scale victory" for those of you not in the know So it dawned on me yesterday that a serious issue I was being plagued with in middle-age has disappeared! Prior to surgery, I constantly felt like I had to pee! Sometimes I would rush to the bathroom only to have a small amount come out. It felt like something was sitting on top of my bladder. I would pee and 2 minutes later I felt like I had to pee again! It was a frustrating cycle and my doctor and I concluded I had organ prolapse resulting from age and my muscles weakening from childbirth. Post surgery, the problem is GONE. The only thing I can conclude is my stomach was sitting on top of my bladder. With most of it gone, it's allowed things to shift around inside of me and now everyone seems to have their own "personal space" within and are happy! I am thrilled! Just in time for a long weekend car ride to Yosemite! Don't worry girls, I won't be hiking any major trails this trip. I plan on finding a nice place to plop myself down and reading a book while the rest of my adventurous family hikes. Can I get a shout out for bladder control?!?! Awesome!!!

My incisions are itchy as heck! Although I'm impressed how tiny the actual incisions are, the skin around them hates me. How are you guys treating yours? I use hibiclens in the shower and air dry. I wasn't putting anything on them but yesterday found putting a tiny bit of triple antibiotic with pain relief (similar to neosporin) helps with the dry itchy feeling. The one closest to my breasts looks the worse. I think it rubs against my bra and maybe there is more moisture up there?!? Any tips? I go braless at home to avoid irritating that one incision. Tmi?

An anyone help please!! I'm 5 weeks post op and today I ate a very thin very overbooked Vogel toast slice with cottage cheese..now I have this full ache on my left hand side??? I should mention that I have been having really bad vowel problems!! (Constipated so so bad!! Sorry TMI!)

Good luck Nicey2U! I am day 3 and will reiterate jezelle's comment on motivation. It would be real easy to lay in this bed because I am sore and it does feel weird to stand with the incisions: but once I got up moving and ate something the gas started moving out (burping, farting -- TMI sorry! ) I felt a lot better and it doesn't feel so scary. The heating pad for my shoulder helped ( odd that it hurts there), and Chapstick really helped.

For those of you that have done the preop diet. Can you give me an idea of how many days of body cleansing you experienced. This is ridiculous I cant work like this. Lol, TMI I know but im struggling over here.

Oh and about the tummy rumbly noises, my dr said it was normal. And the diarrhea.....sorry for TMI but he said that will be par for the course while I'm on the clear liquids. Boo!!! Glad I don't have to go back to work like this because I'm grumbling bubbling away over here. Ugh. It will all be worth it in the end, so I'm not complaining.

I finished all the paperwork, did the 6 month supervised diet, scheduled the surgery date (May 8) and now I wait for insurance to approve!! I have CoventryCares (Medicaid) in Pennsylvania and I've heard they take just a few days to approve. I am so very excited! After losing my job, I was in a position to qualify for Medicaid. This surgery is truly the silver lining I need. Not only will I be healthier, I will be visibly healthier and be able to present a professional appearance in the job market (right? That's how this works, right?). Anyway, my surgeon is Dr. Neale in Plains, PA (near Scranton/Wilkes-Barre). He seems very competent and has done over 125 surgeries with less than 1% complication rate (he was very honest about it). I am struggling with "food funerals" and the 2 week liquid diet really worries me. I did a trial run for three days, and it didn't seem too terrible. Plus following a liquid diet when I didn't need to made it much more difficult than when it's doctor ordered...I hope. I'm less worried about the surgery than about the possibility of loose skin. With really big thighs and a mom-of-2 belly flap, I hate that my thighs will probably have that icky loose skin that can't be covered by a one-piece bathing suit and I'll have to tuck in my belly like it's a dang dress-shirt. Never mind that, I know I'll have to roll up my boobs like a pair of socks before tucking them in my bra because those girls will be losing mass, too. TMI? Sorry. Fingers crossed the insurance company will approve it! All vanity aside, I'm really looking forward to being healthier.

Sorry if this is tmi, but it is what it is! I was sleeved 3/31 and am having constipation issues. Ever since I came home, I'll go 3 or more days without pooping, then I'll have to take a laxative before bed and once I even had to use a suppository. I have metamucil and stool softeners and I'm going to try that daily starting tomorrow. Is this normal? How have you dealt with it? Thanks!

Hi I am 5 days post op and plan to go back Wednesday which is 8 days. I feel pretty good today just some indigestion. Got Gas X strips today at pharmacy and not tmi but a huge burp after I had one. A week is just the right amount of time I think. My dr said I could have it done on a Thursday and go back on Monday. Not as a teacher I couldn't go back.. Good Luck to you..

I am 3 days post op and I was having some serious gas pains, too and I walked more than anyone that was in the hospital with me. I tried the heating pad, warm decaf rea with one splenda (just cannot do totally unsweet) and nothing seemed to help. So then to add variety to my clear liquid diet (that I'll be on for 2 weeks post op) I tried 2 oz of apple juice mixed with 2 oz of Water. It tasted delicious and was a good break from broth and then it made me go #2. Each time I go potty I sit there for a minute and a ton of gas comes out. So long story longer, apple juice worked for me.... Also, one of my friends that had the surgery over a year ago said that she thinks I was drinking too much and too fast. I went back through my paperwork and it said 1 oz every 15 minutes and doing it that way you shouldn't drink more than 4 oz per hour (and you still can get in 64 oz per day). I felt like I was swallowing air each time I sipped so I think she was right. I slowed down and the gas was much better today. Hope this wasn't TMI, but if it helps you then I will share..

What are u guys doing to pass gas, I think Ive only passed a handful of times and burped only once. Im walking too so Idk. I'll definitely try the latest dance rave- the "jiggle" haha. Thanks for the info.... The gas x strips have really helped me today. The dissolve on your tongue. Also, I mixed 2 oz of 100% apple juice (unsweetened) with 2 oz of Water and it made me go #2....and that really helped with gas, too. Sorry if that's TMI but I felt like it might be helpful to someone. So it sounds like our post op diets are as different as the pre-op diets. I can only have the clear liquid diet for 2 weeks. I can add skim milk on day 3 (tomorrow) but I hate milk....but I'm going to try it because they said it's very important to get 32 oz of skim milk and 32 oz of other fluids. So we shall see how it goes.

I'm urinating more than I'm drinking too and it's always pretty dark. I keep wondering where it's coming from because I've only drank maybe 6oz in 24 hours. The first time urinating after surgery was one of the most difficult things I've done. I had to run water over my hand and concentrate to get anything to come out and when it did (TMI alert) it was thick, dark orange and very smelly. Thankfully it's gotten better and easier since then but dehydration is a worry. The nurse told me one of the first signs of dehydration is confusion, so I've had my husband on the lookout for that.

. That's Awesome!! you don't feel nothing like if you wanted to go back to work would you go at this stage ? . That's Awesome!! you don't feel nothing like if you wanted to go back to work would you go at this stage ? I could go back to work now, because my work requires no lifting. However I didn't want to go to work right away because I had no idea how my recovery would be and also because I didn't want to be going through the food stages at work. I rather be at home when I'm trying new foods because you never know how your stomach is going to react to them. For example (TMI coming) that little bit of peanut butter I had yesterday sent me straight to the bathroom. LOL... You are almost there How is the pre op diet going?

Same here I have tried tuna fish, salmon, and chicken all very moist and flaky but I can't tolerate it at this point. A little TMI but yesterday I tossed my cookies after trying to eat some chicken and broccoli. I think I may just give up on meat in general for now. It really is not a good feeling.

HAAA . Well Well I'm down 10 lbs at 7 days post op! I'm getting all my Protein in, taking Vitamins, & benifiber - I was not going to weigh until my 2 week follow up. However, I have had 3 blisters pop up under my steri strips & had to go in to dr to make sure there is no infection on my incisions! The blisters are under the tape away f/ the incisions... TMI ALERT! I have had 2 # 2's...in my week post op! ???? I just started walking yesterday & I'm only walking 1 mile a day! Not fast at all more like a cool stroll! There ya go! How are you doing?

So, Monday was my 30th wedding anniversary. I'm proud of living and loving through thirty years, and I have a pretty wonderful husband and marriage and two wonderful adult daughters. However, this anniversary really pissed me off and I have to rant a bit. Feedback welcome even though this is a venting sorta rant. I knew he had no idea for a gift when he asked what the 'traditional' gifts were for that marker - so over lunch one day we looked them up; pearls or diamond. Fine - but I don't expect either of those really. Then I suggested since our anniversary falls during my busy work time, that we plan to take a little three day trip somewhere when we can both get away, and he liked that idea--in that way that says 'sure - if you'll plan it I'll go. Okay...fine. Our anniversary rolls around a week later and I haven't heard form him all morning about any plans, so I ask where we might go for dinner to Celebrate, not especially feeling like cooking too on top of super busy week. He really didn't have any suggestions, except to agree when I suggested something - so I sent him a link to a place and he made a reservation. He comes home and while nearly EVERY other year on our anniversary he's brought flowers, even sometimes the ones he proposed with, this time; nada. Then he goes out for a bit walking to the store nearby and comes home with pink tulips. Nice thought--however late it was. Not my fave color, but i like tulips and tell him so. We put them in a vase and head out to dinner. At dinner, I give him a card and a nice gift (new Fitbit which he'd said he'd like someday). He thanks me, and says he didn't really do anything for me but thought maybe later there would be something I'd need for surgery that I could pick out. (Really?! after 30 years of marriage that would be what - a pair of sweatpants?!) I say it's okay - and that really there's nothing I need for surgery. After dinner we took a walk at my nudging, did a hill climb of stairs to see a nice view, headed home and made love (sorry if TMI here). Still nothing to acknowledge the anniversary really. No card, no little thought gift, zip. Now I get that i'm huge (285) and have been for far too long. I get that he's like a 'more active intimate life' but once a week is about all I can handle feeling so big. I get that I let him off the hook some with the idea of a later trip. But hello; I do more than my share of keeping this marriage rolling, I earn half the income, I work more hours, and I still cook most of the meals. Why the h*ll couldn't he have at least written a crummy card or something?! Damn!! I've been thinking another thirty years together was something to look forward to, but this really felt lousy. End of rant. Kate

Hey guys! I know this is probably TMI, but I haven't pooped in like 5 days. My doc said to drink milk of magnesia,but I'm not sure if I could stomach it. Is it safe to take something like dulcolax? I'm kinda miserable...any tips would be nice! I'm about 2 months out.