Just because you have a symptom, doesn't mean it's the sleeve

[Thea'sMom 2]

At one week out, I got the anticipated "loose stool" -- which didn't stop. For a while it was 24/7 (and made it hard to want to eat anything - or stir from the bathroom), and I let myself slow down on both Protein and calories. I'm two weeks out today. Antibiotics have helped a bit, and now I'm trying to get the protein back up and eat more than 300 calories (both the lack of protein and the low calories had the rather odd effect of slowing my weight loss).

While I'm not exactly looking forward to the Constipation, it certainly would be a change...

[HetKF 33]

I am a little over 3 wks out and I never had any issues with loose stool. As the my diet has changed t/o the weeks I had a few episodes but nothing major. I am on soft foods now and am finding myseIlf to be on the Constipation side of things. Pre-surgery I was a regular girl....now it's like 5 days b4 I have any kind of a BM. I see my MD tomorrow and I am going to ask him and the Nutritionist. Sorry you are going through all of this.

[myrori 55]

I guess Constipation is a common problem. I have been taking a softener for 3 days now and no luck

[Carrie 4]

I'm sorry to say both are common and it's hard to predict which side your body is going to pick prior to surgery. I do however promise that it does get better. I had surgery in August and I often forget I had surgery it just becomes your new way of eating and your new life.

The liquid stools are very common when you are on a liquid diet. Trust me I had a bum Lap Band and was on liquids for almost a year! The Constipation is also common due to the anesthesia they use during the surgery slowing things down and the pain meds post-op keeping Water from your intestines. The main thing is to do as your doctor says and move around as much as your body can handle at this point. Don't over due, listen to your body and do as you feel, but you must move to get your intestines to move around, expell gas and keep them happy.

No matter how much time you spend on the toilet, or don't spend on the toilet (I went 8 days post-op and was scared to death that I was gonna have to call my Surgeon if it didn't happen soon!). Eventually you will find what is normal for you and feel better. I found it very hard to believe but trust me it happens.

(((HUGS))) and best of luck to you both!!