Dream4tc

Please don't be discouraged. I know it isn't easy when you don't see the progress on the scale. It can be very frustrating!! I have found that my body goes through adaptation periods especially to something new. It's been 5 weeks and your body has gotten used to what you are doing. You need to confuse it to get it going again. Have you tried different cardio to change it up? Different muscle groups? I have had stalls and when I see that the scale is hanging up, I know its time to change it up a bit. I have numerous different cardio that I do, cross country walking, biking, Zumba, treadmill, Kinect with numerous DVD workouts, numerous exercise DVD's, Hatha Yoga, swimming, occasionally canoeing, and kayaking (I live by 2 lakes and multiple rivers). I try and switch those up and rotate them often so that my body doesn't get used to the same routine, which keeps my body guessing and get it jump started. I promise that you are still transforming and most likely losing inches!!!! During stalls, focus on how clothes are fitting and also how you are tolerating longer cardio, which feels amazing when you couldn't do something the week before and the next week you can! Celebrate and focus on the NSV's (non scale victories) during stall periods. Significant weight gain doesn't happen overnight and neither does significant weight loss, although wouldn't that be awesome because it would make our journey's so much easier right? One stepping stone at a time, 1 pound at a time. Don't worry, it will happen and you are just beginning!!! Keep going you are doing great!!!

Yes I take a chewable papaya enzyme made by Good N Natural. Love them!!

@@Mulepick - sounds like you are dehydrated. Drink more. I had periods of that since last November and had the complete cardiac workup, labs, echo etc. My surgeon told me it was dehydration. I would definitely run it passed your physician just in case it might be something different. Could also be inner ear too. Hope you feel better!

@@Mbstas What's a zip?

@@rejeannern I lost 7 pounds overnight just last week. Weight can fluctuate based on alot of different reasons including disease processes that I won't mention. As a nurse, I also see those extreme fluctuations in my patients daily, so it is possible

Awesome! Have you tried higher protein shakes? Premier Protein are really tasty and have 30 grams of protein. They have chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. The best thing about protein shakes is you can alter the shakes to just about any flavor by adding extracts. So a simple vanilla protein drink can turn into a Butterscotch, caramel, Rum, or a chocolate protein drink can be Chocolate mint, coconut, etc. They have about any flavored extract that you could think about. Yummy! You just have to taste test to see what you like. Higher protein might be what you need. You can also blend them with ice and it may help keep you more full. Ugh I have a hard time with too much fat. I always tend to go over.

I had lap band for 4 years, and developed prolapse then 9 months later a slip with horrible heartburn and reflux. I have had it removed, and initially wanted the sleeve but my surgeon said that a sleeve would make the reflux worse due to the high pressure a sleeve causes. Banding is a restrictive procedure and so is sleeve. He told me weight loss would be slower with sleeve going from restrictive to a restrictive. He also said sleeve would be more risky after banding and would put me at greatest risks for leaks and it would be a more complicated procedure. Plus once they remove your stomach, it is gone forever. With bypass, you can keep your stomach and it is reversible, not easily and not done often but it can be done. After doing research, I found out he was right. He told me that RNY has been performed since the 1970's and there is alot of research. He also said that I could do the sleeve and run the risk of heartburn and possible 75 pounds loss with diet compliance and exercise, and if the heartburn gets to be too much to revise to RNY......no thx, don't want heartburn, and don't want to keep having surgeries. He said I could lose about 100 more pounds with RNY and weight loss would be a bit easier with diet and exercise. I am choosing RNY and in the process of meeting insurance requirements, for bypass in late October or early November. As far as making a choice, this choice should be yours because it will be happening to your body. Do more research on both procedures. These forums are great for all opinions, but everyone is different and what may work for some, may not for others. Get 2nd or 3rd opinions, and gather as much info to help you feel comfortable in your choice. I truly wish you the best in whichever you decide.

That's good! Try chewing a piece of sugar free gum or a few mints. Liquid diets are really hard. How many grams of protein are you drinking?

@@jcrob that's good! Passing gas means your bowels are awake. You may have some initial hard stool, kind of like a cork preventing you to start. I have a feeling that once you get started you won't have any problems. Sometimes doctors recommend fleet enemas, dulcolax, senakot, colace, miralax and milk of mag. It just depends on what your doctor recommends. I would find out, they usually give you a few choices. I hope you get to go soon. I have been there and it is miserable feeling.

@dawn678. I am a nurse and actually worked for 5 years on a voluntary unit for patients who wanted to stop drugs and alcohol. I have never been judgemental with any of them. We are all human and we make choices that are good and not so good. I was inspired by many of them because they took the biggest step by admitting they had a problem. I loved working there, but my unit moved to a different hospital and I have been a nurse case manager ever since. I am by no means an expert and I am not providing medical advice, but I can tell you what I learned from my patients. Alcohol dependency is a very serious disease. Withdrawal symptoms can occur from stopping. After drinking for a period of time, a body can become dependent from the alcohol and adapts and it gets to the point where you drink just to function to avoid the withdrawal. Physical manifestations, irritability, confusion, fall risks, neuropathy, tremors, sweating, electrolyte imbalances, and abnormal cardiac rhythms. I took care of patients who were 1 bottle of wine a day to gallons of hard liquor per day. The patients who drank the heaviest would have the worst withdrawal and needed to be medically monitored with a heart monitor. Most of these patients would be treated with medication for the withdrawal for 3 days usually a benzodiazepine like Librium, or Arivan, and then started on Naltrexone, and then go to an inpatient therapy program for 21 to 30 days, or on going outpatient therapy. Inpatient is better, but outpatient can be successful if you have a good support system in place. AA is also a place to go for help. It depends on your insurance and also depends on what is available in your area. I have seen many patients be successful with treatment. It does work! If you don't have insurance, there are places that will take sliding scale, but keep in mind if you do go to any treatment facility, there will be people there that are not there for the right reasons. Don't allow anyone to distract or prevent you from getting better. The hardest part is making the call and just getting started. I truly wish you the best! You can do it!!!

Have you had any problems with weakness, nausea, lightheadedness? Do you have any history of taking NSAIDS like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or any blood thinners like coumadin, plavix, xarelto? If so, it would be worrisome for a possible GI Bleed. I would call your doctor and notify them of these tarry stools.

Mine was when I went to Six Flags with my spouse, (now ex-spouse, and now I am remarried), and I was at my heaviest weight of 300 back in 1999. We got ready to get on the Batman rollercoaster, and as I was trying to fit into the seat, the bars wouldn't latch because of my big stomach. I had to get off the ride. I was soooooo embarrassed and I let him go on the ride without me. I cried and was miserable the rest of the day. I was afraid to try any other ride for fear of the same embarrassment. Even though I have lost 80 pounds since then, I am still afraid of going to any rides at any amusement parks. It really was devastating to me and I realized that my weight was way out of control. So, I have been struggling all of my life to lose weight so that someday when I reach my goal weight, and before I get too old, that I can get on that ride and conquer that feeling and put it to rest finally.

Are you passing any gas at all? Any bowel sounds? If the answer is no, there may be concern for a bowel obstruction. If the answer is yes. Are you walking? Are you getting in your fluids? I have tried a fleet enema after 3 days post op, but was also passing some gas and taking miralax daily. The fleet helped me and then the miralax caught up finally. Milk of mag is good, just tastes yucky. I would call your Doctor. 7 days is too long.

Be aware that when you purchase any chews that they are calcium citrate. Bariatric Advantage and Celebrate Vitamins offer some great tasting chews with some really yummy flavors. I have sampled all of them and they are delicious!!! Many stores like Walmart and Walgreens offer the calcium chews but they have Calcium Carbonate which can cause your pouch to swell and cause gas, plus it doesn't absorb. Read your packages and make sure you are getting what your body needs, otherwise you are throwing money away. https://www1.bariatricadvantage.com/catalog/us-en/2/Calcium https://www.celebratevitamins.com/shop/calcium/calcet-creamy-bites.html

Could be reaction to pain medications. Oxycodone can cause itching. Dry skin can also be a culprit. Try some moisturizing lotion like Gold Bond, coconut oil. Could also be a soap or laundry detergent you are using. Recall if there was anything you have changed, ate, drank, taken or used in the past month that is new (other than your surgery) possibly food allergen as well. Good idea to check with your Dr. Or go see Dermatologist. Hope it let's up soon for you!

I am a wine conisseuer as well. I love it , ,but yes it can hinder weight loss. I treat myself to a bottle which I share with my husband once a month. During that week, I just make sure I do extra workouts to subtract the wine calories! Enjoy

When I was banded, I told just my immediate family and my best friends. With my band removal, I told a few more people. With my revision to bypass....I am still trying to decide. I am a nurse and work with other nurses. My coworker who is really overweight, and has diabetes was told by her Dr. that he recommends bypass to help resolve her diabetes. She spent about 30 minutes bashing all WLS surgeries. So, I will most likely keep this revision surgery to bypass a secret until I hit goal and then let them know if they ask how.

I always had a hard time with shrimp because it was so fibrous. You really have to chew well. Shrimp and Lobster would get stuck alot if I didn't chew well enough. I love Shrimp. Walmart has extra small shrimp in freezer section however it does have a lot of sodium most likely due to freezing preservative. They are really tiny when cooked, but you still need to chew well. All other fish has been great. Fresh is better!

@@wagyu I have a bad habit of weighing daily. My husband has accused me in the past of being obsessed with the scale. Lol. I want to let you know that weight can fluctuate up to 10 pounds in one day based on water retention, sodium rich foods, and stool which we all have very long intestines. Once a week is probably optimal, but I don't do that. I weigh daily because it keeps me on track better. The most accurate time of day for me is in the morning , a few hours after I get up and after a BM. I find my weight is more accurate. The rest of the day, I don't really pay attention because I know so many things affect weight retention.

I want to say right off, that I am not writing this to scare anyone at all. I am writing my personal experience and would like to share that so that in case others have this test, they may be better prepared. Everyone may experience this differently. This is informational. I had lap band placed back in Nov 2011, started having problems with reflux in November 2014. I went to my surgeon and he ordered an upper GI and esophageal manometry to rule out slip, or prolapse and to figure out why my food kept coming back up. I even had food that would come up 3 days later!!!! The reason for an esophageal manometry is to show how bad the reflux is and they also measure pressure and esophageal function. And considering my reflux was bad, this was information needed for my surgeon to document a problem. I wanted the band removed. Upper GI was no problem, you drink some barium and they take pictures while you are drinking, which was pretty cool to see those blurbs of barium sliding down to your stomach in real time. However it showed severe reflux into my thoracic inlet which was pretty bad. In other words, it was going straight back up my esophagus mid chest. I then went for my manometry (not the same day). This manometry test is performed by an RN. I am an RN and questioned the nurse before the procedure a ton of questions. She told me that she went to special school for about 2 weeks. Her and her fellow students, practiced this procedure on each other. She said she had done over 500 manometry ' and had been doing these for 8 years. She was the only RN that actually performed this procedure in a well know hospital system consisting of 5 large hospitals in the Saint Louis area.(which I won't mention because I work for that system.) I could have refused this test but I needed documentation. I had my BFF come with me and so glad she did. The procedure goes like this: first she had me sit in this chair in 90 degrees, and she explained what she was going to do several times before she did anything. She sprayed my throat with a numbing agent and then my nose. She took this long tube resembling an NG tube (nasogastric tube), but this tube had these black rounded resembled flat balls (sensors), not sure how many of them were on there but there were a lot. She then started placing the tube down my nose and kept telling me to swallow sips of Water which helps get the tube down. I felt every one of these sensors. I have a bad gag reflex. It was easier said than done. She had to stop often because after about 20 seconds it became painful and I was crying. Finally after the tube was down which probably took about 10 minutes...I had a box of Kleenex on my lap and my BFF was wiping away my tears. The RN proceeded to feed me liquids 12 swallows, then applesauce 12 swallows, then Jello 12 swallows. Every swallow that I took, she was measuring pressures within my esophagus. I cried with every swallow. It was painful and I even asked her to add a little bit more of the throat spray ,but all she said was " let's just get this done". That was really inappropriate. This test is supposed to take about 25 minutes from what she told me, however 47 minutes later I finally was done. I could have stopped the test and refused any more torture but I needed this documentation. I needed to know if that band was causing these problems. I cried for 47 minutes. It was probably the worst test I have ever experienced and will never have one of those again. I actually have a new found respect for my patients with NG tubes. Another physician actually reads these pressures and then a report goes to the surgeon. In the end, the lap band overall had caused me to have induced vomiting and caused esophageal dilation causing extreme heartburn and reflux. Yes, the band was helpful and I lost 80 pounds, but I am glad to finally have relief due to recent removal 8/10/2015. I no longer have heartburn or reflux and was able to drink a small glass of orange juice for the first time in 4 years without any problems. Yay!! When I went to my new surgeon and initially wanted a sleeve, he was going to have me do that test again to determine if I still had reflux issues after band removal!!! No way!!! I told him my awful experience and he said he could do EGD and another upper GI instead. However, for people who are bands before sleeves, he said sleeving after banding would make reflux worse. After my removal, we discussed options again and he recommended bypass. I am choosing that route because I can't go through the horrible daily non stop heartburn again. Plans for bypass in late October/early November. So, if your surgeon orders this, there is probably good reason, and the information that this test provides may give you answers and may help diagnose a problem. Make sure you research and gather all info needed. Some people may tolerate this test better than I did. I hope that others have a better experience.

Well, your surgeon is right about 1 thing....Bypass is usually recommended surgery for banded patients. Banded pts tend to have bad reflux issues and if revised by sleeve, it would make that worse due to the high pressure it causes. But for her to leave the band in is ridiculous, plus puts you at risk for future surgery for removal. I would suggest you have it removed at the time of your surgery. I don't know about you, but if I can avoid multiple surgeries, I will. I am sure you will decide on what is right for you. Get a second opinion or 3rd until you feel you have the information that you need to proceed with whichever you choose. Best of luck to you

I agree with all above. The premier protein are good and you can purchase it at Walmart. I like the ability to close them with the cap. If you want another option.... Optisource made by Nestle is another great option. They come in small boxes. They have 24 grams of protein in 8 ounces. They are shelf stable and taste the best when cold or over ice or even blended. They have different flavors strawberry,& Caramel (both are delicious) I have tried both. I really like the Caramel flavor, it tastes like a caramel shake. https://www.nestlehealthscience.us/brands/optisource/optisource-vhp-drink-hcp

I hear that from many people. I wonder if it is such a drastic change with the malabsorption so quickly? We're you taking it before your WLS?

Dreadmill and Elliptikill! That's awesome haha! I will be glad that I am not on those when I am doing my "Zumba"zilla

Has anyone used these Biotin chews before or after bypass? If so, will they absorb? How well do they work ? I understand that it takes awhile for Biotin to get into your system. I want to prevent hair loss if possible. I have pretty thick hair ,but would like to keep it that way after bypass. I bought these at Walgreens because they were on sale and they have 5000 mcg of Biotin. They are gluten free. Below is picture of front and back with nutrition info. I tried one already. It was a pleasant berry flavor. They come 30 in a package. I paid $6.99. Looking to hear from others about what you use.