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Don't need the gory details, but has anyone had to use an enema to get things moving? My surgeon suggested it if no BM by day 5. I'm on day 4 and nada so far but starting to get uncomfortable. How many days post op before you were able to go, and did you need an enema? The word alone scares me lol!

Yes, I used one after about ten days post surgery with no movement. I did not use Fleet, instead I found a more natural one at the pharmacy. Same result but without the meds involved.

I say grab one and put it to good use!

I do not really think PCOS can or will go away after surgery. What probably happens is a change in the symptoms. I'd suggest discussing this with your ob/gyn or pcp for a more indepth answer.

I've been thinking of trying some watermelon just to have something new to eat, thanks for the info!

Not sure how much this site will help but if nothing else it may provide you with someone that has direct experience concerning severe lymphedema and wls.

http://www.amylhwilliams.com/

Well to let some of you know who are feeling similar symptoms they are going to do a scope to dilate the esophagus. Apparently this is somewhat common to have this. It basically has spazzums & that is causing the chocking issue. They use a scope to check on everything & then dialate the esophagus to help with swallowing.

They are also changing my medicine to help with the acid issue.

Very interesting, thanks for the info. I will email my doctor's RN now just to inquire about the issues I am having. She hasn't realy been helpful so far (brushing everything off as normal with advice to take more pain meds) but we'll see.

Three weeks out and always thirsty. There is nothing you can do but live through it. Sometimes I am so thirsty that it makes me angry.

I am 3 weeks out and have almost given up on feeling normal again or at least for the next few months. I do have the burning feeling at times and personally made the decision to up my PPI to twice a day (in the morning and before bed), it's working so far and is the only way I can survive right now. I will continue doing this until my next doctor's visit (8/29) and for me to stop he is going to have to seriously give me a valid reason.

Won ton Soup broth will probably be the most incredible thing you've ever eaten at this point, I know it was/is for me!

My guess is this is your largest incision. I had the same problem at the one by my belly button. My doc said it's the excess stomach was removed and it has an internal stitch that needs to heal too. Take it easy. Don't lift anything over 25lbs. I was told to take my pain meds and it soon went away. Whenever in doubt call your surgeon. Feel better. Hang in there it will get better.

I knew about this from pre op consults and was prepared for it, even had some pain from that largest incision but it all pretty much stopped. My concern is after being pretty much pain free to have it all start again, that has been somewhat terrifying.

Is yours on and off, too? Like mine is worse with movements, but sometimes I can move around just fine with minor pain. And as for pain meds, I ran out of my liquid loratab around a week post op..so I don't know what to do. And yep, the ER visit is out of question for me..too much money already owed for the surgery itself as well! Hopefully we will be better soon!

Mine is pretty constant with big movements, walking and such, it also gets worse after being still for long periods of time. If I am sitting or laying down then the pain is very minimal until it's time to get up.

Will your doctor not call in more pain meds? Mine offered but I've barely touched the ones given to me after surgery so I said no.

I really hope it eases up over the next week and a half because when I return to work it will take my all to concentrate on the job and trying to get in what little liquids and food that I can handle.

I'll cross fingers that we're both better soon!

If your insurance covers revisions then there should not be a problem. Good luck!

not sure how I feel about this but my doctor has a card that explains the wls and requests that these buffet type restaurants only charge a childs price.I have heard others talk about using them but not sure.

No one is required to accept/honor those cards, they are just something that doctor's offices/bariatric programs create. Honestly I am not even sure why they do it. If I should find a restaurant that does honor it, they'd probably have a patron for life.

No questions are stupid but I cannot imagine a credible doctor that would leave the band on wile performing a revision. The band has to be removed so the stomach can be resized into a sleeve.

It is true every doctor has different requirements. My doc requires at least two weeks but prefers patients take four. I've tried returning to work early from procedures in the past and decided to follow the rules this time. I am bored to death but honestly think the time off is needed to become accustomed to this new stomach/life.

Thanks for this thread. I am just at three weeks out and was having an easy time of it pain wise until last Wednesday. An area to the (my) right of the belly button has gone insane with pain upon movement! My doctor's office advice is to just take more pain meds which I am not doing for personal reasons. I was actually considering an ER visit but thoughts of the copay and coinsurance amounts made me think twice. Goodness knows I already have enough bills from the surgery itself. Now I'll just try to tough it out.

I'm post-op day 5. Since yesterday I've been mad at myself for doing this and praying that I could go back in time and not do it. I'm miserable. If I don't take tiny tiny sips then I get an excruciating pain in my throat, chest, and stomach. I can only stomach 40g of Protein a day and I can't drink more than 32oz without getting a painful lump in my throat. I feel like I'm never going to be able to eat my favorite foods again or be normal. I'm absolutely miserable. Anyone else feel like this?

You really need to consider yourself lucky. I am almost three weeks out and still cannot get in the amounts of liquid that you can. I will not even discuss Protein amounts because I have given up on that totally because all if does is make me ill (i've tried multiple brands/formats). I only wish I was able to do what you are, my greatest fear is this eating/drinking crap will never get better.

I know exactly how you feel. I had a hard go of it for a month after my surgery. I couldn't get the Protein in but my nutritionist said not to worry about that just keep hydrated. I remember thinking I had made the biggest mistake of my life and that I would never make it but here I am a year after and I know I made the best decision of my life.

Just drink Water whenever you can and I promise it will get easier. I lived off Water, watermelon and sucking on oranges while on full liquids. You can do it.

Thank you so much NYCBG, I really needed to hear that from someone that has been through it. I have been having those "what did you do to yourself" questions/conversations with myself almost daily now. I think it will help if I stop worrying about the Protein even though my doctor keeps harping on the importance of it. If i cannot do it, then I just cannot.

I a definitely worried about hydration so that shall become my mail focus as I do not want to end up in the hospital due to dehydration.

Not that it was ever on my radar but my doctor is not a fan of the lapband and made it very well known. I selected the sleeve because I was deathly afraid of the malabsorbation issues which are pretty much standard with RNY.

Sleeved 7/17/12 and having a hard go of it. Very difficult to get in liquids and def having issues with Protein. Everyone keeps saying "it will get better", right now I'm not exactly believing it but so i hope it does.

Another Houston sleever here. I just joined the meetup group, hope we can get something planned soon. I'm open to just about any and everything at this point, I just need to meet/talk to others that are going through the same things as I.

Cool. I have my surgery June 26. I live by Joe Pool in Grand Prairie. Im on my shakes today. Boy its tough drinking them. I need chewable Vitamins. I looked everywhere. Can some help please? I found Multi Vitamins today at GNC. No Iron.

Never stop dreaming, praying, and being a DIVA!!! <br />Yours truly <br /> Zeta

You can try Celebrate for chewables. They have a very informative website, check it out: http://www.celebratevitamins.com/

Another Houston person here. Had my sleeve 7/17/12 with Dr Sherman at Methodist in the medical center.

I'm recently sleeved but had already decided the Texas Summer was not going to be my friend on the walking front! I joined a local Y and will get all walking in on the treadmill. I much prefer real walking outside but that will not be possible for several more months so will have to make due on the machines.

I was sleeved on 7/17/12 and totally feel your pain. I am taking prevacid daily per doctor's orders but I had reflux prior to surgery as well. I still cannot tolerate Protein Drinks of any type. Not the Isopure premixed Fruit Drinks, not the GNC mixes or even the BariCare mixes that I was on prior to surgery. I am worried about this as my doc presses the importance of Protein as a healing mechanism but right now I could care less. If I cannot get or keep it down then it is no longer important right now. My focus right now is staying hydrated as I can only sip liquids which does not nearly quench my ungodly thirst.

Well that's not entirely true (that employer decides all benefits). State and federal law are involved as well. In Washington the surgery must be approved with co morbidity issues and coverage for lower bmi obesity is difficult but possible from policy to policy In Alaska our policies are required to cover with comorbidity but we can deny up front if there are none. (choose not to cover under elective/cosmetic clause). My employer, who is me, does not cover for the second but has to for the first. It just wasn't something that came up in the negotiations so we missed it. Next year both will be covered! But in all honesty, if it's not covered, it's not covered. The only fight is to verify state law and then use your diagnosises with the law in hand to point out the error of the companies ways if they have denied Inappropriately. This becomes your battle, not the doctors office.

While it is true that the state/feds can require certain coverages, if the OP was in a situation where such mandates were in place I doubt she would have received the denial to begin with which is why I did not mention this. I know at my place of employment, we do not cross state/federal mandates lightly (no one wants an ugly, unnecessary fine) so rules are built into our system in an attempt to ensure it does not happen.