chubbsey1

You should work on that, I had the same problem and wound up in the ER with fecal impaction. Not fun let's say it was a night of enemas,laxatives and fingers! I still have nightmares about fingers and rubber gloves.

You should work on that, I had the same problem and wound up in the ER with fecal impaction. Not fun let's say it was a night of enemas,laxatives and fingers! I still have nightmares about fingers and rubber gloves.

Oh man!! These stories are not making me feel any better lol!! I seriously never want to relive that day again!! The hospital gave me a bottle of magnesium citrate and it worked so fast and good, I am thinking of buying several bottles of that and taking it every couple of days.
@@della street I actually was hoping not to have to go to the hospital. I knew something needed to be done because I could feel the stool pressing in my rectum, I had drank milk of mag and new stool was coming out around the compacted stool, totally painful and uncomfortable. I thought I may need a suppository but I'm a major baby so I called my gynecologists office and asked if they could help me, they suggested going to the er. I was so upset they wouldn't help me but I went! Thankfully I did because after an X-ray it was determined I had a hard 7cm stool! It was awful!!! I hope you get some relief soon and don't have to go to the ER!!

I'm sure many people will offer you suggestions, but I need to share some advice with you. (The best advice I received throughout my weight loss journey, in fact.) I was complaining about food boredom to my nutritionist. Same thing, day in, day out, blah, blah BOREDOM! Her advice was not what I expected. She said, "Food is not entertainment." I know we have all heard the cliche, "eat to live, don't live to eat", but until she said this to me, I never really internalized a new way of thinking about food. She also added, "Talk to all the normal weight people you know. You will find they continually eat the same things." She was right.
It is normal to get bored in the early stages, but as you get used to your new way of life, try to remember that you are eating to nourish yourself and lose weight. Food is no longer entertainment.
Best,
Amy

I am down about 135 pounds. Around the 80 mark I blew the seal off of the mask it was so powerful. I just read how to lower my pressure and I am fine. I see my sleep doc in a few weeks so I am wondering what he will say.

Exactly! it's a big world and I wish I had the good manners to post in Italian as good as you do in English if the situation was reversed.
Last thing we need is a bunch of people looking down their noses and instead of paying attention to what someone is saying, they are critiqued and graded on how well,or not, they say it.
I'm not their teacher or mother. I'm here to offer my experience with WLS....so you can talk to me. I will listen.
I saw 6 patients and their families yesterday....2 were Spanish and needed interpreters,,,,and one family was from India.
The father from India is a big shot engineer that makes our education system look silly.! But if he posted here he would be slammed because he did not use commas in the right place and because of his English spelling....
I can say people from the south have bad grammar...does that mean I won't talk to them? How about Aussies? Are thy to be ignored also? Asians? Those that are dirt poor and have no education?
Perhaps we can institute some sort of questionnaire before we let people join this group of the "Elite"
There...that's my rant. My forum etiquette beef is all the self proclaimed experts trying to make themselves feel better than the next person....I get it...you're wonderful...you're perfect! I bow down to your ivory tower!
Just share your weight loss successes and experiences ( if you have any) with others who come here to glean information.

I agreeded. Bad grammur and speling r the route of all evul. It makes I go nut just thunking around that!
Warning, this post may contain extreme sarcasm.

I can let the grammar and spelling go, it's a big world out there and the doors here are wide open. So you're going to read posts from many people from many different backgrounds, etc.
There is one thing that I have noticed, and I wanted to point it out but wasn't sure where. So I'll put it here...
Is it me, or am I reading the same post over and over again, posted different places on different days, and perhaps by different people??
And they all have post counts of less than 8....
I just read a post 10 minutes ago, and I could swear I read that same post, a slight variation, last week.

Speaking only for myself, I focused on that one because the other two have merit in my opinion. Neither bother me as much as they appear to bother you, but I find the vent concerning grammar to be "unfair" for lack of a better word. Perhaps because I was a special education teacher for children with learning disabilities or because my father is dyslexic and has trouble communicating correctly via the written word, I have more empathy.

Just restarted these workouts. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YK-zg4bID54#

Chrystal light lemonade powder, herbal tea, Protein powder Soup from unjury, a shaker container to make your shakes, non-fat milk to mix drinks when you are ready, a walking partner that will go around the block with you a couple times a day, comfortable clothes that don't hurt your inscision. Non fat yoguart, broth, and sometimes it helped to have a watch or clock near by so you won't drink before 45 mins or so after you eat. Good luck. The time goes by quickly. Drink your Protein first, and have some stuff to soften your stool. Constipation is waiting around the corner for all of us. Have your vits, Calcium and all that stuff ready to go when you get home so you don't have to go out for a couple of days. Take a shower daily, that makes you feel better too!

There are very few people who are 5+ years out that still post on these forums.
I am 3 years and 3 months post sleeve. i had the lapband for over 10 years prior to that.
I am not exactly sure how to answer your question though. For me, it was life or death. I had become so obese, i was not living the life i wanted and I had to choose whether to die slowly buried in fat, or choose another path.
since being sleeved, I can eat anything but in small portions. I really have to work to avoid regain, but have been maintaining a very significant weight loss since Feb 2013.

I'm not 5 years, but over 4....
Restrictive??? Diet??? those are 2 words I do not use.
How about "New Lifestyle"?
I have had lap band surgery,,,yes it restricts the amount of food, portion sizes, I can eat.....does it bother me? No, because it also took care of my hunger, and my tastes have changed to where a lot of things...MANY things, do not appeal to me anymore. I have no desire, no cravings.
Also, the Lap band has made certain foods difficult to eat, so i gave them up entirely rather than gamble....looking back, all the foods, or most, where not that good for me in the first place. And if I was on a diet they would be "Red Flag" foods like cakes, breads, rice, etc, etc.
Over 4 years later, I take a day like any other day...perfectly normal, don't even think about the fact I had weight loss surgery....all those lessons I learned early on have now become not just a habit, but it is who I am and what I do instinctively
Sure, every now and then I will drink Water too fast, or swallow something too large or too quickly...but it is nothing more than a little reminder....not the sky is falling!!
You may read many posts from people who are struggling...but if you can read between the lines you can see why they are struggling..."Have not seen their Dr in over a year" for one example.....and the majority of them are from people who are new to this...
Granted, there are legitimate unavoidable problems with this surgery, some dangerous....just as there is with anything in life.
But I am at a "Normal" weight, in excellent health ( was not always so) and I have more self-esteem, motivation, and energy than I ever have....
Would I trade this off??? Not a chance!!!

thanks

If you have android the app is called "eat slower"

Like you I love my liquids, I'm not going to lie @ six weeks out its a bit of a struggle to get 64oz of liquid a day. It is an adjustment no more guzzling its a slow and steady sip. Do I miss soda yes, do I miss gulping an ice cold Water yes, do I miss the 50lbs I've lost so far, No!

Well since this is the "randy" place, I'll pass this on as encouragement to those who are just beginning their journey. My girl friend was having her way with me down there, and I looked down and realized my gut wasn't blocking the view. It was amazing. I forgot how cool it looks. And she is one to really get into it. We met after I lost weight so she has no idea what a big deal it was to me, but it is a really big deal to me.
And yeah, without all the fat, I am much "ahem" bigger than I remember. And with all the exercise, I can do things I have not done since college. It is so cool being 51, and playing around like I'm 19. They really need to put "improve your sex life" in the brochures.

Being surprised that others still measure and count calories should be a worrisome concern to you.
My failure to totally understand what was required was always my downfall with any past weight losses. I would figure I won the battle once I reached a goal weight and then slowly go back to my old habits.........and weight
I like that my sleeve is a ongoing reminder of the lifestyle changes I have made and will continue to follow forever now. I know from past failed experiences in contrast to my present success, along with the maintenance feedback of others, that the longer I maintain my lifestyle and eating changes, the more likely they will become permanent. No more illusions that I can quickly defeat obesity. I will need to be forever vigilant. This will be my new normal

The most bizarre thing is that after surgery, I no longer have the symptoms of sleep apnea. It can't be just the weight loss - the loss of symptoms were noticable immediately after I came home. And before I had surgery, when I was a lot lighter (say 210 lbs) I still had symptoms of sleep apnea.
But since surgery, I haven't used my CPAP (mostly because I didn't want additional discomfort while I was recovering) but without it, I've been sleeping right through the night (before surgery I woke at about 4-5am every night to use the bathroom), feel refreshed during the day and my other half says that even though I do still snore, he hasn't noticed any of the gasps for breath that I used to have before.
I'm not saying my sleep apnea is gone, and I will get it tested - I've got an appointment in May. But so far, it feels like it has subsided massively and I can't understand why or how.

Here's what helps me:
1. I plan my day's eating every morning like an OCD banshee. I use My Fitness Pal and log every bite I eat. I use it to plan my meals every morning and then every evening edit the day's entries to reflect any deviations I made.
2. I do not eat popcorn. That's just one of many slider foods (highly processed foods that slide right through your little tummy and don't leave you satisfied) that make you crave more slider foods. Yeah, don't eat those.
3. I always, always, always get my 60 grams of Protein in daily. Most days (on 1,200 calories -- I'm in Month 8 post-op -- I get closer to 90-100 grams of Protein. And I always, always, always at meals eat my protein first. That keeps me VERY satiated for hours.
4. I chew more, pause between bites, etc. And don't drink with meals. The usual yada yada yada instructions I actually follow.
I would say it might be time to take an honest assessment of what you're doing to find how you're deviating from surgeon's instructions. Chances are if you're not doing something your MD recommended that if you did that you would reduce your anxiety and keep on full steam ahead.
Good luck to you. I think you know what to do. You just need a little reset.
Here it is ... RESET!

Ok, copied another one from my Bariatric centers website....again, a re-print from a memebr's contribution...(slightly edited)
10 Things not to say to someone who has lost weight!!!
1. How much more do you have to go?
Um, I just lost 50 pounds, pal.
I think I'm just about there.
2. Wow, you look so pretty/handsome now.
Oh, so that explains why children broke out in expressions of terror at the sight of my former fatness, clinging to their mommy's skirt hems for dear life.
It's as though a person who loses weight magically morphs from Frankenstein to Fabulous, and it's crucial that people point this out.
Hey, whatever happened to all that "it's on the inside that counts" stuff?
3. So, what size are you?
I know that these days, people are pretty comfortable telling strangers everything from what romantic bedroom positions float their boat to how they have a thing for collecting toenail clippings. But really, is anything sacred anymore?
Not that our clothing size is on par with revealing salaries or some horrible childhood memory, but I'm sure all of our lives will go on just fine with people not knowing whether I'm a small, medium or large or whether I went from a D or C cup to B or an A.
4. I bet you have so many admirers now!
Why yes, I say, as I toss the latest love letter from Brad Pitt and David Beckham into my stash of marriage proposals and naughty notes. (Some letters are more boring: "Jen, you look so pretty now. What size are you, anyway? XOXO, David B").
This one gets me because well, it's somewhat true. And like most humans, sometimes the truth hurts (some say it hurts, I say it often pisses me off). Because in reality, yes, people do treat me differently. No, not in that admirers-lined-up-at-the-door kind of way, but in daily interactions. Both men and women tend to be more receptive to ideas and interested in general conversation, doors are held open from longer-than-normal distances and restaurant checks with a missing side order will be dismissed with a smile.
Inside, I'm the same person I always was, just tinier. And it's that latter part that seems to make people a tad friendlier.
Some people I mention this to become angered, saying that such niceness was really around all along. They maintain that it was me -- grumpy, fat, miserable "the world is against plus-size me" me -- who refused to see it.
Perhaps they are right.
5. Do you have stretch marks?
Thanks for your, um, concern.
6. Are you dying?
Seeing another's weight loss transformation can be shocking, especially if they lost a significant amount. But sometimes the questions people ask are very rude.
"Are you dying?"
"Are you sick?"
"Do you have an eating disorder?"
I mean, who asks such questions? Thinking them is one thing, but outright asking is another.
Sigh.
7. I liked you fatter.
Great, and I liked you quieter.
I'm happier being able to tie my shoes without four rolls of belly bulge beating me to the punch, thank you very much.
And what's that supposed to mean anyway? Are people losing out on "I think she'll eat another slice in an hour" bets with friends? Am I suddenly void of all things jovial (because, as we all know, rotund folks are always super-duper jolly)?
8. Oh, c'mon. You can have another dish of ice cream.
I can. But I won't. That's what landed me in this whole situation in the first place.
This is by far the most terrorizing thing for those who lost weight. When you've just shed any amount of weight, a dinner out with friends is on par with driving in New Jersey traffic during rush hour: scary. (I can say that; I lived there for over 20 years and survived Garden State Parkway commutes. Bonus: While downing jelly donuts.)
Let us be!
9. What was it like?
Sometimes this question is asked meekly, as if people sense that I might break out in cheesecake-withdrawal spasms or screams. Or both.
Oh, weight loss is a feat to be proud of whether two or 402 pounds were dropped. Still, I'm not 1) a saver and protector of the world's bad eaters or 2) a sad soul who lost my way along with my weight.
Yes, I've seen people make mean puffer fish "fat" faces in reference to my heft. Yes, I've become infuriated at the limited clothing styles that many plus-sizes carry. I've cried while consuming an entire box of crackers, I've laughed while eating a tub of family sized popcorn at the theater. I've rolled my eyes at suggestions to lower my weight. Blah. Blah.
And now, I'm not in that world. I'm happy to not be there anymore, so sometimes, questions that force me to go back to a place and time I'd rather forget doesn't give me a case of warm and fuzzies.
I'm a green smoothie-making, kale-eating woman now. I eat hemp seeds, enjoy muesli and drink almond milk. Enough of the candy bar memories.
Next question?
10. You're so pulled together now.
Akin to the "you're pretty now" comment, this one makes me feel like I must have looked as if I was roaming the Earth in a state of bleary eyed nothingness. But now, I've lost weight. So you see, I'm all toss-my-hat-in-the-air Mary Tyler Moore with my confident self.
Funny how people view me because I've changed physically. I was always a hard worker, talking in perfectly-timed "close the loop," "make it happen," and "I'm on it" corporate speak. Hmmm. Perhaps saying it with a thinner body makes people think I mean it more.
So there you have it.
I'm thrilled to have kept 70 pounds off for several years, and I truly enjoy my healthier lifestyle.
I'm not dying.
I'm not a miracle story.
And no, I'm still not revealing my new bra size.

Six months was my rule, almost all carbonation stirred out. Now at almost 2 years out, I can drink a Coke Zero fountain soda over ice.
Go ahead. Beat me up.