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You can become lactose intolerant after surgery. Luckily, this did not happen to me, but I know someone personally who it did happen to. The enzyme that you need to digest lactose sugar is in your stomach, so I am assuming that when they remove a large portion of your stomach, some of that enzyme is also removed...hence some people can no longer digest milk properly. I am not sure what the percentage is of people that it happens to though.

I am almost 6 weeks out. I started taking Benefiber because I was having problems, except it seems to have done a 180 and I am going too much, so I think I will stop. What the other poster said about magnesium is good too. I haven't started, but I am going. Not only can Vitamin D cause constipation, but a lot of calcium. I am not sure about your diet, but my consists of trying to get 1500mg of calcium a day. You can buy supplements that have Calcium and Magnesium in them, and that is what I was taking before surgery. Now that I am much more healed and can swallow pills well, I think I will start taking them again.

I asked my doctor this same question, and he had said that I could do abdominal exercises after 6 weeks post-op and I shouldn't have any problems. I would go with how your body feels. If it makes you sore, then hold off a little longer.

Hi Just Fran I am in the same boat as you. I am 5 weeks out and have lost 21.5 lbs. In a normal situation, I would think that it was great, but after having gone through so much with this surgery, I am disappointed. I lost the first 17lbs in my second week, and in the last 3 weeks, I have only lost 4.5 lbs. I have had to work so hard my whole life, and I was hoping that this would be different. I did post something a week ago or so, and got alot of good feedback, especially that our bodies are in shock and have to adjust. I am hoping that is right, and the weight will start dropping off. I am struggling to get in the minimum 600 calories in my diet, and the 70 g of protein that I am suppose to have. I am hoping that as I can eat a little more, it will help the weight loss. Best of luck to you and keep me posted on what your nurse says.

I am 5 weeks out, and I was really hungry too when I was just on liquids. I think there is just not enough in your tummy for long enough as liquids just go right through...but that is the point, right? The liquids are so your tummy heals. I have just started solids and I am not as hungry as I was, but I do still feel hungry at times, but not like before surgery. As you can eat more solid foods, you won't be as hungry, don't worry!!

I was sleeved on November 29th, and I am feeling a little frustrated with the weight loss. In my second week, I lost 17 lbs, which is amazing! But since then, I have only lost a total of 4 more pounds. So in the last 3 weeks, I have only lost 4 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I am very happy to have lost 21 lbs in the last 5 weeks, but I thought I would lose more. I was hoping for 2-3 lbs a week, and so far I am lucky if I lose 1 lb a week. I have just started solids, I think I getting in my fluids fairly well. I know I am a little short on my protein, maybe 40g a day instead of the 70g that I am suppose to be getting. Anyone else have this experience?? I paid for my surgery myself, and part of me feels that I made a mistake and put my family $10K into debt.

Thanks for all the information and encouragement everyone! I am new to the boards, and I love how everyone is so supportive. I am cleared for exercise now, and I definitely am going to start. I am trying to up my protein by drinking 2 protein shakes a day. I still am in the early stages of solids, so I haven't been eating very much in a day. The diet I was given is for 70g protein and 40 g carbs in a day. I think I might start jotting down what I eat and see how I am doing for calories and carbs. The weight loss is still painfully slow at the moment, so I am hoping if I up my protein and start exercising, that it will pick up again.

Don't worry about the weight gain. I had my sleeve on November 29th and initially gained probably 10 pounds from the surgery and fluids. I was a little stressed too when I got home and weighed more than when I left. However, the second week out I lost 17lbs!! It will come off, trust me!!