CrazyCatLady

I have had this issue ever since surgery...and I don't even consume Protein shakes of any kind due to my new-since-surgery lactose intolerance. Farts can NEVER be trusted. I've talked to a couple docs, and they keep assuring me that this will go away in time (one of them said, "Once you hit solids, diarrhea and "productive flatulence" will be a thing of the past"...but I've been on solids for almost 3 weeks and still have several liquid stools daily). I finally gave up sleeping with the nice sheets or wearing good clothes. I've had to learn to carry a whole change of clothes (from the waist down) with me any time I leave the house. Wish I had suggestions how to stop it, but no luck so far.

I realize that I am very, very depressed. I have become so deconditioned and in enough pain, that I rarely leave my house any more. A lot of that has to do with no longer being able to eat anywhere but at home. So I started the new job this week, and Wednesday night I was supposed to orient on graveyard shift. I packed myself a couple of pieces of rolled deli turkey for food (my usual standby) and went to work. I don't know if it was the swapping onto night shift or what, but I spent almost the entire night with either heaving or with bright yellow loose stools (again! Why can't I kick this damn stuff!) in proximity to eating the turkey. I feel like I'm a prisoner to my body. It's like...just when I start feeling ok (I say ok, because I haven't felt GOOD since April, before surgery.), my body says, "There you go getting all uppity...let's knock you down a peg!" I'm so sick of it. I wish I had spent more time reading threads on complications prior to surgery. Instead, I chose to believe these people who said they were out mowing their lawns with push-mowers at 3 days post op. Hell, I've been off work for 7 weeks and I couldn't survive one shift...which was substantially less hours than what I normally worked! I feel like such a failure. I guess what I'm struggling with is feeling like a failure. I'm an intensely private person, so I haven't shared what's going through my head with many people. But I keep getting the "just wait, it will get better" or...the thinly veiled implication that I'm doing something wrong and they don't want me crapping in their Wheaties. Well, I'm sorry to piss on your rainbow! I wish I COULD be that woman who was eating a whole Chalupa at 3 weeks post op, but I'm not. I've had to be in the hospital 3 times since surgery (albeit two of those were for IV rehydration and were ER only visits). I've had 3 separate consulting surgeons tell me that my sleeve is ridiculously tight and that I need surgical correction, or I'll end up malnourished and chronically dehydrated. I feel like this surgery was possibly the worst decision of my life...and being I've been married 3 times, that's saying a lot! I'm just getting to the point where I don't want to talk to anyone about this at all, because I just can't take the negative right now. I don't have health insurance, so no councelling in the near future for me. I just can't wait for this all to end.

That is correct - and I have had major surgery before WITHOUT these particular results. I apologize - I thought OP was looking for a variety of feedback. I know that prior to my own surgery, all I saw was glowing reports of people mowing their lawns with push-mowers at 3 days post op, running in charity runs at 4 weeks post-op, eating a whole Chalupa from Taco Bell at 3 weeks post-op. I felt it was a reasonable expectation to be somewhat "normal" functioning at the one month mark. I wish I would have known and had the opportunity to speak with people who had a less-than-super experience, so that I fully knew what the possible outcomes were. Even though I am a nurse and have some clinical knowledge of what can happen post-surgically, nothing takes the place of talking to someone who has actually been there - it helps you make a more accurate decision.

I guess I have to be the one to say...I regret having the sleeve done. I do. I'm 6 weeks post op, and am still miserable. I went from being able to pull a 16 hour shift at work with no problem, to not being able to handle a short trip to the grocery store. I have become totally lactose and wheat intolerant post-surgical. I developed a large blood clot post surgery and had to spend an additional week in the hospital. I can't get life insurance through my previous company now...because of this surgery (it's an auto-exclusion). I can't eat with other people any more...because I have no idea if what I'm putting in my mouth will give me near-instant heaves and diarrhea, even if I've had that food before with no issues. Sure, I've lost weight - but I'm still wearing the same clothes as pre op. I wish I would have tried to diet more earnestly instead of this. Consider well before you continue, because you can't go back. Pre-op, I was so convinced that I would be like "everyone" else - happy, motivated. I was not prepared to be one of the few who will be lucky to survive this ordeal mentally and physically in one piece.

Wow, I'm 6 weeks out and still haven't been able to tolerate ANY fruits or veggies. At all. I get a tiny bite and then the stomach starts roiling....followed by a run to the bathroom within the next 30 minutes. I'm still stuck with soft proteins and it sucks >.< It's nice to know that eventually, some day....my anatomy may be less volatile.

I'm working graveyard shift today, but my body doesn't want to cooperate with sleep...so here I am, awake when I should be asleep. But it's ok. Since my breakdown on Monday, I've been making a concerted effort to really question my motivations for anything that comes in or out of my mouth. I hadn't realized it, but I have been buying into the pity that has been coming from aquaintances: "If I could only eat a few bites, I would DIE!" "Aren't you going to end up like Carnie Wilson? You know, she had that surgery and gained it all back." "Wow, you're going to be so sick...I had a (insert friend or relative here) who had that surgery, and he/she was so malnourished that she had to live in the hospital for (insert long period of time), they had to feed her through a tube and he/she almost died!" "We're all going out drinking....you coming CatLady? Oh, that's right...no fun for you anymore!" etc, etc, etc. I'm not sure why I took so many of these to heart, but I have. It comes down to feeling....abnormal. It's a feeling I've struggled with almost my entire life. I just want to fit in - and since surgery, it feels like I stick out even more. For some reason, I chose to remedy this in a fashion that was really no remedy at all. It just made me feel like more of a screw up. So my goal this week has been to listen only to myself, not what I -THINK- others may think or say about me. It has been challenging, but doable. The big realization is that I *AM* normal. THIS is my new normal. and I've got to go with the flow. Took my daughter to Panda Express (her favorite place) to celebrate the last day of school, and was perfectly content picking at 1/4 of a side's worth of Mushroom Chicken. Enjoyed talking to her and being inside in the air conditioning. And felt ok. Just have to lock this feeling away and remember it.

I finally hit my breaking point. Today was first day of orientation at new job. I'm already not happy about this - it is a pay cut ($2 an hour, but still) AND a cut in hours (32 a week...need I say more?) Being it was corporate orientation, they ordered Pizza Hut pizza for all of us - all of THEM, I should say. So I sat and watched them eat pizza, breadsticks, soda...cinnasticks....while I ate my 2 low-fat, gluten/dairy free turkey meatballs. At the end of the day, I had just been wrung through the wringer. Bone tired, mentally tired. I snapped. I stopped at the store and bought 2 bags of chips - one of Cheetos Puffcorn, one of Poore Brother's Sweet Maui Onion. I opened them up and proceeded to drive from one end of town to the other, stuffing my mouth with chips. I pulled over in a parking lot off of Grant and Alvernon to throw up. And again in the parking lot of the Pima Downtown Campus. But just kept shoving in chips. Finally got terrible diarrhea, so pulled into In N Out off of I-10. Used bathroom, threw up again, had total liquid stool for about 10 minutes. Exited bathroom, ordered chocolate milkshake. Got back in car. Had to roll down window and throw up down side of vehicle at 70mph cause I couldn't get off the road fast enough. Threw remaining bags of chips out the window when I hit the Eastbound Kolb Rd exit. Had another incident of gut-ripping diarrhea, but couldn't control it and ended up soiling myself...all the way down to the tan plush seats of my 2011 Camry. Had to drive the remaining 15 minutes home in crappy scrub pants, had nothing in car to clean up with or change into. What the hell is wrong with me???

I was all prepared for a stall...but not for this. For the last 4 days, I have consistently gained 3/4 to half a pound....EVERY STINKING DAY. I'm not close to my period, so that's not it. I don't have any new or unusual edema, so that's not it. My bowels move twice every day (damn those loose stools), so that's not it. This is driving me insane! I am still having difficulty getting in fluids. I barely hit 40oz yesterday, and I really really had to screw with my day to get in that much. I'm back to sliming when I attempt to consume plain water, so I've been drinking water with a little lemon in it, or decaf iced tea. Ocassional Crystal Lite, but it just tastes way way too sweet these days. Yesterday's intake: 2oz low-salt turkey breast, 1.5oz rotisserie chicken breast, 3 all-beef gluten/dairy free meatballs. That's about my capacity. I miss veggies terribly. My blood clotting factor keeps dropping, even with the Warfarin, so the hematologist's office kicked me off my vitamins until they can stabilize how thin my blood is...since not throwing a clot is the top priority right now. I'm just so damn frustrated right now. I mean, there should be no way that I am gaining weight on such a small amount of calories. Logically, I know there can be a myriad of reasons for scale gain...but the fact that I'm not losing many inches is just the cherry on top. /endrant

Just found out I have to try to do the urine tox screen again...not enough sample. And my urine output was only 50ml yesterday....total. This is bad news. I may need some IV hydration at this point.

My sleeve named himself during those first few days post-op: Cthulu Jr. Don't know who (or what) Cthulu is? In short....elder god...who drives you insane...and then eats you. Or kills you...by eating you. Among other things. Those first 72 hours post op, my newly sleeved stomach was VERY vocal - as in, you could hear rumbling across the room. Once I was able to consume liquids, if it was something CJ (as he's known) didn't like, he would conspire with his squiggly neighbors to the south to construct a quick, agonizing departure. For the first 5 weeks of my new sleeve life, CJ has ruled my world with an Iron fist...and driven me insane! Oddly, my husband is an almost 3 year RNY post-op, and his pouch has a name: Grignak (as in, Grignak the Barbarian!). Grignak likes to pretend he's all civilized and docile, but watch out! - he's just waiting for the right chance to RAGE!! After my surgery, we could sit on the sofa next to eachother and listen our respectively modified stomachs gargle and yell at each other. Odd, but entertaining! On a side note: there is actual clinical research and backup behind why we name things that we feel are foreign - it is much easier to deal with a named entity than a nameless object. If it has a name, it must have intelligence or a persona, and thus be open to reason and logic. We use this strategy all the time in clinical practice to help patients who are having a difficult time adjusting to a new ostomy or appliance (like a Vacuum Assisted Wound Closure device). It's much easier, psychologically, to say, "Oscar's acting up again!", than "my colostomy is having issues".

Something that's been nagging at me since surgery.... I miss being able to chug water. Badly. I'm almost 5 weeks out from surgery, and still can barely hit 40oz of fluid intake a day. That being said - that amount is double my intake from the week before, when I discovered how wonderful straws truly are. I thought all liquids gave me the burps; instead, I can drink pretty much everything now burp-free, provided it's through a straw. I had pre-employment paperwork today for a new job, and while I was filling out the mountain of legal stuff, the woman casually asks for me to give a urine sample for drug tox testing....and I secretly panicked! I had been sip sip sipping along on my water all morning, but I was no where near prepared to give 50ml of urine on the spot! Heck, I'm lucky to pass 200ml total on any given day! Yes, I'm chronically dehydrated since surgery, and it sucks. In the past, this would not have been an issue. I was notorious for being able to chug a full liter of water in under 30 seconds as a pre-op. Now it takes me the better part of 6 hours to get down one of those 16.9oz bottles. WTF. After 3 hours of drinking as much as I possibly could, I was only able to produce 20ml of urine...they sent the test bottle off anyways, but I have that sneaking suspicion that I'll be required to retest. See, little things like this nag at me as a post-op. I was prepared to possibly not be able to eat red meat/steak again, so I spent quality pre-op time eating a TON of beef, and I was ok with that going away. I had no idea I'd end up lactose intollerant...to the point where I wake up at night, covered in sweat and dreaming of cheese, to the point where I can taste it in my mouth!! The social aspects of food are hitting me hardest. I suppose that this is normal for everyone. I've been lucky in that I have been somewhat isolated from other people for the last month, but food advertising is everywhere, and it makes me want to strangle people. If I have to see one of those Pizza Hut ads for that damn CHEESY BITE PIZZA one more time, I swear I'll go postal!!!! Bread and cheese! I'd rather have it than sex! ....at least, I think I would. Truth be told, I'm not even sure if I would really enjoy it anymore. And that's what it comes down to....food hold absolutely no enjoyment for me any more. I can't think of anything in my food choices that tastes GOOD right now. Some things are more tolerable than others, but there is nothing that I truly savor, and it makes me sad. I'm sure the fact that I'm "stalled" does not help matters. I chose to consume a small amount of something I shouldn't, and gained 4 lbs of fluid overnight...which has stubbornly clung on for the last 3 days. And now I am terrified to eat pretty much anything. Worried that I went in debt and nearly died from complications...all for 42lbs of weight loss, which may or may not stay off. Ugh, frustrated. I'm at that point where I'm not far enough to see positives (no, I haven't lost any clothing sizes or had any NSVs yet), but buried in negatives, and it's hard to see when things will improve.

I always thought I would be very private about my surgery - but I've found myself discussing it with the most random people. Example: I just got offered a new job, which requires drug screening prior to employment. I was aware of this fact - but not aware that they would want a sample TODAY, when I was making a quick stop by for pre-employment paperwork. I found myself having to explain why I couldn't just chug a 16oz bottle of Water and present the requisite urine a short time later. Being in healthcare sometimes has it's downsides - I'm rarely able to get away with a "how" without attaching a "why". So far, reactions have been mostly positive. Pretty much the only time I explain the mechanics of my surgery are a) when people broach the subject on their own, or if I need to explain some mechanical limitation of my new sleeve (i.e: "Yes, nosy coworker, I -DID- enter the pudding eating contest last year ...and I am the reigning champion! But I will not be keeping that title this year because...xyz"). I did tell my family in advance of my surgery, but even then with some trepidation, as it is looked upon as a willpower issue. Oddly, I never disagreed it was a willpower issue for me...but was I going to let it kill me? or was I going to attempt to do something about it? Coupled with the fact I went out of country for surgery, it seemed logical to let the family know where I was going and why....just in case the worst happened, they wouldn't get surprised by a call from my husband telling them I had died in an OR in Mexico. Harsh, but reality. As far as weight lost, let me paraphrase from the Good Book - "Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone". But, as my sister says - "Haters gonna hate". Many years ago, I lost a significant amount of weight through ...well, basically, starvation. LOTS of coffee and no carbs. I worked with this cheeky CNA who used to say to me every night at work, "You know, all that weight's going to come back and then some." I took those words to heart, and regained. It really doesn't matter HOW you lose your weight, surgery or otherwise - sometimes, some miserable people are going to try to make your life also miserable, because of jealousy or whatever. I guess what I am trying to say is: It matters less who you tell, in what you believe and expect the sharing of that information to result in. If you feel that negative criticism will negatively impact your results or your self-image, then feel free to keep information about your surgery to yourself. If you don't give a flying monkey's rear what people think...feel free to share with whoever you wish. Or don't. In the end, only you can decide who you want to invite into a private corner of your life.

Not to echo what others will most likely say - but have you considered a switch to Dexilant (if you're not already on it?). I've seen quite a few posts here on VST, as well as patients in clinical practice, who were able to achieve much better control of the VOLCANO once switching off of Prilosec or Nexium. Just a thought. Please don't shoot - just trying to be helpful *ducks*

I was self-pay for my procedure, as my employer had negotiated a total exclusion with UHC for our contract - had my procedure in Mexico with a well-respected surgeon. It always amazes me that I, as a nurse - who spends my life caring for people, can't get the heathcare coverage I need from my employers...but that's another rant. Unknown to me (but known to my ancestors, those cheeky critters!), I had an undiagnosed hereditary blood clotting disorder, and landed back in the hospital at 10 days post op with a HUGE portal vein clot. As far as I know, UHC has covered the one week hospital bill that I incured at that point, with no issues...other than that pesky $2k deductible.

I've always guessed that I have some food sensitivities - but, being the snack-fiend that I was, I largely ignored them and ate whatever the heck I wanted anyways. In the years before surgery, I struggled with frequent, painful edema in my hands and feet (sometimes to the point that I could barely open doorknobs, containers, etc), itchy skin after eating, weight gain, general fluid retention.... A couple of timeperiods, I became frustrated and cut out entire food groups in an attempt to find some relief: wheat, corn, dairy...these were popular. I had really hoped that post-op, I wouldn't have to deal with these issues. After all - I was going to be eating a fraction of the amount of food that I ate before, I would have no reactions to worry about! WRONG. I have already documented numerous places my new and total intolerance of anything vaguely dairy related. Even butter and hard cheese are consumed in small quantities at my own peril. But what is really starting to annoy me is the exacerbation of reactions to miniscule amounts of corn and wheat. The scale says I've now lost 43lbs since surgery, which is great! But there have been days where that painful, warm edema has returned to my hands and feet, making sleeping an uncomfortable and fruitless proposition. Finally realized I was drinking a ton of Crystal Light...which uses maltodextrin, which comes from....corn. Drat. Cut out the Crystal Light, switched to tea. Better. I'm finding that eating food out is a challenge. I had some mashed potatoes (and a smidge of gravy) from Boston Market, and puffed up like a Macy's parade balloon. Logged on to their website to peruse ingredients: Milk solids, wheat starch, corn starch.....wtf. Got desperate for variety at one point, and had a Morningstar Farms Chik'n Patty, which at various semi-vegetarian times in my life I loved. I was able to eat all but 2 bites of the patty and felt very satisfied! ....until about 30 minutes later, when my hands started to puff up and my skin began to itch. Ingredients? Wheat gluten is pretty high on the list. Dammit. I have no idea why my body has become MORE sensitive rather than less so since surgery. But all I can say is that I am annoyed and frustrated beyond comprehension. I feel like I'll have to become one of those neurotic people that read every package label and have no fun with life. Small favors, body....that's all I'm asking of you.

I have become totally unable to consume dairy since surgery - to the point where even "lactose-free" products like Lactaid and all whey-based Proteins (Including IsoPure) make me almost immediately and painfully ill. I've tried soy a couple of times, but it gives me amazingly bad gas, so soy is off my list as well. At this point, I can stand rice milk....in teeny tiny quantities. This has made the first few weeks of post-op challenging. I do hope things change at some point - cheese was not something I was willing to give up in this bargain. Sigh.

Jeeze, sounds like we're all a bunch of druggies... "I use THE STRAW!" *wink wink* "I feel soooo much better since I started using!" lol

When I was in the hospital for a week after 10 days post op due to a portal vein clot, I gained 18lbs in Fluid weight...yes, you read that right, 18lbs. I was 271 at home on the day I was admitted, and 289 the day I came home. Guess what? Worked itself out. Even with my abdominal fluid retention from that same dratted clot, I'm down 30lbs since my surgery a month ago, also with Dr Aceves. You'll do great. Trust your body - it had major surgery, it's doing the best it can. Things will work out for you

I had surgery April 16th, at which time I was kicked off my Spirnolactone (50mg BID!) for control of my hair growth...cause I grow a pretty nice beard/mustache combo. I will say, since surgery, I've only had to pluck a couple hairs. Which is a big change - in the past, if I missed just a couple days of Spirnolactone, I'd have long black hairs all over in just under a week! So it appears symptoms are already improving. Ask me again in a few months

I just switched to using a straw last monday...world of difference! Went from barely able to get down 20oz of fluids a day to now hitting 60 easy. In fact, I'm working on a 32oz of unsweetened Pineapple Papaya iced tea from Quik Trip right now....delicious!

Sounds like some dehydration - you want to get checked out. Preferably sooner rather than later. Just the opinion of one rotten nurse

Wednesday will be the one month anniversary of being sleeved....what a wild, crazy trip it's been! As of yesterday, I am 30lbs down from the weight I was on sleeve day, which is pretty damn good given the circumstances. I still have abdominal edema from my portal vein clot, which is making clothing an interesting proposition. I can now barely button pants I wore pre-op, but the thighs and butt are loose...it's just that pesky abdomen full of fluid! I appear to have also lost some breast tissue, which is an annoyance. I have a job interview today and tried on my normal interview dress: almost too tight in the middle, hanging odd on the top ( I don't fill it out at well!). Makes me look like pregnant potato, but it will have to suffice. Food has been a hot topic this week. For 8 days, I hung out between 269-270lbs on the scale. Then two nights ago, we were at the movies and I broke down and tried popcorn...and found that Cthulu Jr likes it....a lot! All told I had about 1/2 a cup over a period of 2 hours. But the odd part was, in the past I would not have been discerning. I would have eaten any old kernel that ended up my hand. This time, I found myself hunting through the bag for those perfect salty, buttery, seasoned, puffy pieces - and rejecting any other imperfect tidbits. Very satisfying. Next morning I get on the scale....and bam! 266. Excellent. Today I had one thick, perfect piece of Boars Head Mesquite Turkey Breast lunch meat....delicious. CJ found this palatable as well. Yesterday I had a single saltine cracker with my chili at lunch, and it added that crunch that I had been craving. Not the best nutritionally, but it has forstalled my decent into total insanity for yet another week. This time last week, I remarked to my dear husband that I was afraid to try new foods. I was pretty much stuck with tuna, chili (blended), mashed potato, and refried beans. But I finally realized that I can't live like that forever and I had to move past my fear. Relearning how to eat has been scary. I don't want to be that woman who at 6 months post-op is back to eating a ton of junk. But I am one of those people who had this surgery not so I could live my life on terrible tasting synthetic protein foods...but so I could live as a 'normal' person. So I could eat sensibly 90% of the time, but still nibble on a sliver of cake at my best friend's wedding, or have the occasional bite of a Cinnabon. Today has been the first day since April 16th that I have not regretted this surgery. I am hoping that the days that follow are much the same.

Yes, many women do start their period after surgery - it is MAJOR surgery and it throws your cycle out of whack. I had my period for almost 16 continuous days after surgery, despite still using my NuvaRing. Your results may vary.

I'm 24 days out...and still have to take a 3-4 hour nap a day in addition to sleeping 9-10 hours a night. But then, I have had complications. Some days are better than others, but have been feeling a little less terrible since I moved from liquids to puree

This substance is lovingly referred to in our home as "IsoPuke". I have, however, heard of some people having success with Mio, Crystal Light and even just making it very, very, very cold prior to consumption. Best of luck to you!