terry1118

Sorry, I just reread what you wrote and saw you did talk to your doctor. Keep them informed if it worsens and ask if you can use Benedryl cream for itch. :-)

Two days post op I had severe bruising on my lower belly (which is normal with any type of surgery - I had severe bruising after my shoulder surgery, too). I developed a rash that started initially on the bruised area but then spread to my entire belly, back, upper arms, and thighs. It was terribly itchy and I was miserable! I saw the PA twice and each time was given different prescriptions that didn't work. Then the surgeon looked at it and gave me another prescription that didn't work. When that didn't help they decided it was possibly an allergic reaction to something surgery related but didn't know what so they sent me to a dermatologist who gave me two more prescriptions that also didn't work. What finally gave me some relief was simple Benedryl cream from Walmart (the generic version is available too. I also took Children's Benedryl liquid. It just had to run it's course and lasted about 2 1/2 weeks. Definitely consult your surgical team - it's possible if you have a rash that it could be caused by a more serious infection (it's what my surgeon told me). They will want to rule that out first because that is treated differently. Good luck to you! :-)

It's hard to imagine not being hungry and food tasting differently after surgery but you will experience it. It's a very helpful thing - kind of like aversion therapy. I can remember thinking I wanted a certain food, it sounded delicious and appealing, I'd make it, I'd take a bite, and BLAH - it wouldn't taste how I imagined it would. I'd force a little down and throw the rest out. You'll see...

Have you had surgery yet?

I was a sugar and carb addict for thirty years. My surgery has freed me from that addiction. The dumping threat has kept me from easing back into it. Sugar and simple carbs have very little nutritional value and so are not nutritionally necessary. They are my trigger food so I choose to never eat them again. I know this to be my weakness and have made this my permanent lifestyle change. Complex carbs are good for you and recommended. After surgery you can't eat as much so we eat Protein first, then veggies, then if you can you eat a little complex carb. Most times I can barely get to the vegetables and never to the carbs. I'll occasionally make a meal or snack out of brown rice and quinoa salad, six bean salad, or hummus mixed w/tuna. I mix brown rice or refried Beans into my turkey chili. I use hummus chips or lentil chips for an occasional crunchy snack. I don't have cravings for sugar and simple carbs any more and it's very liberating. Food does not control my actions or thoughts any more. I don't plan my life around my next binge. I'm indifferent when other people eat those things in front of me. I did dump for the very first time a week ago (my surgery was 5/30/13). I had eaten some B&M baked beans w/o checking the sugar content (I assumed they were lower sugar like another brand I sometimes eat). It was a painful, miserable experience that kept me in the bathroom at work for an hour and left me weak and shaking for even longer. I checked the can afterwards and sure enough it had 13gr of sugar - much higher than I'm used to. I won't be getting lazy on my label reading again... Some people have found a way to incorporate a little sweet into their diets and make it work for them. Perhaps you will be able to also. Just be careful if you do. Don't let it open the floodgates to the eating habits that made you overweight to begin with. Best of luck to you! :-)

I actually DO feel better. I've been overweight for almost thirty years. My back, knee, and foot pain is gone! I have TONS of energy! I feel amazing and I'm living my life instead of watching it go by. I am extremely happy! :-)

I've lost 115 pounds and now weigh 118. But I'm only 4'11" - 5' tall (depends on the person measuring, Lol). I'm at the very high end of what I should weigh for my height and my bmi is BARELY in the normal range. I have a pot belly that is more than just skin, and some love handles left. I still can't fit into the leather coat that I wore before my first pregnancy 28 years ago. People who have only ever known me as a fat person say I look anorexic - I don't - and they say I should stop losing. They say I look sick and bony. Again, I don't. I look okay for a 55 yrs old woman who used to be fat, but I don't look like I should for my small stature. I still feel fat, but only a little. I can live with it. I'm healthier than I have been in YEARS, and I feel amazing. I have energy, I can wear pretty clothes, I may just enjoy a summer for the first time ever (at least I'll be warm), and I get to live life instead of watch it from the sidelines. Try to focus on the positive changes in your life. You may be able to make the changes you want in your body, or you may not. Try to learn to be content w/your success (because you have been successful!!!) and learn to love yourself the way you are. Don't focus on visible 'flaws' but on enjoying yourself, doing things you couldn't do before and living life. Unhappiness will sabotage your well-being! :-)

I dumped for the very first time (and only time, I hope) last Friday. I brought a little can of B&M baked Beans to work for lunch - maple brown sugar or some such thing. I never checked the sugar grams, which turned out to be 12gr - more than I'm used to. About an hour after eating them I started w/severe abdominal cramps, mild nausea, heart racing, cold sweats, and shaking, followed by a mad dash for the ladies room. I was in there 30-40 mins, suffering intensely. When it was over I was shaky and weak. That lasted for another hour before I finally started to feel more like myself. I'll stick w/my favorite black bean chili next time I want beans... On the plus side, now I know I'm a dumper. It's a great motivator to stay on track. :-)

I was afraid of dumping too. After a year I still didn't know if I would dump because I was too afraid to try anything they warned me against. But a few days ago I ate some maple baked Beans - I didn't eat much but it must have had just enough sugar in it - and I dumped. The experience was as bad as they say it is. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm more fearful of dumping again. But I'm happy to know it can happen and fear of it happening again w/help keep me on track. :-)

I'm one year out. I still can't eat turkey or chicken. Anything w/rice or rice flour will make me puke, too. I'm too afraid to eat bread and/or pasta. I had my very first dumping experience a few days ago so anything w/even a little sugar will not pass my lips for a long, long time! (It was B&M baked beans) I am glad to know I will dump - it is a strong deterrent! :-)

I'm one year out. I eat sushi w/brown rice and I love quinoa salad (made w/quonoa, red & brown rice, sliced almonds, and dried cranberries). I don't eat either very often. Mainly I concentrate on getting protein, water and vitamins.

Quinoa w/brown & red rice, sliced almonds, and dried cranberries. :-)

The store near where I work makes sushi w/brown rice. Yum! :-)

Pockets are definitely smaller. They seem to be only a couple inches deep. I don't put anything in them because the movement of walking pushes whatever it is right back out! :-p

I miss nothing. I was miserable before. Life is good now! :-)

I took my very first vacation alone in April. I'm 55 and have never been out of New England and in 35yrs I had never been away from my husband. My hubby couldn't get time off from his new job so I went to visit my son in California all by myself. He wanted me to meet his girl, who might be 'the one'. I was very nervous about driving alone from the San Diego airport to San Clemente alone but I did fine. I had some adventures, and did some exploring alone. I got lost a couple times but was able to find my way w/o using the GPS -a little challenge I set for myself. I also got my first tattoo as a gift from my son. I was the only one in my family who didn't have one. This summer I want to try zip-lining. I was always too heavy to consider it before. I'm afraid of heights but I'm ready to conquer that fear. :-) The best thing about being at goal has to be my newfound self confidence!

If your food is too dry and it gets 'stuck' or if you eat too much and it backs up into your esophagus, then your body produces saliva to ease the discomfort. That is 'foamies'. :-)

Just think. By summer's end you could be maybe a Size 12? Imagine it... :-)

16-18 is a good size. You should fit fine. Try it! Have fun! :-)

Ground meat is pretty safe for me too. My surgery was over one year ago and I still can't do chicken or turkey unless it's ground. Beef is 50/50 for me - it takes a long time to chew it adequately so I eat it only rarely. Flaked white fish is safe but tuna can still bother me. Chili is a 'safe' meal staple. It can be made vegetarian simply by not adding meat. It can be more interesting by adding a variety of Beans and/or vegetables. My favorite recipe is: SPICY CHICKEN CHILI 1lb ground chicken or turkey (you can also use meat of your choice) Salt, pepper, other seasonings or herbs to taste (whatever you like) 1 packet chili seasoning 1 can tomato paste 1 can diced tomatoes 1 can black beans, undrained 1 can corn 1 cup salsa; mild, spicy, or hot Cook ground meat till almost done (add salt, pepper, etc while cooking), mix in chili seasoning, mix in tomato paste, add all other ingredients and mix well. Cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes. Eat as is or top w/shredded cheese. Variations - omit meat and add a variety of colorful beans or legumes; add fresh chopped peppers, onions, other vegetables; get creative and come up w/your own variations. :-)

Thank you! I'm glad it happened! The unpleasant experience is a strong motivation to stay away from sugar and simple carbs and reinforces my determination to make healthy eating a permanent life-long habit. :-)

I'm one year and one week out from surgery and hadn't ever dumped. I wasn't sure if I would but never tested my limits to find out. I always stayed far away from sugar and simple carbs. Today I had a small can of B&M Baked Beans for lunch. About ninety minutes later my heart started racing, I was shaking, I felt nauseous, my stomach was cramping, I felt like I was having hot flashes, then I barely made it to the bathroom in time. I spent the next 45 mins in there, feeling miserable, before I felt like I could return to work. I was flushed, shaking, and weak for another hour before I started to feel normal. I am NEVER touching B&M Baked Beans again! On the plus side, my insides had a good cleaning out.

I'm guessing military... Sharpshooter? Sniper? :-)

Mine says because of the meds, too. At my one week post op they cleared me to drive after being sure I was no longer taking them.

My mini food processor got a lot of use the first month. I only used it beyond that following 'stuck' episodes, when I was temporarily leery of solids and I would eat a pureed meal. Which happens even now, a year later. :-)