Diva T

For myself the problem is gas build up. My belly above my belly button and below my boobs swells every day and I'm 4 weeks out today. GAS-GAS-GAS! LOL. This can be painful. Talk with your doctor/nurse about protonics and or simethicone for relief. You may also find you're constipated. I was recommended to use milk of mag and miralax (daily on the miralax). Hope this helps.

I had a small stone in mine so doc took it out along with the sleeve. 4 weeks post op tomorrow and thus far have had lots of issues eating but at this point in the game who doesn't have eating problems? I'm still glad I did it at this juncture. Let me know how you get along and I'll do the same for you! Good luck and God bless you and keep you!

I think you need to call you doctor just to be on the safe side. You're more than likely fine but err on the side of caution and call. If you're running a fever, nausea, vomiting go to the ER if you can get hold of your doctor. Today is 5 days since this started and you need to talk to a nurse at the least. I hope you get better soon!

Milk of Mag. Instruction state dose every 6 hours until you're cleared and then do the Miralax every day. Has worked like a charm for me! Do not, I repeat, do not try to kill 2 birds with 1 stone by mixing the Miralax with any type of Protein. I will set in your stomach like cement. I did that to day and it took me 4 hours to get in 11 oz of a Protein shake and my Water intake is really low. No room for it. Called the doctor and nurse told me to just drink Clear liquids until this full feeling goes away and skip the Miralax tomorrow. WOW not a good time at all. Hope this helps you and good luck with the POO!!!

I've slowed way down, taking more time between bites but still get too full. Just 1 bite too many can do it and then it's bummer time man! I hurts and am frustrated with doing this over and over. I measure my food and take no more than 2-3 oz of food in my dish. What does "satisfied" feel like. I'm tired of being in pain!

I'm just 4 weeks out and had my gallbladder out at the same time so don't know that being active at this time would be a good idea for me but as for do I feel like being with my husband. Nope I do not. Too much other stuff going on and bless him he's so kind and patient with me about it. We are older too in our 50's so that also plays a factor. We're still quite affectionate with one another and spend time together talking and just had a date night out at the movies last night. Am hoping once am healed well and the hormones settle down we'll get back to our usual loving selves!!

For myself I've got really dry skin and it's winter and anesthesia makes me even drier plus I'm 54 and that causes me to be dry too. So that being said while I've been off at home recovering I've stopped using soap every time I shower. We can get very clean with good warm Water and a wash clothe. I use Vaseline Intensive lotion for sensitive skin. It has no fragrance in it which also makes me itcy! If you have access to a health food store there's a bar of soap call Natural Beauty Bar. It's yellow and has a ph level closer to our own skin. Skin is acidic like a 4.5 or so on the ph scale and most soaps are very alkaline, like 7 or higher (Google that it's interesting). So bathing with regular soap is kind of like using bleach on ourselves and that will seriously dry us out and make us super itcy! I hope this is helpful to you and you can stop being so itcy and scratchy. God bless you and keep you!

Take it slow and easy. This is a guideline not set in stone. I had to go slower advancing my diet stages. If you have any issues just back off and go back to clear or the stage below were you are advancing to. I had some trouble but at 4 weeks out this coming Monday I'm on a pureed/soft diet and doing much better. Eat really slowly, like several minutes between bites and allow plenty of time after eating before resuming drinking and a min. of 15-30 minutes of nothing before eating. If you are constipated or not pooping at all that needs to be addressed or eating will be difficult. Gas also will cause problems. There are solutions for these issues. Also indigestion can cause trouble. If you have any problems call your doctor and let them help you and don't get discouraged. They can give advice and solutions to make things better for you. Good luck and God bless you and keep you!

I don't own a scale and don't think I'm going to get one. I'll have plenty of opportunities to weight regularly for the time being at appointments. I would become a slave to weighing myself and I don't think that's healthy for me. I'm not trying to tell anyone else what to do just speaking for myself. I will tell you my surgeon and his staff agree with me on not having one at home at this point. I hope you find one that meets your needs. God bless you and keep you.

@ Aspiring Evangelist We have eating/food issues or we wouldn't have needed to take this drastic step of have most of our stomachs removed. That in itself may cause some issues. Do I need to know why I eat? No that is a waste of my time. I know I eat way too much but finding other tools to develop good eating habits and how not to self sabotage myself is very important to me. How to cope with the massive changes surgery has forced upon me needs to be addressed. This forum is very helpful to me as well. I don't feel alone and as supportive as my husband and extended family is they just do really understand. This community does! I encourage you to reach out to therapy. I rely on God for guidance and strength in this endeavor as well and he has led me to therapy. Good luck to you and may God bless you and keep you!

Talk with your doctor. And I believe labor laws for Family Medical Leave Act may apply. Google that and see what you can find out. Depending on the state you live in and your employer and how many employees they may have to legally hold your job for you. Check into it. You've made a huge step to stand up for yourself having this surgery. Don't stop now! Find out about your rights! Good luck to you Shanm! Encouragement and support coming your way!

I started therapy even before my surgery on 1/16/17 and had my first session back on 1/6/17. I Need IT!!!! I didn't get to 300 + pounds without having food/eating issues. And the issues don't get removed along with my stomach and gallbladder. I wasn't worried about the surgery or the initial weight loss but the long term/rest of my life keeping the weight off! To me that's the hard part for me. I want to encourage you to find a therapist and deal with the head/heart issues that lead you to needing bariatric surgery. Good luck and God bless you and keep you!

I think you've gone back to work way too soon Sweet Pea! You have a super physical job and your body's just not ready for that. I'm going back this coming Monday and that will be about 4 weeks and have a job sitting at a computer and I know that's going to wipe me out! I'm 54 which is a factor too and you may be younger than myself but that's just too soon to go back I feel. You're going to be weak from the surgery itself/healing and from lack of calories and limits on amounts of fluids weakens us too. Take care of yourself and do what you need to! God bless you and keep you!

I could eat a soft scrambled egg with a piece of 2% kraft sling slice cheese. It would take 3 meals to eat the whole thing but eggs don't bother my sleeve. And Girl it tasted GREAT!!!! LOL I tried a hard boiled egg 2 days ago chopped very fine with avocado mayo and mustard, salt & pepper and it was awesome as well. Good luck and let me know how it sits on you!

I don't know for sure but would clean this with my doctor. Herbal teas of course contain herbs. Many medications are from herbs originally. Digatalis for heart condition was originally made for the plant foxglove. So be careful about adding herbals in without checking with a doctor first. This could interfere with current supplements and/or medications. Your tummy may not be able to deal with the herbs/spices in the teas as well. And you just got a big detox with the liquid pre-op diet and now 70-85% of your stomach is gone. Drink you fluids at this point is detoxing you pretty well. You're liver is most likely in the best shape it has been in in a long time. this is only my opinion. Be safe, healthy, happy and wise!

Surgeon's RN told be to take Miralax in 8 oz liquid every day for right now. Almost 4 weeks out. Take simethicome chewable tablets as needed for trapped gas and 2 Pepcid a day 1 in the am and the other later in the day. This all helped me so very much. Pooping every day and Protein is very constipating, gas is under much better control and the indigestion is under control. I want to encourage you to call your doctor's office get their recommendations for helping yourself feel better! You can do this! Health and healing to you and God bless you!

I was still very pretty bad at 3 weeks post op so I think you're most likely doing fine. I'm almost 4 weeks out now and things are getting much better for me. I could drink so-so at 4 days but I spent 2 and 1/2 days in hospital from low potassium and just feeling so very poorly. At 3 weeks I finally called the doctor's office and talked with the RN would give me some much needed info/advice and encouragement. It really helped me. That was this past Monday and yesterday I ate 2-3 oz of cooked salad shrimp and did great with it. Before that couldn't eat a thing without feeling get restriction and lots of discomfort with eating. Drinking was not an issue. Be of good courage and call your doctor if you need advice and/or encouragement to go forward. You can do this!!!!!

I recommend therapy. I personally have used food my whole life for stress relief, comfort, entertainment, to soothe myself, reward, you name it I used food for it! I was questioning my decision a few times in the 1st week or so. Am only 4 weeks out now but feeling better about things now. We did this to save ourselves from really bad health, decreased mobility, and probably early death. WE DID THE RIGHT THING. I've felt the same way several times especially that first 2 weeks. I have made a conscious choice to cook for my husband. I love to cook. Its relaxing, creative outlet for me and one way I show love to family/friends. I need to learn to separate cooking from eating. These 2 things are very different acts. I've been pretty victorious thus far and that makes me feel happy and in control of my eating. I don't miss junk foods or sweets so much. I want a big crunchy salad with grilled chicken or steak. I've made that mental choice to eat healthy from now on. Will I fall and make mistakes? Of course but 1 mistake does not end everything. I want to encourage you to get some therapy. I am and it helps, a lot! Also do some reading on the mental/emotional aspects of eating and bariatrics. Super helpful. We can do this! You can do this. You are experiencing HEAD HUNGER. It is a real thing and it's tough! But you can get past it. We have to find new avenues for distraction instead of our old 'FRIEND" food/eating. May God bless you and keep you on this journey. You can do it!

@ Beavuz842 Is it amazing to poot and burp! It is such a relief!!!! It is not very delicate or girly but I DO NOT CARE. It hurts to have that gas inside. I say let 'er RIP!!! LOL

You may be experiencing Head Hunger. It is real and it is truly difficult to tell physical hunger from emotional hunger so soon after surgery. I'm dealing with this too. But think about this logically. Our stomachs are the size of a small pealed banana. For myself, I have to remember this OFTEN!!!! If I just drank or ate something it is not physically possible to hold more. 2-3 oz are all we can hold of solid food right now. liquids are easier yes but real food no. We cannot hold more. Really think about that and see if it helps you. I hope it does! We are here for you and each other. Hang in there!

See what I mean about feelings and emotions. Carry that forward to help you stay strong. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

Take a deep breath and relax. I too have a pretty serious eating addiction so I understand how you feel. This is the hardest thing we have ever done. But we had this surgery to try to help save our lives! You are having FEELINGS. Feelings/emotions are fleeting, they don't last. Hold on tight to why you made the choice to have the sleeve. We will get through the feelings and tomorrow will be better. I feel you Girl, I really do! I'm 4 weeks out so we're close to the same place. But remember all the years of mindless eating got us to morbid obesity and truly poor health. You made the right decision. Hold tight to that when your feelings seem overwhelming.

Me too at over 3 weeks post op. some of the problems can be caused by gas and/or constipation. Miralax in 8 oz Water everyday for now and Pepcid 10 mg 1 pill twice a day and simethicone chewables/GasX. Helps lots!!!

I admit it took me some time and finally a called my doctor's office for some advice on problems I was having. I waited until 3 weeks post op before calling. Call! They are there to help us but if we don't call them they don't know we need help. I don't think you're in any kind of danger but you need advice from you doctor. I want to encourage you to call them. I made a world of difference to me to get some help from the source! Good luck, hope you feel better soon!

I was having the same problem and talked with nutritionist and surgeon's nurse. Eating faster than I thought so I timed myself and put at least 2-3 mins between bites and smaller bites/sips. I take Miralax in 8 oz of beverage every morning (fiber) to keep me pooping. Protein is very constipating. Upped my Pepcid from 1 to 2 times a day and got some simethicone tablets for GAS. These are chewable and help a lot. Things have improved for me considerably. The constriction/pain with eating/drinking went on for me for 3 weeks until I called the doctor's office for advice. I highly recommend you do the same. They are there to help us but we have to call to initiate the help. Good luck to you and hope things smooth out for you!