CarmenG

I haven't because when I called the PA, he said to use Benefiber 2x a day, 1 Colace 1/day, and 5mg of Bisacodyl at night. However, that seemed like a lot. So I'm only doing the Benefiber 2x a day. This has helped me move up to 1 bowl movement/day. I'm not in pain or anything, but I thought that since I was going only once every other day, maybe that was exacerbating my stall.

I haven't because when I called the PA, he said to use Benefiber 2x a day, 1 Colace 1/day, and 5mg of Bisacodyl at night. However, that seemed like a lot. So I'm only doing the Benefiber 2x a day. This has helped me move up to 1 bowl movement/day. I'm not in pain or anything, but I thought that since I was going only once every other day, maybe that was exacerbating my stall.

When I got sleeved in 2009, I didn't have a goal weight, I had a goal size. I wanted to be a size 12 (I was a size 6X/32, 340 lbs at the time). I ended up losing 149 lbs and got down to a size 14 (at 195 lbs). Now, I'm a revision from sleeve to bypass. My weight, when I first went back to the doc for the revision, was 333, I was a size 4X/26. I thought it was weird that I was only 7 lbs less than my sleeve weight, but still 3 sizes smaller. Doc said it was probably because I had put on some muscle weight. So this time, I decided my goal weight would be 200lbs because I know that since it's a revision, I'm not going to lose like I did with the sleeve. I didn't want to be unrealistic. Also, me at 200 lb is pretty close to a size 14. If I can get back to that, I will be more than thrilled!

If you don't mind me asking, how often in a day do you use the Just Better Fiber?

Well, Wednesday night and Thursday night I drank Gatorade Zero and I was still waking up with cramps. One of my sisters is a RN with 40+ years experience and she said to try Propel? I guess I can try that. I do have a doc's appt. on Monday, but until then I guess I'm sipping on pickle juice and drinking Propel. ?‍♀️

My weight loss is stalled and I'm constipated - "Drink more water, consume less sodium" So I start watching my sodium intake and consuming 80+ oz of water a day and using Benefiber 2x a day Since Wednesday night, I'm cramping in my feet and calves in my sleep - "You're drinking too much water and that's washing out all your electrolytes" Where do I find electrolytes? - "In your food (like sodium), but you can only consume small portions because of the surgery" What the hell am I supposed to do???

This is a post about my skin issues. https://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/444157-wtf-with-the-dry-skin/

Thank you. I think I'm more worried about the little dark patches I'm getting around my neck. It looks like acanthosis. It's got me worried.

I'm sorry you're feeling this way. My surgery was 6/19/23, and I'm in the same boat with my moods and feelings. I've been at a stall since July 3rd. Today, I weighed myself (even though I swore I'd wait til Sunday) and I've only lost 2 lbs since July 3rd. Two pounds in almost 3 weeks. That's it. I'm also a revision from sleeve to bypass. I knew it would be slower than virgin surgeries, but not THIS slow. It's breaking my heart, honestly. I'm following the whole nutrition/vitamin routine, but nothing is changing. Now, I'm having trouble with my skin. I feel very let down. I totally feel you on the jealousy/insecurity stuff. I'm that way. But I've ALWAYS been that way. Also, probably due to my weight. Can't blame my surgery though. I'm going to research that Probiotics Mood stuff you mentioned. I'll mention it to my doc's office. We have to be our own biggest advocates because we're the only ones who know how we feel now as compared to how we normally feel. They don't really know us from any other patient they see. I'm going to request a blood work order. They haven't asked for any. One of the girls at the office said they don't usually until the 3-month mark. I don't want to wait 3 months. Maybe going outside and getting some Vitamin D would help? I'd hang out outside if I didn't live in South Texas where people are baking bread in their mailboxes and baking cookies in their cars. Hope you feel better, ma. ?

Yes, I just found out my insurance covers dermatologists, so I plan to make an appointment. Thank you for your feedback. As for blood work, my next appointment is on the 24th, and I called the dr's office to see if they wanted me to get any blood work done. The young lady said that they usually don't ask for any until the 3-month mark. I was a little surprised. I don't really want to go for 3 whole months not knowing if my vitamin and supplement routine is on target or not, or getting my nutrition all wrong. She said that on the 24th, I could ask for orders for blood work, and then she gave me another appointment on Aug 4th so that they could talk to me about the results. I really want to get all of this resolved (or at least addressed) before I go back to work. Once I'm working, all bets are off for any doc appointments before 4:30 PM.

This is a great idea! Thank you for sharing!

This is a great idea! Thank you for sharing!

Oh, I hope you're right. Last night I asked a former coworker if she knew if our school district insurance covered dermatologists and she said yes! I'm excited about that. I'm thinking about making an appointment at least for a consultation. I'm more worried about the little acanthosis patches on my neck than anything else. But thank you for your thoughts.

I feel your pain. Same thing is happening to me. Had surgery June 19th, lost 10 more lbs, and have been stalled for the past 15 days. Everyone on here, though, says to just keep on trucking. As disheartening as it may be, it's very normal. Not that that makes us feel any better, huh? Just know you're not alone in your stall or in how you feel. Sometimes upping your calories and your physical activity will break the stall. That's what I'm trying, but I'm only gonna weigh myself on Sundays. Wishing you the best of luck!

I had very recently just become so proud of my skin. In May, when I started dieting, I was so happy because my hormonal (menopause) chin acne disappeared and some small flaky, dry patches on my cheeks went away. My skin was looking and feeling so great! Before this summer I'd NEVER (and I just turned 49, I know, I know, BAD ME!) used any skin care products. I had no routine. I'd just apply my makeup and then remove it when I washed my face. This was daily. This summer I started feeling my mortality because my 49th birthday was July 2nd. I was TikTok influenced and bought the Loreal Revitalift eye serum, face serum, and moisturizer. The products, along with the weight loss REALLY helped my skin. It looked so great and I was even complimented on it by my sisters. But then... About 3 days ago, I noticed my skin was getting little dry, flaky spots on my cheeks. Also, I've got a little bit of that hormonal chin acne, not a lot, but still. Ugh! =( I'm trying to figure out what's causing it. I read that an overload of certain vitamins (B12 was specifically mentioned) will cause the dry, flaky skin. Not only that, they can also cause non-diabetic Acanthosis nigricans! I'm worried and I really hope that all the vitamins I have to take now aren't going to cause my skin to look like crap again. I may be losing my mind, but I have a small patch on my neck that's sometimes itchy and feels like acanthosis when I touch it. Even my daughter noticed it. I've never been diabetic. I can't imagine actually getting acanthosis now due to my new diet/vitamin/supplement routine that's supposed to be for life. Ideas? Thoughts? Suggestions? Experiences?

I would use a whisk (or you could use a fork) to slowly mix it in once it was in my bowl. The problem is that it cools the food off, but if it's too hot, the protein becomes denatured and it just doesn't work.

Thank you all for your experiences and suggestions! Stevia works ok with me. I've never tried monk fruit, but I will. And I will definitely have to look up some recipes for Arabesque's dessert suggestions!

Make sure you're hydrating to make up for that loss of water. If you're drinking protein shakes, do they have milk or whey protein? Could it have been the milk you added to the soup? Protein usually has the opposite effect on me. The soups I used to prepare for my sleeve in 2009 were the Campbell's 98% fat-free cream soups. For my pre-op diet in 2009, I remember that I would do a protein bar for breakfast, a cream soup for lunch, and then nothing but sugar free jellos and popsicles, and of course, A LOT of water all day. In 21 days I dropped 20 lbs. This time around, I started on May 11th, protein shakes for breakfast and for lunch, and then a meal of no-carb solid food for dinner. In 24 days, I lost 23 lbs. I don't recall having diarrhea. I tend to get constipated. Are you consuming sugar-free foods? That usually does cause it. Or it could just be an initial shock to your body. It'll probably clear up soon. Give yourself time and don't forget to breathe.

Yep. I got sleeved in 2009, and in 2011, I lost my gall bladder. These days, gall bladder surgeries are laparoscopic. However, when the surgeon put a camera into my belly button to take a look, he said he couldn't see well enough because of the sleeve scar tissue. He ended up giving me an emergency open gall bladder surgery. He said he didn't have time to wake me up and ask for permission because it was dilated to 11cm and I was septic. I actually told my revision surgeon the same thing you did about the sleeve and gall bladder scar tissue he would encounter. He told me the same thing as your doc. He said it shouldn't be a problem and that he would remove scar tissue if he had to. My revision surgery last month was laparoscopic and robot-assisted.

That's fantastic! I took one like that in 2013 after a 149 lb loss. The pants were a size 32, and my sister and I each got into one leg of the pants and had our picture taken. It was the most amazing feeling in the world! Unfortunately, I lost myself and ruined all the hard work I'd done by 2021. Now, I'm starting my journey again with a revision to a bypass. I hope and pray that I can take another picture just like this in a few years. Congratulations!

I'd like to know y'all's experience with sugar alcohols/sugar substitutes. When I was in my pureed stage, my diet/menu information stated that I could eat sugar-free pudding. I had one and experienced harsh stomach pain for the entire night until the next morning. However, I recently treated myself to some plain oatmeal and added stevia packets and had no issues. I looked up the ingredients to the Jello brand sf pudding and each cup has 4g sugar alcohols. It doesn't state exactly which "itol" it has, though. Stevia (depending on how it's combined) is mostly erythritol. I'm looking for some dessert-ish foods that can satiate my sweet tooth (also trying to help my 16-yr-old daughter by replacing her regular foods with low calorie, low carb, low sugar options). When I started on my WLS journey mid-May, she became inspired and has lost 17 lbs so far! Ideas? Suggestions? Experiences?

The right solid food will get you a really big serving of protein. Boiled chicken, ground turkey, and definitely fresh seafood. A little goes a long way. For example, 2 oz of chicken breast is about 90 calories, 18g protein, and 0 carbs (without breading or frying of course). Also, if you have the time, you can eat small amounts 4 or 5 times a day, rather than just 3 typical meals. At the end of the day, if you haven't reached your protein goal, use a protein shake or a protein shot (3oz = 25g protein) to hit your goal. It could take a little practice. You could also create a schedule or set reminders on your phone. Using a nutrition app helps a lot. I use Baritastic. I log what I eat/drink and it helps me see where I'm at throughout the day. You'll do great!

The literature they gave me at the hospital said to "walk, walk, walk" and that "stairs were ok." However, I wasn't allowed to get on the treadmill until my 3rd week out. (Maybe more because of the risk of falling?) Probably best to ask your medical team, and definitely listen to your body. If it were me, I'd stay on the first floor for at least the first week. At least until all of the anesthesia is out of your system, and you're no longer using pain meds which can cause dizziness, grogginess, and improper balance.

Breakfast is a protein shake with caffeine to wake me up, and I keep the half gallon canteen of cold water on my desk and drink from it all day. Ialso take my own healthy, high-protein lunch.

Thank you!