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Sorry you are having such a rough time! Being sick through the holidays is extra frustrating. For sure keep up with the fluids but I really hope you feel better soon. Makes me less sad at being in yet another stall because it could be worse.

I took Benefibre for about 5/6 months . I stopped once I was eating a wider variety of foods & larger portions. I kept on top of any constipation I had but generally found I’d go every two days. If I didn’t go by day three I’d take a stool softener. I didn’t experience any of the prolonged periods of constipation & I think the Benefibre helped to avoid that. I didn’t have any issues with using it but I only had it once a day not three times as I believe it can be taken. I added mine to 250mls of a high protein yoghurt drink. Think it’s better to add it to a liquid versus applesauce or other puréed type foods.

Try drinking warm liquids. I couldn't tolerate anything cold for the first 2ish weeks. But warm broth, tea, etc was completely fine. That's how I got my fluids in until my stomach calmed down and I was able to drink normal drinks.

I couldn't get my crushed Metformin down in my choc pudding after surgery. So I quit taking them as my glucose readings were 90 AC 6.5. Family Dr thought I would be off it after surgery but agreed I could go off early and evaluate with 2 month checkup. Now 7 weeks later had labs done for annual physical. My A1C is 5.3. Had to move Dr appt to January. But feel confident not taking meds since my diabetes is diet controlled.

I was surprised by the exhaustion. It lasted until week 4. Stopped once I got to soft foods. Finally getting food- calories for energy. Be kind to yourself as you are healing. Don't plan much in the first few weeks. If grocery shopping grab a few prioritized things and go home. I did too much walking the store and when I went to checkout could barely stand. Twice I almost left my cart of groceries to go home.

I think everyone has issued with the water. I had to stay an extra day in the hospital until I got my quota in. I find even room temperature is harder than slightly warm. Take sips not a drink so 1 oz in 15 minutes. I set my phone timer. I used my timer for 3-4 weeks. When I get distracted and don't get my water in, I get constipated. At 6 weeks, I have a power aide container that I need to get down before lunch, and another by 4, by dinner. Another before I go to bed.

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear that, sounds terrifying. I'm almost 11 weeks post op and got a second round of lab test results back this morning confirming I have hypoglycemia. My primary said my sugar was at 51. But I need to talk with my surgeons office because my primary suggested to "drink a coca cola" when my sugar is low! And I gasped like - "Really? I literally cannot drink a coke with my stomach!" 😬 Not the medical advice I needed.

Okay so I have been following but not posting much for a little while. I have been frustrated, feeling like I don’t have much advice to offer others because I have been searching for my own answers and very embarrassed about my weigh gain. Anyways, for those of you who don’t know me, I had my surgery March 9, 2021 at 235 (5’8”). I lost pretty steadily down to 169 but then stalled for months on end until my appetite came back and I started gaining and continue to gain. I have been struggling uphill while searching for answers ever since. The bariatric team blames my psyc meds but the prescribing dr claims they are weight neutral meds. My family dr agrees and showed me an article about the cravings they cause but he ordered thyroid and diabetes tests too which came back fine but I continue to gain so I made an appointment with an endocrine doctor thanks to a few people on here who suggested it. I finally just seen the endo doc and My cortisol was elevated on the suppression test so I just completed the two day saliva test which hopefully will bring some more answers but what they have said so far is that it’s probably sub clinical cushings which takes a while to confirm. I thought about waiting until I had more info but they said it will be another two or three weeks for these results and I may need more tests after that. I guess MY diagnosis is not really the point anyways. My point is I have recently learned of three things that could be the culprit of my weight that were never tested before surgery and I wonder why they don’t mention these tests pre surgery. I mean They are simple blood tests. I even googled to see why the cushings thing isn’t investigated since it doesn’t resolve with bariatric surgery and all I could find was one article that said it is of course suggested if you present with any of the classic symptoms but in terms of a blanket requirement for people considering bariatric surgery this person felt it unnecessary because it’s not extremely common. I guess maybe that’s the view of my doctor too but I sure wish I was presented with the option at least. I am just curious whether these are things that are tested or even brought up by other people doctors prior to surgery or what others think about whether they should be. And perhaps to give some people things they can investigate first if they are on the fence about surgery. I just feel like the surgery was never going to work for me because it seems likely that the root of my issue is still there. I am maintaining SOME of the loss but according to what I understand about what I have read so far, left untreated I will steadily continue to gain. I know this is still up in the air and not a super common thing regardless but I can’t be the only one struggling with this pre or post surgery and I hope my experience can help someone else struggle just a little less cause watching everyone around me try to be polite as I slowly put the weight back on has felt even worse than being obese was to begin with. I am trying to hang In there for answers and give myself grace but it’s hard to not feel like a failure as I continue to gain and everyone now knows I had surgery and of course I have to wonder if I blew my one shot at surgery because I am doing these tests after instead of before surgery. Regardless, if you are someone who doesn’t really make a ton of poor food choices but just eats more than “normal” because you always feel hungry, consider a cortisol test before surgery. I wish I had.

Hi there. I'd recommend checking out a program like StrongLifts 5x5. It's an excellent program for building lean muscle mass while also helping to improve your skin tone. It's a strength training program that focuses on compound lifts to help you build strength and muscle with minimal bulk. Plus, it only takes three workouts a week, so it's easy to fit into your schedule. Good luck! It's also completely free, so you don't have to worry about spending money on a program. Have you looked into using ibutamoren from behemothlabz.com? It increases the secretion of growth hormone, which can help you achieve your goal of lean muscle gain without putting on too much size.

unless I was going to some holiday party where people bring treats, then no. But if I AM going to a party (and I've gone to at least one this year where people bring things), then yes. I don't bring a lot because I always hope the people at the party will eat most/all of them, but if they don't, I toss them in the freezer when I get home and kind of mete them out. I'll occasionally have one, but my husband eats the majority (if not all of them). the last party I went to (last week) I made oatmeal/cranberry bars. They at least sounded somewhat healthy in case I gave in and splurged (but so far, I haven't - they're in the freezer and I've let them be). The party before that I made biscotti. Most got eaten - but my husband ate the leftovers (I did have one after it came out of the oven because I wanted to be sure it tasted OK, since i was taking them to a party)

it takes a long time to wear down your iron stores , although I don't know what your iron level was before surgery. it's super common to lose your sense of hunger for several weeks or months after surgery (up to a year for some). I know it seems weird at first, but take FULL advantage of that. It'll never in your life be easier to lose weight than it will right now, when you're not hungry and don't give a flip about food. I found it very liberating, too! My hunger came roaring back at five months out, and I honestly wish it never had. It was so much easier to stick to plan when I was never hungry!!! and no, what you described was not dumping syndrome. you're extremely tired because you just had major surgery, so I wouldn't worry about that, either.

more likely a stricture. You're in the window for it (they almost always occur 1-3 months after surgery - very rare after that) I had one at four weeks out and another at eight weeks out. I had the same symptoms that you do. if it's just food you can't keep down, you'll be OK for a few days - people can live without food for awhile. But if it gets to the point you can't keep fluids down, either, then you need to go to the ER. People can't live without fluids for long. They'll do an upper endoscopy and stretch it out - and you'll feel a million times better afterward! strictures get worse over time - so keep an eye on it. Again, if you can't keep fluids down, go to the hospital.

first of all, only about 30% of bypass patients dump. If you're getting the sleeve instead, then the percentage of dumpers is way less than that (not sure of it - but it's not common in sleevers). secondly, a lot of us have no appetite or hunger for several weeks - or even months - after surgery. so suffice it to say, you MIGHT be fine to continue to work. I had pretty much zero interest in food for the first five months after surgery. I just looked at Denny's menu (I haven't been there in probably 20 years), and yea - there's almost nothing on there that's safe or anything I'd eat (I can't tolerate really fatty meals anymore - not only do they bother my stomach, I just think they're gross). The scrambled eggs and the salmon would be OK - but keep in mind a lot of people can't tolerate eggs for the first few weeks out of surgery (I never had issues with them, though), and you wouldn't be able to eat salmon until you're cleared to eat solid foods. hopefully if you stay at Denny's, the management will let you take your own food to work. That would solve it. I would hope that since you'd have a medical reason, they'd be fine with that.

Eggs can be a problem & some struggle to eat them for varying amounts of time. Your tummy is still healing & can be sensitive to certain, flavours, textures, etc. Give them a break for a week or two & then try them again. You may find this with other foods too as you reintroduce them. And don’t be surprised if you are able to eat something easily one day but the next day your tummy says nope that’s awful. It can be like a petulant tantrum throwing two year old sometimes in the first couple of months.

I’m three yrs 7 months post surgery. I’m about 3lbs heavier then my lowest weight (2 of which are above from where I initially settled). I eat about 1400 calories a day & don’t really exercise apart from from resistance exercises, sit ups & stretches (wouldn’t burn 30 calories 😁). I am pretty careful with what I eat & there are certain foods I don’t eat or eat very rarely. Some are foods that don’t sit well in my tummy like bread, pasta, rice, quinoa, cous cous & starchy vegetables. Others are things I’ve realised I feel better without like sweet foods. I don’t eat fast food like burgers & rarely eat takeaway like Chinese, Japanese or Thai - only with others & make careful choices. I don’t consider this a diet but just how I eat. Some may think I’m fairly restricted in what I eat but it’s only with certain things & I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything. I still have cravings - salty foods are my challenge - but I understand the why & the when behind them like craving salt after I eat yoghurt (🤷🏻‍♀️). Sometimes I surrender though I’ll have some salted macadamia nuts, a couple of multigrain rice crackers (carefully as they’re a slider food) or roll some cucumber in salt. I changed some of my cooking styles & use have incorporated some alternative ingredients & more if others. Like I use an air fryer or oven more & incorporate more lentils, pearl barley & beans than I did before. I don’t track as such but I do random checks of portions, calories & nutrients. I still keep a close eye on protein, because I have an absorption issue, & on my water intake. I weigh myself a couple of times a week just to keep myself on track & honest. A lot of how you manage your maintenance into the future is a personal thing. My body, how it works & what it needs, is different to yours. My lifestyle will be different. How I want to live my life & the demands on it is likely different too. And you may be more or less active than me. Health, age, etc. are a considerations too. So how I choose to eat may not work for you or for anyone else. Same with the other changes & choices I’ve made. Best advice is to experiment with different eating styles & cooking styles, introduce new foods, reintroduce old favourites, etc. & see how you go. It just need to be sustainable, complementary to your lifestyle & you’re happy & healthy.

Hi Layla, I saw your post from earlier this year. I'm at the same place you were. I'm 7 weeks out and it seems everything I eat make me nauseous for a couple hours. Sounds like you might have been similar? I was wondering if you are still having issues or if you have been able to move up to regular food at this point and feel good? I hope you have but any information would be hepful to me as I'm starting to wonder if I have a stricture or something. Thanks! Laura

I'm currently 7 weeks post op and trying to figure out why I have been nauseous after eating and drinking since week 3 (and it's getting worse). I'm thinking a stricture, but I also have a feeling an ulcer could possibly be the problem? I have a really bad reaction to PPI's so I've been on H2Blockers twice a day since surgery. Unfortunately, I've been on them for 10 months prior for GERD and their effectiveness wears off over time. So..........I'm worried I could have developed an ulcer. My nausea is getting a lot worse (started to be nauseous to just harder food, now its all food and water) and I have to take Zofran every day. I have an appt. with a surgeon next week (my surgeon is on maternity leave). I'm hoping to at least get an upper GI series to see if they can see anything. I don't have much pain with this, so just wondering if most people had pain with ulcer or just nausea or both? Were there other symptoms? Thanks to everyone reading this. I'm really at that point of regretting my surgery but I'm telling myself to hang in there. Laura

Thanks for the info. Yours was an anostomotic stricture at the duodenum too? I know some people get it at the stoma. I appreciate your responses. Helps me in understanding how to talk to the surgeon next week.

can't remember - maybe 2 or 3 weeks? (I had my strictures at four weeks out and eight weeks out - so that was over seven years ago - my memory of it all is a bit fuzzy...but I do remember it took awhile for it to come on. Not as long the second time, though, since I realized what was going on much quicker since I knew the symptoms...)

Hi stt77, so sorry you are having a hard time too. This is awful. Do you just take anti nausea all day? I’m on zofran but it doesn’t work well. I’m hoping to get some answers soon. Will update after my appt next week. Happy holidays. I will be eating very little, just like Thanksgiving.

I had an upper GI barium swallow to check for strictures about a week after my surgery and while they didn't find one, they did find that the anastamosis to my duodenum was the size of a pencil eraser. After a few weeks there was more space for things to move on through, it was just a matter of healing. I've also had an endoscopy to check for strictures a few months past my surgery because I still can't consume more than a few hundred calories a day and have nausea and vomiting. Nothing was found.

Hi toodlerue- I have Zofran but it doesn't work great. Any ideas of better meds? That is all they would offer me so far but I could ask at my appt. next week. So frustrated but thanks for your reply. : ) Laura

Thank you for that idea! I am going to suggest this to him on Tuesday because I'm miserable. They keep saying it will get better in time but they have done nothing to know if it is something structural. Considering I'm at 7 weeks and have had all the symptoms for 4 weeks this is ridiculous! Thanks so much again for responding, I so appreciate you!

HI Everyone, I'm relatively new here but hoping someone might be able to help provide me some guidance. I'm 7 weeks post op and been nauseous since week 3 but the nausea has gotten worse. I've been suspecting a stricture but my surgeon does not believe it. While I can get water and food down, it feels like sits in my stomach forever and I have nausea every time I eat. The other night, I tried upping what I ate because I'm not getting enough protein. Mind you, I ate slow and small amounts. I was super nauseous that night and all day yesterday. Now every time I eat or drink anything, my stomach is gurgling. Especially with water, like it's trying to get through stuck food sitting in my stomach. My surgeon is on maternity leave and won't be back until February, so I'm going to see another surgeon in her office (that doesn't do bariatric surgery but acid reflux surgery) on Tuesday of next week. Can you tell me if an upper GI would diagnose a stricture? I've also thought it could be an ulcer but I don't have much pain, just nausea. Any thoughts would be great! I'm so miserable right now and at that "I wish I had not done this" stage. : (. Thanks. Laura

I remember being 180# and too chunky for bikini. I seen the BMI chart and said for 5'8" 199# was overweight, 200# was obese. So 199# is my realistic goal. Started at 333# 2020, lost 30# on Noom in a year but gained a lot of good habits with food selection. At 8 weeks post surgery lost #40 and am at 270#. Lost #10 every 2 weeks from presurgery appointment. Stalled for two weeks but seeing impacts with trying on winter wardrobe!