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My doctor had us on Benefiber from the get go (soluble fiber, Metamucil is the same) but wanted us to wait four weeks before adding in the insoluble fiber (psyllium husks).

If you are not getting enough fluids then the added fiber can actually make you more constipated. I was a couple weeks out and so backed up I was screaming trying to go. Miralax isn't something I would use on a regular basis, and even milk of magnesia stopped working. If you continue to have issues, I would go to your doc and request to try a medicine called "linzese". It's specifically for constipation and it works wonders! Once a day does the trick. And all you have to do is open the capsule and sprinkle it on applesauce. No more nasty Miralax or worries. Promise you, it's worth it! They have coupons for it too [emoji106] Sent from my LM-G710VM using BariatricPal mobile app

HI Kerry. Yes, I am still having energy issues as well. I did increase my Protein drinks from 3 to 4 times a day. The extra protein has helped some. However, we have to remember we just had major surgery. Even though our bodies all react differently, we need time to recover. I am hoping the energy level will increase this week when we get mushies.

My doctor addressed this today. I am 6 days post op. He said it can take 3 to 4 weeks to start feeling more energetic and that increasing my calories will really have no bearing on my energy level. I thought that was weird. Hope you start to feel more energetic soon! Don't over do it though. I went for a 50 minute walk yesterday and spent the rest of the day dragging around. Today I feel so lethargic and have had more pain. Stupid me. Good luck to you! Holly

For me, every swallow gurgled at the beginning and I thought it was annoying as well. Mine only last about 1 1/2- 2 weeks and now I don't really ever have it (I'm just 3 weeks postop tomorrow). Not sure if it might be related to swelling of the stomach after surgery or something? I have heard other people say they still have it further out.

Well.. going now on day 5 of my female dogs heat cycle I have decided that there is no such thing as sexual frustration for males or females of the human race. The true frustration is in my poor baby boy (dog) who can't stand that his woman is locked up so he can't knock her up. I have *never* experienced this so BAD before!! The last time she was in heat we let them do their tango dance and had some reallly cute puppies (http://www.katerzz.com/ its outdated a bit) but this time we've decided with surgery and just all the work it took.. NO way. So the first part of her heat isnt so bad.. she isnt giving out the wild smell that drives dogs to go insane. This week.. my god my male will sit at her crate and howl over and over (regardless what time it is) and when they are around each other .. we dont leave her in crate 24 hours a day =) but when they do get out and were playing with them we keep him on a leash and yesterday he almost ripped my arm off trying to get to her!!! Now.. hes sitting here crying over and over and i swear i saw him humpin the floor by her cage! Not to mention everytime he sees her he pees all over. (yuck but thats ok.. hes getting fixed soon!) So... next time you have even half of a thought about being sexually frustrated think of my poor dog whos over here humping the floor and peeing all over himself and realize.. man it could be so much worse!

Ok, as someone who has had lots of surgeries, and lots of tattoos ... LOTION LOTION LOTION To quote one of my favorite movies of all time "it will put lotion on or it will get the hose" I have that quote written in scroll work (I am weird) on the back splash in my bathroom were my lotion is kept. I am a fanatic about lotion and stuff. I have no pregnancy stretch marks (freaky considering I am over 200 but I have stretch marks from being fat .. HAH go figure) Due in part to Extra Extra Virgin Olive oil. I still do that one a week, I heat it up (just above normal body temperature) and put on just a light light light bit of it and then take a hot milk bath. After its all said and done, I make sure I put on lotion, non scented, and my skin is amazingly soft. Its my weekly sanity break. LOL

I had my surgery on Dec.2 and went home on Dec. 5. I had pain and nausea for about 1 week. The doctor said the pain was from the gas from the anethesia. I did not have any pain from the 2 inch incision. I only took pain medicine for the gas pain for 1 week. I buy Wal-Mart Equate Brand Acid Reducer-----Ranitidine 150 mg. They are only $4.00 for 65 tablets. I take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening. This seems to help my nausea and any heartburn sensations that I have. I have not been taking my pills for nausea and vomiting that were prescribed by the Doctor. They were generic for Reglan and I see all the commercials on tv about the side effect- tardive dysplasia, so I don't want to take the risk. I manage to do ok with the acid reducer. Also I always do better if I don't eat foods that are very greasy or too sweet. They make me feel more discomfort. If medication for the pain does not help, then I would suggest talking to your doctor very soon about the pain. It should subside soon and then you will be on your way to feeling better. I was so happy when those gas pains left, it does tend to frighten us with the thought that it would be terrible if it continued for a long, long time. I wish you all the best, and please let us know how you are doing. I sure hope you get to feeling better soon.

I just went to the doctor today for my 1 week check-up and everything is going so good that I can now start mushies and within a week go to soft foods! I am so excited I scheduled my first fill for July 6th. My doctor likes to fill about once a month to really help with the weight loss, so I am nervous, but excited to be progressing towards that first fill. I had sugar free pudding today for the first time in awhile and it was sooooo good! I'm excited to move to a stage that isn't liquid and actually contains food! I was told I could have very thin lunch meats, string cheese, beans, etc. so I am stoked about spending dinner actually eating with my family instead of me drinking and them eating! As long as I can tolerate this food then I can progress to other things. Hopefully I can tolerate it and not have to go back to liquids!

I am just a few days over 4 weeks post op lapband. My band has been completely empty until yesterday and although it has been empty I still managed to loose 47 pounds all together starting at my pre op diet. My doctor put 2cc in my band and I still can eat the way I did before and I'm hungry every few hours so my question is....is this normal? I'm scared maybe my band isn't right since I have absolutely no restriction. Has anyone else experienced this? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I still need shakes @ 5 weeks out. There is no way I could physically eat 80g of food at this time. My NUT gave me paperwork staying that weeks 1-4 that I will need 1-2 shakes to make protein requirements. I ust Premier Protein (Costco) and it is premade. I keep in fridge at all times....fav is chocolate.

My dr makes her patients stop any kind of hormone pills, birth control and estrogen/progesterone a few weeks before surgery. I think also because they cause blood clots. I used to take birth control because of my PCOS but have not resumed after surgery because I now have a period on my own. My husband is fixed so I don't have to worry about getting preggers.

I know exactly how you feel, but once you have the surgery food won't matter much to you....at least not for awhile. I'm 3 weeks out and haven't been hungry yet. I have to set a timer to remind myself to eat every 3 hrs. or i'd go all day without eating. Now I am able to eat the same things I used to, but I can only eat 1/4c. so I make better choices now in order to meet my nutrition requirements. I used to be a huge ice cream fan, ate it every night....but now, don't even think about it. Don't think of any sweets really. I had one piece of chocolate and I was good, didn't crave more, didn't really do anything for me. I had the surgery due to diabetes, which was gone the day after surgery.....and now I'm down 21 lbs. last time I checked and I no longer feel like I'm a stroke or heart attach waiting to happen. It truly is the best thing I've done for myself. You will feel the same, I'm sure. Just remember, is food or your family and life more important??? Good luck on your journey, everyone here can and will support you when you need it.

Wow you look so GOOD!!! Congrats. What was you goal weight loss? I started this journey needing to loose 100#. I am 6 weeks and down 28 #. I just was trying to see about how long it will take. I am thinking around a year. Did you exercise a lot? I am just think you look great.

47 pounds is amazing at 4 weeks post op!!! Congrats!

I started this journey back on July 5th and after completing Tufts "Can change" program and all my doctors requirements, I finally got my surgery date today! March 1st! 3 weeks from today!! I can't believe it!! I'm ecstatic!

I just hit my 4 month surgeriversary, and I have had the most wonderful experience so far, and I believe it all started with my choice of surgeon, Dr. Scott Laker out of West Bloomfield, MI. I've never worked with a physician who is so kind and caring, and he will stay and answer your questions, no matter how many or how long. He genuinely seems to care about his patients. The pre-op diet was fantastic; instead of quitting everything immediately and trying to eat healthy, he had me change one substantial thing a month. I can't tell you how much that really helped. The first month was to eat a pound of veggies a day, the second was to eliminate sugars and artificial sweeteners, the third was removing processed foods, and so on. It just made it so easy! Although I was a big girl (259 pounds, BMI 42), he wasn't worried about any weight loss in the 6 months prior to surgery. All I had to really do was focus on following the particular change for the month while continuing to incorporate the prior months changes as well. I did have to do a very mild liver shrinking diet the week before surgery, but even that was no problem. A shake for breakfast and lunch, a sensible dinner, and there was a whole list of veggies I could eat to my heart's content. I love veggies, so that was perfect for me. The day of surgery came and he visited me beforehand, very relaxed and ready to go. My surgery was done exceptionally quickly and he spoke with my husband afterwards at great length to let him know how everything went. Only had to stay the night in the hospital and then it was off to home. He came in on Saturday to visit with me as well before I was discharged. Again, he was in no hurry to leave and only did so after he was certain that all of my questions/concerns had been answered completely. I was eating/drinking before I ever left the hospital and continued to do so at home. No nausea, no gas pain (he did a really good job getting it all out of me)... I have had absolutely no problems of any kind. I never thought it would be this easy. No problems transitioning through the food stages, and I've had no problems eating anything. And to this day I still follow the guidelines that I learned in pre-op; no bad food has re-entered my life and I'm on track. As of this morning when I weighed myself, I'm in onderland at 198 pounds!! Yay, me! I've been back into see him for my 6 weeks, 1 month, and 3 month appointments. And every time I've been in it's always been the same... we talk for a very long time, he completely answers any questions I have and is in no hurry. His main goal is to make sure I'm happy and good. And I most definitely am!! There are no words to tell any of you how wonderful he is. Yes, I know it's a joint effort. He did the surgery and the rest of it is on me. But because he is the kind and caring surgeon that he is, and because he has answered so many questions and provided so much knowledge, my success is absolutely hingent upon his participation. I have no doubt if I had seen a different physician that my success would be different. Maybe better, maybe worse. But I wouldn't hesitate to go through this journey with him again, and if any of you are pre-op, in this area, and looking for a fantastic surgeon, please check him out. You won't be disappointed at all.

Was making Chicken soup with veggies for all my kids and I as I was cutting veggies I compleat lay forgot about the surgery I ate a piece of carrot chewed on it and swallowed it that's when I realize OMG u started Getting really nervous walked around and drank some water. What to do is this ok I'm only a week and two days off surgery and now this.

Hi - just found this site. Starting this journey. Very excited. I have my first clinic visit scheduled in 2 weeks. Gainesville FL here!

I'm surprised you got a fill that quickly. My doctor and most of what I've read you usually are waiting a couple weeks after surgery. I'm sure every doctor is different = ) I hope everything goes good for you from now on!:sifone:

Hello everyone ~ I'm being banded next week - SO NERVOUS!! Are there any Santa Barbara, Ca bandsters out there?? Has anyone had Dr. David Thoman do their surgery?? Just wondering what to expect and I'd also like to know of any experiences at Cottage Hospital. This site is really great. Thanks :-)

Mine is right under my bra line in the middle. It was a little sore sleeping on my stomach for about 2 weeks post op, and I can feel it and there is a little dent where it is. My husband thinks is weriod to feel it so he is kind of freaked out by it. I think it serves as a great reminder of what we have done to help ourselves become more healthy. As well as the scars from the incisions.