Thanks for your message. I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I am seeing a GI specialist and tomorrow is the MRCP, which is less invasive than the ERCP you are having. I hope they find your stones and can reach them.

Hi Everyone,

I'm nearly 4 years post op and I'm so happy I chose the surgery! Making the decision to have the surgery after being obese for 30 years was a difficult one. But once I made the decision I was totally committed.

Over time I have really in the past year experienced some difficulties. And I'm here posting today to share my experiences with you and to help get some tips from those of you just starting out.

Mostly for me I used to struggle with balancing my life and trying not to make my weight the primary focus of my world. So what ended up happening to me was that I started to believe that i was "normal". What I mean by that is normal in the sense that I could eat and drink like others who dont have to obesity disease. Well, over the past year and more significantly over the past six months I've gained nearly 20 lbs. That is so dangerous for my current and future health.

Last night something happened to snap me out of it. I was enjoying a relaxed evening at home but during that time I ate so much over a 4 hour period that I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme stomach pain and I felt full to my nostrils.... i kid you not. I had to go sleep in a chair in my living room. What a horrible experience.

Also, as you know from the surgery you have fewer bowel movements since there is less food in your system because we can't eat a lot. Well, yesterday and today I had rather excessive bowel movements. That also worried me that after nearly 4 years I suddenly have changed my entire body!

I'm worried about it but I'm taking a stand and making the change. I hope my struggles will help you understand what may be coming your way too. We all know the surgery is just a tool. WE have to eat right, exercise regularly, drink all our water, take our vitimins and remember that we had the surgery and we need to make it work for us for life.

Thanks so much for reading my post. Support from you and the forum is very helpful and healing for me.


P.S. I need to update my signature and not sure how to do it. Can anyone provide me instruction?

Love to all
Angela

I haven't really bothered to look for adult chewables since these work fine.

I've had similar experiences. I normally just say politely the first time that I'm not a big eater and I'm very slow. Normally its my DBF that gets irritated and tells them to take a hike until he calls them back to ask for to-go packaging and to remove our plates. I never tell the wait staff that I've had WLS. None of their business in my opinion.  One time I called the restaurant ahead of time to discuss menu options due to my WLS because it was a special dinner and the fixed menu is $175 per person. I wanted to see if I could get a reduced portion at a reduced price. They said I could sit at the bar and order small plates. LOL. Whatever. I just went to dinner, enjoyed what I could, and paid full price.