I finally made it to 160, after 16 and a half months!  I was content before I hit this goal, but it does feel good to reach it. Thanks to my OH family for helping me get there!

I have taken the following things with only a little success... the best thing is for me to get in lots of fiber (at least 15 grams a day)...

Fiber Gummies...tasty but not enough bang for the buck

Milk of Magnesia...gross and only works sometimes

Mirolax...helps more than the MoM for me...but takes days to work

Dulcolax/stool softeners...help things from becoming "little rocks" coming out but have to combine with Mirolax to work well

Garden of Life fiber...very effective but takes days to work...i like to make "oatmeal" with it...

Oats...very helpful to keep things moving

Salads...great for helping things move thru but hurt my sleeve...

I take 3 stool softeners every day, probiotics, and sometimes add Citrucel fiber caplets.  I don't have the normal urge to go to the bathroom, so I have devote time every day to "concentrating" on the throne...lol  I don't get very much out and it's in little pellet form (sorry for the visual) but at least things are moving.

Misery loves company!  I am content to know there are others out there like me...  I guess I need to follow my own advice today, sticking with my zofran sublinguals, light drinks and eats, take some ginger root capsules to assist with digestion...

Hope you have some good eating days! :)

I understand your problem...  Sometimes, taking antinausea meds helps with this.  I concentrate on drinking, making watery style protein drinks, and looking for at least one big calorie item that appeals to me (1 piece of toast, buttered, peanut buttered, and topped with honey is something that helps me get around 450 calories...but it takes me over an hour sometimes to eat it...and it's work).  When I keep my calories 1000 - 1400, I feel much better and have better energy. 

Wow, you had surgeried 3 weeks apart?  Poor thing!  Hope you are doing okay!

I am taking the 5000mcg of Biotin too but just started about a month ago.  I have seen the biggest clumps come out in the bathtub, something about washing it that seems to give the hair follicles permission to detach (in my opinion.)

Thanks for the support!  I hope you are recovering okay from your recent surgeries...

We can be "fuzzy headed" together, my Sleeve Sister!  I never had super thick hair to begin with but since I kept the weight after having my kiddos all those years ago, I had a decent amount of hair.  Now I just want it to grow out already!  I am seriously contemplating a wig but a good one is going to be expensive! 

I can't decide if I should go "wild woman" crazy short hair or try to use gels/waxes to slick it down.  Currently I have permanent "bed head" even when I try to hard to tame it.  I use all natural shampoo and conditioner but have colored it a couple of times in the last 10 months.  I am trying to not be "overprocessed" so my hair has a chance but I it's so hideous now...

Not that I would wish this on anyone, but I am glad to know I am not the only one out there with this problem!  Take care Jennifer!

I got diagnosed with the hypothyroidism in the process of getting my weight loss surgery.  I had to delay my surgery for about 4 months because of the diagnosis so the docs could get it under control.  I think maybe I haven't realy processed that part of the equation...  I know about that shower drain thing...yep...lots of hair in the drain...

Hope your wife is doing okay.  No one really gets the bone tired one can feel with thyroid issues.

I am a big believer that we know what is best for our bodies...more than doctors most of the time!  I would definitely try to get a little higher than 600 calories per day.  My plan was 500- 800 calories per day and now that I am more than a year post op, I think that calorie range is okay while you are losing.

I still have trouble with lots of meat, so I do casseroles and soups a lot.  I do really well with shrimp too (and scallops, lobster, etc.)  I never could do thick type shakes, etc but I can add a scoop of vanilla protein to my hot tea drinks (like pumpkin spice, chai, or even decaf coffee).  It's not thick and I put the scoop in about 24oz of ho****er...so I am drinking it for a couple of hours...sometimes 3!

Remember to keep trying things out as you get further out post op.  I couldn't do peanut butter at 3 or 6 months but 8 months post op I could finally do it.  I do better with chicken and beef now but still prefer it mixed with things or else I can't eat enough of it to make it worth the time.

Good luck to you!  I am not sure what your issues are but from experience, I can tell you to make sure any nausea or pain you may have is under good control with supplements and/or meds your doc prescribes for you.

Take Care!

You will need to have a relatively "smooth" recovery and you will need to be vigilant about your drinking, not testing limits by trying to eat something you shouldn't, and get lots of rest for the first few weeks.  But yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus...lol

I was kinda the poster child for annoying post op problems that kept me throwing up and feeling icky so much that I needed to have lots of time off. 

I love the Hillshire Farms Herb Roasted chicken....yummy!  But I am bad now, I can eat it with a little bread, mustard and mayo...

I would start the Milk of Magnesia or Miralax if I were you...You don't want everything getting backed up...lol

I have had a lot of dizziness, nausea, and what the docs call "vasovagal attacks" - nearly passing out if I stand for any length of time.  Here is what works for me...

1.  Taking the sublingual form of zofran...it's awesome! It works way faster than the pills or liquids (since it goes under the tongue and dissolves).  I take 4mg a day but they have it in 8mg form too.

2.  Taking Ginger Root supplement capsules daily (helps with nausea and settles the tummy...feel like I eat and drink better since I started taking it a couple of months ago...and it was recommended by my GI docs.)

3.  Drinking a minimum of 64 oz a day...(I can't drink plain water anymore...makes me nauseated but I make hot tea and my tummy likes that.  My favorite is the pumpkin spice tea and I put my favorite vanilla protein powder in it...kills two birds with one stone.)

4.  I don't eat straight meat portions but do lots of casseroles and soups (extra meat added).  Do what feels good on your tummy, not what others think you should do necessarily.

5.  Getting in enough protein...meaning shoot for at least 70 - 80 grams a day.  And up your calories as you feel better.  Doing those two things really have made a difference in my energy levels.

6.  Take a PPI/acid reducer every day... I do the best with Protonix 40mg.  This has been a lesson in "trial and error".  Every time I went off the PPi, the nausea would take over and my ability to get in nutrition was compromised, so now I just realize it's a part of life.

7.  I was off my BP meds within 2 weeks of surgery...and now deal with low BP and what they call reactive hypoglycemia, making me yawn a lot and feel sickly while even sitting.  Laying down helps with that.

Hope there is something there for you to glean from and feel better!  Message me if you have any questions as I have been thru it...