KInda scared!! Sorry a bit long and also posted on VSG forum!

Wow, I've been away from the foum for awhile, I am soooo sorry you are both going through this!   I am praying for you both!

Donalda, I had issues with pain (stomach) post surgery.  I was phoning Julie almost dailirst week out  and she would email the NUt and the Dr's because I was not having any passage of bowel movements post surgery.
They had me take benefibre with water 4 times a day way back in my 1st post op week along with a myriad of things to increase fibre intake which I still do today, it has become part of my daily routine now.

Now, at almost 8 weeks post op, I still must take benefibre at least twice daily AND i take a stool softener gel pill every day. As long as I get in MOST of my fluids as well,  there is no pain, and bowel movements are regular every 2 days.  It took a few weeks of figuring out what worked but it is all humming along now quite well.  Every 5 - 7 days seems extremely long and perhaps that is contributing to the pain?

Another factor may be rate of weight loss?  I have not lost as fast as y'all (46 lbs) since beginning of Oct., yet according to Dr. am still considered to be on the 'low' end of rapid weight loss which he told me was the ideal as it results in less health problems. I only lost 5 lbs on pre op (couldn't drink water) so most has come off post op.  Maybe your body has just lost too much weight too fast? 
Please keep us posted on how you are doing!  Wishing you the best!

Deb

Hey Deb, thanks for the info!

Were your pains on the left side under the rib cage? I take 1 chewable Benefiber a day, just startd that as per Laura, do you think I should up that? What kind of stool softener do you take? What is your fiber intake daily, with food? Do you or did you ever have diarrhea and how were your gas pains?

Sorry for the questions but I am so tired of saying, " I don't know what's wrong!"

Donalda

Hi Donalda,

I take the powder benefibre in water because it helps me keep my fluid intake up.  (I am terrible at getting all my fluids in).  The pains did not start out under my rib cage but did spread there on occasions in the beginning weeks before I got 'regulated' as I call it, LOL.
I had diarrhea once in the first week, since then it is not an issue.  My gas pains were horrible before I had this under control with the Benefibre and stool softener. Dr. has also stressed the importance of me drinking water which is a daily challenge for me.

I take Docusate Calcium stool softener once a day, and it has saved me big time, really reduced any pain I did have.
I don't track my fiber intake, I only track my protein and calories..everything else will make me crazy and obsessive about what I eat.

The rule I follow is simple and works for me for now, I eat protein first and fibre second.  The NUT recommended I try quinoa as it is high protein and good source of fibre, good replacement for rice.
I try to eat a cup of raw veggies (cooked makes my stomach swell up, wierd!) a day.  I measure it out at lunch and munch on it throughout the day, usually brocolli or something green and fibre full with some concoction of Greek Yogurt dip.

I hope this info helps, you are such a source of inspiration to everyone!! 

Deb

Hi,

I will keep my fingers crossed for both of you! I am sorry to hear about your left side and your chest xray.
Let us hope and pray that things will be all fine with both of you....as i am sure they will be....as things should work out just fine!

Please keep updating us on how things are going.

Sorry your going through this, I hope it's just your body getting use to things. Take it easy and try and rest
Shannon

Donalda,

Did you go for your blood test yesterday?  Keep us posted.

Michelle