Hi there! Have you been checked to see if you have IBS? A lot of your symptoms are similar to mine & I do have IBS. Sometimes my flares last for a few weeks & then let up. Some it is every once in awhile. I used to also think I was intolerant until I cut that out & still had flares. Lots of allergy testing was done. Elimination diets. Ended up being IBS.

And I am 7 weeks PO & started taking fiber gummies on Saturday. They didn't start working until Monday. No issues thus far. I just treat them as food in that no drinking 30 minutes before or after. They have helped keep me regular since Monday.

good luck!

IIRC, the pure protein is 100% whey, it is not 100% isolate, which is more expensive (check the ingredients label, it will probably be part isolate, part whey blend or concentrate. If it's 100% isolate, they usually brag about it on the front of the label, as it is the most desirable (and expensive) form. The past few years my wife has been using the Optimum Nutrition Isolate, which we could usually get at Costco, but it's been getting harder to find, even on Amazon, with their cheaper blended products being more common. So it can be a search sometimes.

I don't see any reason why a gummie wouldn't be compatible. They look a bit expensive for what you get ($4 for a 13g of protein) and the collagen isn't the best protein for us, but as far out as you are, protein density shouldn't be a big deal. 100% whey isolate protein is usually well tolerated as all of the lactose has been filtered out (Quest is a cheaper whey concentrate or blend) My wife is lactose intolerant as has no problem with protein powders as long as they are strictly whey isolate.

You can also try using lactaid tablets when having something suspected of having lactose as a trial, or try some of the other proteins out there - egg, pea, soy, etcf.

Good luck...

Thank you sooo much, this put me at ease. I did go over the risk with my Dr and I'm relatively low risk per my lifestyle etc. But I've had an uncle, sister in law and father in law all have complications with bypass right after and several yrs down the road, (which is why I opted for sleeve) and is contributing to my fears. I know I'm making the right choice for me and my life and have mulled it over for 3 yrs now trying this diet and that but never being fully successful on my own. I'll get through it, a new me is going to emerge strong and impowered with a new tool to get my weight on track!

I had cold feet, yes. Of course, it's natural to feel anxious about any surgery, but second-guessing the decision is particularly bad with WLS because of the guilt and because it feels more "optional". If you had something else wrong, like say gallstones, and your doctor advised surgery, you'd still be nervous, but you probably wouldn't agonise over the decision so much, and you wouldn't feel guilty about needing the surgery.

Those complications are rare. In my answer, I'm going to assume you've discussed the risks with your surgeon, and the logical part of your brain has decided this is the right thing for you to do. Now you need to give the emotional part of your brain something practical to focus on. Here are some things you are likely to experience, so you can be mentally prepared.

• Most people have a short period (a few days?) of "buyer's remorse" after surgery. I think it's a combination of short-term depression which is common after any surgery or illness, and guilt. It doesn't mean you've made a mistake.
• If you get on the scale right after surgery, you'll probably find that you've "gained" 15-20 pounds! This is temporary. It's because they pumped you full of fluids during surgery. You will pee it all out over the next week.
• Dehydration is a serious risk after surgery. Take it seriously! Getting enough fluid is going to be a challenge and a tiresome chore for a while. Eventually it will become second nature.
• Most people have a stall in their weight loss roughly 3 weeks after surgery, but it can happen earlier or later. It usually lasts no more than a couple of weeks.
• You will be low on energy for a while. Even once you feel able to work again, you won't be at 100%. This is normal after any surgery, but it's worse because you're taking in so few calories. Most of the time I felt better than I had in years, but I could go from I-could-run-a-marathon to I-need-to-sit-down-NOW! in the space of a few seconds.
• Eating is going be a chore for a few months, figuring out what agrees with your new stomach and learning how much you can eat.

Despite experiencing all of the things I listed above, it was one of the most exciting and wonderful times of my life. I lost all my excess weight, and -- touch wood -- have kept it off so far.