QUESTIONS......PLEASE

I am almost eighteen months out and am below goal weight.  I have a couple of questions though: 1.) I've been taking omega 3 fish oil (3 capsules) every morning.  They are kind of big and I recently read where someone wrote that we are not supposed to swallow large pills/capsules, etc.  Is that forever....I thought once we healed from the surgery it was okay?!  2.) I've been having a lot of gas/bloating/uncomfortable tummy lately.  I am passing gas and having BM's.  Any ideas how I can figure out if a certain food is causing my distress, or ideas how to get rid of the gas, bloating and discomfort?! 3.) I've been reading you guys posts about taking in fiber, don't we have to be careful about fiber after WLS and does anyone have trouble with fiber?  Any insight would be greatly appreciated!! Hugs~Tammy  

I swallow what is easy for me to absorb. I do stay away from the big stuff, I don't want to mess with things. You can try those beano pills for the gas or gasx, alot of people use that. I found that (this is gross) but post op I have lots of gas and farts. What can I say, I think it is a side effect. I never was a farter before and I get embarassed sometimes, but thats the reality of it. As far as it being certain foods, you will have to go trial and error and see if it gets worse with certain foods. We do want to take in fiber. Alot of people use flax seed. I get it ground up. It seems having regular bowel movements are difficult for us post wls. So we have to watch that we eat good. Hope this helps some,

Thanks for the input Tami!! I think I'll try the flax seed.  You look GREAt by the way!! :)

Taking 3 fish capsules at once could cause a problem with upsetting your pouch. I'd opt to take one at a time 3 times daily. Some people are uncomfortable with larger pills. So large pills may pose a problem with them.  I chose not to take larger pills, so I opted for a liquid vitamin and a powdered form of calcium citrate. I just started taking one flax seed capsule daily for a "flaky skin" problem on my forehead, that seemed to become worse after surgery. The gas could be from too much of the fish oil at once, or it could be lactose intorlerance (which happens to some post ops) or it could just be your diet. Gas is a common complaint I hear at the support meetings I attend 3 times monthly.  Beano causes some patients problems due to an ingredient, that I believe is a sugar alcohol.

Thanks Dave, I think you're right...I probably need to divide the dosage of fish oil up instead of taking them all at once.  I do take a chewable multiple vitamin.  I also take a chewable calcium tablet with vit D as well.  Sometimes I think the calcium with D makes my tummy hurt.  Have you experienced that?   

Almost all calcium supplements come with vitamin D in them, and it's for better absorption of the calcium.  No, I don't have that problem at all.  Maybe it's a synthetic sweetner or ?? in the chewable calcium? I don't use those chewables. I take a liquid vitamin, one ounce daily, and 3 doses of calcium citrate in a powdered form that is mixed with foods or shakes. The powdered calcium citrate I have had no D in it, so I either add 400 IU of a liquid D I have or take a 400 IU vitamin D tablet with the calcium.  Each morning I mix up a cup of instant oatmeal, add 700mg of calcium citrate powder, 400 IU of D, and a couple of packets of Stevia, the natural herbal sweetener.

I am one of the "high fiber crew" b/c of severe constipation problems that I suffered. Eating Fiber One cereal (the original) was recommended to me by my colon/rectal surgeon to help with my constipation problems and it has worked so I'm sticking with it!!! The only trouble I've had with it at all is gas~so I eat it in the evening vs. the morning so I'm not usually out and about having gas issues.

Congratulations to you on all of your success!!!!!!

I have bought some benefiber to try......have you tried this?  If so is it a good one to use?  Thanks for the input....You guys all look soooo good!!

I tried benefiber and fiber con with no luck, but I know alot of people do have success with it! Good Luck!

I am 4 years out and still cant take big pills. when my stomach is upset i take crystelized ginger or anything with ginger they work great, i have everyone in my office taking it when there stomach is upset, helps people with IBS