Question:
I've only lost 1 lb in the last 4 months..........and 13lbs. in 10 months

I saw my surgeon this week and he suggested bypassing more intestine but 3 surgeries was enough. I don't dump like alot of people. I have constant trouble with constapation. I have tried everything we (me & Dr.) can think of. This week he gave me lactulose hoping it might cause some dumping. Sugar doesn't make me dump, I can eat anything without dumping. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.    — Lisa S. (posted on July 17, 2003)

July 17, 2003
I'm sorry to hear that your weight-loss isn't going well at all for you. I'm sure this must be very frustrating especially when you read about all the weight others are losing. As we don't know your full story it's hard to make suggestions. There can be so many reasons for this happening to you. Just remember these surgeries aren't 100% for everyone. There's got to be something the doctors are missing, especially if you are eating properly, exercising, and taking all your supplements. I wouldn't eat foods with sugar just because they don't make you dump. Stick with the program (high protein, low carbs, no sugar). Also, have you ever thought of getting a colonic for your constipation? They can be helpful in cleansing the colon of toxins. It doesn't hurt and you feel so much better after this treatment. Eating foods like collards, spinach, etc. sometimes aids in bowel movements. I sure hope you and the doctors find a solution(s) to get you back on track. Don't give up because "YOU ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS." Sending prayers your way...
   — Starrlina

July 17, 2003
Can you give a bit more info? What is your diet like now? Are you exercising? How much more do you hope to lose? What do you think are your problem areas (sweets, carbs, eating too much, grazing, etc.)?
   — ctyst

July 17, 2003
Somewhere floating around out there, I've read that as many as 30 percent of RNY patients don't "dump." I don't know the source of it, or if that's a statistic that applies to long-term post-ops as opposed to newbies, but there's no guarantee that the RNY will make you dump. It could be that the restrictive aspect of the surgery will be the big motivator (physically, that is) -- I know I don't "dump" either, and never have (knock on wood). I hope you and your doc can determine if there's a surgical failure or solution of some sort, but I don't think aiming for "dumping" alone, as a goal, is necessarily helpful. I wish you luck and hope you can figure out how to proceed!
   — Suzy C.

July 17, 2003
In your profile you said you lost 114 lbs. Sorry but I don't understand your question about only losing 13 lbs. As far as the constipation goes, some ppl suggest 4 tablespoons of ground flax seed daily. Another helpful concoction is equal parts of unsweetened applesauce, prune juice and bran(the kind used for baking not cereal) all mixed together, keep it in the fridge, 1 or 2 tablespoons daily. Also plenty of water at least 80 oz a day. Hope you get a handle on that constipation, it sounds like what ever you are eating is moving very slowly through you and causing discomfort.
   — mary ann T.

July 17, 2003
Well it looks as if you are about 18 months post-op. I am only a couple months further out than you are, and I have lost about 15 in the past year, not much different than you. It looks like we need to put in over-time to get any more off! The flax is a wonderful recommendation, it is awesome fiber, boosts metabolism, bulks up for the full feeling and full of good stuff our bodies crave. I sprinkle some on my cottage cheese. I hope you find the answer you are looking for.
   — Cheri M.

July 18, 2003
I too had problems with constipation, but I started adding a couple of teaspoons of flax on my yogurt and also eating a salad everyday (usually for lunch) I throw chicken, or tuna..... cheese etc. in and I stay very regular now. I also read that iceberg lettuce moves through your system very slowly, (maybe that's why it last so long in the fridge?), but I buy the bags of mixed greens and I can have a little variety there. I also love spinach, as a side dish to my protein the kids love it when I make my spinach salad (take miracle whip mix milk and splenda to desired taste and consistancy) slice a banana in it and mix in the dressing...mmmmm. I think that once you get your system moving it should help. I know water helps too, but it didn't matter how much I drank, until I added these things to my DAILY diet, I was constipated and the weight loss just stalled. Hope it helps! Keep us posted.
   — Dana B.