Question:
Anyone else get this?

I'm now just over 7 months post-op from an open VBG, and I've noticed a rather odd trend in whether or not I can keep food down. About a week before my period, I can't keep anything but liquid or (of all things) cereal down. This lasts anywhere from three days to a week. Once I get my period, I'm fine. When I'm between periods, I'm fine. It's just that week before -- when it doesn't matter what I can tolerate the rest of the time, I chuck just about everything. HELP!    — Cheryl Denomy (posted on November 27, 2000)

November 27, 2000
Hi Cheryl, I don't think I have that "specific" hormonal "time" when food / liquids / go nuts but I have noticed my (I should mention I don't have a uterus but still have my ovaries) PMS symptoms are much more wild than ever before in my life. During "that" time it is hard to get or keep anything down and I get real grouchy about it (never much got grouchy before) and I get much more tired than before. I do try to walk a little more during that time because I think it helps me to temper my attitude... In short, I wouldn't be surprised by anything the hormonal flux could do for different people. I know it is much stronger than it has ever been. ~denise
   — blank first name B.

November 27, 2000
I haven't compared it to my period, but there are times when it seems like no matter WHAT I eat- it's not good (and I chew well and try and pay attention to everything), other times I can keep anything down- no matter what! I had RNY 7/25- I will see how/when it happens next (where I am in my cycle) I wonder if its true, what would cause it... interesting.
   — Karen R.

November 27, 2000
I haven't noticed any connection to my monthly cycle, but I, too, have very clear times when I can eat almost anything I want & other periods when I have trouble eating almost anything. I'm also 71/2 months post op--surgery was April 13th. I seem to go several days to a week or so in each of the stages. Now that I've learned to just kind of accept it, these stages don't really bother me too much. During my non-eating periods I just drink lots of protein shake & eat a few protein bars. I vomit only very rarely now as I pretty much know when to quit trying. However, maybe what I should do is keep track of these times; maybe there's a pattern there & I just haven't discovered it, yet. Interesting idea. Cheryl, maybe you're just ahead of me in connecting these periods to.......well, periods! :)
   — Kathy W.

November 27, 2000
Cheryl, I don't get nauseous, but boy do I crave salt the week before!!! I am also meaner than a junkyard dog- the closer I am to starting, the meaner I am- I never ovulated before the weightloss, so I never dealt with PMS like this! AHHH estrogen, can't live with it, can't live without it!LOL
   — M B.

November 28, 2000
Hi Cheryl. I think women all handle premenstral symptoms differently. You didn't say how old you are, but I'm nearing the dreaded "postmenopausal" stage of my life and I'm beginning to notice some strange things happening in my own body. According to the calendar, I "should" be starting my period within the next day or so. Now whether or not my body reads the same calendar is yet to be seen. I had an unexplained bout with nausea myself a few days ago (before eating anything)and have been as hungry as a bear lately. I'm working on a 7 week plateau that's been driving me crazy and my abdomen and my belly has been as hard as a rock for the past few days too. I'm extremely "gassy" and retaining water like crazy. So, like I said, I think we all experience different symptoms with our cycles. In your case, I would suggest that you begin to "plan" for your premenstral trend and buy and prepare foods that you know you will be able to tolerate during that time. Prepare some good homemade soups ahead of time and stock your cupboards with jellos and broths like you did pre-op with foods that are of a "pureed" nature. You don't have to become malnourished during that time, especially since you know it's coming. Like I said, I get as hungry as a bear and sometimes it's hard to curb my appetite and stick to my eating plan. A little nausea would probably go a long way in my case to help me. You're doing just great, but I don't know how much, if any, of what you're experiencing has anything to do with your surgery. When all else fails, however, you could always still call your doctor. Good luck and God bless. cj
   — cj T.