One Year and Counting (with Pics)

 Contrats!  You look great!

You are inspiring Jennifer.  Thank you for sharing your story.  My 9 year old daughter saw me looking at your photos and was amazed too. 

First off you look amazing !!!! Thanks for the good and the bad points of view... Cant wait to be in the losing circle with you !!! Again with or without skin you look absolutely AMAZING !!!!

Congrats, you look AWESOME!!!  And thanks for sharing... these stories keep me motivated.  I'm a little over a month out, following all the rules and the weight is coming off slower than I expected. Anyway... question about the tailbone pain.  What's that all about?  Mine has been hurting since like the 2nd week.  Thought I was just spending too much time on the couch.  But that's a common thing caused by the surgery??

I'm not sure how common the tailbone pain is.  I've seen several people on the OH board mention it, but no one in my local support group seemed to have any trouble.  It's not from the surgery per se.  It's more from substantial weight loss.  What the dr told me was that the muscles around my tailbone were lazy and not used to having to draw up the bone because I had so much cushioning it was unneccesary.  As I lost weight, that cushioning disappeared.  It was definitely not from sitting too much.  I had some butt pain from sitting before surgery.  I sat continuously then.  It felt different- no where near as bad, and it would go away if I sat less.  This tailbone pain is substantially worse and doesn't improve with not sitting often.  It would even hurt when bending over far like when I clean the toilets.

Thank you for sharing your story. You look great! I'll think of you as I start my journey next week.

Congratulations on your awesome success!
For the constipation, I hope I can help you.  I had terrible constipation, both before I ever had WLS and after my revision.  Ironically, one of the reasons I had my revision was because I had chronic diarrhea from malabsorption.  In nearly 8 years I didn't have a formed stool.  But I knew that after my revision I would have problems again with constipation and I did.  It got so bad that I gave myself a hernia from the straining.
What has saved me is adapting Vitalady's constipation plan.
Everyday I take Miralax.  It is safe to take daily.  It can get spendy so my doctor prescribed it and my insurance pays for it so that helps a lot.
I also take magnesium oxide 500 mg twice a day.  I used to use stool softeners but I found that didn't really make a difference.  I also get in at least 25 grams of fiber a day.
Now I go like clockwork.  Talk to your doctor about Miralax (or a generic, which I use).  I wish all my problems could be solved so easily.
Also, make sure you get in enough fluids.  I drink at least 100 oz of fluids a day.

Jennifer,

You look amazing and so, so different.  You have done a great job with this surgery and I remember you right before you had surgery from suppoort group.  I am so impressed with your honesty and you look beautiful.  It is am amazing journey and it is worth it!

Have a great holiday!

~~Jennifer

Wow, you are a hotty in your newest pics. What an accomplishment. You should be so poroud. Congrats !!!

Now I know why my tail bone hurts so much.  I knew the lack of cushion but without the muscle in the area too.  Duh.  You absolutely rock and I am proud of you.  We have similar stats.  This life is great