Well, I'd already composed my message and lost it when I clicked "Post New Topic." Grrrrrrr . . .

It's nearly 3am, and I'm up nursing a very unhappy intestinal tract. For whatever reason I decided to try a SF chocolate coated carmel and pecan thing. (I'm nearly three years out and hadn't tried any SF candy.) Well, there was obviously way too much sugar alcohol in it for my pouch. I don't remember the last time I felt so ill!!! I dumped within 20 minutes or so. The colon spasms from the diarrhea were so intense I was dry heaving. I didn't time it, but I bet that went on for at least a half-hour in various waves. It was AWFUL!!! Now ask me if I'll ever eat another piece. Stupid, I am not! I'm recording it here to help my over-40-been-through-menopause-mind remember. HA! (Copying my post before clicking this time! See . . . I am smart sometimes. LOL!) Hmmmmmmmmm . . . right clicking doesn't give me the option to "copy" . . .so . . . this better work! lol (Hey, it worked! LOL!)

Aloha,

I look at "dumping" as a positive thing. When I become complacent and things just slide down my throat I gain weight. A dump here and there, gives me a kick in the butt, and reminds me that I got this surgery for a healthier, longer life and it puts me back on track again.

I get awfully scared when I can tolerate something that I couldn't first year after surgery. I am starting to be able to tolerate milk products and boy they were my downfall prior to surgery. So I am teaching myself right now to limit and portion myself before it gets out of hand.

Yes, dumping is no fun. But I try to put a positive spin on it.

Hugs
Meliss

Hey Steph! Sorry you're up with tummy troubles. Your poor tummy never saw it comin', eh? Your brain said, "SF? Hey, we can DO SF!!!" and it was down the hatch. Well now, brain and tummy are having a confab... Tummy is trying to tell brain, "Ding, DONG!!! Anyone home up there!? Can we please be part of the decision making processes? Everyone will win then!"

No fun, but sometimes it's the only way we can get lasting change to occur...

Hope you're back to sleep and feeling fine now.
hugs.

I'm not sure who Steph is, and was she sick all night too? <insert a wink here> You and Meliss are right about how these things put you back on track. I've drank more water in the past 10 hours than I do in a typical week. Sad, but true. It's been a struggle for me since WLS. I used to guzzle water like it was the best tasting thing ever. I stopped drinking soda two years before WLS, don't drink coffee, and rarely drink alcohol, so, I guess it was the "best thing ever" to me at the time. Following surgery, I had a metalic taste in my mouth for over two months and have had to force myself to drink it since.

So . . . for today . . . for this moment--without looking behind or looking ahead . . . I am hydrating.

This is going to sound strange, but I'm going to say...consider yourself lucky! I had dumping initially, but eventually was able to eat anything. I WISH I still dumped with sugar. As much as I love it, it's my biggest downfall. But sugar is an addictive substance and I was fine without it until that one fateful day. Once you have it, it's like a drug...you want more.

I can remember my first downfall...I started with SF candy...and then worked my way "up."

So...consider yourself lucky! Most people, as much as they say "oh how horrible" would deep down love to be "allergic" to their favorite vice (only because it would make it so much easier to avoid that certain something).

On the flip side of the coin, I'm sorry you were ill. I hope you're feeling better.

Savanah, I'm sorry. I was so out of it last night. This insomnia is really getting to me, and I'm pms ing etc. I thought your photo looked really different. I'm very very embarrassed. Thank you for calling me on it. And I hope that you're feeling better this morning. I am. My visitor showed up and put some focus on my existence. Menopause: take me away!!!!

Oh yeah...I can't do anything with too much maltitol. I've discovered one type of SF chocolate that uses erythritol...it doe not make me ill, however the candy is usually high in fat and very expensive. That erythritol is a pricey ingredient. Now, to me, I'd rather spend a bucket load of money on some super fine dark chocolate and have just one. I do not get ill from one, but I will get ill from seven. Why would I be eating seven of anything...to fill up a spot that is empty...and that spot would not be my tummy!

Hope that you are feeling better Savanah!

Oh, Sandi . . . please don't feel bad. It didn't bother me a bit! While you're praying for menopause to take you away like a nice warm Calgon bath, remember it, too, has its challenges. I'm still trying to adjust my hormone levels. So, now instead of "blaming" my mood on Aunt Flow, I attribute high fluctuations in attitude and emotions to the lack of hormones. Men don't know how easy they have it. LOL! Unfortunately, I'm still sick to my stomach and am absolutely miserable. As was pointed out by Toris, in some ways I consider myself "lucky." Did I just type that? Ugh! (PS: I also changed my photo during the night to one taken of me during a run last May, which would definitely cause some confusion given I was dressed to the nines in the other one. No worries.)

Kim . . . perhaps one day I'll know what it means to be satisfied with one piece of something with sugar in it. I'm a sugar addict and have to abstain from it completely. I am working on those issues; however, by examining the reasons I was obese for so many years. Losing the weight doesn't erase all of that unfortunately.

Sorry to hear that you were feeling so bad....I would trade you in a heartbeat I dont react to sugar or pretty much anything so I fight the head demon daily to stay away from eating the wrong foods and sometimes I lose so then comes the guilt....I had this surgery to get healthy and I have I can do so much now but I fight and lie to myself so I wont get all my old bad eating habbits back and its hard some days are easy but some are so so very hard.....I wish I could get sick so I can remember what it felt like so I dont eat the wrong foods.....guess some would say I'm lucky not to complain but its hard because I am addicted to food thats why I was at the weight that I was for so long so now I have to work at the inner bad habbits that are reappearing.....I really do hope that you are feeling better......hugs

Just some little known info...men can have hot flashes & moods. My DH had prostate cancer & after it was removed, he has hot flashes & once in awhile mood swings. It's too funny: him w/ his shirt off because he's too hot & I have 2 afghans on & want the temp turned up! Life is just never easy!!!

Well sweetie pie...I already offered my sympathy on the other board, but I'll let you know it here too.

By the way...your avatar looks like your 16 years old! Nice!

Hope you're feeling a little better now.

Well sweetie pie...I already offered my sympathy on the other board, but I'll let you know it here too.

By the way...your avatar looks like your 16 years old! Nice!

Hope you're feeling a little better now.

Glad you are feeling better...

I was still awake when you posted that last night!

Thanks, Christy. I'm feeling much better this morning after having slept last night. I started the day with a bowl of hot cereal with protein powder in it and then took my hormone pill. (Thanks for the compliment--16, eh!)

Emarie ~ They didn't promise us it would be easy, did they?! The fact that you're more concious of the battle is growth. Staying the course isn't always easy, which is why support is so critical.

Thanks, Marianna! I'm much better today!