GreenEyedMamma

The hair loss is because of the traumatic experience your body goes through during surgery. While under general anasthesia, your body basically goes into shock which can damage the hair follicles. I lost more hair after my knee surgery two years ago then I did after my sleeve. I have lost some hair after all of my surgeries where general anasthesia was used but the knee surgery was by far the most severe and I have no idea why. Everyone is different. Some people who have never had surgery before WLS always blame the lack of Protein. I have proven this theory otherwise because my protein increased dramatically after surgery and I still had breakage (which is not loss). People who think they see the regrowth are actually seeing the hairs that were broken. I had breakage at different lenghts (most near the scalp) but it wasn't enough to make me freak out. No one could see the difference except me and the only difference I noticed was in the thickness. The breakage started around three months after all my surgeries and stopped in my 9th month post op (a 6 month period). I shed for about 15 months after knee surgery. Everyone has their own experience though. Good luck to you and I wish you all the best (and little to zero hairloss). “Systemic anesthesia has a profound effect on the body. As you would expect, it pushes the individual into a state of unconsciousness and relaxes muscles. Anesthesia also affects hair follicles. Hair follicles contain cells that are some of the fastest dividing and developing cells of the body. They have to divide fast to maintain the growth of hair Fiber. Anesthesia blocks this rapid cell division. While the application of anesthesia to an individual may only be for a few hours, the hair follicles may be affected to such a degree that they shut down hair fiber production and enter a telogen resting state. A telogen effluvium type of hair loss is the result.” {Source: Desai SP, Roaf ER. Telogen effluvium after anesthesia and surgery. Anesth Analg. 1984 Jan;63(1):83-4.}

It's funny how our eyes can deceive us at times. Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and don't see the drastic change that others say they see. I even put a slide show together for my 100 pound mark and didn't see it like this. It wasn't until I put these two pictures side-by-side when I realized just how much I have changed in the last 8 months. WOW!

Thank you EVERYONE for your kind words. Looks like we all inspire eachother. This has been an AMAZING journey...so far...

I was sleeved on February 24, 2011 and on October 17, 2011 I reached my first goal of losing 100 pounds (101 to be exact). Having this surgery has been such a blessing because I have learned so much about myself and have gained the self confidence needed to make this a lifelong success.You can watch my progress here: Butterfly in Training

I think the only reason I didn't get any flack about my surgery when I told friends and family is because of the way I told them. I was pretty firm and didn't leave room for questions or comments. It was more like "I made a decision, this is what is going to make my life more sustainable for me and my family and no one is going to change my mind about it. I was VERY open from the beginning. I think if I had approached it in a delicate way they would have thought i was second guessing myself. I am sorry you are having to deal with the negativity. Good luck in your journey. Stay strong!!!

HA!! Am considering this suggestion!!!

Love your story too! That is awesome!!!

Thanks everyone. It is such a great feeling. Almost like...freedom in a sense.

I am 260 right now and fit perfectly fine with extra room in the seatbelt. It also depends on how you carry your weight. I am bottom heavy so I carry my weight in my hips, thighs and butt.

Pickles have TONS of sodium (one can have well over 1,000 millegrams) so I avoid them at all cost and have done so since long before my surgery. The last thing I want is to retain Water or raise my blood pressure.

I have to travel quite a bit for work and for the last few trips that have been on the large jet planes, I have been pretty comfortable without a seatbelt extender. I celebrated my first flight without one in April but not all of my seven flights on that trip were as successful. On Tuesday this week, I had to fly to Orlando (yes, I know...I said, "had to"), and one of the segments of my trip on the way home was a short 30-minute flight on a teeny-tiny airplane that seats like 30 people. The seats and seatbelts on these planes are also teeny-tiny and when your butt is nowhere near teeny OR tiny an extender is required (or I would have to fake wearing the seatbelt because I was too embarrassed to ask for one). So, about 4 years ago, I "borrowed" a seatbelt extender from an airline for a regular plane and I brought it along with me every time I flew prior to surgery so I wouldn't have to humiliate myself by asking. I was almost a bit nervous about this flight because even though I was prepared by having it, I was secretly hoping I would not need it. I got on the "plane", made my way to my seat, put my stuff under the seat in front of me, fidgeted around in my bag to put the extender near the top so I could quickly pick it up without anyone seeing in case I needed to use it, and then proceeded to attempt to buckle the actual seatbelt. I was waiting and then I heard...CLICK! I thought it was lying to me so I tried it again and...CLICK! What a GREAT sound. Needless to say, I bid farewell to my seatbelt extender. I pushed it to the bottom of my bag. Now, I just need to decide on whether or not I give it back or if I keep it as a reminder of how far I have come.

I cannot take credit for any of the following (I copied and pasted from a few sites...): Ketosis merely means that our bodies are using fat for energy. Ketones (also called ketone bodies) are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the guacamole you just ate or fat you were carrying around your middle. When our bodies are breaking down fat for energy, most of the it gets converted more or less directly to ATP. (Remember high school biology? This is the "energy molecule.") But ketones are also produced as part of the process. When people eat less carbohydrate, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. But there is one type of ketone molecule, called acetone, that cannot be used and is excreted as waste, mostly in the urine and breath. The description of the smell varies, but it is often described as "fruity" or like the smell of apples which are "past their prime" (or even downright rotten). The good news is that keto-breath usually doesn't last forever. Most people find it dies down after a few weeks, or at the most a few months. The reason is unclear, but it seems our bodies adapt in some way. Children on a ketogenic diet for epilepsy have been shown to have less acetone in their breath as time goes on, for example. In the meantime, there are things you can do to minimize the impact of "keto-breath": Drink more water: try 8 glasses per day to see if this helps, and then you can experiment from that point. Natural breath fresheners to try include mint, parsley or other greens, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds. Some people swear by breath capsules, which are usually made from parsley oil (e.g. Mint Assure) for keto-breath. Others find they do not help. sugar-free mints or gum can be tried, but watch the carbs in them. Ammonia Breath from Protein When the body metabolizes protein, ammonia is produced. When people eat high-protein meals, there tends to be increased ammonia in their breath and/or urine. In large amounts, this can smell pretty bad. It's important to remember that we don't need lots and lots of protein in our diets. Our bodies use protein to maintain and build muscles, to make enzymes, and for other structural and chemical needs. The body will convert excess protein to energy, which is where you will get the extra ammonia (this also happens during starvation or long exercise when the body begins to rely on breaking down muscles for energy if it runs out of sources of fats and/or carbohydrates). Find Out How Much Protein Your Body Needs Sometimes people load up on protein because they are afraid to eat more fat. This is one of the reasons why it is rarely a good idea to try to eat a diet that is low in both carbohydrates and fats. The solution to "ammonia breath" for people on a low-carb diet is often to increase fats in the diet, and cut back some on protein foods. Above all, don't let problems with your breath derail you from staying with a diet that is improving your health. Instead, try to figure out the cause of the bad-smelling breath and tackle it. Body Odor There are a number of chemical changes that take place in your body when you're on a low-carb diet, some of which can cause a foul body odor. Ketone bodies have an odd odor to them; they're not unlike fingernail polish remover in their smell. Once you enter ketosis, it's common for others to smell ketone bodies on your breath and in your sweat, which can give you a foul, sickly-sweet odor.

Rootman - This is the perfect explanation. Thanks!!!!!

Welcome to the forum...from one BakoMom to another!! I know I mentioned this last night but Dr. Irani was/is AWESOME. His PA, Kristen, is fabulous too. He is highly recommended by most bariatric departments in town and my primary care physican recommended him too. I had a pretty good experience at Mercy SW. His equirement for all the pre-op testing he does has to be done within 30 days of surgery (not more or they will make you redo the tests). Best of luck to you and since we are in the same town, know that I am here to answer any questions. We must live fairly close to eachother if our kids go to the same school so we can even become walking buddies.

Welcome! I was a self-payer too and it was worth EVERY penny. I wasn't interested in gastric bypass either. I originally wanted lap band but my surgeon recommended VSG. I am SOOO glad he did as I LOVE my sleeve. I hope your insurace comes through for you but if it doesn't and you have the means to self pay then go for it.