Foxbins

My flight was almost 4 hours and I drank water and tea. I had no gas problem, at least intestinally. I was puffed up from the carbon dioxide used during surgery and looked sort of distended (but didn't feel bloated) for about 2 weeks after surgery.

Mine stopped falling out at month nine and it started about the same time as yours did. It got thin but I was never in danger of being bald! BTW, nothing--no shampoo, conditioner, or supplement--can stop hair loss if it's going to happen to you, but B vitamins, iron, and minerals will help it grow back healthy.

I'm stating the obvious here, but have you called your surgeon? Sometimes not keeping food down is an irritated sleeve or general illness but sometimes it's a sign of stricture. Please call if you haven't already.

I started at 232 and I am 5'8". Look at my ticker for my progress.

Scrambled eggs, no matter how soft I cooked them, sat badly with me. I tried soft-boiled at about 5 months and I now eat over-easy eggs, too, but eggs will never again be a favorite food. They just don't seem easy to digest anymore.

I take my 2500mcg twice weekly and my levels are great.

Call or email Dr. Aceves' office. You should not be feeling as badly as you describe. And I agree, you have to get more fluids in.

There's a fair amount of psychological research about "Fake it 'til you make it." That is, if you're shy, make yourself talk to people; if you're a bad cook, cook lots and you'll improve...you get the idea. I suggest you pick a role model--Audrey Hepburn? Marilyn Monroe? Start to adapt some of their posture and movement into yours. I noticed that I never raised my hands above my head (afraid of showing big arms, sweat stains, and just appearing bigger) and kept my hands folded over my fat stomach. Now I sit with arms outstretched sometimes and dance at home. Also, if you can get someone to draw your outline on the back of wrapping paper or on a mirror, you can update that periodically and see how your figure is shrinking. Take your measurements and find what size you wear on a website like Land's End. Although there will be differences in manufacturers you will have somewhere to start. It's been a great journey for me, hope yours is too.

I had my gallbladder removed 10 months post-op, in December. I haven't noticed any more frequent hunger since--immediately post-op I felt so awful I lost an additional five lbs. I hope what you are feeling is just temporary due to your surgical recovery.

Try sugarfree pudding powder in Greek yogurt and pesto in cottage cheese.

The nurses will bring you anything you need--and the chicken broth is really, really good. Made from scratch.

Yes, you fly into San Diego Airport. The driver picks you up outside baggage claim at Terminal 1. He will have a sign with your name on it.

Not like Isopure or anything like that. I had tea, juice, water, broth, and Gatorade. Liquids to prevent dehydration are more important than protein the first few days. I couldn't get any protein drinks down until about day six post-op.

I do a lot of stir frys--frozen broccoli, some protein, splash of teriyaki sauce, and in about 4 minutes I have dinner with enough leftovers for next day's lunch. I also sometimes get a rotisserie chicken which lasts for days.

For what procedures? You can research PS at MakeMeHeal dot com, realself dot com, or Obesity Help has a good ps forum.

Did you ask your surgeon's office for some names? this one wants to give you an MMPI from the sound of it and then discuss it for an hour and a half. It's a useful test for a lot of things but it's certainly not WLS-specific. I'd find somebody else.

For me it's not where, it's who. I wanted a facelift after my weight loss and researched both local surgeons and surgeons abroad. I picked a "surgeon's surgeon"--that is, a surgeon that surgeons go to for facial plastics. He was in Costa Rica and cost was about the same as surgery in the US, but the results are incredible.

I went to Mexico and Dr. Aceves for the same reasons as Crazy Cat Lady. The guy is good, has done thousands of sleeves, participates in research studies, and the hospital has awesome care.

When it happened to me, it was in the middle of the night and I vomited only yellow liquid. I was trying to stop my omeprazole and the yellow stuff was all acid and gastric juices. When I started on omeprazole again, it never happened again. Maybe you need it twice daily?

Looks good to me--the excitement at the beginning of the race should help speed you up at the start. You'll do great!

Do you have insurance that covers weight loss surgery? Find out. If so, call your insurance company and find out the qualifying criteria. Then consult with your primary care physician, as they need to write a referral to a surgeon for most insurance plans. Then explore the various surgical options.

Dumping doesn't give you stomach pain and vomiting but gallbladder does. I also had a dull pain below my ribs on the right side. I had mine removed at 10 months post-op following a bout of pancreatitis due to a gallstone in the pancreatic duct. No problems since removal. Better call your doc--they can do an ultrasound for stones.

Ask for someone to show you how to use it. Every company has a slightly different set up to their machines--how to program your own workout, how to set the timer and the display,,,pick the one you think you'll like the most and just ask. Most gym people love to talk about fitness and will think you are cool for wanting to get in shape.

Too much sodium? If you are keeping to your plan, don't worry. It's probably water weight and will leave soon. Don't let 2 lbs bother you as you will probably lose, then either gain or stay the same for a few days, then lose, etc, etc, etc. Most people's weight loss looks like stair steps when it's graphed, but some look like a sawtooth. As long as the overall trend is down you're okay.

I don't think the credit card company will find out that you don't have a job. They only care when you stop paying the bill. I would ask a lot of questions about the surgeon's refund policy if you decide to pay in advance--I have heard that it's sometimes hard to get deposits returned, to say nothing of the whole surgical fee, and sometimes situations happen that delay or cancel trips--I had gallbladder surgery and had to cancel a trip to Costa Rica at the last minute. If you do decide to pay in advance, get trip insurance just in case. It's pretty cheap for peace of mind.