happy1957

Hello everyone, I bought the Melatonin, but the last two nights have been so exhausted, I slept like a baby without it. I went back to work on Monday about 10 days post op. I have a physically demanding job of standing and walking a lot all day, so my body had had enough by Wed/Thursday and I have slept so good, it also may have something to do with eating regular food and the energy it takes to digest it, but after that wears off an I have to rely on a sleeping aid, I will let you know.. As I said, my sister is 4 months out and still has this terrible sleeping pattern.

Hello everyone, unfortunately my Dr's visit was a fast one and I didn't get all my questions answered. The Dr was 40 mins late and in a rush. He wasn't my Dr. but a fill in. I spoke with the dietitian today. She said it is common and Shea you are correct, it has something to do with Ketosis. and should go away eventually . In the mean time, I can try Melatonin, but the pharmacist they work with said my sleep pattern is a good candidate for Ambien CR, but I am trying to get rid of prescription meds. So I bought some today, 10mg. I will let you know how they work. Thanks for all of your comments.

My sister who was sleeved on Aug 30th and now myself who was sleeved on Dec 28th both have trouble sleeping. I am used to being exhausted and sleep a good 8 hours a night, but since surgery, I wake after 5 hours and just can't go back to sleep. If I do get up for awhile and go back to bed I can get in another 2-3 hours. I am back to work now so I don't have the time to do back to bed.
Does this ever change? Does anyone out there have a remedy? I blame it on all the Protein so I've been trying to get my daily requirements in before 2:00, but it didn't work last night. Bingo, 3:00 am and I am up for the day. Help!!!!!!!!!!!

My sister who was sleeved on Aug 30th and now myself who was sleeved on Dec 28th both have trouble sleeping. I am used to being exhausted and sleep a good 8 hours a night, but since surgery, I wake after 5 hours and just can't go back to sleep. If I do get up for awhile and go back to bed I can get in another 2-3 hours. I am back to work now so I don't have the time to do back to bed.
Does this ever change? Does anyone out there have a remedy? I blame it on all the Protein so I've been trying to get my daily requirements in before 2:00, but it didn't work last night. Bingo, 3:00 am and I am up for the day. Help!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you think we are tired because we are running on "Old" stored fuel? If you used 20 year old fuel in your furnace, sure, it may run, but not without nearly conking out and being sluggish. All that sludge on the bottom will eventually get sucked through and you will be running on fresh calories. I have faith

Black Currant Oil is bought in a health food store or on line. I have read that the liquid filled caplets also called soft gels are best in both the Biotin and black currant oil. I have bought mine through Puritans Pride and http://www.vitaminsh...6&type=category and have always used the soft gels for better absorption. Here is some interesting reading. http://www.liveandfe...ck_currant.html

The one suggestion that someone here at VST made to me, was to bring ear plugs and they were a God send for the hospital and may be for your friends house. Sip,sip,sip and walk,walk,walk is all you'll want to do to get rid of gas. The best of lick to you!

Both my sister and I did not start losing hair until the 5th month after surgery. When it starts to fall, it's a lot and often in clumps. I counted hairs in one clump and it scared me. 27 hairs in one small clump on top of hundreds of single hairs. Each brushing of dry hair would be a brush full of hair the equivalent tof brushing a cat during shedding season. The shower would have an accumulation of hair enough to clog the drain screen I hope you are among the few who don't lose your hair. I also think I am a slow loser. I've never lost more than 2 lbs in any given week You have lost 40 lbs in less than three months, that is not slow. Congratulations to you!

Good day... I have no experience with Nioxin, but had taken Biotin 7 months prior to surgery and although continued faithfully, I still started losing hair around month five and didn't stop until about 8 and half months. Nothing seemed to work until I started using "Fall Fight" Shampoo and conditioner by Garnier. It has Biotin in it. I also bought some Natural Biotin shampoo but it was hard on my hair. I am not trying to sell you anything, it may even be coincidence, but my hair started slowing down with loss the very first week. I am about 4 weeks into the shampoo regiment and I can honestly say that I have normal Hair loss now. Nothing more than I ever did. We all experience the loss, I read about it , yet the stalls and hair loss don't hit home until it happens to you. It too shall pass. I wish you the best of luck..

Good morning.. I can relate to your concerns. I thought that I had done everything to avoid hair loss, but once it started, I thought I may go bald. It started falling out at about month 5 for me, huge losses each day. I had been taking Biotin and black currant for over a year in hopes of avoiding this. I made sure I got my Protein and Water requirements each day, but nothing helped. I came to this site because it didn't look like there would be any end and I was so discouraged.
I received encouraging information from many advanced sleevers who had been through this and assured me that it would stop and my hair would come back.
I was just starting month eight and one of the suggestions was to use a Biotin Shampoo, so I purchased an expensive brand that was all natural. It was so harsh on my hair so I discontinued it after three weeks. My hair is or was full, but baby fine and highlighted, going bald is not a good combination.
I then saw an ad and purchased Garnier's "Fall Fight" a new Hair loss shampoo that you can buy right in a regular department store. I swear it started working immediately. Being just three weeks out from starting this regiment, I have no hair loss now at all with the exception of normal few hairs on the shower floor. I also invested in a shower comb because my hair is long I had read that combing your hair in the shower with the conditioner in helps get it to the ends, stops breakage and helps stimulate the scalp. Getting good blood supply to the hair follicle is important.
You massage this shampoo and conditioner in and then let it sit a few minutes, it causes a slight tingle.
Overall I am not sure what helped, maybe a combination of things or was it time to stop shedding? It was a concerning three plus months. I still take the biotin and black currant and have the strongest and longest nails I've ever had. My hair is growing back fast and furious. I have Long hair, but can run my fingers through my scalp and it feels like a porcupine in there. :-)
I have heard some people say that their hair came back thicker and healthier. I'm sure mine will come back GRAY, I have very few gray hairs but at my age deserve to have more. Gray is better than "hard" hair. Thankfully the sleeve has no mal-absorption component so if you eat well, the body should produce hair.
The downfall to using the biotin and black currant is hair will grow stronger EVERYWHERE, including the goat hairs you try so hard to keep at bay. (It has NOT increased Hair growth where I didn't have hair.) I envisioned a gorilla after I sent this. I hope I'm not the only woman on this site that have a few stray coarse hair on my face. Just buy new pluckers.. :-) Good luck and know that it will get better. The weight loss journey has it's bumps but I would change nothing, I'm close to goal and about 9.5 months.

Hell Ldallas, Unfortunately I had surgical menopause years before VSG. I did lose lots of head hair between 5 and 9 months, which is recovering nicely, (too nicely) it's tooooo curly, I don't recall any pubic hair coming out, but I'm sure it did too. That I keep neatly trimmed so the shower didn't show me any loss. Overall I have never had much body hair. Lucky me I guess.

Good morning.. I can relate to your concerns. I thought that I had done everything to avoid hair loss, but once it started, I thought I may go bald. It started falling out at about month 5 for me, huge losses each day. I had been taking Biotin and black currant for over a year in hopes of avoiding this. I made sure I got my Protein and Water requirements each day, but nothing helped. I came to this site because it didn't look like there would be any end and I was so discouraged.
I received encouraging information from many advanced sleevers who had been through this and assured me that it would stop and my hair would come back.
I was just starting month eight and one of the suggestions was to use a Biotin Shampoo, so I purchased an expensive brand that was all natural. It was so harsh on my hair so I discontinued it after three weeks. My hair is or was full, but baby fine and highlighted, going bald is not a good combination.
I then saw an ad and purchased Garnier's "Fall Fight" a new Hair loss shampoo that you can buy right in a regular department store. I swear it started working immediately. Being just three weeks out from starting this regiment, I have no hair loss now at all with the exception of normal few hairs on the shower floor. I also invested in a shower comb because my hair is long I had read that combing your hair in the shower with the conditioner in helps get it to the ends, stops breakage and helps stimulate the scalp. Getting good blood supply to the hair follicle is important.
You massage this shampoo and conditioner in and then let it sit a few minutes, it causes a slight tingle.
Overall I am not sure what helped, maybe a combination of things or was it time to stop shedding? It was a concerning three plus months. I still take the biotin and black currant and have the strongest and longest nails I've ever had. My hair is growing back fast and furious. I have Long hair, but can run my fingers through my scalp and it feels like a porcupine in there. :-)
I have heard some people say that their hair came back thicker and healthier. I'm sure mine will come back GRAY, I have very few gray hairs but at my age deserve to have more. Gray is better than "hard" hair. Thankfully the sleeve has no mal-absorption component so if you eat well, the body should produce hair.
The downfall to using the biotin and black currant is hair will grow stronger EVERYWHERE, including the goat hairs you try so hard to keep at bay. (It has NOT increased Hair growth where I didn't have hair.) I envisioned a gorilla after I sent this. I hope I'm not the only woman on this site that have a few stray coarse hair on my face. Just buy new pluckers.. :-) Good luck and know that it will get better. The weight loss journey has it's bumps but I would change nothing, I'm close to goal and about 9.5 months.

Do you think the stretching happened to you because you were one of the first sleeve recipients and that things may be a little different now surgically? I can see how you could gain weight by grazing, by drinking calories etc. I to worry about 4 years down the road. Right now at 18 months out, I am a HAPPY camper.

I started this post yesterday under general post op, I suspect my lack of responses was because either it was in the wrong forum or no one else has personally experienced this. It goes like this.
Hello folks... I am 23 months postoperative. I was 3.5 lbs from goal and decided to up the daily routine of exercise wanting to hit goal, I am a slow loser. More importantly the emotional victory was really all that I cared about, not the physical. So Instead of my normal 600 calorie a day burn on the elliptical I started burning 750 calories daily. I managed to lose 1.4 lbs in a month, but started to become ill. Having all the signs and at times severe, of hypoglycemia. After three weeks of fearing to drive at times, I finally went to see my Dr. My normally very nice blood pressure was extremely high and she followed up with lots of blood work, a kidney workup etc. I was asked to check my blood sugars randomly and especially when feeling ill . I'll call them spells. I would tremble, feel light headed, blurred vision, rapid heart rate and overall weakness with a strong desire to EAT. This at times woke me in the middle of the night accompanied with cold sweats, feeling much like a heart attack or my impression of one. There were times at work I'd have a project in my hand and not know why, my thought process was on "hold". I was lethargic and my memory would shut down.

After googling hypoglycemia I was convinced that was what I had, yet my blood sugars were always within normal ranges, my A1C (three month average of blood sugars ) was great. So more testing was ordered, I do not have the results yet, of all the tests but one thing I do know is that I had a 2 hr fasting glucose tolerance test and that was not fun. The test is simple. They check your blood upon arrival, my number fasting was at 93, then they make you drink a bottle of sweet Syrup within 5 minutes, then I was SICK. Many of the same symptoms were replicated, although not all, I was near passing out, blurred vision, not even being able to focus on my Ipad. I thought I was going to vomit, defecate in my pants and maybe even stroke out. I could barely speak. and actually didn't dare to in fear I'd throw up. This lasted nearly an hour. At hour two they draw your blood again and it is suppose to be 140 or less to be in normal ranges. Mine was 56.

I have done further reading and honestly never read about this prior to my surgery, but this seems to be a delayed symptom of the Gastric Sleeve. It's called Reactive Hypoglycemia. http://en.wikipedia....ve_hypoglycemia I have not had any real symptoms since cutting my calorie burn back to 600 per day and trying to incorporate more complex carbs to my diet. I ate mainly Protein and vegetables. I've added a slice of 15 grain bread or a whole wheat English muffin to my diet daily and overall do feel better. I've had a few spells, not nearly as bad as before, and no more night issues.

My question is there anyone else here with the same problem? If so why had I NEVER heard of this? If someone has had this experience I have questions about whether this is temporary, will I end up gaining because i'm eating more carbs etc. Thank you in advance for your help!

I started this post yesterday under general post op, I suspect my lack of responses was because either it was in the wrong forum or no one else has personally experienced this. It goes like this.
Hello folks... I am 23 months postoperative. I was 3.5 lbs from goal and decided to up the daily routine of exercise wanting to hit goal, I am a slow loser. More importantly the emotional victory was really all that I cared about, not the physical. So Instead of my normal 600 calorie a day burn on the elliptical I started burning 750 calories daily. I managed to lose 1.4 lbs in a month, but started to become ill. Having all the signs and at times severe, of hypoglycemia. After three weeks of fearing to drive at times, I finally went to see my Dr. My normally very nice blood pressure was extremely high and she followed up with lots of blood work, a kidney workup etc. I was asked to check my blood sugars randomly and especially when feeling ill . I'll call them spells. I would tremble, feel light headed, blurred vision, rapid heart rate and overall weakness with a strong desire to EAT. This at times woke me in the middle of the night accompanied with cold sweats, feeling much like a heart attack or my impression of one. There were times at work I'd have a project in my hand and not know why, my thought process was on "hold". I was lethargic and my memory would shut down.

After googling hypoglycemia I was convinced that was what I had, yet my blood sugars were always within normal ranges, my A1C (three month average of blood sugars ) was great. So more testing was ordered, I do not have the results yet, of all the tests but one thing I do know is that I had a 2 hr fasting glucose tolerance test and that was not fun. The test is simple. They check your blood upon arrival, my number fasting was at 93, then they make you drink a bottle of sweet Syrup within 5 minutes, then I was SICK. Many of the same symptoms were replicated, although not all, I was near passing out, blurred vision, not even being able to focus on my Ipad. I thought I was going to vomit, defecate in my pants and maybe even stroke out. I could barely speak. and actually didn't dare to in fear I'd throw up. This lasted nearly an hour. At hour two they draw your blood again and it is suppose to be 140 or less to be in normal ranges. Mine was 56.

I have done further reading and honestly never read about this prior to my surgery, but this seems to be a delayed symptom of the Gastric Sleeve. It's called Reactive Hypoglycemia. http://en.wikipedia....ve_hypoglycemia I have not had any real symptoms since cutting my calorie burn back to 600 per day and trying to incorporate more complex carbs to my diet. I ate mainly Protein and vegetables. I've added a slice of 15 grain bread or a whole wheat English muffin to my diet daily and overall do feel better. I've had a few spells, not nearly as bad as before, and no more night issues.

My question is there anyone else here with the same problem? If so why had I NEVER heard of this? If someone has had this experience I have questions about whether this is temporary, will I end up gaining because i'm eating more carbs etc. Thank you in advance for your help!

I bought a cup warmer and put my food in a small glass condiment bowl. It was perfect to keep things warm. I'm 18 months out and don't think I eat any different than before VSL, a lot less, but technic is close to the same, I can even guzzle Water now. Good luck to you.

Who will follow up with you and take out the drains?

OMG, I want the same.. can't afford all of it, but please tell me more about the Dr, the experience in Mexico and the cost. I am a woman of value and I have heard that you get twice as much in Mexico or the Dominican Republic for the same costs here in the USA. I need a Tummy Tuck for sure. I don't think my insurance will cover a panniculectomy since it's not hanging below the symphysis pubis. I am on my own financially. Thank you.

Restriction overall depends what you eat. At this stage as you're trying to get in only "good" foods, restriction is great, but it seems as the months go on and it is a gradual thing, the more "bad" foods you consume, the more you can take in. Sliders are just that. popcorn which has little value other than emotionally is a great example, you can eat it until it comes out your ears, but eat four ounces of lean chicken and you're full at 3.5. The important thing is to try and make the best choices you can to nourish your body and meet your Protein requirements. As the other writer said, quantity is not the important factor, let the restriction last as long as it can. There truly is a honeymoon stage. Best of luck to you.

I was 54.5 when I had mine, I'm 20 months out. No issues, very quick recovery as I knew what to expect with the help of this site. I too had a short lived Constipation issue, and the Hair loss everyone talks about which I consider normal. My hair is growing in great. I do aerobic walking 5 days a week. I never reached goal (short by 4 lbs), but yesterday saw the surgeon for the last time and my body fat is at 23 % within normal ranges although I am almost 20lbs heavier than the normal weight charts state. The charts consider me on the high end of overweight, almost obese, but my larger muscle mass makes up for a lot of the excess weight, but over all have a lower body fat than the charts show. I am no longer on meds, have perfect blood pressure 121/61 yesterday with a heart rate of 59. "A poster child" for the sleeve apparently. I hope I can report the same thing 24 months from now. I am able to eat more than I used to, also find myself hungrier than I used to be, but I have not changed weight in nearly a year. The best thing I've ever done for myself.

I was 54.5 when I had mine, I'm 20 months out. No issues, very quick recovery as I knew what to expect with the help of this site. I too had a short lived Constipation issue, and the Hair loss everyone talks about which I consider normal. My hair is growing in great. I do aerobic walking 5 days a week. I never reached goal (short by 4 lbs), but yesterday saw the surgeon for the last time and my body fat is at 23 % within normal ranges although I am almost 20lbs heavier than the normal weight charts state. The charts consider me on the high end of overweight, almost obese, but my larger muscle mass makes up for a lot of the excess weight, but over all have a lower body fat than the charts show. I am no longer on meds, have perfect blood pressure 121/61 yesterday with a heart rate of 59. "A poster child" for the sleeve apparently. I hope I can report the same thing 24 months from now. I am able to eat more than I used to, also find myself hungrier than I used to be, but I have not changed weight in nearly a year. The best thing I've ever done for myself.

Girl it's been of the hook!
Now if I could just find someone to do it with..

I bought a cup warmer and put my food in a small glass condiment bowl. It was perfect to keep things warm. I'm 18 months out and don't think I eat any different than before VSL, a lot less, but technic is close to the same, I can even guzzle Water now. Good luck to you.

The first few days after surgery, I think most people have a little buyers remorse. I can tell you each day, week, month it gets better and better. I love my sleeve. The only regret I have as of today, is that I didn't have this done 10 years ago!

Yes, it was def my fault. I should've paid more attention. 18 months and no vomit- awesome! I was actually just bragging to my husband last night that I never threw up. He said I jinxed myself. Haha.