CCWriter

Hey December '11 sleevers: I lost quite a bit of hair post-op and fortunately I had a lot to start with, so that hasn't really been an issue. It's still growing back, but it's growing back curly and when it's humid like it is today, I have all these little hairs that give me this halo effect all over the place. I'm not exactly the "Touched by an Angel" type. Being 17 months out, I'm wondering if it's ever going to be the same or if this is my new normal? Anyone else still having this issue? Carol

Greetings fellow December sleevers. I was sleeved Dec. 27, 2011 and have lost about 75 pounds also, down to 200 pounds. I've been stuck, stuck, stuck here for several months now and have been getting sort of discouraged. I had let some carbs creep back up, so I'm trying to clamp down on them. I added strength training a couple of days a week to my yoga, which I do twice a week and need to up my cardio too. Hoping that will shake it loose, because I still have about 60 pounds I want to lose. Carol

Pork rinds. Salty, fried goodness, but too rich for me. Sleeve definitely didn't like them. What I've been doing for a crunchy, savory snack is making kale chips myself. You can find lots of recipes online and control the sodium yourself. It's a great fall vegetable, just fyi, packed with Vitamin C and other goodness. Hope that helps ... Carol

Congratulations Squisha (I love that name btw) ... You're doing great and I bet you feel a whole lot better already. Good luck on your goals! Best, Carol

When I was sleeved Dec. 27, my husband talked seriously about kidnapping me from the parking lot of the hospital. I told him it would cause serious harm to our marriage. We just got back today from San Francisco, celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary. We walked and walked and walked — up those unbelievably steep San Francisco hills from the historic downtown to Fisherman's Wharf. I kept up and he was amazed at the difference. I confess I paused a few times to catch my breathe, but I was a different woman. Hubby, who is a runner, was so happy I could mostly keep up with him with the consideration that he's 6'2" and has long lanky legs and gallops along, and I'm 5'6" and I don't have lanky legs. My weight loss seems to be crawling, but I'm not unhappy. I figure that it will all come off in its time, which I hope is by my daughter's wedding April 13, 2013. I work out with a yoga trainer twice weekly right now, and am upping my cardio. I think I may go back to strength training also, even though my doc hates that. (Sorry Dr. Walton.) I just want to be buff and toned also. Buff and toned ... can hardly believe I just wrote that. My life is changing because of the sleeve and for the better. And the hubby who wanted to kidnap me — is now a convert. Love to hear from all of you December sleevers. Means a lot to me. Best, Carol

Thanks guys for the suggestion of the 5-day Pouch Test. I'm at six-months out and have only lost about three pounds in the last six weeks. I know my body is resetting, but this is not good. Still losing hair like crazy too. I will give it a shot and let you know how it goes. Thanks, Carol

I appreciate the thoughtful input and maybe I should relent and see a derm myself. I guess I'm just afraid of being given the same bunch of antibiotics that gave me a raging yeast infection last time I tried that for rosacea. I know we'll work all this stuff through and come out on the other side!! Carol

Sorry I missed your thread. I think I was out of town and not seeing the Internet that much. I'm hoping I can clear this up topically, because I've been to a dermatologist before for skin issues (not this bad,) and that's a last-ditch effort -- like declaring war on your skin. And I agree on the antibiotics being tough on the tummy. I've been trying to take LESS drugs, not MORE. So hope I can solve this topically or maybe I'll just grow up -- ha -- and the hormones will lighten up a bit. I was thinking of going and getting my hormones retested ... a few years ago, my sleep apnea was discovered because they found my cortisol (a stress hormone) was through the roof in the morning. I'll let you know how that goes. Carol

I've been having some issues with my sleeve playing bad head games on me. The psychologist at my surgeon's office suggested that I don't go off my daily 30 mg dose of Cymbalta and I'm glad I didn't. I've been stalled for about six weeks now, going back and forth from 207 to 210. The stall is getting SO DISCOURAGING. My highest weight was 273 and I'm feeling a lot better, but I'm still so far away from my goal of 135-140 pounds. I'm about five-and-a-half months out. The NSVs are definitely a tradeoff with the negatives. NSVs (Non-Sleeve Victories) include going off one of two blood pressure meds, going off an anti-inflammatory med, knees and feet feel a lot better. I'm about out of another pair of too-big jeans. My stress incontinence is about over, and my cheekbones are starting to emerge. My husband says my sleep apnea is waning and I'm not snoring nearly so much if I nap or fall asleep without my CPAP. On the negative side, I am definitely grieving food, although I believe you can still eat beautiful, fabulous food prepared well -- just not as much of it and definitely not some things. My face looks like a red-dotted road map with zits and I've been having hair loss, although I think I may be turning the corner on that. The nausea that hits if I eat too quickly is a little disconcerting, but I'm dealing with it. But all in all, I'm glad I did it. I feel much better and have lots more energy. Onward, Carol

I was wondering about that -- surely it's something to do with hormones. I'm using some new products that are made by the same people who make Proactiv and I'm hoping they'll help.

Worst thing is that I have a huge zit on the end of my nose. Now -- this has NEVER happened in my whole life. ON THE END OF MY NOSE!!!!! Heck, I look like Rudolph the Red-Zit Reindeer. Stop laughing!! This is NOT FUNNY!! Carol

Since surgery Dec. 27, it seems like my face has been broken out and no matter what I do, it just keeps getting worse. I turn 59 in a couple of weeks and it's worse than it was when I was 16 -- mostly in my chin and lower cheek area, even on my nose. About a dozen zits at a time. I'm been washing my face more, trying different products but don't want to use anything that will dry my already mostly dry complexion out. I'm figuring that either my hormones have changed since surgery or I'm allergic to something or my body is reacting differently to something. I've also been in a terrible stall for about a month and a half -- going back and forth with about two or three pounds -- but I figure that will get better soon. My hair loss that started at about four months out is finally getting better at five-and-a-half months or so and I'm hoping that my body has adjusted to its weight loss and it will start back up again. Anybody else having this problem with breakouts and how have you dealt with it? Does this get better? All suggestions welcome!! Thanks, Carol

Ummmmm ... I meant daughter, not dinner.

Had my first taste of sweets last night at a congratulatory engagement dinner for my beautiful 25YO dinner. It was only one spoonful of chocolate pot d' creme at Benvenuti's Ristorante in Norman, Okla., a wonderful locally owned Italian restaurant. It was good, but I didn't want another bite -- strange for a person who used to be a chocoholic. I'm four-and-a-half months out and in a stall for several weeks. It's gotten so bad that I'm wondering if I'm just plain old stuck here. Please no. At least the hair loss has slowed in the past week. Sigh. Carol

I'm at the same place. Almost five months out and my weight loss has slowed to a sluggish crawl. It swings back and forth two or three pounds and finally nudged down a pound this morning. But it's crazy slow for how much food I'm NOT eating. I also hit the temporary hair loss thing at four months, and from what I've been reading, your body just kind of shuts down a bit at this time. Patience isn't my best virtue, but I'm working on it. I know by exercising and only eating healthy things, I'll get there eventually. But it always seems to help if I can commiserate with other folks, so thanks for the shoulder. Carol