MinaT

Congrats to you. You are going to do great because you put so much hard work and dedication into it before your approval. Remember go into the surgery with the same positivity and focus and you will do great. It's been an amazing journey for me and I am sure it will for you. I've had some ups and downs but I have always tried to remain positive and it's worked out great. Good luck to you!

I think a lot of us have this issue. I had lost five pounds fairly quickly as I was having a lot of liquid bm's. Well, after that problem passed, I gained a pound a day for five days and kept it on me for 2 weeks (on 700 or less calories) less than 40 grams of protein and almost 80 grams of protein. It took me about 2 weeks to lose that 5 pounds and I stayed the same weight for over a week. I finally just got under that month long stall by 2 pounds, but this was rough on me mentally. I knew I was doing everything right and my body didn't follow through. I am 4 months out today.

I am 3 months out and have zero problems with lettuce. I see no reason in drinking pop whatsoever, even though others do it. I was told the carbonation does expand your stomach (which it does while you are drinking it) whether or not it stretches is a highly debated issue on VSG. There are those of us that would rather not take the chance. Should you get the sleeve and start eating candy bars, I would say the answer is NO, do people do it, I am sure they do. I have read people eating potato chips as early as a week out. If you are going to go back to your old way of eating after surgery, then surgery should put off until you have enough psychological counseling to change the emotional eating issues, and get proper nutritional counseling to see the hows and why on how you gained so weight in the first place and realize that this is something you need to do for life. The sleeve is for you if you want to make lifestyle changes. Can you gain the weight back after you get the sleeve and lose all your weight? Yes, if you do not make lifestyle changes. The sleeve DOES stretch. It will never get to the size your stomach was pre-surgery, but it does get bigger and it is easier to eat more food as time goes on, so it has to be a lifestyle change. I can eat just as spicy a food now as I did before surgery. I do not drink caffeine, pop, beer. I have had a glass of wine with no problem. When I hit goal I will probably have a glass of champagne and deal with the bloating of my sleeve and come what may whether or not my sleeve with stretch a bit. The issue is, people thinking it's okay to drink real coffee, eat what they want right after they get sleeved. Your stomach gets cut from the bottom to the top and it's a massive surgery. Your stomach is extremely swollen inside and out and putting things like caffeine (which could cause ulcers), carbonation which is very rough and acidic on your swollen stomach or foods that are rough could cause a leak. After you reach goal I think what you can and cannot tolerate is up to you. If you start throwing high carb food in, you will gain weight. It's a lifestyle change, not just a diet.

Most juicing is very high in carbohydrates, the reason for the liquid diet is for the Protein count and low carb count. Carrot juice, Apple, anything you would want to juice, except spinach is high in carbohydrates. If this is pre-op the answer would most definitely be no and even post-op the answer would still be no. http://www.carbs-information.com/carbs-in-fruit.htm Not saying that eventually down the line you can't have a smoothie, but your main bulk of anything should be coming from protein not carbohydates. One cup of raw carrot juice is 15 grams of carbohydates. Many people are told to keep their daily allowance between 25-45 or their per serving under 6.

Sally's carries it and they carry the L'oreal Natural too, many beauty parlors like Super-cuts, Borics, etc. sell it too.

I was on full liquid for 5 weeks, so I understand what you are talking about and I'm 3 months out and sometimes three bites of my meat and I haven't even gotten a taste of my vegie yet and I'm done. I am learning not to get myself worked up though. I was never really a "foodie" or big into food, I ate fast, I didn't think about the food, I just shoveled it my mouth, went for seconds, and I'm learning to pace myself with a bite and chew and put my fork down. I try not to tempt myself with food that's not going to actually give me Protein or nutrition. I basically quit cooking carb food, potatoes, rice etc. and my family isn't missing it. I always made a meat, a starch, a vegetable, cottage cheese, apple sauce and a dessert, now I make meat, a vegetable and I still put cottage cheese on the table. I am learning to flavor my food more to get more mmm mmm deliciousness for each bite. Tonight, I made a small salad (which I didn't eat until I finished my meat). We grilled chicken and I made homemade Pesto with fresh basil. I ate 1/2 a piece of chicken breast with the presto on it and a few bites of my salad. It was not a lot of food that I ate, but each bite was delicious. Sometimes you have to take temptation out of your hands. I've tried food I really wanted and watched as others scarfed and 3 bites in, I felt like it wouldn't go past my esophagus and the pain was amazing. I am learning if you think you chewed enough, you didn't, chew it some more, if you think you are eating slow enough, you aren't. Flavor your food, take temptation out of the equation. My son and husband are both losing weight, without trying because of the way I am cooking now and the food is tasting better now. Food is now important to me, when at 330 it meant nothing to me. I scarfed, I didn't taste it and I would eat two large plates of food, without enjoying it. There is a way to enjoy it, but it starts with the way you approach it. Use prettier and smaller dishes for yourself, use fresher spices, fresh seasonings and make sure you give yourself a small enough portion that it looks larger on your plate and learn to trick yourself into realizing it's the normal amount. Spend more time socializing during dinner and focus on the taste of the food more while you are eating and it will eventually become the new normal and you won't feel so deprived. I know what you are going through but realizing that I someday WILL reach my goal and I will not yo-yo makes it all worth while in the end.

I hope you feel better soon. I am 3 months out and one small glass of wine about knocked me on my butt, but I'm not a big drinker and I used to only drink beer once in a great while, but now that's out. It definitely takes time to get accustomed to the new 'normal' but in the end it's worth it. I am sure your note will sink in with other people and prevent someone else from going through the terrible time you went through. Cut yourself some slack, and remember this is a long journey and we all learn from our mistakes.

Gastric Bypass causes more malnutrition and malnourishment than sleeve, the surgery, anesthesia and the trauma of surgery itself is usually the cause of hair loss issues. It takes a long time for lack of protein to cause the hair loss, I agree the thyroid problem is your most likely factor for your hair loss issues.

I'm three months out and I have not tried Popcorn and probably won't for a long time. I love popcorn more than any candy, cake, pie. It is my Achilles and I have easily eaten a jumbo popcorn at the movies, with butter & salt and wanted more. I know this is something I will have to stay away from, there is no nutritional benefit to it and it's something that would be dangerous to eat while your stomach is healing.

Regarding hair loss, it's still technically summer. If you are blow drying your hair, curling it, swimming and in the sun, you are bound to lose more hair. Woman also use a lot more hair gear like clips, ponytail holders, bands, etc. these can cause breakage. The summer and sun can be rough on your hair. As we move into fall, it's also a time of natural shedding, even animals get a change of their coat. The surgery will contribute to some hair loss, but remember all the other factors at work. I have fine hair to begin with, I have bleach blonde hair with the aid of color and to top it off I have Lupus. Lupus causes hair loss, medication associated with lupus can contribute to it. I was swimming daily and in the sun and before you know it, I started losing even more about a month ago. I started the Biotin before surgery. I do take steps to help though. Before getting into the pool I wet my hair first with the hose and I add a little bit of conditioner, I use L'O'real Naturals from Sally's. I rinse periodically while swimming and add a little more if I am in a long time. One time I didn't do this and I paid for it. I get my hair trimmed every 4-6 weeks now. I use a cap (or saran wrap) and once a week use Redken Extreme CAT Protein reconstructing treatment an use a blow dryer to warm up the cap. After about 1/2 hour with that, I add the L'Oreal Natural (you can use whatever you like best or Cholesterol) which is cheaper, put a bag, cap or I use saran wrap around the head, and blow dry the saran wrap (or sit under a dryer). This has made a remarkable difference. I am using the new Garnier Frutis Fall Fight shampoo, I use L'Oreal Naturals conditioner and then every day I add a dime amount of Redken CAT and I let my hair dry naturally and if I have to curl it, I wait until it's dry. At 3 months my hair is doing very well compared to what it was a few weeks ago. Remember there are always other things at work besides the surgery that adds to the hair loss or breakage and you will most likely need to take special precautions in the summer. Stop using clips, pony tail holders, be careful of the sun, chlorine and lower your blow dry usage. Once a week try a deep protein & then conditioner treatment and continue with the biotin treatment.

I had to pay $600.00 out of pocket. First $200.00 was due the third month for all the Group meetings that I can go to including a Christmas Party every year. The Group meetings have Psychologists, recipes, clothing exchanges and different subject once a month. This is for life. The 2nd $200.00 was to pay for the nutritionist. This includes Free Nurse Appointments, once a month weigh ins, and nutritionist....for life. The 3rd $200.00 was to pay for the 14 day supply of shakes for the preop time. I haven't received a bill since then, from the hospital or the doctor's yet and I'm almost 3 months out. I have bcbsil 90/10. Also, my room was a big private room almost like a hotel and I spent 5 days in the hospital. Each $200.00 was due during different times. I was approved before the last $200.00 was due.

Will be three months out September 4th and I still have an actual black stitch...that is too low to cut out as it's covered a bit by skin. A few of the clear dissolvable stitches are able to be felt too. Unfortunately, they would have to recut to get the black stitch out and that's not happening.

I've suffered since I was 5 years old with them, and I always used Ice, Excedrin, Carbonation. Things like Coke, Mountain Dew, helped and then when I got diabetes I used sparkling Water, for some reason the carbonation helped me to burp which released some pressure. I have a brain tumor so that doesn't help either. Without caffeine, excedrin & no pop or carbonation I thought it was going to be rough, but if you have good insurance, and you get a good neurologist, Botox has been my saving grace. I am allergic to all pain killers, including Imitrex. I used to get occipital nerve blocks & cervical injections (and still do once in a while) . When I started the botox it helped immensely. I'm almost 3 months out and I was finally given the go ahead to take 2 Excedrin Migraine, only in an extremely extreme migraine emergency. I can't take them more than once a month and I have to make sure I take PPI's twice a day during that and NO caffeine. During extreme Migraines, Ice pack on your neck and head, try Vicks Vapor Rub (on your forehead - don't get in eyes). Stay in a dark room and maybe try to rock in a rocking chair with the ice pack.

I would say continued to stare at the clock for the 1/2 hour or temper the spice a little bit. I love spicy food, I eat spicy food and I wait the 1/2 hour.

Saying prayers, good luck to you and I'm very happy for you too!