OldMomOf3

Glad it is growing back! I freaked out too, when I started loosing hair. I went to a dermatologist and he said it was the body going into kind of a shock from rapid weight loss. Like you, it started several months after surgery and lasted several months. I was lucky to start out with a thick head of hair. I didn't take bioten.

Great news... mine is about back to normal as well! There is hair after lap band surgery! Thanks for sharing the up side!

I just wanted to report that my hair IS growing back! Whew!
I was banded June 2012
Started losing hair Sept 2012
A LOT of hair fell out from sept-Nov 2012
*When I say falling out I mean, cleaning hair brush every day, scooping out clumps of hair from shower every day, hair all over sink and bathroom floor, hair all over my clothes and pillow, hair on my car seat, hair on the floor all over the house, and 20-30 strands every time I ran my fingers through my hair. Just all kinds of hair everywhere. All of these things, every day. Normal Hair loss would be a strand here and there, clean brush weekly, a tiny bit in the drain, maybe. For me, the WLS hairloss was easily 20 times the normal hair loss.
1've been having normal hair loss since Deccember.
Feb 2013 I can see hundreds of new hairs, that stand about 1/2 to 1 inch high all over my head. Sometimes it looks funny, sometimes it acts like a root lifter by making my hair poof at the scalp. It is the same color as the rest of my hair.
I started taking bioten in October, but I do not believe it has had any real effect in terms of how fast my hair is growing. Also, since the same thing happened after I gave birth to each of my kiddos, and I was not taking bioten then, I'm concluding that the hair loss/regrowth cycle has simply run it's course.
I hope this encourages any of you who may be concerned about your own hair loss. I think it's somewhat common, it does eventually stop falling out and start growing back. Bioten probalby helps some, but not everyone, but appears to have no ill side effects (but don't rely on me for medical advice, ask your doctor).

These replies are sooooo helpful! Thank you so much. Happy to hear more! I'm actually encouraged, since I've been feeling discouraged with not getting it quite right with fills. I will follow the advice to take it slowly. Thank you!!

I had one tenth of a cc put in my band and it made a huge difference. So much so I had to have most of it removed. When I first got my band I had my first fill eight weeks after it was put in. I must have been the only one I know who was never in a hurry to lose weight. So after the first two fills I only had one tenth of a cc put in everytime I got a fill. It took about 9 months before I got perfect restriction. By having the small fills I knew exactly when I was overfilled and what was perfect. By not being in such a rush I think it has helped me maintain my size 6 for seven years. Also maybe that is why I haven't had any issues with the band. I took the time for my body and mind to get used to the change. This is what worked for me. Good luck.

Fantasy, loved your post because this has been my mindset to not rush. I am at a 5.75 and banded for two years. I'm getting ready to go in for a 1/10 or 1/8cc fill after having a 1/4cc fill taken out in early December after being very uncomfortable. It was the right decision but I'm scared to get this fill this upcoming Wednesday. I hope he will put just 1/8 or 1/10 in. I think conservative has worked for me but...I still have 12 pounds to goal.

Actually yes. I had .1cc removed back in September and it made all the difference in the world. I have an appointment on Tuesday for a fill (I haven't had one since September) and I'll be asking for .1cc.
It's a tiny amount but it can make a HUGE difference!

make sence to me what do you have to loss with giving it a try and follow the rule to the letter.

Personally I have not had one that small, but in my last appointment in speaking to my nutritionist to decide if I needed a fill, she said she had one done this amount before and it helped her.

I agree, that is a small amount, but I bet it can help. I had .5 cc removed and that helped me, so adding a small amount will probably help, also.

Well, it does to me but I ave a 4cc band.
In the past the two unfills ive had have allowed any inflammation in my stomach to calm down and I've been able to have the entire fill back.
I would definitely be inclined to try 0.1 cc

Daccop,
I was banded in June and losing just fine (-30 in 3 months).
Then I went into see the doctor and he was not there, so I saw a substitute doctor. He was an idiot and has since been fired. However, he told me to stop tracking my food (because that's real life and skinny people don't track their food) and get a fill. He filled me too tight and left me feeling miseralbe, but he convinced me that I was just fine and that is what banded life would be like. So, for the next 3 months I was getting stuck all of the time, not losing and thinking that was the way I would be for the rest of my life. I stopped going to the doctor for a few months because I was so embarased that I was not loosing weight. Then I went back in and they told me I just wasn't exercising enough. Which was true, but not the entire problem. Even with moderate exercise I was not losing weight because I was eating way too many sliders which were too high in calorie or carbs (frozen yogurt, oatmeal, extra mayo on tuna so it would go down, etc). So, I lost 30 pounds in the first 3 months and 3 pounds in the second 3 months. I kind of feel like a fat, fat, fat failure. But, I think things will get better. I'm tracking again and making much smarter choices. Also, with the holidays behind me, I feel ready to take on the next 3 months!

I don't have a story because I'm new but from what you wrote I'm glad you got your fill of food ONCE. Now start tracking and don't let yourself get too hungry ever again.
Congrats on your success so far!

Yes! Had unfill first week of December. I did lose weight with too much restriction but I was tired, stopped exercising, and felt miserable. I was also malnourished, pale, and I had pain between shoulder blades, purged atleast twice a week always felt stick and uncomfortable eating. Now...I'm at Golds four times a week, I can eat healthier now, I've dropped jean size but not so much weight, and I sleep better. I needed the unfill to feel good again. I'm still eating cup to cup and a half per meal... The difference now? I now need to have a healthy snack in between meals...that's all. It's a balance.

I also had an unfill a month and half ago. My doc took out .25 and wow I could get again because like you I was getting stuck on everything. And I was also eating way too many sliders and soft food. Just to warn you yes make sure you do chew because I felt like I wouldn't get stuck anymore because things would just go down so easily and yesterday I didn't chew chicken well enough and it was a bad stuck but made it through it. I think it was just a friendly reminder from the band to ne saying hey I'm still here. Yes I an satisfied much longer again. But I do have to say yesterday was my first day of truely eating well again because through the holidays I didn't make the best choices. So I haven't gained any weight but also haven't lost any weight. But only tine will tell again with eating right. I an excited to get going on weight lost again. Good luck to you. We both can do it. How far are you out in your journey? I am one year and have lost 90 lbs.
Trying to get healthy.

Thanks everyone! Your comments, suggestions and encouragement have been very helpful. Just what I needed. I've worked out 4 times since my original post, have been eating healthy, and (this sucks!) gained 4 pounds! But I'm not going to let it get me down. It was probably from damage I did before getting my groove back. Thank you again!

Do what works for you. You know how to make it work. And if I may... NO snacking and cheating with "NO NO" foods. You know what they are! So a gently kick in the butt. Pull it together and get back on the wagon.

ok, whats done is done
start over today.....i agree with grammys post......you can do this

My dr told me to stop tracking when I was 3/4 of the way to goal... I had been at it 18 months and lost about 180 lbs. the reasoning was that he wanted me to learn to eyeball it... Become not be dependent on a tracker. I was scared to death since I had been so successfull. so I tried it but I did use the calorie Serb every now and again to check out food I wasn't sure about.
When I went back to the dr I actually had lost about 10 lbs which is the same as I had been averaging every month, however I knew that because I didn't give up my scale.
Maybe your dr has the same reasoning if you are close to goal. I will tell you that every so often I will track a day here and there just to keep myself in place.... But for the most part I have learned to live without it...but I do believe it was one of the secrets to my success.

I'm 2 1/2 years post banding and I still track every day. Just like the band, it's another tool to help with my weight stabilization. Another thing I do still, is portion everything. I don't eat out of bags or containers; everything goes in a bowl or on a plate so I can see what it is I intend to put in my mouth.
You'll get back to your weight loss. Don't lose hope. 35 lbs is wonderful! Be proud

I totally understand your doctors comments, but it takes more than a few months for us to hard wire our new behaviors for our life style change. I still track at 2 yeats post op and at goal weight. I do it so I know how much I eat and so I can plan for my meals or special occasions. Now on be stalled with weight loss, I can speak to this, it happened to me at about 6 months, 1 year and 18 months. It is very frustrating especially when you feel like you are doing the right stuff. So here is a few suggestions, go back to tracking what you eat, start looking at your mix of Protein, carbs, and fats. You may need to increase your protein and decrease your carbs and fats, I realize this is not a diet but to lose weight sometimes you have to shake your bodies metabolism up a little and not always eat the same consistent amount of calories everyday. The body can get comfortable with a certain weight and a certain mix of foods and needs a little adjustment to get you moving again. My longest stall was from June 2011 til Jan 2012. The scales moved very little during this time and I was still about 40 lbs from my goal, I had went from a 24 to a 12 but was still an unhealthy BMI. I ramped up my exercise, increased my protein to >100gms and decreased my carbs and I increased my calories to 1250 per day. Yes you heard me right I had to eat more to start losing, my nutritionist told me I was eating too little so my body was holding on to the fat and I was losing lean muscle mass so I was basically stalled. I do not promote fad diets or pills but even with the band you have to find out what makes your body lose and high protein, low carb does work but don't forget the veggies, fruits and fats. You can make the scale start moving again,and reach the success you are striving for. Good luck!

I'd go back to tracking. You can stop tracking once you're at goal and maintaining your weight, but while you're losing, I'd definitely be tracking.

almost all diet programs tells you to track and you proved it worked for you. most doctor aren't dieters so they don't really know the daily problems we have. The know how to make a living on helping us but often don't know how to do it the long way. People on here do know and are living it so they can help more. Get back on your tracker and clean your house out of not so good food...you can do this along with us

If tracking works for you, do it!!! I can't believe some doctors are SO STUPID!! If tracking was bad for your health, then maybe his advice would have had some merit!

I agree tracking works....
and there are so many fun tracking apps free on the phones
Good luck !