tbnote71

This link explains a lot. I don't want to lose my hair either, but at least it's temporary.
http://www.slhn.org/docs/pdf/bariatric_surgery_and_hair_loss.designed.pdf

I used a hot water bottle. The heat soothed the discomfort from surgery and the pressure of it helped the gas

I went to Paul Mitchell the School and I can tell you, nothing will stop your hair from falling out. The reason most of use lose so much is the increased estrogen in our systems that gets released from stored fat. All you can do is maintain the hair you have until the loss stops. It should grow back
1. Biotin will help keep your surviving hair stay strong
2. Do NOT Shampoo everyday, always use conditioner, and use a detangling comb instead of a brush; as a brush causes more tension and results in breakage.
3. Keep up your Protein and Iron.
4. Avoid heated styling tools. Irons, dryers (I dry on the cool setting) and ALWAYS use a thermal protectant!
5. Styling products are harsh, never sleep with heavy hair spray/gel on, it can snap your healthy hair like a twig.
6. Daily scalp massages keep the follicles stimulated, 5 minutes can relax you AND benefit your future and current hair
7. You want to put nutrients directly back into your scalp. I had pink hair for months, bleaching biweekly, and I used Clear hair and scalp therapy from Walmart with much success!
8. If you don't use salon quality products, go cheap. Herbal Essence, TreSeme, Garnier, etc are full of beeswax and animal placenta and put stress on the follicle stunting growth and sometimes stopping it completely, if you're gonna go cheap, go suave! It's basic and does the job
9. Tight styles, ponytails, braids, headbands, etc cause breakage and excess shedding.
10. Find a style that masks your loss (shorter styles usually look good)
And don't fret! It should come back with time. In the mean time just own it and if anyone asks chalk it up to hormones

I cam home yesterday afternoon. Sleeved 10/17. I have a lot of rumbling too. part the rumbling is all the excess air in your belly. Walk, walk,walk they told me. Well, my new best friend has been my hot Water bottle. Way better than a heating pad, because you have some pressure as well. I laid down with it, and the gas just kept creeping out all night. I'm glad I decided to use ir over a heating pad. As for hydration, everyone is different, but sf popsicles have been my best friend. Edy's are the best, but Walmart sells some for $2 that are real good. Decafe cold tea with lemon has been great too. Remember your belly is healing and cold does help relieve inflammation. As far as sleepy, I believe the narcotics were my issue. Now I just take liquid tylenol. BIG DIFFERENCE! I hate feeling loopy and groggy. Well, I hoped I. helped a little. Good luck to you!

I am in my room! All went well, just real sleepy. Took my first walk!

Prayers for you girls too!
I'm heading to the hospital now... Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes..
Let's do this girls!

Happy Sleeve Day my fellow 10/17'ers!!!! No worries...lets do this!!!!

Yes!!!! Lets do this!

I'm right behind you! Good Luck and prayers to all my sleeve sisters today!

Im scheduled for Oct 31st. Looks like my costume is going to be a hospital gown and slippers

It's very frustrating and I'm so sad about your cheat. I work with a girl who had the same procedure and she told me to be like her... Every three days she went out and got a taco. I don't want to do that. We just new to keep pushing on. I have your back, we can do this.

well, last week when I went in for my EGD, my surgeon (Dr. Alok Ghandi) at Rochester General Hospital, told me he heard a rumor that I was approved. I told him it was news to me and that I didn't hear anything. Apparently it only took 48 hours for approval! I never thought it would happen that quick. Especially with no co-morbidities. Then I get home from the procedure and I get the phone call from a case manager of fep BCBS telling me I was approved. They explained all the copays and offered me support both pre-op and post. It is all seeming so real now. I love my insurance company!

I am just over 2 months post-op and by far the hardest part of this journey for me to date was the pre-op diet. I hated everyday of it and kept thinking, if I can't stick to this how am I going to change my life once I have the sleeve???
Another sleever told me that pre-op was like a train traveling at 90 MPH, one "mistake" takes you so far off course and is a terrible accident. Post-op is like a train traveling at 5-10MPH, the mistakes are so small that a tiny adjustment and you are back on track.
Don't worry, it gets much better, I promise!!!

Well, I have completed all my pre-op appts today. Now just waiting to have my education class in an hour. I can't believe how fast surgery is approaching. The 17th will be here real quick! Pre-op diet doesn't start til the 12th. It is all really starting to set in now. My nerves of steel are turning into string. Lol. Best wishes to all you October sleevers

This sounds delicious. Looking forward to trying it!

Had an appointment with my surgeon today. They have rescheduled me for 10/17. A week earlier. I'LL TAKE IT!

Had an appointment with my surgeon today. They have rescheduled me for 10/17. A week earlier. I'LL TAKE IT!

Well, I went to my first in person support group last night! It is led by the clinical nurse specialist from my surgeons office. I was so inspiring to see the people who have lost all ready and the people who will be having surgery around the same time. My highlight of the night was when I talked to the nurse, and she told me that my 10/24 date was a "dummy date". She said they use a specific date to turn in to insurance, but my surgeons schedule is about 2 weeks ahead of that. I will find out for sure Tuesday. So excited now. Glad that I will still be an October sleever with all of you still. You all are a great help. I am so glad for each and every one of you.. Best wishes for you ALL!

Congratulations! I have BCBS/Federal too. I emailed in at 8:00 AM on the 29th and was approved by 1:45 PM on the same day. Get this they even had to translate documents because I am in S. America! Yeah, FEPBLUE!!!

Good luck. My turnaround with BCBS Fed was less than 24 hours so I beat your time! Lol. And since I've already met the $5000 OOP expenses, everything is covered 100%. When is your surgery? Mine is next Tuesday.

Here are the confirmed Octosleevers (so far)!! Let's hope those with tentative dates will be confirmed soon :-)
10/1
IsaacsGram
ann48
luvlife
conrow1994
hockeymom1010
10/2
SkinnyMinnie2Be
melinda.trujillo
ThinkThin78
kolerz219
minkywinks_esposa
Peazwithin
10/3
miriamK
10/4
Scottishlassie
KishaE
cherrybombknits
arathfon.rn
10/5
tfazio
Jenni Smith
mom2han
10/8
vitaleEM
JustSkinnyMeInside
jonesy8844
az1369
chad2rad
Jae-R
10/9
hbjewelry
Natava
JazzyJ
SweetTee
shastarey3000
10/10
ready2bskinny
10/11
Lil'LO
choc_thicktothin
10/12
suejersey
10/15
Susan 2.0
imworthit
Cyn
10/16
kssooner2
Anicmice
unobaby
JonathanS
SkinnyMinnyMom
neenee
10/18
sleevemeup
Lauren610
10/22
xmasbpig
Riaa90
Donny
10/23
littlemiss0428
mrsjones075
time2getskinny
10/24
gabby899
tbnote71
jlfinmn
faeriefyre
10/25
dyvasha70
this.time.its.4.me
meeshluv81
10/26
mandymae
sleclerc
10/27
zenoosh
10/29
DebInAZ
jeriberi
Look@meitsEmily
Gonnabeslim1day
10/30
JLS

Thanks for that Susan. That must have taken a lot of time and effort. Much appreciated!

I work at the VA in El Paso, TX Radiology department.

I am October 24th too!