Sleevestriss

Thanks everyone I appreciate your encouraging responses. I'm feeling better! I am going to try washing it every other day instead of every day for awhile and see if that helps. It seems worse when I shampoo we shall see. Thanks again!!!!

Hi everyone! This is simply another post about hair loss! Before I had my surgery I read thread after thread about the hair loss that almost everyone has post operatively. I thought I was prepared and could handle some hair loss....afterall the benefits of the weight loss far out weigh a little bit of hair loss. However, I was not prepared for how much hair loss I would actually have...its been depressing. I started losing my hair around 3-4 weeks post op. not alot at that time but it was noticeable. I'm currently 18 weeks post-op. I've lost 42 lbs...the weight is coming off very slowly and the hair loss has been massive. It worsened at 3 months and has been getting worse each week. Before my surgery my hair was average thickness I could loop my ponytail holder 2 times, now I'm looping it 4 times. I'm going to attempt to post pictures of my hair loss over the last two days. I've increased my protein and water intake I get 80-100 grams of protein daily (I recently started using New Whey Protein shots just to see if they would help) and I've been taking biotin 10,000 daily, my multivitamin, B12 sublingual tabs and I've almost finished the bottle Shen Wen Hair Regrowth formula. Nothing has helped it's only gotten worse. My hairstylist told me hair grows in 3 month cycles and it would grow back so I'm keeping the faith but I'm afraid I'm going to be totally bald by the time I hit 6 months post op. I'm sharing this with others because I want those considering or prepping surgery to be aware... I would still have the surgery over again. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from changing their minds about the surgery my goal is awareness.

Keea, Im sorry to hear about your "break" with your guy, I really am! But....its his loss girl. You deserve better. If he's basing his feelings on how you look and losing too much weight, he's not the guy for you. Don't waste your tears or time on him... You have struggled this far and gone through major surgery for yourself...to give yourself a better healthier life. If he can't accept the new healthier, happier you...it's his loss!!!! Eating is a crutch and we will hobble along on the crutch as long as we let ourselves. Redirect your thoughts and your energy into something that makes you feel good or happy. A mani/pedi always works for me...treating myself to something thats just for me is my reward. When I start feeling the blues hit...I go out and wash my car or pull weeds in my flower bed or take a walk or exercise. Yesterday it was raining so I cleaned out my closet and found joy in the clothes I could get rid of and later I pulled out a jigsaw puzzle to keep my mind from thinking about food. It helped. I also search youtube and watch gastric sleeve videos...they are always encouraging too. Be Good to yourself YOU DESERVE IT!

I get the 20 oz gladiator with 2 fruits and a Multivitamin added and my total is usually $7.50+/-

According to the veterans on here most of them say it grows back. I'm certainly hoping so. My hair stylist told me....hair grows in 3 month cycles. He said shock to the body from the surgery and the nutritional deficiency starts affecting our hair at approx 3 months out and it can last for appox 3 months and then will start growing back in as our body adjusts and gets better nutrition/vitamins. Hopefully I won't be totally bald by then! We shall see.

Thanks FRED.. Yes I go to smoothie king almost daily during the week and I will pass along what I have learned about smoothie king. The 20 oz Gladiator smoothie is made with 2 scoops of Gladiator powder which is 45 gms of protein. I actually called the smoothie king 1-800 number on their website and discussed "fruits" they use. Most of the "fruits" used at smoothie king are sitting in sugary syrup or pureed with sugar. If you have these "sugary fruits/syrups" mixed in your smoothie it can be a 400-600 20 oz smoothie. The smoothie king rep told me when I go into a store to ask for their fresh fruit (each store should have a few fresh fruits daily) not fruit in syrup or if they have fruit soaking in syrup you can ask them to rinse it. I usually get the gladiator smoothie with rinsed strawberries and pineapple (the pineapple is usually fresh daily) with strawberry gladiator powder. (the powder comes in choc, vanilla and strawberry). Its good with the vanilla powder too. The nutritional value according to my fitness pal (I calculated 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple and 1/2 cup of strawberries, I figure this is close enough if theyve been rinsed): Cal 252, Protein 45.9, Carbs 17.6, Fiber 2.6, Sugars 11.1. I also have them add a Multivitamin to my smoothie. In addition I have bought my own gladiator powder and I make them at home on the weekends. I use 2 scoops powder 1 whole cup fresh fruit approx 1/2-1 cup ice, approx 6-8 oz Water and 1 tsp sugar free torani syrup they taste almost the same as the store! (the container says to use 16 oz water but this makes a large watery smoothie) I like mine the consistency of a milk shake.

Thanks for the responses everyone!!! I will ask my NUT but won't be seeing her until I'm 6 months out. I previously tried them for a day or two when I was a few weeks out and they did give me diarrhea at that time. This time.... 4 months out...so far so good! I purchased mine at HEB, a grocery chain in Texas but I have seen different flavored ones at WalMart. I've seen grape and acai flavors. Tonight I tried the fruit punch flavor yuck!!! But I need to get more protein, my hair is falling out by the handfulls. I had to clean my comb 3 times after washing my hair tonight and I have some bald spots developing. It's depressing but I keep looking at the prize....weight loss.

Does anyone know if the New Whey Liquid Protein shots (or any other protein shots) are beneficial? They're 3.8 oz, 180 cal, no carbs, sugar free, caffeine free, lactose free, gluten free and they have 42 grams of protein. Has anyone else tried them? They don't taste very well...in fact the taste is rather gross. But I managed to choke 1/2 of one down tonight. I had surgery May 6, 2013 and I've slowly lost 40 lbs thus far since day of surgery but I'm still struggling to get my protein in. Thought I would try these shots. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Now that made me LOL hysterically Lipstick Lady!!!!

I tried 2 different brands of whey protein shots and neither of them looked like that! I kept them in the fridge, they tasted better cold and I mixed them with sips of vitamin water to choke them down...they had a very overpowering flavor. However, I only took them a few times because they gave me serious watery diarrhea....so beware. Hopefully you will have better luck with them.

I am post op 5 1/2 weeks, had my band for 11 years. When I was first sleeved, I did not feel fullness, had no nausea, had no aversion to food, even asked my surgeon "are you sure you sleeved me?". I could gulp ice chips, water, fluids etc the day after my surgery without issue and still can. I never felt full with clear liquids, never felt full with full liquids, never felt full with mushies... I was wondering if my tummy was just too scarred and numb from having a lap band and all those complications for 11 years!!! I didn't feel fullness until this past week when I progressed to eggs, tuna, chicken, cheeses and soft vegetables after proteins. But, now I feel fullness after 1/2 of one of those little tuna trays that comes with relish and mayo I also add boiled egg to it (no crackers) and I feel full after 2-3 oz of chicken. My full sensation feels different, sometimes I get a couple hiccups, sometimes I just feel full, sometimes I feel like something isn't going down and its in the back of my throat. I ate my first protein bar (no nuts) yesterday and felt full, almost uncomfortable for hours. I hope this helps someone else because I was upset and cried for a couple days about it. At first I was dissapointed but I'm keeping the faith in myself and my sleeve!!!! Best of luck on your journey!!!!!

Due to multiple complications, my band was unfilled for a couple years prior to having my sleeve. I asked the Dr to please fill it a little prior to surgery so I wouldn't gain more weight before surgery. I explained to him that I knew me and my bad habits and knew that I would be having several "last suppers" prior to my surgery and wanted a fill to prevent me from doing that. He said "thats a great idea....however, I prefer to keep your band unfilled until surgery to help reduce post operative swelling and nausea...your recovery may be more comfortable if we just leave it unfilled" so....we left it unfilled and my recovery was uneventful. Thank God!

Hi Sooz, I am 5 1/2 weeks post op ( I was a same day band to sleeve revision) and my situation was very similar to yours. I didn't feel restriction at all when I was on clear liquids or full liquids and never felt full on mushies. I even asked my Dr if I had really been sleeved because I wasn't reaching the feeling of fullness. I never had an aversion to food, nor did I ever have nausea, I still had cravings etc.. I could gulp ice, water or liquids the day after my surgery the same as I did prior to surgery and still can. I was deeply disappointed, afraid I would be a failure at this and I knew that I couldnt rely on my will power again...it never worked before!!! I was so scared and concerned, stressed myself over it...cried over it. Now, I've been advanced to some solids such as tuna, chicken, soft veggies etc... at this stage I am feeling fullness for the first time. I can eat approx 3 oz of chicken and very few soft veggies. I can eat 1/2 serving of the little tuna sets that come with tuna, relish and mayo...I also add a boiled egg. I was able to eat whole protein bar for the first time yesterday. That being said, I've been quite disappointed with my weight loss...I'm 5 1/2 weeks post op and I've only lost 18 lbs. I've gone from 206# to 188#.(I'm 4'11") I had gotten to 186# two days ago but then regained 2#'s. Why? I'm not sure. However, I just keep reading these blogs, hoping, waiting wishing and believing...that its going to get better and I'm keeping the faith in myself and my sleeve. Lets keep our chin up together!!!!

I am 5 1/2 weeks post op and I have a similar problem too. I've been having a rash with small raised bumps on my shoulders, upper arms, back and lower legs. Drives me bonkers and itches alot, wakes me up. I was worried I had gotten into mosquitos, ants, chiggers or maybe even bed bugs on a recent trip. I've had this rash for at least 2 weeks...I'm relieved to read that I'm not the only one having this issue! I never even thought it could be a response to my surgery. I'm also having pimples on my face like a teenager and I'm 51 years old....now if my body only looked like a teenagers I wouldn't complain...but hey. LOL

Congratulations...wishing you a fast and easy recovery. Keep us posted on your progress!!