Roo101769

Thank you all for the support. It is just a hard pill to swallow that my hair is gone. I am just not able to accept "bald is beautiful" for me. ( Yeah, but most men can be HOT bald! Why is that?) I have other obstacles to overcome with this hair issue. I am going to buy some "chemo scarves" to wear when the wig is off. ( Like for the gym or swimming) At home I "let my hair down", what there is of it. But I don't even go outside to take my dogs out or put the trash out without covering up my chrome dome. I hate to see myself in any reflection right now. The wig looks fake and without I look sick. I know I will adjust to the wig and soon it will just be another thing I put on, like makeup. And I have been dealing with this hair loss thing for years! I really feel for women who lose their crowning glory virtually overnight. How hard that has to be!

I am not an expert but a fall is more like something you would add to a ponytail for extra length / volume. Sort of like extensions. But a topper actually covers a specific area ( on top) and you can work your real hair through to blend with. Or at least that is what I think....

You know, I saw toppers or wiglets. ( they sit only on top and you can work real hair through to blend in with) I really liked them and thought about it but had two issues..1) my real hair is NOTHING like wig hair so I thought it would be really hard to blend together. My hair is frizzy/ curly and wig hair, even curly, is not frizzy. And 2) my hair is SO thin on top I didn't know how well it would work. Plus heck, I can be lazier with a wig. Makes my getting ready for work time a LOT shorter!!! LOL

Well, yesterday I finally bit the proverbial bullet and put on a wig. Guess I should start with a little backstory on this. When I was young I had very thick, curly hair. I could never run a comb through it, it would tangle and knot. In high school I wanted big hair ( child of the 80s here) like everyone else and I had it- BIG! That was the one good thing about having naturally curly/kinky/frizzy hair. Then in my mid 20s life changed. I started having a lot of "female issues" and was eventually diagnosed with PCOS. One of the hallmarks that I experienced was hair loss. My once thick head of hair became a thinning mass in a matter of months. It was bad, hard to deal with. But it wasn't as bad as it would get. Fast forward about 13 years. At age 38 I became pregnant. When I had my daughter my hair was once again at it's youthful thickness, until the hormones shifted. My hair loss post pregnancy was fairly devastating. I went from mildly thin to pretty darn noticeable. I started using Topik hair fibers at this time. It helped to fill in, make it look thicker. No one noticed and I was satisfied with this fix. Then I started having blood clotting issues ( repeat DVTs/ PEs) and have now been put on blood thinners for life. One of the side effects of warfarin ( For some- not all) is hair loss. Being so blessed by the hair gods as I am ( sarcasm) I was one who started experiencing hair loss. So my now noticeably thin hair started becoming alarmingly thin hair. I suffer from classic male pattern baldness too...All of my hair loss is on the top and sides. The back has thinned over the years, but is still holding up ok. The top and sides??? Well I honestly look like someone who has been on chemotherapy for a while. So...when I decided to have the sleeve done one of the very FIRST things that caught my attention was the probability of some hair loss. Knowing how the odds for that run against my favor, I decided to be proactive and buy a wig. ( actually- two) But being a woman who has at least a small amount of vanity left ( After all - I was 316lbs so how vain can I really be? ) I was embarrassed. Years ago wigs were "cool". Lots of women used them as a choice to change their looks. But that was years ago. Outside of people who wear them for medical purposes, or actors, I don't know of a lot of people who buy and wear wigs. I even bought mine online, with out having the prying eyes of a salesperson seeing me do so. I cannot explain it but it brings me more "shame" and anxiety to wear the wig than telling people I had weight loss surgery! Yet the hair has been falling out more and more without regrowth. ( and will most likely get worse as the lack of Protein issue hits) All the combined effects that have caused my hair loss have created a "perfect storm" and looking very similar to the Crypt Keeper is the result of it. I have been using increasingly more and more of those hair fibers trying to camouflage the loss, to the point I had more Topik on my head than hair!!! Something had to give, and it as time. Time to break out the old hair hat and face one of my biggest fears...And the results? Everyone loves the darn thing!!! I have had so many comments about how good I look it is ridiculous. More people even noticed my weight loss with my new hair than before. Most guys? Well they are clueless and think it is my old hair and I just went to the salon. But everyone who knows thinks it is natural looking, attractive, and a great improvement. So I am thinking I should have slapped the darn thing on a long time ago!! LOL It is still an emotional adjustment. I hope that my old, unstylish and unflattering hair regrows again someday and that I can go back to not wearing this thing. But for now, for this place in my life I am wearing it. And so far the reviews have been positive. Going to try to attach a picture, but I hate "selfies"...

I was pretty emotional, but held a lot of it in. I am a single mom of a five year old and I did not want to scare her. I was resolved, so I never imagined backing out. But I was on an emotional roller coaster for sure. The idea of having major surgery..changing my life forever. the whole "no going back" idea. Honestly those thoughts lingered for a week or so post op. Yet as every day passes I feel more and more "normal". I wake up, go to work, come home to my daughter and live my life. Yes, I have slightly different routines.. Yes, I eat differently. But it is still my life and not all that much has changed. And what has changed is so much better than before it is certainly not something I regret or miss. I great each new day in my ever changing body with excitement and enthusiasm.. I can't wait to see how this all goes!

I need something like a medical alert keychain. I don't really want a bracelet or necklace. I do have a card like the poster above mentioned. It lists my surgeon and the type of surgery I had, along with a diagram of the procedure. (It also states I would benefit from child sized portions at restaurants, I guess some will honor with the card.) It goes in my wallet, the size of a credit card. But that only covers the sleeve, I am also a "lifer" on blood thinners. So I do need to find something to cover both, and that I will have on me all the time.

Girl....seriously??? Wow. Not trying to be a negative meany but you look like you gave birth! You have very little tummy left from before to after! You may live with it and not get to appreciate it as someone who doesn't see you, ( I totally get what you mean) but DANG!!!! You are doing an absolutely fabulous job and should be immensely happy and proud of where you are. At this rate you will be next to nothing in no time....A BIG congratulations on how far you have come!!!!

I am actually kind of glad to see this post, and response from Laura-Ven. I am past it now, but I too had blurred vision for a bit post op. Also some very slight memory issues. As I said all have passed. ( I was sleeved 10/21) But for a while I was really worried. I did have a lot of problems with the anesthesia ( could not wake up) and I had SEVERE nausea. So hearing that both anesthesia and anti nausea meds can cause these issues makes total and complete sense to me. I am glad to know I am not too abnormal!!! LOL

Highest weight (spring 2013)- 316lbs. Surgery weight(10/21)-283lbs. Today -264lbs. Slow and steady wins the race...lol

Ok. I have to get in on this subject. I totally and completely get what you are saying. But I am at an even worse place in a way. I have lost 52lbs to date ( since my heaviest earlier this year) and I am just NOW where you started Lipstick !!! ( 5'3" - 264lbs) My weight loss is noticeable to everyone but me. The only thing I can see at this point is just how gross my neck looks. ( I am working on it, trust me) I still wear my size 26W clothes, although they hang on me. I guess part of me finds it comforting. Thing was, at 316lbs those size 26W were stretched to peak capacity. I was just too...vain(?)... to go up another size. I do have some 24W clothes that I have been wearing on occasion. They fit, in fact they are starting to get loose. But I still go back to the 26W because......I don't know why. Maybe there is a sense of comfort there although I was totally uncomfortable and miserable. It is a pretty strange and perplexing thing. And as far as seeing myself "skinny"??? That is the farthest thing from my mind and the hardest to imagine. I ONCE had a dream that I was normal size since I started the whole process of WLS. I woke up so excited for it to be a reality. I have never dreamed that again. I have been losing weight a little slower post op, so it has been even harder to see a change. I just have to keep pushing forward and do what I need to do and hope that maybe someday, I will feel like something other than the fat girl...

First...step away from the scale. Now, take a deep breath. Now I am going to share my deepest wisdom, gonna get all zen here. It will be what it will be....You cannot force things to change when they won't. You have had the surgery. You are working the plan worked out for you by your surgeon and NUT. That is it. That is all there is and needs to be. Your body will decide when it is ready to let go of the weight. There will be times of great loss, followed by times of nothingness. Your body is in metamorphosis and it is a stop and start journey. I too weigh every day, so I can't and won't chastise that. But remember you are new to this. I too went through a stall...I lost 13 lbs in less than two weeks post op. Then I didn't drop another pound for over two weeks. It was hard to deal with. As the days wore on my mental resolve wavered. I knew the statistics in my head, but that didn't help the feelings I was not going to succeed this time from sneaking in. But then suddenly, at about 33 days post op two things happened. I hit the 50lb mark. From the very start of my journey I have lost over 50lbs. I have never accomplished that before since I became obese. Then another fact hit me. I had dropped 4lbs on 3 days. Two more pounds the day after that! The stall has broke. How long or how much I will drop until it stalls again I do not know. But I know I am doing this. I am losing weight. I will succeed. There will be times that will test my resolve greatly, but I will get through it. My advice to you is to try to remember the same. You WILL get through this!

My best friend is being sleeved 12/17. I have been strongly encouraging him to try to change his eating habits now, to make later easier. ( I did. I started eating a high protein/ low carb fat and calorie diet in August before my 10/21 sleeve date) I think it worked for me because I had already fought the head demon back before I had to adjust physically to the sleeve. Does the head demon still appear? Sure. I think it always will. But I already had a handle on controlling it before I got to surgery. Having surgery just gave me another tool to use in my battle. Anyway, I think my friend is scared of the unknown. His relationship (ie:addiction) to food is even more deep seated than my own. For a couple of weeks now he has been saying how he is eating everything in sight, but knows he need to get his s**t together soon- yet he keeps eating. It is a very hard emotional battle, not just physical. Try to set your sights on healthy and wise choices. Yes, a little splurge won't kill you. But it will be something to think about. Start trying to set boundries for yourself now, it will help you a great deal later on.

Thanks for the tip!! I have been looking for more flavors of SF Toroni, but my local grocery store only has SF vanilla. So....I just stocked up! Yay!!! I look forward to using all my new goodies...Thanks again!

My dreaded three week stall that is. I actually stalled at about two weeks, and it held until just past four weeks. Last Tuesday was my one month check and I was 270lbs. I am very lucky that my home scales and my surgeons scales weigh the same. (I was 270lbs at home too) As of this morning I am 264lbs. And my other major milestone was I hit my 50lb mark over the weekend. Since this all began I have lost (now) over 50lbs. I still have a long way to go to hit my goal, but this is the single biggest weight loss I have ever had in all the years I have been obese. It is such an awesome feeling. It is inspiring me to keep on keeping on! ( esp. after the stall) And part of that weight loss I did on my own, before the sleeve. I knew my life was about to change and I couldn't wait to get at it. I do have a lot to be thankful for this week, I finally see a brighter future.

I made these last night for a work carry in. I had trouble finding Atkins flour, so I bought soy flour. ( low carb / lots of protein) And thanks to a bulb being burned out in my kitchen ( and it being very dim in there) I put in a tablespoon of cinnamon instead of a teaspoon. But...they were still yummy! More of a spice cake taste than chocolate. My icing did not work well, was thick and sticky. I either need more milk or just omit as the cake is dense but moist and yummy!

I just posted my frustration on this exact same thing last night. I know all the research, I have read others' experiences. Still, it is upsetting to know all you have gone through to get here and only see a couple pounds difference. ( I have only lost 13lbs since 10/21 sleeve date) It is especially tough when you read posts from those who have lost 20+lbs in the same time frame. I just have to be patient, which is not my strong suit. LOL I keep saying to myself "slow and steady wins the race".

Ok, ok...I wasn't going to write anything about this but I have to be honest in the fact it is starting to really get me down. I was sleeved 10/21. In the first two weeks I lost 12 lbs. Since then just one pound, only 13lbs in a month. I have been stalled for two weeks now. I know there are many factors that go into a stall. Pre op I lost over thirty pounds on my own since August. I decided to change my eating habits then to get a jump on my new life. Since I had the surgery I have actually struggled to get my protein in and enough calories. (And even fluids) In the past week I have really worked on that, knowing my body needs it to do the work. And I have even increased my exercise. I was just cleared to do "whatever I want" on Tuesday, but I already had started walking a lot and doing more physical things. I know form reading posts over and over that this is not uncommon, but I am really starting to be a little blue here. People are always asking "how much have you lost"? It is getting a little discouraging to say nothing since last time you asked. I just wish the darn scale would start heading down again. I do know to stay the course and all that, and that my body needs this time to adjust. I just wish I knew a way to help the process along faster...Just not a huge fan of waiting I guess.

I think that looks not right, but I am not medically trained. I can tell you one or two of my outer stitches opened on my main incision about 8 days out. It became tender, and started to drain. I decided to put a couple butterfly bandages on it, to draw the edges closer together. ( the rest of the incision was fine) It continued to drain for about a week or so, but the drainage didn't look infected. (nor was the wound red or irritated looking) I started applying anti biotic cream to it about two weeks out. Within a couple days the drainage stopped and I formed a scab. I saw my doctor yesterday for my 1 month follow up and he said it looked good. He said sometimes the incisions will open a little, but my guess is he did not mean anything like yours is. I would certainly get another opinion.

The scope doesn't hurt, as you will be mildly sedated. But it does tend to irritate your throat a bit. Not a big deal, honestly. ( I was actually pretty nervous about the scope, but didn't need to be) My journey took about three months in all. My first visit with surgeon was 8/6. I started knocking out all of his and the insurance requirements, but was hung up for a short time scheduling into the nutritionist. Once all was said and done, and all pre insurance approval testing was complete, it was around the first of October. My approval was lightening quick, less than 24hrs. ( Just a VERY lucky coincidence) Two days later I was scheduled for 10/21. All of my hospital required pre op testing, my 10 day liquid diet and the endoscope was all done within the following few weeks. I was sleeved 10/21 and I am already a month out- which is incredibly hard to believe!!! I too had met my insurance cap for the year due to other health issues, so I was really wanting the surgery in 2013. I had hoped to be done BEFORE the holidays, so I was extremely fortunate the way it all worked out for me. Be sure to stay on top of all you are needed to do. Be proactive about scheduling appointments and get all done you have to. Hopefully that way you will be able to get the surgery in the time frame you wish. Good luck!!!

Not every surgeon chooses to do a pre op liquid diet. Mine did, a ten day liquid. ( full liquids for 10 days, switching to Clear Liquids the afternoon before surgery day) The reasoning is it is to shrink a fatty liver. The liver is situated in the same area as the stomach. To help keep the liver out of the way during surgery ( and so they do not have to make more incisions to put more instruments in to move it) they like the liver to be as small as possible. It may be different with sleeve vs. band because they are actually cutting things in there. You certainly do NOT want them to cut your liver!!! Also, because we did liquids for ten days pre op there was no need for a bowel prep before surgery.

I can promise you post op it will be MUCH easier to remember and follow suit. I too worried about the eating too fast / not chewing enough thing. I also worried about NOT drinking around meals. All of these were lifelong ingrained habits. Once I started eating post op it was no longer a concern. I could feel as things hit my stomach. I waited to see how my stomach would react to it. I didn't drink because it wasn't really needed at first, not on liquid diet. Now I have been allowed to start introducing "solids". I had a turkey burger last night for dinner. Just a single patty, cooked with a piece of ff cheese and maybe a teaspoon of light mayo. A couple times during the course of the "meal" I had to stop and wait several minutes before continuing. I probably did not chew well enough and I could feel it when it hit my stomach. ( not pain, but uncomfortable) Your sleeve will help you remember what you need to do. But it is very proactive of you to be trying now! Just keep up the good work and you will succeed..

Also had surgery 10/21. HW= 316lbs. SW=308lbs CW= 268-270lbs (been fluctuating and stalled a while)

I started sleeping on my left side, with a pillow wedged against my stomach, the day I came home from the hospital. I cannot sleep on my back all night, and didn't have an adjustable medical bed to help me..Right side sleeping took a little longer. And I was about two weeks when I first laid on my stomach. Just work with your body and what is comfortable for you.

I made "cream of" soup while I was in my full liquid stage. I blended cream of chicken, cream of broccoli and cream of potato together. ( all pureed in food processor to make sure no chunks) It tasted really good, but became old fast. If I never eat another cream of soup again I will be a-ok.

I am trying to figure this out too. I know I need more exercise, but right now I am not super energetic. I was sleeved 10/21. I did heal a little slower. (thank blood thinners!) My energy levels are not as I hoped. Once I started getting in my Vitamins daily it helped a lot, but I still need work on Protein and liquids. I have also been on the lower end of calories. All things I am working on, trust me. The next things is exercise. I took my five year old to the local mall to do some shopping last Friday night. I forget the actual distance if you walk the whole mall ( interior) but it is well over a mile, and that does not include going into any stores. We were there for three hours and I was very tired and worn out when we left. It has been years since I have walked that whole mall, so I was pleased about that. It is just a gradual thing for me I guess. I am not giving up or giving in. I am just going with "slow and steady wins the race"!!!