Denise73

I am a hairdresser and I've seen so many cases like this with my guests in my chair. (I'm starting to experience it myself)...it is normal for our case and almost always expected to happen...the best thing you can do is to keep drinking your 64oz + of Water a day...keep Protein high...and take your Vitamins and supplements every day...my step mom had the sleeve down 2 years ago and lost a tremendous amount of hair..the product line we carry in the salon came out with a thickening collection. The company is called EUFORA international...you may or may not have heard of it...it is salon exclusive which means you will not find it in a grocery store,drug store or even online. The product lines use a blend of botanical extracts, food grade based preservatives ( so you could technically eat the product if you wanted to , but you may fart Shampoo bubbles ???? ) and they are based with certified organic pharmaceutical grade aloe Vera gel..I've been using eufora for about 6 years and my hair has been in the best condition it has ever been in...granted I am experiencing some hair loss..but the girls at the salon said my hair still feels really heAlthy and it is still growing..anyway, sorry to go off on a tangent...just wanted to give you some product knowledge..so basically the thickening line was designed for people who have experienced extreme hair loss/thinning due to stress, illness, and weight loss surgery! The line is comprised of a treatment shampoo, treatment conditioner, treatment scalp spray (you use that twice a day) a thickening serum you use when you blow dry style your hair and a special thickening blend vitamin/supplement..one of our guests has always had very little hair and she just purchased her second box of the eufora thickening collection...I am beyond thrilled with the results for this guest and with the results my step mom experienced...if you are skeptical of it or concerned..I would highly reccomend you check out eufora.net and it will give you more information on it and you can find a local salon that carries it or since I used to teach for the company..if you let me know what state your in, I might know a salon to recommend for you good luck and best wishes to you!
-Stephanie

Hopefully I dodged the bullit on this one. I am six months out now, and have only seen extra flyaways, but no clumps of hair in my brush or drain, even though the surgeon warned me about the possibility. I do not know that I have done anything so differently from anyone else. I have been on 80 grams of Protein, and 10,000 mcg of Biotin 2X a day. Other than that, I take my D3, B12, multi Vitamin and Calcium.
On my own I added magnesium, chromium, and Vitamin C. I dont take fish oil because Miss Tummy gives it back. But I do eat fish twice a week. My hair is more limp, but otherwise healthy and soft. I did have quite a problem with dry brittle nails and really dry skin from months two to four, but that is gone. My nails and skin are healthy now. I don't know how to explain it, but I was resigned to accept it. My heart goes out to my bariatric siblings, and I hope that your recovery gets better.

I'm 7 months out and 90 pounds lighter. I am losing my hair like no one's business.... and I had/have fine/thin hair to begin with. I bought a product called Toppix that fills in your hair so you don't look baldish. It works really good but it's like wearing makeup in your hair. If you sweat or it rains on you, it gets weird and kinda comes off on your fingers if you touch it. Either way, I use it everyday and no one but my partner and me have noticed my Hair loss. It sucks soo much though and I wish it didn't happen. That said, I wouldn't trade my health for hair.

at 5-10 you can eat 1200-1300 a day and still lose weight. I know because that is me. in fact I eat 1300-2000 a day in my weight loss phase before taking out exercise calories. the more cardio exercise I do the more hungry I am and that's okay. I do two days strength training and 2 cardio.
for my height, since calorie budget is high side carb intake is also higher than people on 800 a day. I eat over 100 carbs a day.
I also eat 80-100 grams of Protein a day
I don't check fat grams but those are also around 90-100 a day so my macros are often about 50% fat.
I lost 130 lbs over 16 months on this so not everyone needs or should eat 800 cals or stay under 50g carbs especially taller persons.
I will advise though to limit SUGAR carbs to < 25g per day. when I do that I lose the fastest.
Also do not graze. Eat 3 meals and 2 Snacks a day with at least 2-4 hours in between.
Protein first, fat second and carbs last.

Everyone here is spot on....too many carbohydrates ......carbs carbs carbs carbs,...too many.
Let's be honest.... carbohydrates that are consumed can usually be comprised of junk food, chips, crackers, pretzels, Cookies, cake , candy or you might be someone who eats a lot of Pasta or someone who eat a lot of bread but either way these things cannot be main components of our diet anymore...... they are show stoppers .....you have to get that under control.... the other problem with carbs is they make you crave more carbohydrates .....it's in the same vicious cycle before your surgery..... nothing has changed in that regard .....please lower your carbohydrate intake down considerably and drink plenty of fluids....
You got this...reign this pony in now!
Shel

Quick reply. In short, you are taking in WAY TOO MANY carbs. You will not lose weight with all those carbs.
Go see your doc and nutritionist; be honest with them re: your intake, etc. take a food diary, etc. Sounds like you need to totally reset. (Some recent research indicates it takes 6-8 days to clear the metabolic and hormonal effect carbs has on us.
It's likely that the carbs are giving you the hunger. Trust me, I just went through this myself after I treated myself to a "few potato chips," and, after fighting with them for a few weeks, I'm just now getting back to satiety with my Proteins, and not craving.)
See your doc, but you must stop eating all those carbs. It's simply way too many. But chin up; get back on the horse. You can do it.

I don't know if you keep a food diary but you should if you don't. It has helped me a great deal. First - your carb intake is way to high. I have set my intake to 50 carbs/day. On days when I went crazy eating stuff with lots of carbs my intake would be 80+. It didn't take me long to figure out that was what was causing my stalls. I corrected that & the weight started coming down again. Also, I think your calorie intake is to much. The first 6 weeks I was allowed 800. At my 6 week appt. my surgeon had me bring my calorie intake up to 1,000. I think 1,200 calories/day will be all I will ever be able to have. Also, what does your surgeon say?
If you try those 2 decreases in carbs & calories maybe the weight will come off a bit faster. Everything else looks like what I've been told by my surgeon. I know other people will add their experiences to this. Hope all the information you get will help you.
Best of luck to you in your journey. Never give up.

I was sleeved on 6/27, I was just wondering how bad everyones pain was 1 week from surgery at the hole the stomach was removed from. I have a bad searing pain unless I press hard on the lump under the incision site. Other than this pain, I am doing great!!! I'm never hungry, I eat and drink with a spoon to slow down my drinking because drinking too fast as I have found this can be quite uncomfortable.

I feel the same way almost daily. We have to hang in there. It can only get better.

Highest weight 256
Surgery weight 240
Current weight 230.6
Surgery date 6/26/14 (10 days post op)
Stalling in loss. But I am finally able to increase physical activity. Hopefully that does the trick!!

My surgery was on 6/16 and my left-sided pain returned last week. I posted about it a few days ago and since the pain has disappeared. I woke up Sunday and the pain was gone. Hang in there all with left side pain...it will get better. I only assume the eating and drink in gets easier day by day. My Nut told me hydration first, so keep trying to get the fluids in. Good luck all!
PS: I have yet to reach my Fluid or Protein goals.

I do think she will notice - just this past weekend at a 4th of July BBQ, someone hollered out, "That better not be your plate!" as I exited the buffet line, I had my packet steamed fish (which I brought with me) and some well cooked broccoli. The guy who said it is a nice guy who doesn't know I had surgery, I just replied "this is my first round", and he didn't say anything the rest of the night. Don't know if he just stopped noticing or if someone told him about my situation. It was a friendly jest, nothing more, and that is how I took it.
If you don't feel comfortable explaining your small portions to your friend, just say that you are not feeling it or it's too hot eat or something and put the rest of your meal in a doggy bag. I have found that as I tell more people I get more questions but no negative remarks. It is funny the skinny ones are more positive than the heavy ones though! I have only had one person say "I know 5 people who died from that!!" and that is my overly dramatic sister! She came around though whne she realized that I wan't going to change my mind.

So I'm going out to dinner for the first time since surgery with a friend. She doesn't know about the surgery and I'm not planning on telling her. I'm a little nervous that she's going to notice my eating, but I guess I have to get used to that, right?
Wish me luck!

Aww poor thing. I do hope you're feeling better. Take care of yourself and you will get through this.

I was home in less than 24 hrs. Nothing hurts when sitting or lying still, but getting up is tough-I'm very sore on the left side. I just took a swig of liquid Vicodin and that really tasted like cr. I need to pull out my paperwork. Really can't imagine doing anything other than sipping Water today and sleeping. Today is the first of 2 days on clear liquids then onto "full". I walked quite a bit at the hospital but it's too hot out right now. Will walk more later. Take care July 1's. July2nd peeps-good luck!

Girl, I know how you feel as I wonder the same thing. Good luck as I've heard it gets better.

I think I will cry when I get to onederland. Such a stall. Don't know how it's possible with 1/4 cup food portions. Big sigh.
HW 247
CW 224
Surgery date 6/4

Hi all, I"m 5 days post op. First 2 days were rough. lots of gas pain but now i'm good. I can sit up fine on my own, get in/out of bed. I'm tolerating clears well. no issues. no pain. My incisions are itchy but that's it. I get tired but I haven't even been out a week yet so that's normal. I'm pretty happy!

I just threw up for the first time since surgery....I am having the hardest time knowing when I am full....I never get in all of my Protein or water....what have I done to myself.......

Hello all June sleeves
My name is Erica and had lap sleeve on 6/10/14. I'm doing ok but I am struggling with eating. I'm irony taking in a few bites and feel so awful with spasms after. How long does this last ? I'm i progressing to quickly ? I just want to feel semi normal again. I am very happy with my weight loss so far (down 20lbs). Any hel would be greatly appreciated !

I personally do not think you need to beat yourself up over a pretzle and a bite of cheesecake. Now with your "tool" you only ate one pretzle and a bite of cheesecake instead of a whole piece! Kind of a win! What made us fat was eating big portions not just a bite.

To answer your question, Shel, before surgery I had to take a long, brutally honest look at my habits that got me obese in the first place, and identify them (on paper). For me, it was 1) eating fast food for EVERY meal, 2) Ice cream, 3) any kind of baked goods (cupcakes, cakes, cinnamon rolls etc) from the fresh bakery at the grocery store or frozen stuff, 4) M&M & Snickers, and 5) Cookies (pkg kind or fresh baked). So my first step was to commit to removing these specific things from my life COLD TURKEY. Did I think I could ever possibly do it? Not in a million years, but my resolve was strong, and my sleeve certainly helped me keep my commitment. It makes me proud to say that none of these things have been in my home since surgery, and will not be ever--and the most amazing part--I do not miss them! (I do allow a small amount of more WLS-friendly treats in my home, just NOT these former JUNK FOODS that I associate with the reason I became OBESE.
For year one, I was SUPER STRICT with myself because I am the kind of person if I allow myself to have "just a little" junk food, I am not in control, so I spent that year really learning nutrition and "cementing in" my new eating habits so they became routine and familiar. It wasn't until about the 18 month-2 year point that I started allowing myself "treats" in this measured weekly/monthly plan. It just has worked so well for me because I NEVER feel "different" from non-WLS people, and never feel deprived, because I can choose my favorite treats, as long as they fall into the pre-planned weekly/monthly schedule I have set up for myself.
I made my monthly chart (I call it "My Contract with Me," laminated it, and have it on my refrigerator to keep track for the month. For instance, I list each treat and then put a square "check-off box" or boxes next to it. So, ice cream has two checkoff boxes next to it; Starbucks has two checkoff boxes, Quest Protein bars has three boxes, etc. I just use a dry-erase marker and check off the box each time I eat one and I can always see at-a-glance what I have left to treat myself for the month.
Anyhow, that's kinda it in a nutshell. Hope this gives you some ideas that you and/or others can adapt for your own circumstances.

I really like what you have said here....did you establish these parameters before, during or after you hit your goal? I like the idea.
Thx,
Shel

So, at 3 months on a holiday weekend you ate some junk food. It was not a "mistake" and you are not a "failure." It was a choice. Yeah, it probably wasn't a great choice, but you'll make a different choice tomorrow that fits better with what you want your nutritional goal to be for the day. (The biggest reason it wasn't a GREAT choice is not because you "failed," it's because your sleeve is a little too delicate yet to be feeding it what you fed it!)
At 3 years, I am still "strict" with myself. But the difference now is that I don't look at food as "good" or "bad." Food is food. I allow myself junk foods, but I set weekly/monthly limits. For instance, once I've had fast food four times in the month, that's it until a new month. Or like ice cream because it was one of my hugest trigger foods. It is not allowed in my house ever again. But I can have it twice a month, as long as I have it out somewhere. I tell you this because there is no longer any "guilt" in eating these foods--guilt that I have carried my whole life over eating something that society calls bad--and it feels so good to be free of it. And you will be too. . .

There can be wide variations in how much we can tolerate early on, primarily due to the amount of inflammation in and around the stomach after surgery. When my wife when through this a few years ago, she could barely consume her nominal stomach size in liquids in one sitting, whereas I could put away a seemingly limitless amount of liquid - both quite normal according to the doc. Mushies are a bit more restricted than liquids, but much the same can happen. I generally limited myself to 2-3 oz of non-liquids early on as we don't always have all the feedback of being full in place yet.