catwoman7

hair loss is a potential side effect after major surgeries (and other things, too, like childbirth) because of the stress to the body, but I think we see it more often after bariatric surgery because in addition to the trauma, we're also taking in very few calories those first few months. At any rate, hair loss is a common occurrence after weight loss surgery. there's really not much you can do about it other than let it run its course. It'll eventually stop and the hair will grow back. It usually lasts three or four months. I lost hair from months 5-9. Fortunately, I didn't lose much - I barely noticed it let alone others. Some people lose a lot, some people don't lose any at all, most of us are somewhere in the middle - WE notice it, but others don't. about all you can do is keep on top of your vitamins and protein so it doesn't get any worse than it would otherwise - and know that it'll stop and grow back.

I can't remember if you had bypass or sleeve, but with bypass, you do need immediate release meds. Extended release don't stay in our pouches long enough to do their thing. you should physically be able to take pills the regular way at a month out. I was able to take mine (except for two of them) as soon as I got out of the hospital. After about three weeks, I was able to take those two the regular way, too

P.S. as far as eating, you'll be pretty restricted the first few months - esp the first few weeks. But at some point, you'll be able to enjoy most or all of your favorite foods again, just in smaller portions. No one would ever be able to tell I had gastric bypass surgery at this point. I don't eat a lot - but I really don't eat any differently than my never-been-obese friends who are always watching their weight. At restaurants I'll order an appetizer and eat that. Or else I'll order an entree and take half of it home. Pretty much what many of my female friends do...

I've been obese for most of my adult life and morbidly/super morbidly obese after age 35 or so. I'd tried a million diets. On my more successful attempts, I'd lose 50 or 60 lbs, hit a brick wall, and then gradually put it all back on. Most of my attempts wouldn't even get me that far - maybe 10 or 20 lbs tops. I had over 200 lbs to lose, so I knew I was never going to get there if I couldn't even keep 50 lbs off. I'd considered WLS for at least 10 years before I actually had it, but I was afraid of it and also, I'd have to change to a much more expensive insurance policy to get it covered. I thought I'd just wait until I turned 65 since Medicare covers it. But then I'd lie awake at night worried that I was going to have a heart attack, and I'd be in the ER and they wouldn't be able to do anything for me because of my weight. And at one point it occurred to me that waiting for Medicare to cover it was a bad idea, because at the rate I was going, I might not have even lived to see 60, let alone 65. How many super morbidly obese seniors do you see running around? Very few. I can't remember what the last straw was (I had the surgery six years ago and started the process seven years ago), but it was probably the thought that I wouldn't live to see my 60th birthday if I didn't do something about my weight. And since I was 55 at the time, that day was coming up fast... so- I did it. I have never been so grateful for a decision in my life. I should have done this YEARS ago. My life is a million times better now - and of course, my 60th birthday came and went without incident. Now I think I may be able to make it to 80+ !

yes. I gained 20 lbs after hitting bottom, and it's almost impossible to get it off. I think when you're at a normal BMI or only slightly over it, it's really tough to lose weight. And it's not just us WLS folks. I remember going to Weight Watchers meetings years ago and rolling my eyes at these normal weight or slightly overweight women b*tching and screaming at how hard it was to lose 10 lbs. Yea right, I'd think - try losing over 100! But now I totally get it. I did lose 5 lbs last summer due to the fact (I think...) that I was biking 1-2 hours at least five days a week, but it came right back on when biking season ended. I honestly don't want to go back down to my lowest weight - I was too thin - but I'd love to lose 10 lbs. I'm starting to feel like one of those women I rolled my eyes at at Weight Watchers...

I can eat pizza now (1-2 slices - I'm six years out), but that first year, I scraped the toppings off and only ate those. I just told people I was low-carbing, that's why I didn't eat the crust. No one cared. I was probably out about as far as you are now when I started doing that.

if you haven't already, you should have a complete workup so they can figure out what's going on. Some of this may or may not be related to your surgery. Are you really diligent with your vitamins? I've read vitamin B deficiencies can cause nerve issues, for example. as far as revision - yes, RNY is technically reversible, but they only do that for severe medical issues that can't be resolved any other way. Also, if some of this IS related to the surgery, you'd see some improvement after revision, but it's not going to be the same as it was before you had the surgery.

your body wanting more food after strenuous exercise actually makes a lot of sense, since it burned a bunch of calories... I don't know if I necessarily crave more calories after strenuous exercise, but I've heard/read that it does happen to some people..

I started taking them right away, but what you were told isn't that unusual - I've heard it before. It does take quite awhile for your body's vitamin stores to deplete, so waiting four weeks shouldn't cause problems.

very normal. It can take up to a week for the first one. And as Arabesque mentioned, chronic constipation is a common problem among WLS patients, so this may not be the end of it...

a lot of WLS patients work with a therapist to help deal with those issues. Does your clinic have someone on staff or can they recommend someone for you to work with? Having WLS is pretty much the end of the line - the most drastic thing you can do to lose weight. Don't blow this chance. Do whatever you can to get some help with this.

being nervous about an upcoming surgery - regardless of the kind of surgery - is very common. as far as pain, that's pretty much all across the board - some of little to none, some do have it, but you'll be sent home with meds for it. If you're one of the people who does experience pain with it, you'll be able to manage it with the pain meds they'll give you. However, most of us seem to have little to no pain with these surgery (I had none)

most of us lose our sense of hunger for a few months (up to one year) after surgery. A minority never lose their hunger at all - and another minority lose theirs permanently, but most of us are somewhere in the middle. Mine came back when I was five months out. Use this to your advantage - it'll never be easier in your lifetime to lose weight when you're never hungry!

yes - a lot of women report having mood swings and screwed-up menstrual cycles the first few weeks or months after surgery. It's supposedly due to estrogen being released from fat cells due to the rapid weight loss. It eventually stabilizes. as far as weight loss, if you follow your program, you WILL lose weight.

a lot of people have trouble with eggs after surgery - but most can eventually eat them again. I didn't eat bagels until I was about a year out - they can still make me sick sometimes.

didn't think of that - that could be, too...

most people don't feel hunger after surgery - at least for a few months, anyway - but some do. It's sometimes acid or thirst mimicking hunger. OP: I'd let your clinic know if you haven't already (Virginia: since you're in therapeutic case management, it sounds like you already have). For some people it could be true hunger, but for many it turns out to be one of the two issues I mentioned. To the OP: many clinics put their patients on a PPI for the first 3-6 months post-surgery, both VSG and RNY patients. Yours may do that if it turns out to be an acid issue. I'd just let them know what's going on and see what they suggest. P.S. Virginia - I think Arabesque was responding to the original poster rather than you. Since you are in therapeutic case management, then they're probably already trying to figure out what's going on in your situation. She wasn't trying to diagnose you. Arabesque is a long-time, valued member here who's been very helpful to new people. She was responding to the OP here....and I agree with much of what she was saying (i.e. that it's sometimes head hunger).

I agree with Hop_Scotch. Unless there's something like a thyroid issue, she's eating too much.

I never had an issue with drinking fluids - and the PA at my clinic said it was fine - that my stomach would let me know if I was overdoing it.

a lot of people (maybe most?) have plastic surgery in their 50s and 60s, so you're not too old. It's your body, so... Sorry to hear they're not being more supportive. That's a tough one.

calcium is pretty notorious for causing constipation. So is iron and eating high-protein diets. Chronic constipation is a pretty common problem among WLS patients, both RNY and VSG. It's due to the high protein diet and the supplements (again, calcium and iron are the usual culprits..)

a lot of us take Miralax every day. My doctor said it was fine, and unlike many laxatives, it doesn't cause dependence. And no negative effects. I've been taking a capful a day for almost six years. it's basically either deal with chronic constipation (which many of us do) or take something for it, so... Chronic constipation can cause hemorrhoids, anal fissues, or impacted feces.

it depends on the insurance. Mine accepted any well-documented professionally-supervised plan of six months (or more) as long as it happened within the previous two years.

Unjury makes a chicken broth-flavored protein powder that a lot of people seem to like

I was the same way the last six months or so of my weight loss phase. It took FOREVER, but the weight did eventually come off!