dr3am3rstarz

On 12/20/2017 at 4:23 PM, HDScarlett said:

I got bad news from my Doctor....she said there is NOTHING I can do about the hair loss and suggested I cut my hair!! She said no Biotin or Vitamins is going to stop the Hair loss. I cried. I will not cut it. She said it is going to get very very thin. I have very thick hair so am praying..... I just order keranique serum and hope that this helps.....

My doctor told me that you can't replace the hair you have already lost, but you can stop it from becoming lost, as well as keeping it from breaking by eating more Protein. I have found the easiest way to get more protein is to make smoothies using kale and other dark leafy greens, or making a Protein Shake, adding PB2 as a way to get more protein in drinkable form, there is also a protein packed yogurt that can add more as well, (Oikos, black containers.)

I hope this helps! It's definitely made my hair stronger.

I know it seems crazy to take that stuff post op but I'm interested in HCG injections even though I'm losing quickly (10 lbs this week!!) but its not for weight loss....I've heard that it targets your fat in certain areas where the majority of your weight is & you will lose from that area specifically....I've seen this with my own eyes on a couple friends & I would love to see my stomach go asap!! I'd ask your Dr but beware - that green tea stuff killed my stomach during my diet days....like the sweats, keel over, run to the bathroom kill....yikes!!

1. What are things you wish you had known before surgery?
how easy it would be. I freaked myself out expecting misery and it was a cake walk. Not a universal experience...but I am really thankful the fates went easy on me.
2. What is gas pain? And how do you deal with it?
They pump your belly up with gas for the surgery...the gas gets absorbed by tissues and moves around and causes pain. Feels like a deep miserable ache, kinda like a pinched nerve or pulled muscle. For me, the gas pain was awful in my shoulders. Walk, walk, walk and move your body....this will help it reabsorb. Ginger tea was also helpful for me. My group frowns on gas remedy medications.
3. What is the normal expectation of lbs lost per week? And what has helped you deal with stalls? Differs for everyone.
4. How are your energy levels as you increase in time since surgery and increasing Protein? I feel terrific. Been driving myself places and shopping the last couple days, doing housework, going to appointments, wrapping gifts. I'm a week out today.
5. For those of you that have been to the hospital for dehydration what were the warning signs? Headache, dry mouth, nausea....if you lift the skin on the back of your hand and it stands up in a tent, you are probably dehydrated....it should snap right down.
6. When did you start feeling like you could do a normal day without feeling dead exhausted after a few activities or outings? Day 4 after surgery. Again...this might not be a typical experience.
*answer any and all. Appreciate any input. Also anybody else like me have questions put them out there!

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I can answer your dehydration question..not really signs of before, but during and after. I usually get a bad headache, almost Migraine esc... it gets better with small sips of Water, but if you get to the point where the pain is unbearable and you can't stop throwing up, then to the ER you go. Get fluids, anti-nausea meds, pain meds for the major headach you have just incured. A bit more advise, if the ER isn't familiar with WLS they might try and give you nsaids, and you need to make them aware of the surgery, and which medication you can and can't take. When you go back to your surgeron, ask for a rather large rx of anti-nausea meds because vomiting can harm your new stomach.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

I knew pretty much everything that I needed to know prior to my surgery. Like you, I asked many questions. Knowing what to expect and actually experiencing it are two different things. From everyone I spoke to I knew that I would not have much of an appetite but not wanting to eat is totally foreign to me. It's a strange feeling not wanting to eat, wanting food or enjoying food. As you ready yourself for your surgery think about this, you will lose weight. The weight will come off but you will experience stalls which are normal. (Don't be a slave to the scale) Your health will get better and you will experience the strangeness of all these wonderful things. You are taking the first step towards a healthier life.

I have never heard eating too little can cause weight GAIN. A stall yes. But if your eating too little how are you able to gain fat ?

I have never heard eating too little can cause weight GAIN. A stall yes. But if your eating too little how are you able to gain fat ?

Yes, totally normal. It took me a full week before I was able get in/hold down the correct amount of liquids. Remember you are adjusting to your new stomach, and its ok of you can't do it all today, try again tomorrow, and keep trying until you succeed. You got this!

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

I am in Tampa, Florida!

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

I was wondering where everyone is from city and state I know someone posted something a while back about this but I thought I'd start a new thread
I am Tammy I live in a small town called bear Valley Springs it is outside of Tehachapi California I am close to Bakersfield California...
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I also meant to say, as soon as I decided to have the surgery, I went back to the NUT, psychiatrist and therapist who all specialize in Eating Disorders. I used to have one, but I am sure eating such a small amount could bring back those feelings. So, now I am ready for them. I have an arsenal of kind and supportive people, who tell me like it is...The worst support system is the one who refuses to call you out on your stuff. That is what we are here for. We lift you up when you do well, and we call you out on your crap because we care. We don't want you to make the same mistakes we did, or others we knew made.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

I guess I got lucky.. I had my surgery a year ago, and I didn't start feeling hungry until a couple of weeks ago. Prior to that, I would set alarms, weigh my food. If I didn't, I would go hungry without even realizing it.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

Actually, if you look back, historically, during WWII, many were starving. And when they were able to get food, their body held onto it, because it didn't in fact know where next meal was coming from. You can actually train your body to believe it is in a famine. However counter productive. I personally, have experienced this. Going on "crash diets" and not being able to lose weight. Due to not having enough calories. Not saying anyone has an underlying eating disorder like I do. https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/not-eating-enough-for-weight-loss/slide/2 Check this out. Interesting stuff.

<3

Constipation has been an issue for me, for my whole life. Surgery has only made it worse. We have to break out the big guns. I am on 4 different medications for it. It is painful. The only weird thing I can say about it is, I can usually drop 15 lbs just by going to the bathroom. It's nothing to be proud of, but it's the reality of my situation.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

It would take you a full week to eat 1/2 a roll!

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

Be careful with the rice.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

You are looking great! You are your own warrior! You got this, keep up the good work! I am not going to lie and say it gets easier, prior to last month I didn't 'get hungry' and now I get that feeling so I had to be careful before, with alarms for medication and food, and now less food alarms and more exercise alarms.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

Also, eating too little can cause weight gain, especially if your body thinks it's starving, and isn't going to get any more food any time soon. This 'diet' we are supposed to be doing is not supposed to be a starvation diet. It's supposed to be a more healthful diet. I am currently seeing a nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders and well versed in wls, to ensure I am doing this correctly. My recommendation is to do this as well, even if you've never had an eating disorder. You will need someone to be there for you when your body starts to change and you don't notice when you look in the mirror. If you need a recommendation, pm me and I will do my best to point you in the right direction in your state! Everyone deserves a chance!
sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

I took a glycerin suppository last night and finally went some. I'm going to continue on the Miralax and hopefully it regulates me. I will try the prunes! I just hate the taste of them.

I'm only 6 days out so they're not scars yet, but I have 5 incisions. One is teeny tiny. Thee steristrip has already fallen off (it's on my bra line) and the scalp is just larger than a pen tip. The steristrip on the others are only about 1/4", so I expect those incisions are pretty small as well. My gallbladder scars are much larger. I'm 5 years out from that and you have to be inches from my belly to see them. I imagine the same will be true for these ones.

I am one year out as of November 28th, and Hair loss is a product of not enough protien. Add more protien into your diet and your hair, nails and eyes will become stronger than ever.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

Mine are almost gone, thank you cocco butter! I had 5 total, and now I only have 1 major one that I can find.

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213

What are your stats? And it's so good your addressing this now you should be proud of yourself. If you want to talk about it feel free to pm me
I don't want to put my business on here but I get it


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I am about a year out from my surgery and worry about this daily. I even see a therapist, nutritionist who specializes in eating disorders and a psychiatrist who also specializes. When I was younger, (7th grade) in order to take back some kind of life control, I spiraled into an anorexic eating disorder. I was counting my calories and was nearly 88 lbs, and for a 7th grader at 5'2, it wasn't what I wanted to be, but I couldn't help it.

My father punished me for it by saying I had "no upper body strength" and since he had military experience, he would then be my drill instructor. I was doing push-ups, burpees, riding the spin bike, and hiding rolls of quarters in my hair for weigh-ins, it was utterly sad. After I moved out and was no longer living with him, I considered all exercise to be punishment. It also didn't help that my thyroid wasn't working correctly, I felt like gained so much, replacing my exercising and food calorie counting addiction to eating all my feelings and refusing to workout due to much anxiety and flashbacks. Soon there after, I found out that it wasn't my fault entirely, Lyme disease, a few sleep disorders, anxiety, and major depression played huge rolls in how I got to this page in my life. I am doing much better now. I still see the doctors and nutritionist and therapists, because I am trying not to fall back into old habits, it would be so easy to. So I must protect myself.

Good luck today! you got this! I am a year out from my surgery and my hope is that I see you on the other side...if you are really nervous, ask your anesthesiologist for versed before heading into the room, if will make you less nervous seeing all those people and also help you not remember if god forbid you accidently metabolize the anaesthesia too quickly. Versed is your friend, as long as you aren't allergic pf course.

Keep us posted, and let us know how it goes! We are rooting for you!

sw: 334
pre-op: 314
cw: 213