BettyG

Just placed my order -- yay! Can't wait till it gets here.
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I just read this whole thread and I'm so inspired by your journey! Keep up the great work! You look great on that horse -- was that on your list of things to do when you lost weight?
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Great reminder about the importance of fiber! It is being called a "pre-biotic" and should be used along with pro-biotics. I had GI issues for many years due to frequent antibiotics. Probiotics and Fiber helped heal my gut.
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Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
I can't use wheat bran because I'm intolerant to gluten, but I hope that adding a Fiber supplement like Metamucil to my Protein shake will help.
I'm worried about taking MiriLax every day forever -- the bottle says to not use it long-term.
I need to add walking, that's a good idea. This high-fiber/low-carb/low-fiber diet coincided with getting really sick (flu then Migraine, now a cold) so I haven't been exercising.
I do drink lots of Water -- at least 7-9 glasses a day (plus 12-24 oz almond milk in Protein shakes and herbal tea).
I don't like prune juice (so sweet, ugh) but it is effective so maybe I will have to start using it.
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I'm still such a noob to this site that I can't figure out how to post a link to another thread. :-(. But about Hair loss, I wrote a thread called:

Post-Surgery hair Loss Explained

If you search you can probably find it. Hair loss after major surgery is normal, temporary, and your dermatologist calls it "telogen effluvium." You don't need Biotin, just keep your Protein up and it will grow back. :-)

And remember: the fact that it is falling out in handfuls a few months after surgery means that new hair is growing in the follicle. New hair is what causes the old hair to come out. The day the large chunk of your hair went into "rest" was the day of your surgery -- no biotin now will affect what happened that day. I've been through post-surgery (and major illness) hair loss three times so far now and it has always grown back just fine.


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Hi funke, I haven't had my bypass yet but I had 3 other (non-bariatric) major abdominal surgeries (one open and two laparoscopic) -- I am very shocked that you are running 5 miles only 6 weeks after surgery. Are you 100% sure that your surgeon has released you to do that vigorous of exercise? Running jars your insides sharply each time your weight lands on a foot. You don't want to rip any stitches or staples.
It's entirely possible that you are stressing your body so much that it is in a panicked-starvation-mode hanging on to the safety net of fat for dear life. Have you considered dialing back your exercise to gentle walking 5 days a week and focusing on getting good nutrition? Are you getting the amount of Protein per day that your doctor wants?
Also, a plateau at 3 weeks post is common, so I hear. Our body manages our weight by defending a "set point" -- as we lose we periodically hit "plateaus" as our body adapts to a new set point.
Hang in there -- I'm sure that you will lose again soon! :-).
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What wonderful feedback! You are getting me excited. I also look forward to fitting into chairs again. Not having chairs/couches cut off the circulation in the back of my thighs.
I miss shopping at Eddie Bauer...can't wait to do that again!
I look forward to finally taking that paragliding lesson that I've wanted to...
And one word come summer: SHORTS!
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To those of you like me who are pre-op or just recently post-op, what are you most looking forward to about losing weight?
I have battled my weight since a small child so it's hard for me to even imagine what it will be like to be thin (or at least: not obese). I'm looking at pics and trying to remember the brief windows of normal weight when I was a teen or early 20s (I'm 42 now).
* I want to have a WAIST again. I used to wear BELTS when I was 14. I can't wrap my head around this but I'm trying to believe its possible for me....
* I want to wear heels again (sometimes, when I feel like it)
* I'm looking forward to not walking into a room on defensive, feeling at a disadvantage because I am a "fat woman" -- I want to walk into a room and meet new people and just be me
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To those of you like me who are pre-op or just recently post-op, what are you most looking forward to about losing weight?
I have battled my weight since a small child so it's hard for me to even imagine what it will be like to be thin (or at least: not obese). I'm looking at pics and trying to remember the brief windows of normal weight when I was a teen or early 20s (I'm 42 now).
* I want to have a WAIST again. I used to wear BELTS when I was 14. I can't wrap my head around this but I'm trying to believe its possible for me....
* I want to wear heels again (sometimes, when I feel like it)
* I'm looking forward to not walking into a room on defensive, feeling at a disadvantage because I am a "fat woman" -- I want to walk into a room and meet new people and just be me
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Oh wow that is wonderful! That is a major goal for me: to someday be merely overweight instead of obese. Congrats!!
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This is a *brilliant* idea! My surgery will be in 2017 -- PLEASE keep posting this calendar each month to facilitate surgery buddies for future months too? (And congrats to all the December folks!)
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This is a *brilliant* idea! My surgery will be in 2017 -- PLEASE keep posting this calendar each month to facilitate surgery buddies for future months too? (And congrats to all the December folks!)
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I just read this whole thread and I'm so inspired by your journey! Keep up the great work! You look great on that horse -- was that on your list of things to do when you lost weight?
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

Dear OP,
I had guilt for a long time too. It took a while for me to accept that obesity is a disease. I was ashamed of my size. Embarrassed by my lack of self control. I saw myself eating larger portions than skinny people and hated myself for it. I didn't realize the biological factors, such as how the body defaults to maintaining weight so I had 300-lb hunger that my 150-lb friends had never experienced.
I don't think that overeating or being slightly overweight is a disease, but obesity is. And to the people who just say "put down your fork and go to the gym" I reply with this: "That is like telling an anorexic who has been battling their disease for decades to the point of almost death that they should just 'eat more and exercise less' -- clearly there is more to the problem." (Otherwise... alert the media: I just cured anorexia! LOL)
I think that the development of obesity is a complex combination of genetics, upbringing, environment, and triggers. I accept personal responsibility for poor choices at the outset that set me down this path. But I also know that I have done 100% best effort to fix this on my own and I need help (I counted calories and exercised and worked with a nutritionist and lost 91 lbs back in 2012-2013.... but since then I gained when I was put on a certain medicine, then when I underwent trauma, and then again during a period of horrific stress...but when I was losing I devoted my life to the endeavor and gave it my all...it was heartbreaking for me that despite losing 91 lbs I still was in the Obese 2 category....and now I gained 60 lbs of it back).
Just like alcoholism or an eating disorder like anorexia, the causes are complex and the recovery takes dedicated effort. That is why insurance and the clinic requires us to meet with a psychologist and take classes and work with nutritionists and why we need to find a support group and a community such as here on BariatricPal -- we have the best chance of success which a support system to help us learn new skills, recover from obesity, and maintain our success.
I think that I will always be an "obesiac" -- just like someone who is 20 years sober is still an "alcoholic" and still goes to meetings and doesn't take their sobriety for granted.... I need to learn to find comfort outside of food and develop and maintain healthy habits for a lifetime. That might be easy at times and challenging at times of stress or upheaval, but I have faith that after I have my bypass and with the support of my friends, I can succeed.
And I feel very proud of that. :-)
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There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers

I just wanted to add that I did a better job vetting my surgeon for my next two surgeries, both of which went quite well. Both surgeons were very supportive and professional.
And now when I decided to do bariatric surgery, my first step was to research bariatric centers and bariatric surgeons. I was leaning towards the clinic/surgeon that are a part of the regional healthcare system that I have used for all of my primary doctor and specialists for the last 6 years. BUT.... I wasn't impressed with the surgeon. He had a bad review on this site. And he was only board certified in general surgery. So I chose a clinic/surgeon in a whole different regional healthcare system -- which meant some of my records had to be transferred over. Well worth it. Both surgeons are board certified in not only general surgery but also bariatric surgery. And they both have done a fellowship in bariatric surgery which is very unique! I met with the surgeon who will do my gastric bypass and I was immediately impressed by her skill, professionalism, and compassion. She listened to me and treated me with respect. I was delighted to find out that she is the only female bariatric surgeon in my state who has done a fellowship in bariatric surgery. I'm convinced I've found the best option for me -- the staff of the bariatric center are wonderful!
Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

There is a lot of misunderstanding about telogen effluvium (post-surgery hair loss), so I thought I would post about it. Even bariatric clinics sometimes don’t understand or explain this condition adequately.
“It is normal to lose up to about 100 hairs a day on one's comb, brush, in the sink or on the pillow. This is the result of the normal Hair growth cycle. Hairs will grow for a few years, then rest for a few months, shed, and regrow. Telogen is the name for the resting stage of the hair growth cycle. A telogen effluvium is when some stress causes hair roots to be pushed prematurely into the resting state.”

”If there is some ‘shock to the system,’ as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 2 months after the ‘shock.’ This sudden increase in Hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls, is acute telogen effluvium.”

“Among the common causes are high fevers, childbirth, severe infections, severe chronic illness, severe psychological stress, major surgery or illnesses, over or under active thyroid gland, crash diets with inadequate Protein, and a variety of medications.”

[Quotes from “Biotin and someone else didn’t doesn’t necessary have anything to do with respective amounts of hair loss. Which leads to…
3. You don’t need to do anything other than get enough protein.
“No treatment is needed for most cases of telogen effluvium. Remember that the hairs fall out when a new hair growing beneath it pushes it out. Thus with this type of hair loss, hair falling out is a sign of hair regrowth” [Telogen Effluvium Hair Loss]. You don’t need to take Biotin. However, failing to meet your prescribed protein goals can also trigger this condition (see quote above about causes: “crash diets with inadequate protein”).
4. You can’t prevent it.
Even if you get adequate protein, major surgery is still a shock to your body. Almost everyone who has bariatric surgery gets some degree of telogen effluvium afterwards. Someone who has lower surgery stress and thick and/or short hair might not even notice telogen effluvium.
As someone who has been through this several times, I can reassure everyone worried about it that the effects are temporary and don’t do any long-term damage! Cheers