Tiffykins

Awww thanks, I was huge at only 5'2" and 270lbs, I was as wide as I was tall.

Here are some other topics on hair loss that can give you some other people's experiences: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1 To answer your specific questions based on my experience: I WANT TO KNW WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN AND HOW LONG FOR - My hair loss started at 3.5 months post-vsg, last a solid 3 months WILL IT COME BACK QUICK ? Nope, it's taken a year for my hair to grow back in, and I would venture to guess that it's only at 3/4 of the volume/fullness it was before I started losing hair. Everyone has a different experience with hair loss. Mine last 3 months, but I know others that it lasted for 9 months. Also, there is no amount of pills, Protein, snake oils that will prevent it. If it happens, it happens. The only thing you can do is help with regrowth.

In all my time on the various WLS forums, I've never met/read about someone's hair NOT growing back. Mine did grow back in, but it grew in different. Pre-op, I had super wavy, almost curly hair. To this day, I have stick straight hair, no more waviness, The natural body, and fullness are back, plus my hair looks super healthy again, but no more waviness. Kind of weird, but it makes styling much easier

Are you tracking your food intake? Those 20-40 calories and 4-8carbs can add up quickly, and grazing is a habit that is difficult to break.I was told to eat 4 meals a day, (no snacks either) consisting of a minimum of 15 grams of protein per meal, no more then 30-40gr of carbs, and I honestly never experienced a true stall. Some weeks I only lost 1 pound, but some weeks I dropped 6-8lbs a week. If you're consuming carbs, I recommend switching to a low carb/high protein snack if you feel you need to eat. I completely agree with the clear fluids comments. If you're not getting in your fluids, water retention can cause stalls. Once you start tracking your food, and if you're consuming the recommended calories/protein/carbs, yet you are still hungry, you might be experiencing reflux. I would get a gnawing twinge within an hour after I ate. I knew it couldn't be true hunger, and after talking to a few VSG'ers that were further out they all said it was possible acid causing false hunger. Talked to my surgeon, went on Prilosec once a day, and within a few days that twingey hunger feeling was gone. I'm still on a PPI, and have zero intentions of getting off of it anytime soon. At over 21 months out, I still never experience true hunger.

The sleeve doesn't really stretch much. It does relax and become more lax the further out you get, but there is a max capacity. I've been eating the same amounts for about a year now. The restriction does change the further out you get, but there is a max to how much you can eat. Personally, I can eat double the amounts I could eat at 2-3 months post-op, but I still can not eat more than 5-6oz of dense protein. I can eat a lot of mushy/sliderish foods, carbs, chips, crackers and such slide right on down without issue.Stalls happen, and most see the first one between 3-6 weeks out. If you aren't tracking your food intake, it's fairly easy and it really gives you exact numbers on what/how much you are consuming. Make sure you are getting in your protein and clear fluids, the scale will move and it probably won't be the first time your weight loss stalls.

Stalls are extremely normal. It's water weight, and your body just adjusting. Take measurements, and then remeasure yourself when the scale doesn't move much.

I never bothered counting bites. I just chewed my food to mush, and I did sit my utensil down in between bites. I never stretched my meals out over 20-30 minutes because this allowed more food to be consumed. I never had to do the "no drinking before meal" since we don't have a pouch, liquids in liquids out, so I drink right up I take that first bite, and then I wait 30 minutes to start drinking. Since I'm so much further out, I do sip with some meals, and it's just enough liquid to wet my whistle. I have drank through a long, multi course social dinner because it's a strategy to avoid anyone questioning me "why aren't you eating?".When it's a special invitation/sponsored by the USO (for myself and my husband)meal at a steakhouse that an average, every day couple drops $200-$300 for their meal, it's pretty difficult to not eat. That's the one situation that sticks out in my mind that I overate with my sleeve. I was over a year out, and I was Thanksgiving day stuffed. So at this particular meal, I did chew everything to mush, my jaw hurt after gnashing through 4 courses of food. Thankfully, I had coffee before the meal, and sipped water during the meal. It was a huge 4-5 course meal, and while I didn't eat 1/4 of what I would have eaten pre-op, I ate a lot of food that night over a 2 hour period. Currently, I take regular sized bites, do not chew my food to mush, and eat like any other regular person. If I want to fit more food in, I chew slower and more to mush consistency, but honestly a steak loses a lot of it's flavor and turns to ickiness if I overchew which takes some of the joy away from the meal.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/3082-any-regrets-getting-the-vertical-sleeve/page__st__60__p__118892__hl__regret__fromsearch__1#entry118892 Here's a really long topic with many members response to the question of regret.

Perfectly normal, it will subside. Invest in a good tongue scraper. It's a side effect of your body going into ketosis with low carb/sugar free stuff. Don't be surprised if your breathe and body odor change as well.

I've had both, and can tell you that the sleeve is far superior to the band. I would highly recommend checking out my blog for information on both. I have 3 entries that are are loaded with VSG information, and one long post on band information that is a study from the makers of the band, and it states that 1 in 4 band patients will have another surgery to either repair, reposition, repair a port issue, remove or revise to another surgery within 3 years. I had every band issue imaginable and it only lasted 8 months before I had to revise to the sleeve. I'm all for personal experiences, but really looking at statistical information, research articles, and scientific evidence helped me in my research stage for my revision. I went with the band first because VSG was not an option. It was RNY or band, and you couldn't pay me to have RNY. You can add me as a friend, and have access to my blog. Also, check out the Revision forum on here. There are tons of us revision patients that had to revise to the sleeve after band complications. Think twice, cut once. If you have specific questions/concerns, please feel free to contact me. I'm 21 months post-vsg and live a very normal, active life with zero food or medication restrictions. No food is off limits, I'm still never physically hungry, and have been maintaining my 135-138lbs loss for nearly a year now.

Our bodies will burn sugar before burning our fat. That's at least how it was explained to me. Also, sugary stuff can irritate the stomach, and while it's only temporary usually sugar intake can cause more gas, diarrhea and discomfort to an already pissed-off digestive system. I was allowed to have juice, diluted and no more than 4oz a day on the clear and full liquid stages. When I was having issues getting in calories, and fluids, and felt dehydration was becoming an issue, I did drink regular gatorade and pedialyte which has a lot of sugar, but I never drank anymore than 6-8oz per day. I needed hydration, and cleared it with my surgeon. It's what I "had" to do, and some guidelines have be tailored to accommodate your specific needs.

If you haven't read this topic, it might be of interest to you since you are researching both procedures. This complication is not new, or rare and is being seen more and more with plication patients. There are a few posts on obesityhelp.com regarding this very complication, and you may want to search around on the VSG and Main forum for more information from those that have endured this specific issue. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/14816-gps-update-important-new-information/page__p__125678__fromsearch__1#entry125678

I missed out on a lot during my 20's due to obesity, and even though I had a very active fun, partying social life, I realize now just how much I missed out on. I had my revision at 32, and while I don't regret waiting, if I could have avoided obesity during my 20's, well I would have been elated to have that opportunity. In the long run, you really have to look at this as a life long commitment. At 18, you have to be mature enough to realize that the big time partying days of drinking heavily, and eating copious amounts of food are over for the most part; unless you want to gain weight. Are you planning on going to college? If so, consider the freshmen 15 that most gain, and if you do not have coping mechanisms in place to deal with stress and college life, are you going to turn to junk food which I'll add slides right on down very easily and those 300 calories creep up like you wouldn't believe. I think it's an amazing opportunity to have VSG early, and avoid a life complicated by obesity and obesity-related conditions/disease, BUT I think you really need to be mentally prepared to accept that your "new way of life" is NOT going to be typical to others in your peer group.

It's kind of tough to find a Protein bar that is high in protein and LOW in carbs. The only ones that I could ever find that weren't overloaded with carbs were the "Oh yeah" wafers. 14gr of protein with 8gr of carbs. The only ones I ever tried were the Peanut Butter chocolate ones, and they were good, but I figured I could get more protein from beef Jerky and cheese without the carbs. http://www.issresearch.com/prod_ohyeahproteinwafer.php

You can stop, but it has to be a choice you make. Either you stop eating or you continue to gain weight. The sleeve only works as long as you do. If you have started just eating whatever, whenever, go back to basics. Protein only from food sources, cut carbs, and start tracking your intake. If you have access to a local support group, start attending the meetings. If you can, find a counselor/therapist that works with bariatric patients to help you. Meeting with a nutritionist isn't a horrible idea either. You've lost weight, that really isn't the tough part of this journey. Maintenance is where the real work kicks in. Unfortunately, the sleeve only does so much, the rest falls on us.

Lisa, you'll do great. All of these "what ifs" are pretty normal. One thing I did was only focus on the positive, and believe me, I had plenty of negatives that I could have dwelt on with my complications and extensive recovery. BUT, I also knew that thinking negatively would simply breed negativity. I was hellbent on being successful, and refused to allow anything stand in my way. Surgery is scary, losing the majority of a major organ is scary, NO DOUBT, but what is scarier is living a life tied to obesity-related diseases and conditions. Best wishes on your surgery ! ! ! We've all scooted over on the loser's bench for ya ! ! !

Just because we can; doesn't mean we should. That's the mantra I lived by through my losing phase. I could have eaten all of those foods, but I chose to really change my relationship with food, and focus on better health. At over 21 months post-op, I can and do eat all of those things you've listed minus the hot dog. The only reason I don't eat those is because they are nothing but fat and fillers. There's better options to fill up my sleeve and I have no desire to eat hot dogs. I didn't eat them pre-op so they aren't appealing now. Moderation is the key, and to be successful, you really have to make the best choice on what you put in your mouth. Don't get me wrong, I do eat anything and everything I want, but I do not eat tons of junk food. Many people that kicked ass and took names during their first 1-2 years see a regain when they just stop watching what they eat. I personally do not know one naturally thin woman that doesn't have to watch what she eats. I surely do not know one single person that could eat like I did pre-op and not gain weight. The sleeve is only as effective as you are willing to make it. I can not sit around eating donuts and hos hos without consequence. I'd gain weight, and that's because of the food choices, not that the sleeve failed. Smaller portions only lasts so long. I still have good restriction, but it's double to triple the amounts I could consume at 2-3 months out.

Many congrats on your success thus far, and you're correct, the karma wheel will spin back her way one day. She sounds like a miserable person, and couldn't be happy for anyone because she's not happy with herself. Keep rockin' your sleeve ! ! !

I'll keep you in my thoughts. I've read a lot of patient that have had very large hiatal hernias repaired along with sleeve surgery. The band wouldn't be a good idea with a hiatal hernia repair either. You may have a slower recovery, and I know of a couple of sleevesters with hiatal hernia repaired that dealt with spasms for a few months post-op, but it resolved, and they are thriving with their sleeves. Do not settle for a surgery that you do not want.

Woot Woot ! ! ! Many congrats.

Hmmm I'm not having that issue, but if it continues and Alex doesn't see this thread, shoot him a message. He's really great with getting to you on technical issues.

Smoking slows down the healing process, and is the leading cause for ulcers post-stomach surgery. When we smoke, the blood vessels constrict, increases chances for blood clots, and impedes healing of our internal incisions and staple line. That all being said, I've quit and returned to smoking 3 times since having my sleeve surgery. It is NOT something that I am proud of, nor do I advocate anyone else doing. I'm back on the "weaning off" method, and working towards my quit date.

I have to applaud Dr. Watkins for bringing this complication to the forefront, and I hope that they find out what is causing this complication. I realize it seemed like a good option, but my concerns about perforations, and the "what if" always lingered when plication hit the scene especially since it was being marketed as the "sleeve killer" or "super sleeve". Complications are possible with any of the surgeries. I realize this, I had a leak as a revision patient so I am a statistic as well, but I knew going in that the band had done it's damage. I knew my risks for a leak had quadrupled since I had a band first. My heart truly goes out to those that have experienced any complications regardless of surgery type. Thank you again Dr. Watkins. I appreciate your honesty, and openness on your opinion on GPS at this time.