Tiffykins

Which acid reducer are you on? If you aren't on a PPI, and just a h2 blocker this could be the issue. If you aren't taking the PPI on an empty stomach, it's decreasing the efficacy. If you're on a PPI, you might need a different one. I had the same exact issue.

At the top right hand corner, you will see a little box with a magnifying glass off to the side. If you'll type in "hair loss", it will pull up every thread/topic that discussing hair loss and you can read many people's experiences. A lot of have repeated the same post. I do it because I know it's nice to hear, but if you want to get a lot of veterans and people that don't post anymore, I suggest using the search feature. There's tons of Hair loss topics on the forum. It's the most popular discussion next to gas, poops, and how terribly miserable the 3 week stall is for post-opers.

Oh chickee, believe me, I know exactly how you feel. I had hair that all my friends envied. Men loved my thick, coarse wavy locks, but I lost it. If you look through my before/during and after pics you can really see the changes. And, yes, my stylist did tell me no coloring, highlighting, heavy heat processing during the shedding. No ponytails were the biggest thing so I sported a ballcap A LOT. In the grand scheme of things, I'll take losing the hair with losing the back fat ! ! ! It is temporary, it does grow back. But, it takes time, and it's one of the cons, but for me, it was way worth it to go from a size 22/24W to a size 2 at the expense of some of my hair. Believe me, no one noticed my hair once I started dropping weight.

I need your email or Facebook or something, I"ve been posting randomly, and just kind of hit or miss. I can clue in you on what's going on with me. . . It's NOT VSG related at all ! ! !

I love wraps, and during my losing stage I did skip the tortillas and used romaine lettuce hearts, or other hearty lettuce varieties instead of tortillas.

I'm 20 months out. At 3.5 months, my hair started falling out in huge amounts. I lost 1/2 of my hair by volume, by 5 months post-op, I had regrowth coming in. I never had bald spots, but you could definitely tell it was thin on top. There is absolutely nothing that will stop the hair loss. Ensuring that you get in your Protein helps with recovery and regrowth, but it's not going to stop the loss. There's plenty of people that never struggled to get in protein and lost hair for longer and in more quantities than I ever did. My shedding significantly slowed down, and almost stopped by 6.5-7 months out. I had gallbladder surgery at 8 months post-op and about 2 months post-gb removal, I had shedding again although not as severe as post-sleeve. I used folicure extra care shampoo to help with regrowth. I never took Biotin on a regular basis which is supposed to help with regrowth as well, but I never did. Zinc levels are also supposed to help with regrowth, but my zinc levels were always normal post-op, and never had any deficiencies in any of my labs. My hair has grown back in about 2/3 of it's pre-op luster and thickness. The big change is that pre-op, I had super wavy, natural body, almost curly hair. The new growth has grown in stick straight, and my hair still lacks body, but it's nothing that a little mousse and creative blow-drying doesn't resolve. Here is an article that explain the hair loss. It is a combination of anesthesia, trauma to the body, and significant dietary changes: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1071566-overview

I don't want to shatter your dreams, BUT, a huge driving force for me to have surgery was so I could conceive. Here I am almost 20 months post-op and 12 months of TTC, and I'm not pregnant after losing over 140lbs, I'm still having trouble getting pregnant. I have normal cycles between 28-29 days, nothing physically is wrong with me. I am actually 8 days late, but my serum blood test came back negative with slightly elevated hcg levels, but not high enough to say YES PREGNANT, 4 urine tests all negative, and I have to have another blood serum test on Monday to see if my levels get higher. 1 of 2 things is happening: I'm super early in a pregnancy, or I'm about to start and it can't be considered a viable pregnancy, but I'll need to endure a DNC to make sure that if I was pregnant, that everything is taken care of.. Either way it sucks. My doctor did pull hormone levels to make sure all is well there, but I won't have the results from those test for a week. Sorry to be a "debbie downer", but I wanted to give you my story. I've given up at this point. My body has been through hell and back, and the one thing I want more than anything isn't happening.

All the concerns your surgeon here stated have been and continue to be my concerns for this surgery. I had horrific scar tissue from my little bitty band, I can't imagine the amounts of scar tissue that would heal over after heavy suturing that is needed to perform this surgery. Plus, pleating the stomach with other procedures like the ROSE procedure have failed miserably. I hate the marketing of the this surgery, I really hate marketing in general, but after your story, and a few others that are not happy with their results, and lack of restriction and continued ravenous hunger, I just hope that other people really consider the long term issues with this surgery. I know the "sleeve" is new to WLS world, but gastrectomies have been performed for decades upon decades. I truly hope you get a referral to someone that has experience. Unfortunately, I have not heard back from the other plication patient that contacted me several months ago. I did send her a link to your OH profile in the event you are contacted. I'm not willing to give out her personal information because she did come to me in confidence, and I would hate for her to feel that was "telling her story" behind her back when she specifically ask that I not share her contact name on there.

I could have it at around 2 months out. It's my biggest (always has been) slider food. It slides right through, no restriction, no feeling of it being there. I'm not a huge fan of it, but get a hankering for it occasionally. I buy the 100 calorie packs on those rare occasions, and I can eat 2-3 of those 100 calories without a single blink of restriction.

I firmly believe that digestion starts in the mouth so even with mushies, I chewed the food. I sit my utensil down in between each bite, and chewed, chewed, chewed. Of course, I had most of this "learning curve" beat because with the band, I felt like I needed to chew Water. You really just have to mentally slow down. Count your bites if you have to so you can remember. Once you get to meats, you'll really notice a difference in chewing well, and half-assing it. When food goes down that isn't chewed up, it isn't pleasant, and you won't want to repeat it. It's just changing habits, and it does take time, but you can do it ! ! ! Plus, it's a not a forever thing. The only time I chew, chew, chew, chew now is when I want to fit extra food in. I take regular bites, and chew like a normal person.

Stalls happen. You mentioned snacking on crackers and having potatoes. Have you been tracking your actual intake to make sure you getting enough calories, Protein and carbs? If you aren't getting in enough, your weight loss can stall especially if you're working out. If you are eating too many carbs, and not enough protein, you might lose like you want to lose. You may have to evaluate the amount of calories are coming from protein, and the amount coming from carbs and fat. Every individual is different, but if you want the losing to pick up again, try shaking up something. Cut carbs, increase protein, increase clear fluids, and move more are the same things I tell everyone that posts about stalling.

I think recognizing our own food issues really helps. BUT, with that said, don't think any surgery will prevent you from binging. If your an addict, you'll find a way to eat around your surgery. I know people say the sleeve "fixed" their issues, but those demons may only lay dormant for X amount of weeks or months. Then, all of it can rear it's ugly head again. Emotionally, it can be a huge battle, and if you can find a support group and/or therapist to help transition and find other coping mechanisms to deal with your emotional connection with food. I still never have physical hunger, but that doesn't mean I am without cravings or "want" for food. Sure, during my losing stage it was different. I was so focused on losing and getting in enough Protein, but now I can easily eat 2-3 times more food than what I could at 2-4 months post-op. So, the choice to put the best foods in my body still falls on my brain, and NOT my stomach. I"m further out, and it's easier to eat junk food because that stuff slides right on down without issue. I didn't really have cravings, or head hunger through my losing stage. I wasn't ever really an emotional or compulsive eater. I just loved food, and still to this day love food. I have found ways to eat around the restriction of the sleeve so it's not as easy as it was early out to make the "best choice". You will be able to binge on certain foods, and I think that's something that you will have to work on mentally. No amount of restriction keeps me from sucking down a 3000 calorie milkshake. I have to make the conscious decision/choice to NOT pull into the Sonic drive-in and grab a large order of tots and Reese's blast.

They are my enemy. I do not have the "eat carb, crave carb" thing, but I can state without hesitation that I do gain, or can't lose when I eat carbs. I also noticed that since eating carbs some of my belly fat has returned. My fat has redistributed, and it's all returned to my lower belly. I really do have to watch carb intake because I gain weight. Not huge amounts, but when I hover around 129lbs instead of my normal 125lbs, I can pinpoint it down to my choices in what I put in my mouth. I'm considering doing a carb purge, and going all protein again just to lose a few pounds.

One them posted her story on OH last year sometime during the summer, and I did not bookmark it because the plication wasn't being marketed, and I honestly never thought it would be marketed as rampantly as it has been. One lady that I had spoken to in depth because she was a revision patient, never shared her story because she felt like she would be "chastised" and only spoke to me about in confidence on OH via private messages and email. She didn't want to scare newbies, and she didn't want other patients coming after her like they did when she started posting about a revision from the band. I have not spoken to her in about 3 months because she had recovered, and she wanted to "move on". I will, however, message her on OH to see if I can her to reply and send her your request for contact.

It could be related to your blood pressure dropping as well. Look up orthostatic hypotension and see if your symptoms match the ones listed. It could be any number of things including low blood pressure, anemia, or slight dehydration.

MAN, I can now say that I miss cornbread. Even at almost 20 months out, with an enormous list of slider foods, cornbread is one thing that does NOT work for me. I can not eat it without discomfort. I've tried on several occasions, prepared several different ways, and to no avail, it just doesn't work. I've crumbled it up in chili or Beans, and BAM within 3 bites, I am done, and stuffed and uncomfortable. I can eat an entire cup of chili or beans, but give me a few crumbles of cornbread in it, and I'm lucky to in 1/4 of a cup. Even cornbread stuffing is a no-go for me. . .

I tell everyone that if my husband were to ever be stupid enough to troll around on me, it'd be with a fat chick. He's always dated "thick" girls. I was just the super-sized version of his preference. He met, fell in love, and married me at my heaviest. Not one comment was ever made about my weight until I got skinny. He's admitted he misses my chubbiness. He loves that I feel better, that I am healthier, but he definitely misses the extra cushion. He also said "I fell in love with that 'you' and you've gone off and changed the image I fell in love with." I simply told him, you met me as a redhead, and I'm a brunette, I've been blonde, I wear 10 different shades of lipstick, change my eyeshadow to match the seasons, I have a variety of different style of clothes, and you still love me regardless of those daily changes. So, now you just have to realize that losing weight has only change one part of me. I still have fat on me, I'm still the same woman, just a smaller version of me. He's tried to sabotage me, he's cheered me on when the scale went up 2-3lbs, he was elated when I accidentally shrunk a tiny sweater in the dryer, and it didn't shrink much in width, but it shrunk up length-wise and it's too short for my liking (if I raise my arm, my muffin top does not need to make an appearance). He would love for me to be around 160-175lbs again, and we all know that AIN'T happening. No way, no how. It's a weird place to be with my husband. It's changed our dynamic, and our relationship has grown because of these changes. We've worked through insecurities on both sides. I need a lot more reassurance now than I did back then, he needs more reassurance because he hears "man, your wife has a bangin' little body" from guys he works with. Obviously, they didn't even notice me at 270lbs. So, it's a weird place to be, but we communicate through most of it. Other times, when he's being insecure, I just tell him to stop hiking his leg on my thigh, and to relax. I'm not going to leave him just because I"m skinny.

Even at almost 20 months out, I avoid celery, and other "stringy" fruits for this exact reason. I think my "transit time" has slowed down tremendously from what it was early out. Just meaning, foods hang out longer than they did before. Especially dense Protein, and I can eat 4oz of steak, and still have food in my stomach 2 hours later. I can feel it when I drink after my meal. I'm petrified of eating celery. I'm not a huge fan of coconut, and have a tiny amount in some German chocolate cake frosting. I think I've had it on a couple of occasions post-op, and I chewed it to literally nothing, but still couldn't get it out of my head that I was going to have issues.

What really bothers me about "regain stats" on any of the surgeries with the exception of the band, is that it truly falls back on US. Not the surgery, not the lack of restriction. It still boils down to food choices. With the band, I had regain because I could NOT eat decent food to save my life. I had to eat sliders to get food in so I turned to slider type foods just to get basic nutrition in in some form. I ate chicken/tuna salad back then like it was going out of style, but I still struggled with the meat. The reason I would take the band out of the equation is because 2/3rd of the time, it can back to band complications, lack of restriction, and overall band failure, NOT patient failure. With VSG, and RNY, it really does fall back on us and the decision making process in regards to what we choose to eat. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I can easily suck down a 3000 calorie milkshake, and luckily I have the support and knowledge I need to NOT make that decision. I know if I were to get into a bad cycle of food choices, my body would/will suffer. I'll mentally be "off", and I focus on making the best choice, but I'm human, and I really want to make this successful. Also, if there is not a lot of support, follow-up, I could see how there could be more regain. Surgery is just the first step, it's the continued support, knowledge and coping mechanisms that really give us all the upper hand on keeping our weight off. That's just my 2cents on weight regain. Irene- my surgeon has the same stats except he gives a 10-15% regain. By the stats, I've already had the 10% regain from my lowest weight of 119lbs. I will say that I got that low because I was on Wellbutrin and tried to quit smoking, lost all of my appetite on top of not being hungry, and eating was a chore. I purposely gained a little weight. And, now I'm floating around 125-130lb. I was a deadly statistic being morbidly obese so I don't mind being a part of the 10% regain stat on VSG. I think self-awareness, and being able to recognize our own triggers is the biggest key to success. Knowing what got us to morbid obesity, and having a good support system in our corner, really gives us the fighting chance to beat the odds on regain.

I'm so elated for you and hitting that fabulous goal ! ! ! Cheers to many more victories in your near future.

It took my body 4-5 months to settle around 125, and now I bounce around between 125-130. Goals can be adjusted as you go, and how your body feels. I wasn't prepared to continue to lose weight. I was content at 150lb, heck I was ecstatic at 175, but I can say that I had to "let go" and realize my body would settle wherever it was comfortable. It took a few months to accept, and realize that I was going to be 125ish lbs. I admit that I always said a little regain wouldn't bother me, BUT let me tell ya, I see 130lbs on the scale and I kind of get freaked out. I think it's the old mindset of "holy crap, I'm gaining weight". In reality, it's Water weight, and I can go back to the basics, and follow the rules, stick to my "better choices", and I can lose weight really easily. Once you get to maintenance, you can reevaluate things, and figure out what works best for your body.

Celebratevitamins.com this is the Multivitamin I am on currently: https://www.celebratevitamins.com/shop/multivitamin/multi-complete.html Here's the calcium citrate plus 500 https://www.celebratevitamins.com/shop/calcium/calcium-plus-500.html Since the multi has Iron, I can't take it within 2 hours of the calcium since iron impedes the absorption of calcium. So, I either take 1 calcium or 1 multi in the morning, repeat around lunch, then before dinner I take the opposite of one that I took in the morning, and then before bed I take another one. I only need 1000mg of calcium citrate per day. You can email Celebrate, and tell them you had VSG, they will send you samples of the vitamins. I like the Berries and Cream and the Cherry Tart in the Calcium Citrate Plus 500, and the Forest berry is the only flavor in the Multi, and it's yummy. I will say these chewables are different than other chewables I've used. When I chew them up, they start dissolving so there isn't a lot of crud stuck in your teeth, or any lingering after taste. They are chewable so there is some texture, but not like Tums or too chalky. I do like the little chewy Calcet Creamy Bites, but at 35-40 calories and 5-7grams of carbs per chewy creamy bite, that's 80 calories, and up to 14grams of carbs because we need at least 2 of them per day. So, they were not worth it to me in the losing stage.

Thank you all so very much ! ! ! I'm so happy that I can share this with y'all. . . As we all know, our families really don't understand, they just don't "get it" even though they try ! ! ! I appreciate y'all so much ! ! !

Here's an article on gummy vitamins: http://www.livestrong.com/article/316920-concerns-on-gummy-vitamins/ Most of them do not have Iron which is really vital for us. Check the label, and check with your doctor.

Thank you so much, we'll scoot over for ya on the loser's bench ! ! !