Ima Fox

I am 7 months post op. I also HAD very thick hair but at about month 3 my hair was coming out by the handfuls. I read on here that this sometimes happens and usually between 3-9 months.
I was seriously afraid that I was going to have huge bald Patches but that has not happened. My Hair loss has slowed down quite a bit thank goodness. I am taking 4 Biotin a day, 2 in the morning and 2 at night as my nails are brittle and skin is overly dry.
I had my hair cut and colored yesterday and expressed my frustration to the stylist who assured me that my hair is indeed growing back in the form of thousands of baby hairs. (The little flyaway hairs that are less than an inch long and stick straight up). She had a hard time getting them all covered. We added a few more layers so they would blend and of course those little ones once they get to be a couple of inches long will add the illusion of volume, so, there is hope on the horizon. It does come back. Be patient, do what you can and keep your chin up. The weight loss is SO VERY WORTH IT. I would gladly wear a wig if it came to it in order to be healthy and hot again, LOL

I'll be 4 months post op on the 13th. I have very, very thick hair. Or had. It started just before 3rd month. It's severe but mostly only me notices. I've been taking Bioten since 2 months preop. I've been using Biotin Shampoo all along. None of that helped. It's also drier, frizz ire and breaks easier. I added Fish Oil about 3 weeks ago. Just had my labs done and everything was good except B12 and ferretin. It's coming out in big handfuls when wet and sheds all day. I was flat out depressed for about a week. But I've just accepted it. With the rate of growth on my face, legs, underarms and "down there", there ain't no way it's not gonna grow on my head eventually!!!! My NP said the average loss starts at 3 months and ends about 9 or 10 months. The growth cycle for hair is 90 days. I did read that anemia makes it worse? So even though my Iron was ok, my other labs that are low contribute to anemia, so maybe, getting a handle on that might help me??? I don't know. 78 pounds gone is worth it. I have 80 to go. I just pray it comes back. Glad to hear that some have had improvement.

I was blessed with A LOT of hair. I started to loose hair like crazy but only I could tell because of the freakishly crazy amount of hair I have. (part ape I think LOL) but I started with B12 injections then started with Biotin. I take that every other day, not super religious on it because it causes me to have really bad breakouts but helps with the regrowth of my hair. I just recently had a trim, got it thinned out because the new growth made it super thick again. And only took 1/2 inch off. Which felt better, I usually have short hair through the summer but I am going through this transition and want to have long hair for a while. I also use a Shampoo that helps with breakage and Hair loss which helps a lot as well. Its all normal to loose hair with this surgery because you put your body in such a shock. Your hair will come back, it takes some time. Good luck!

I started shedding at 3 months and it continued into the 6th month - it's slowing down now, but OMG, it's horrifying the amount of hair I lost. Like you, I would look at what I lost in the shower and almost cry. I would look on the bathroom floor after I did my hair and was amazed that there was more hair on the floor!
So here are some things I did...
I went with a shorter cut - It masked the Hair loss for me.
I started using Nioxin Shampoo and scalp therapy - it has a drying affect on my scalp, so I would use a moisturizing shampoo a couple of times a week as well.
With my doctor's OK, I started taking Biotin and Folic Acid.
I purchased Toppik - it works just like the videos on line show. It seems expensive, but I am still using the small bottle I originally purchased.
I believe that the steps above are not going to help anyone with the shedding or losing of hair, it's going to help with the new growth. I can see new growth and lots of it. I'm not losing as much every day as I was, so things are getting better.
My doc said, "Whatever you lose due to the surgery, will grow back." I can see that.
Best of luck to you!

Hi sleevers had mine July 1 still trying to get used to this new life. I want to go out and about but Im afraid to venture out alone due to the low energy. I manage to get around in the house mild cooking for my teenagers washing dishes but no heavy chores.Its hard getting down these Protein Shakes. I currently drink Isopure ready made shakes because prior to surgery they taste good to me but now that is not the case.My nutritionist suggest I try a different kind so I ordered a sample kit from Unjury will let you all know if its all the rave.I am afraid to weigh myself I'm trying to wait until my
first post op visit.Really tired of liquids and it is so hard to take my Vitamins and other pills its such a chore I just dump them in yogurt one at a time.Good luck future sleevers.

Hi! I was sleeved on July 1 in puerto vallarta mexico as a self pay. At the time of surgery, my BMI was. 34.86. I'm short (5.0) and carry my weight in the mid section. I am happy to report that I had zero complications from surgery. I woke up, walked around, and felt pretty good. I spent additional days in PV and was able to do a lot of walking with my family with no problems at all. I started full liquids today and had cream of broccoli Soup which was yummy. I also started my Premier Protein shakes.

Hey folks. I was looking to set up a thread for July 2014 sleevers. I believe the other threads were originally back in 2013.
I just had my surgery on July 2. I'm SO glad I did this. My breaking point was being diagnosed with high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and a host of other problems. I put on another 30 pounds from October to February of this year. I was a good 185 and quit smoking. I ballooned up to 305. I'm self pay and I got to 278 during my pre-surgery.
Since the surgery, I don't think I've been hungry, but I'm still dealing with the healing process. My first postop is Thursday. My only complaint is the low energy level. I knew it was coming, but wow.
I'd like to hear from those who started their life change this month. I am also hoping this can be a thread we can keep tabs on each other, as well as provide motivation when we need it

The cheapest place I found was Amazon, if I bought enough for free shipping or bought the Prime-eligible items (I have Amazon Prime). Another cheap place for Syntrax Nectar is http://luckyvitamin.com - great prices plus free shipping on orders over $49.

i like "my bariatric pantry". you can get either the samples or the containers. they cost a couple dollars more on this site, but they are ALWAYS in stock and are shipped usually next day. really fast. some other sites you risk having things out of stock

i have fears for sure but I don't want to stay huge like I am currently. I am almost always hungry &
can really put it away. I usually eat once a day. I'm looking forward to not being hungry all the time. That will help the cause. I start pre-op diet in the morning! 2 weeks until the surgery! Send good vibes!!!

i have fears for sure but I don't want to stay huge like I am currently. I am almost always hungry &
can really put it away. I usually eat once a day. I'm looking forward to not being hungry all the time. That will help the cause. I start pre-op diet in the morning! 2 weeks until the surgery! Send good vibes!!!

i have fears for sure but I don't want to stay huge like I am currently. I am almost always hungry &
can really put it away. I usually eat once a day. I'm looking forward to not being hungry all the time. That will help the cause. I start pre-op diet in the morning! 2 weeks until the surgery! Send good vibes!!!

Been there did that for a year, had great success until it stopped working...which it eventually will. When it does your clinic will start coming up with new "cocktails" to try to achieve similar results. My experience with those "cocktails"
Jittery
Nervousness
Irregular menstrual cycle
Cranky
Suicidal thoughts
Other self-destructive patterns including bulimia
My advice would be to avoid taking them. Phentermine was the mildest of what they gave me, but it still affected me in ways I didn't realize. I lost 60lbs, but when it stopped working I started gaining again. The "cocktails" helped me maintain the loss, but I simply got tired of taking so many pills everyday and wondered what the long term side effects would be, especially with the side effects I was already getting from them. Long story short, when I stopped pill popping I gained those 60 pounds back and they brought along 22 of their friends. Who wants to take pills for the rest of their lives? Not me! Heck, I take liquid Vitamins now because they are more like a treat for me with the band more than anything else. The only benefit I got out of the whole experience is that I wasn't required to do a supervised weight loss program before getting my band since I had gone through that ordeal. Good luck, but RUN!

This is so normal, we all love food, love to eat, we wouldn't be overweight if we didn't. For me, I am an emotional eater, especially a carb lover. I had my surgery a month ago, and trust me, your relationship with food will change. I have yet to even desire a piece of bread or Pasta or rice, my three most favorite things. I never imagined that this surgery would actually change my taste for things, but it has. Don't get me wrong , you have to work at it . But this tool helps out so much! When you see results, it helps even more to stay track. I'm only a month out so I'm no expert, but for me, I'm doing greater than I expected! You can too, if I can stick to program, anyone can.

Tear Bear, I just started this journey so I can't speak about the other side. I do have some of the same worries...in fact Monday was my first nutrition session and she asked...so what are your triggers....for me being tired, happy, sad, celebratory, bored...I could go on and on...I don't need a reason to eat! I Just.Like.Food.
For me, I'm using the 3 month supervised diet period to work on my triggers and begin my new relationship with food. I look at surgery as an opportunity to develop a Brand New Relationship with food. It's not lost on me that the diet after surgery is very similar to a baby....liquids, mushies, soft food and then real food.
I can tell you that I was surprised by how freeing having the nutritionist give me specific targets for calories, carbs and Protein...I don't have to wing it anymore!
So, I kinda rambled in this one....I think worries are natural, healthy and will occur all along the way. For me, I'm more worried about having a healthy life with my grandkids and my husband...just sayin You can do it!

Knowing that you have tendency to overeat is a major step. From there you figure out what you want to do about it. Are you going to give in or are you going to take control. I myself, I want to be healthy and I am not going to lie I want to look good and feel good. Are you willing to make yourself miserable to continue overeating? We all know from everything we have read and been told the band is going to let you know when you aren't complying with the program. It's okay to be afraid but don't let that fear move you away from the confidence it took to make such and important decision.

I'm a week out of surgery and I have to set the timer on my phone for 15 minute intervals, so I don't forget to eat. Totally different experience for me. I'm use to chewing my toenails, so I won't eat. I'm only a week out, so not an expert at all, but don't worry about the eating. It won't be a dilemma. Your new stomach will give you the big "NO", if you want to overeat.

Protein shots are great - the 42g grape ones are so thick you can add them to 8-12oz Water and make it a nice fruity drink. I used powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored Protein and it's everything it's cracked up to be...just don't add it to anything hot or you'll have clumps. Mix it with cold things and then heat it up instead. Unjury chicken Soup flavored protein is also very yummy! Again, mix it cold then heat it up.

How frustrating!
I am sure you have tried it all, but in case you haven't - low carb and shorter duration, high intensity exercise are the key for me. That is not in the standard portfolio of all nutritionalists, so I thought I would throw it out there. Truth is that it is hard to lose weight once you have been obese. Sleeve helps many of us... alot... but it still took that kind of modification for me, especially as the BMI gets lower.
I lost weight just from eating less at first. Once I got under 200# I stopped losing and would not have gone down to 140# without the low carb. That is just me and my unlucky metabolism.
What would bother me the most is how do you know that being "resleeved" will make things better? Did they find something functionally wrong with your sleeve?
I hope you find your answers - do not give up!

Completely normal. Sad to say. But it will get better gradually. Also there is nothing stopping you from staying on mushy/puréed longer. My surgeon/nut said not to worry if cannot progress right away. Take your time.

Please try to stick to your doctors recommended diet. You just had surgery that removed 80% of your stomach. Everything is pretty swollen and numb. Key word being "numb" so you might not feel the potential damage you are doing by advancing your diet before time. Trust me you don't want to end up with a complication or a leak because you have no self control. The reason they have you on liquids is because upsetting your sleeve and throwing up at this time can cause a bleed or a leak. Keep that in mind next time you think you might be hungry. I've been sleeved for almost 2 years it does get better as the days go by.. Chin up I'm here if you have questions or encouragement.

Hi all! I was sleeved 4/7/14. My HW 239.5, SW 225 CW 187, future goal 140. Here are some pics.

Thanks for sharing your story of victory. It is really encouraging and shows how this thing you have seemingly done for yourself and your health has a positive ripple effect into the world. When we improve ourselves, it makes the world a better place. Wishing you continued success.

Hi everyone! I don't come around as much as I used to (Or should!!!), but I wanted to pop in and post an update on how I am doing. I am about 18 months post op. My highest weight was 206, and my lowest weight was 112. I reached goal of 125 lbs about 10 months after surgery, but I continued to lose. I have regained a little (I needed to, my butt disappeared). I'm at about 118-119 lbs right now. I'm wearing a size 2 in most brands. I wish I could say that I know the road ahead looks easy, but it doesn't at all. I will have to kick and fight my way ahead if I want to maintain this weight. I don't really rely on "restriction" much anymore. I can't eat as much as I could before surgery, but believe me, I can still put the food away! Just takes a little longer. since I was trying to regain a little, I wasn't watching my intake as much, and am pretty shocked sometimes at the amount I can eat. I did recently (two months ago) come off of my birth control (May get back on it), but I notice my appetite is pretty intense right before my period and I'm also able to eat more during this time (less restriction). Not sure why, but it is noticeable. Junk food is so easy to eat. So easy. And actually all food is pretty easy for me...I never had any issues eating anything. To this day I can eat bread and Pasta without a second thought. Nothing makes me sick. I haven't weighed my portions in a while, I'm at a point where I can eyeball things. If I were to guess, I'd say I can eat 8 ounces Protein and a side. But I get hungry very quickly. Usually within an hour I am hungry again, regardless of what I eat. It must go through my system so much faster than before surgery. Because even before surgery, my last meal stayed with me longer than it does now. The full feeling I have now isn't the same feeling as it was right after surgery or even at a year post op. Instead of a really painful pressure, like not a single bite more will fit, it's now kind of like just a normal full feeling similar to before surgery (but of course I reach that feeling sooner now). I'm not sure if it's because I've learned to stop eating at the right time, but I think it's more that my stomach has relaxed a lot and this is just how it is now. I do miss the painful restriction feeling. I'm still glad I chose to have the surgery. It wasn't easy but it's been rewarding and at the end of the day I can't sit down and eat an entire large pizza anymore, and I think that's a very great thing. I hope you all are doing well!! - jenny

I had surgery June 2 and by mid week last week, my energy was basically back to normal. You may need to pass on some activities if you are still experiencing the after-surgery fatigue. Go no where without a well-chilled Protein Shake in a cooler and lots of Water. You don't ever know what will be available and that should keep you comfortable. Have fun!