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I had surgery 4/9/2012, I was terriried that my hair would fall out. My doctor's office could not stress enough that if you get your protein minimum 64 grams/day you will not loose your hair. I make sure that I get about 80 grams of protein a day buy drinking 64 grms in a protein shake, cottage cheese and yogurt. I have not noticed any hair loss what so ever. I also take the Botin as my doctors suggested. Please up your protein and start taking Biotin it will help.

I am three weeks away from my surgery and it has been a month now that my doctor asked me to start on those vitamins. I have not seem a diference yet and was wondering who else takes them and is it a forever thing?

This is my response to another poster's concern about co-morbidities. I thought it would be helpful to post it here as a separate post. Here is a complete list of co-morbidities that insurance companies use in evaluating your case. I got it from dsfacts.com. DS stands for duodenal switch. Hope this helps. Maybe you will find some you see as familiar. I also provided a heartfelt letter for my packet, which explained why I need the surgery and how my weight and co-morbities were degrading my quality of life. In that letter, I explained when I started gaining weight and listed the diets and exercise programs that have failed me. I told them about family members who have died of conditions on the co-morbities list. I included a list of the medications I am taking for conditions related to my obesity. I shared info about surgeries and joint replacements and other treatments necessary because of my weight. I told them about inconveniences and the adjustments I have had to make to function throughout my day, and how how the weight itself prevents me from an effective and agressive exercise program. Then I closed the letter by explaining how the surgery would drastically improve my quality of life, and thanking them in advance for approving the surgery which would surely extend my life and reduce the need critical medical care in the future. When composing any good presentation, follow these 3 rules: 1. Tell them what you are going to tell them. 2. Tell them. 3. Tell them what you told them. Good luck. Obesity ComorbiditiesTo follow is a list of comorbidities (additional conditions or diseases) related to obesity which may help you in qualifying for weight loss surgery. Family history of heart disease Family history of stroke Family history of diabetes Family history of heart attacks Hyperinsulinemia Diabetes High blood pressure Coronary-artery disease Hypertension Migraines or headaches directly related to obesity or cranial hypertension Congestive heart failure Neoplasia Dyslipidemia Anemia Gallbladder disease Osteoarthritis Degenerative arthritis Degenerative disc Degenerative joint disease Recommended joint replacement from specialist Accelerated degenerative joint disease Asthma Repeated pneumonia Repeated pleurisy Repeated bronchitis Lung restriction Gastroesophageal reflex (GERD) Excess facial & body hair (Hirsutism) Rashes Chronic skin infections Excess sweating Frequent yeast infections Urinary stress incontinence Menstrual irregularity Hormonal abnormalities Polycystic ovaries Infertility Carcinoma (breast, colon, uterine cancer) sleep apnea Pseudotumor cerebri Depression Psychological/sexual dysfunction Social discrimination Premature death For more information on the NIH qualifications for weight loss surgery: Gastrointestinal surgery for severe obesity. Proceedings of a National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference, March 25-27, 1991.

I wanna loose 35 more pounds my goal weight is 130

E is a good thing to know. I seem to have no elasticity in my skin what so ever. I think the only part of me stretch mark free is my pinky toe. I will have to try that. Thanks!

Nope those bad boys are here to stay unless you get cosmetic surgery (in which it usually takes most but not all of the marks away) (think tummy tucks, arm tucks) etc. Creams help some, but it only diminishes the appearance not erases it. And Mis is right, losing weight makes the skin fold where you have stretch marks...as if it wasnt bad enough ey

Hi. I 'm Kelly and I am 39 years old. Today, Dec 29, 2010, is post op day 2 from my VSG with Dr Pennings in Post Falls, Id. I decided to have this surgery vs a RNY or band because I wanteed to keep "my plumbing" as natural as I could and I didn't want a foreign body inside of me for the next 40 years. My OMG weight was 309 lbs. Before starting the 10% I had to loose before the surgery I was at 292. The day of my surgery I was 258.4. So why didn't I continue with the liquid pre-op diet and loose all my weight that way? Because it is an all liquid diet. I was having alot of what I call head hunger and was getting closer and closer to giving in to it. (oh I feel like eating a chesseburger, fries and a milkshake and not the protein shakes I was suppose to be drinking or treating myself to food for losing weight!??) My biggest issue today is that I have bloating and gas. So much that I can't even drink water without belching. I just got back from the pharmacy with some Gas-X thin strips and I hope they help. I also am extreemly restless. I am not sure if that is because of the gas or from the pain, stool softners or carafate I am taking. Anyone else have this problem??

hey yall; my name is anna. ive been lurking around your web sight for about three weeks. WOW!!! So much info. I live in California. I started struggling with my weight in jr. high. I managed to loose most of my weight in highschool in very unhealthy ways. But by the time i was 19 i had gained all and more back. After i had my daughter it has become impossible to get down to a healthy weight on my own. My family all struggles with weight. I look at my 60 year old gramdma and my 45 year old mother and just want to do something about it now while i am still in my 20's. I am 4'10" and 160 pounds( but i go up and down all the way to 175). My ideal wieght according to medical charts is somewhere between 90-110 pounds, but i would be thrilled to be at 120. So only 40 pounds to go. Probably doesnt seem like much to those of u who arnt leperchons, but at 4'10" its mor like 80 pounds to a normee. Thank you all for sharing your expeiances and emotions. It really takes a strong person to share so much (even your pictures). This is by far the best web sight that i have found and the first one that i have posted messages on. Still going to do alot more research and go through the old threads before making a desision on a doctor in Mexico. Till next time...Bandit :bandit

I can tolerate some skins, like on potatoes or stone fruits, etc but I cant eat apple skins. I had the same worries though - I read everything on here and here there is a very protein focussed trend, it really worried me since to me a chicken breast and a few vegetables does not make a healthy meal - personally I consider the vegetables the more important of the two foods. I have continued to eat my way, I'm in Australia and we're not given the same guidelines anyway. Guess what? There's more than one way to skin a cat. I'm healthy, happy, normal weight, have all my hair and I most definitely dont eat enough protein by American standards. I'm also quite confident that I have a better long term outlook for bowel health and blood chemistry because I do eat carbs in good quanities - wholegrains, fruits and vegetables. If I can only fit so much in, I will always always choose my vegies over my protein. I actually decided not to be banded initially because the protein heavy, vegetable poor (by which I mean quantity - in Australia we have a guideline of 2 fruit, five veg every single day) diet seemed unhealthy to me. But I've found that you can eat any way you damn well please, as long as its healthy, lowish in fat, and low enough in calories and you exercise, you'll lose weight, barring of course that some people absolutely do have metabolic issues that are best managed by low carb diets. That's not to diss ANYONE's dietary choices, its simply what I believe is relevant to myself and my lifestyle. I also felt that mental health is an enormous part of our health in general and that achieving normality - giving up this stupid obsession with dieting, counting, foodwatching forever, for once and for all - was every single bit as important as achieving a healthy weight. If I have perfect nutrition but spend all freaking day obsessing over it, I have not achieved good health! So I eat what I want, when I want, most of the time its good, sometimes its not, I use food appropriately - for nutrition and as a social custom also, I can partake of things like sweet foods and alcohol moderately and my diet is most definitely NOT perfect. But because I have made such gains in terms of the mental side of it, I'd consider my outcome an extremely successful one.

My no no list is very long and it doesn't matter if my restriction is loose or tight. -Bread (of any type) -Pasta -Rice -Steak (any solid type meat really) -Pork -Eggs -French fries my list is much longer, but these are the things that come to mind

I have my band semi-loose, I can eat anything but untoasted white bread and oddly enough, bananas.

I am stumped I have the older 4 cc band, I have had it for a couple of years, long story but I am still learning about the band. I got a fill in Feb of this year up to 3cc I lived with the pb and not being able to eat out and all of that. I have lost a lot of weight but still have more to loose. After reading on this site I have learned that I was to tight and it is dangerous to be to tight. So I went back to doc and he let it out to 2.6, now I am able to eat what I want most of the time, to much in fact. I can eat white bread and I can even eat breakfast. I do not want to gain weight I still have 70 pounds I would love to loose. I am thinking of going back for a fill, it has been about 3 weeks since he let out .4cc. I think with this band the numbers are very different than with the newer bands. Does anyone know anything about this older band. I do feel restriction when it comes to eating meats but nothing when it comes to eating pie, I know I know I should not eat that but I am being honest here. Fill or no fill that is the question I am askin here?:rolleyes2:

I started an excel workbook. Tab 1: 1) track weight loss per month versus my forecasted goal 2) track weight loss per week versus my forecasted goal 3) track BMI and current BMI ratings 4) track chest, arm and waist measurements per month versus my forecated goals 5) I chart via a contol charts to see if I'm loosing to much or gaining weight, so I can change what I eat to prevent any additional shifts. I'm a 6-sigma Black Belt geek. Tab 2: 1) track my clothing size per month versus my forecasted goals Whatever method you use, make sure you like tracking via that method or you might stop tracking.

I am only 6 weeks post op...so I really remember that feeling: excited AND nervous! This surgery is the best thing I've ever done. I have done EVERY diet and gained and lost the same 20 lbs for the past 20 years. My surgery went really well...and I healed very quickly. Some of the things I did (not necessarily on my surgeon's list...but I did them anyway!) I drank organic aloe vera juice 24 hrs post op and continued for 30 days. It's VERY healing. If you buy the EXPENSIVE brand, which is George's (available at health food stores) it tastes just like water. I also started taking arnica immediately after surgery. Great for healing and not bruising! It's difficult to get your water in, but it's very important. I couldn't handle the broth (yuk) but I ate sugar free jello and popsicles that were fruit...with no sugar added. It was good to get my first meal 10 days post op!! Now, even if I try a bite of something I'm not supposed to have....I know how limited I am for space in my new small stomach, so I can't try much more than a bite of any forbidden food!! I'm eating breakfast: either an egg, or a protein shake, or a half skinned apple with peanut butter. I LOVE soup for lunch and I make a chicken tortilla soup with lots and lots of beans and some salsa and spices (great protein) and for dinner I usually have fish, or chicken or turkey with a little cooked veggies. In between, I'll have a small amount of protein shake or some peeled fruit. My clothes are getting baggy....which I love. My only worry is because I'm in my 60's I'm already noticing some extra facial wrinkles and sags I've lost 39 lbs in 6 weeks (no required loss pre-op). Good luck to you....I know it will go well!

I can't believe I've made the decision to be banded. I'm scheduled for 12-1-11. I have a few concerns. Sometimes I get a little freaked out thinking about it, then I read all the wonderful comments on here, and it makes me feel so much better. I've had a relationship with food for years, an unhealthy one, but still a relationship that I'm kind of scared of losing. But, I'm also tired of it controlling my life. Fast food and pizza, love it! I'm scared of blood clots after the surgery since I have a family history of them. My doctor told me not to worry about them, that if I walked, clots wouldn't form. I am not telling anyone (other than my husband) that I'm having this surgery. I'm hoping I will be able to hide it from my teenage child, because I want to set an example of eating healthy and eating the right portion size, and not that if surgery was the right choice for mom, it will necessarily be the right choice for her in the future, if she gets fat. My screen name now is Lookaway.....as in Look away, I'm hidious (from a Seinfeld show). After loosing the weight, I'll have to change my screen name to Look at me now! No way will I be loading a picture right now!

Good luck to you! What is the 6mth diet for? What does it tell them? If you loose weight will they say - Oh you can do it yourself? I don't understand why they do that. I know pre-op why they do but ?? It will be a couple yrs for me in Ontario so I will likely go with self pay in awhile and get a loan to pay over 5 yrs or so. Worth it to me. I want a life back now not in 2 or 3 yrs. Keep us posted :smile:

How is it going? I'm just starting my journey to get on the path to revision...my GERD is out of control and ruining my life. Meds don't help, my band is unusable; either too tight or too loose and I've gained weight. Meeting a team this week to learn about options, but I'm pretty sure RNY will be the result. How are you feeling?

I am not sure if anyone else has had this problem or not. I have made it and have gotten my surgery date of June 16th and it seems like every since then I have had the urge to sabotage myself from the day I met my surgeon I have been so strict and I have stuck to the 1200 calorie a day diet like it was law and I haven't eaten anything that wasn't with in the guide lines. I have managed to loose over 30lbs since march 26th and yet I feel I can't see a difference. I haven't eaten anything I shouldn't but it is getting harder to stick to the plan the longer time goes on. I know I only have a month to go but it just seems like that is forever away and the day will never get here.

While on my completely liquid diet, my stools were loose. My doctor actually told me to expect since liquid in = liquid out. I am sure that there are exceptions to that, but in any case be prepared. They wanted to make sure that I didn't think I had some type of stomach bug when it hit. Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones that it doesn't happen to.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. -Nelson Mandela- No man ever achieved worthwhile success who did not, at one time or other, find himself with at least one foot hanging well over the brink of failure. -Napoleon Hill-

I expect to grow into a confidence that I've never had. I expect to appreciate the little changes. I expect to take a pic weekly. I expect to feel as if a.daily burden I've lived with is gone. I expect to be able to cross my legs and wear shorter skirts (not stank...lol). I expect to be a little more fashionable. I expect to LOVE myself in my skin

I would go back and do it all over again in a heart beat, extra skin and all.

I have been looking at this site for several weeks (my husband says I am kinda obsesed...lol), as well as other sites trying to find one where I can feel comfortable posting as well as getting positive feedback and answers to my questions. I have to say, everyone here is so positive and uplifting and I have learned so much already just looking around. I cannot wait to continue to learn more as I get deeper into the discussions and find support as my surgery date gets closer. I have never thought about having weight loss surgery till my husband and I went to see a fertility specialist and were told that my weight (along with having PCOS) is the main factor preventing us from getting pregnant. As I sat in his office sobbing, feeling embarrassed and down on myself, he told me about the Lap Band procedure. He said that it was a lifestyle change and that he has several overweight patients that have had the procedure and have not needed fertility treatments. When I got in the car, I dried my tears, took a deep breath and called the doctors office and reserved my space in the next information session the following week. We have been trying to get pregnant for over 5 years...this could be my answer to not only starting a family, but a change that will make me healthy for years to come! I started my journey in May 2011 by attending an information session, then my first consultation appointment with my doctor. I was informed at that time that my insurance requires a 6 month waiting period (which from reading on here is fairly common). I was upset that I had to wait, but these past several months have been months of reflection. I have worked hard on changing my eating habits, exercising 5-6 times a week and working with a trainer twice a week. My husband has been my biggest supporter and number one cheerleader. Looking back, I am thankful for this time of reflection and time to get my eating and exercise on track. I am an emotional eater and turn to food for comfort. I now try to turn to other things like exercise, reading, and yes, surfing this site gathering information. I still struggle with a fair amount of emotional eating and/or making bad choices, but from where I was the begining of the year, it is much improved. I have completed all of the required appointments (labs, therapist, sleep study, nutritionist, etc.) and my last supervised doctors appointment is on October 10th. I am keeping my fingers crossed for surgery in November. Everything checked out great with the exception of having mild/moderate sleep apnea, which I am having a hard time dealing with. I have had my cpap machine for a week and am still trying to get use to it. I am also going on a thrift store hunt this weekend so I can stop spending so much money on clothes as I loose weight. I am 31 years old and have so much life to live. I have been heavy all my life, but have been watching the scale go down the past several months...and will continue to watch it go down. I am so ready to see what the future holds...and I cannot wait to be able to go out and do the activities I miss doing, but I am too self conscious or heavy to do like roller coasters, water parks, race cars, etc. I am doing this surgery for me, with fantastic plans for the future, and a healthy, long life! So I will end by saying an official hello, and I hope I can be as helpful and encouraging to others on here, as I know you all will be to me!

Hi, I'm recently found this forum last week. My wife and I both decided to get banded and just finished all of our pre-surgery testing for the lap-band. Hopefully our insurance will approve us quickly so we can still get this done before the end of summer. Does anyone know if it matters if your BMI drops below the required number during the pre-op diet? My BMI was 35.6 on the day I met with the doctor. Since I have hypertension my BMI meets the requirement for my insurance, but what happens if or when I loose weight during the pre-op diet? Should I be concerned? Was anyone else in the same situation?