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I am new here, I haven’t been on a public forum in a long time (and for a reason) but I thought it might be helpful to write out my bariatric surgery journey as best I can. I don’t know anyone who has had the surgery with chronic illness, disability, multiple medical conditions, etc. let alone anyone with M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) which is a kind of immunodeficiency. I’ve lived with this from childhood and also battled with my weight longer than I care to remember. This is long and hard to talk about without going into intense detail. I wasn’t not diagnosed with M.E. Until I was in my early twenties. It was a long road to get there and led to many questions and many other medical conditions down the road. At some point my weight skyrocketed out of control and I was at a loss as to what to do. I was diagnosed with metabolic disorders but meds made me sick and doctors don’t discuss weight. They only vaguely agree that the metabolic disorders cause weight gain. And at most prescribe risky weight loss drugs. At some point I was just too sick to know what to do. The reality is I always will be sick. It was easier to eat carbs when I didn’t feel well enough to tolerate much food. I was always a clean plate person and hate waste. My weight grew to over 215lbs and my body couldn’t take it. I needed to do something even if it took every ounce of my being. I didn’t know then what I know and doctors know now about M.E./CFS. But I studied holistic health and nutrition, trying everything to no avail. I ended up trying a combination of low carb/Atkins and calorie counting (weight watchers points) slowly I lost weight (I was 5’ 4” then 5’ 2” I kept losing inches due to degenerative disc disease and arthritis in my spine , I’m now about 5’) I got down to the lowest I’d ever been at 123lbs. But it crept back up by 10lbs. But I had to accept it. I started having trouble eating certain foods and feeling very sick. I had some major stress events happen, several surgeries on my feet and tendons, and also Major surgery (hysterectomy) I wasn’t eating the best I could for reasons I couldn’t control. Eventually my weight hit 160lbs about when I moved with my mother to a new state. I was on a beta blocker and reduced my calories further and did strict low carb again. But reached about 134lbs. I couldn’t sustain it. Not that long ago, months, my sense of time is terrible I can say what happened but not the order or time. I fought as hard as I could and would go on nature walks until I learned more about the birds and became a birder and took to loving photographing them. I went as often as I could and it wasn’t often enough. I found out the hard way that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis causes something called post exertional malaise. Doctors only now are starting to understand it and it explains a lot. Activities from simply writing out this message, taking a shower, making a meal to exercise, make my medical condition worse and cause lasting damage that I lose bits of my self. And doing no I enjoy hurts like a punishment. My weight started a sudden drastic climb from 134lb to 160+ and I went to doctors and specialists hoping for an answer why. And then again it continued to climb to 180lbs. I had thought about bariatric surgery the first time but wanted to do it on my own. But this time I couldn’t, my body just wasn’t burning enough calories and how little could I eat without getting too sick. I was eating healthy the same portions as my mother, almost the same meals, I prepared us lunch almost every day and she is the same height but at most 100lbs. It was fight for surgery or nothing. The first time I saw a bariatric surgeon he talked at me and didn’t listen, my weight was slightly below BMI to qualify with comorbidities, i had plenty. But nothing acceptable by my insurance. I had just had to have surgery for another problem and could hardly eat. But I kept gaining. And I gave up on that doctor. I forgot to say I found out at some point that the reasons some foods made me sick was my gallbladder and surgery was recommended so I decided if I have to have that then I should pursue bariatric surgery since recovery is quite similar. eventually it reached 200lbs and I was on the edge of being nearly 40 BMI. I decided to see another endocrinologist about my medical conditions. She couldn’t help me since the meds make me too sick and I explained how I eat and count calories and yet my weight skyrocketed. I was about to quit when I decided to say I was fighting for bariatric surgery. She said go to Cleveland clinic. It’s a far distance from me and I needed medical assistance for rides there. But I got in to see Dr. Szomstein and he right away was ready and willing to help me, I was a hair from 40 BMI at the first appointment. He didn’t quite understand all my medical conditions if at all but he knew what to do. He said I should have RNY Gastric bypass due to severe GERD and I was thankful for that since it would reduce calorie absorption as well. I was almost not expecting approval from my insurance. I had months of my doctors noting my efforts to lose weight and letters from the endocrinologist and surgeon. They had me go for pre op tests and medical clearance. I still didn’t expect anything. i was in target when my mom and she got a phone call. Scheduling surgery in two weeks and for me to start the liquid diet that day. The surgery date was April 29th. I was so unprepared my gastroenterologist had wanted me to have a colonoscopy before surgery and that didn’t happen (he wasn’t happy with that) I knew I was possibly in for hell with this, but it was either surgery or give up. surgery day I was like this is easy. But I hit a bumpy road. Without going into too much detail right now. I didn’t expect it’s impact on my chronic illness. Waking up from surgery was like a long tunnel I couldn’t get out of. I was partially aware of things around me during the entire surgery just sped up like a weird dream. In the hospital room when most people get up and walk, my body couldn’t move at all. And when I tried once I crashed hard. Every chronic pain in my body was screaming all at once in the hospital. I was having severe pain in my chest, they blamed on gas I knew it wasn’t. I was struggling to breathe and needed the oxygen longer. My surgical drain kept getting full too fast. The catheter hurt. I high pain tolerance and yet this was slamming me everywhere all at once. They tried me on liquids by day three and I just wanted out. I got home and had trouble breathing and was very weak. I struggled to do laundry and get groceries. Then I started spiking fevers. My body doesn’t react with fever when it needs to, my lungs are sometimes too weak to cough when I need to. My temp went over 102 at night then dropped to low grade by morning. I ended up being told to go to the ER but I couldn’t get to Cleveland clinic. Long story short it was another long three days in hospital, pneumonia, acute uti, and critically low potassium. My temp was normal. They pumped me with potassium and antibiotics but had no concept of pain control and knew nothing about post bariatric surgery diet of protein drinks and liquids. They brought me a regular meal for breakfast. By day three I wanted out. I left with a diagnosis of Aspiration pneumonia, and esophageal dysphasia and told to see an ent (who then told me to see a neurologist) and a incidental finding of a pelvic adnexal mass that I am see my euro/gun about. Swallowing is painful, the pain in my chest never went away it waxes and wanes and gets out of control painful at night. I am still mostly liquids. I was supposed to start purée some time ago. I tried some things that were palatable but the first tiny bite I got Nauseous and couldn’t push it even sitting drying to consume either liquid or purée took nearly an hour and the purée was just not working. I don’t regret it yet I do yet I don’t. I’m still trying to get answers to some things. Other things I won’t go into detail now. This is much too long. I saw the doctor for follow ups twice. This time he ordered a upper GI fluoroscopy, and then a endoscopy. The first is this Wednesday. I’m struggling to get in at least 50 grams of protein a day. I lost around 27lbs but am in a five day stall. I think that’s as much as I can describe for now. But my one issue no one ever addressed is no nsaids aka Ibuprofen for life. I took it three times a day to take a bit of the edge off my chronic pain. My muscle relaxer doesn’t do much and it’s impossible to grind and swallow tablets. Thankfully diphenhydramine comes in sleep melts. But I have no pain management now. And I can’t function to walk as much. I try to keep on my feet as much as I can to at least do what I need to do. But now when I crash each day I crash hard. I got extremely sick doing laundry when I had to do three loads and threw up more than once. (I have a bit of ptsd when it comes to throwing up) but this is too much to write here and now. I just am finding myself alone in this, my mom can’t quite understand how it is. And I don’t know anyone else who has chronic illness that has had gastric bypass surgery. I’m not worried about food, I can make my mom a meal and not want to eat it. Actually my taste is nonexistent. I had trouble with it prior as well as my sense of smell. But so much just tastes nasty and bitter. (Didn’t help I ended up with nasty oral thrush I can’t shake) i feel weird putting this all out there. So I hope that sometime say can relate to someone somewhere in some way. christine

Look what I found on another thread! From Physicology Today Article from the author of Passing for Thin Size and Sensibility Losing half her body weight was no picnic. But living thin—and expanding her sense of self—nearly made Frances Kuffle’s world blow up I had been summoned to The Show, the Holy Grail for authors and the fulfillment of all my mother’s dreams. In a harried day of phone calls from Chicago, at the tail end of a snowstorm, the producers of Oprah decided, with 90 minutes to catch the last shuttle out of LaGuardia, that they might want me. You’d think, on the eve of what could catapult my book to national attention, that I would be too nervous to eat. I am never too nervous to eat. As I grazed the basket of goodies in my expensive suite, I had two questions. First: Would Harpo Productions’ bean counters go over my hotel tab and ask, “Isn’t that the woman who lost all that weight? What are these charges for chocolate-covered almonds and honey peanuts doing here?” Second: Why am I eating all this stuff? I might be on TV tomorrow! What with Oprah replaying 24/7, everyone in America could count the bread crumbs on my velvet dress. So much for the can-do kid, who, after 42 years of obesity and missed opportunities, had lost 188 pounds and written a book about it. Passing for Thin: Losing Half My Weight And Finding My Self is an account of how I used my radical change in weight to turn a small, private worlds of eating and surviving into one as big as my former size 32 dresses. I climbed mountains! I swaddled myself in cashmere and had lovers; I went to Italy. I floated out of the gym after lifting weights, I sat in restaurant booths, wore bracelets, and crossed my legs and took the middle seat in airplanes. Then I used my weight loss to do the next impossible thing: I became and author. Being thin opened the doors to experience and intimacy. National exposure, however, was an intrusion I hadn’t considered. I am not a pundit or a role model. You’re going to be pilloried, Frances, I thought with the vehemence of a Sicilian curse. And yet, there I was gobbling Oprah’s $12 Cookies. I put on my pajamas and pulled back the comforter on the king-size bed. It was littered with wrappers. My cheeks were burning with shame and calories. Tomorrow, I promised myself solemnly. And when tomorrow came, I smiled and joked, and I was gracious when I wasn’t, after all, needed for the show. I ached not from disappointment but with the hangover of sugar in my muscles, the sour gas in my gut and the heartbreak of being a liar. After a failed romance and a change of jobs, I drifted into relapse in March 2003, a year before Oprah, I had time on my hands—and time, in my case, is the enemy. I filled it by studying where and how I went wrong, at the office, in the bedroom. Intellectually, I knew that the boyfriend was emotionally frozen and that my former employer was abusive and infantilizing, but I couldn’t shake my ingrained conviction that I was responsible for everything that went wrong. I stopped going to the gym: I started eating peanuts or rice cakes between meals. A little of this, a little of that, and one morning I announced to a friend that I saw no reason why I couldn’t eat blackberry pie and ice cream, get the craving out of my system and return to my abstinence by noon. I wasn’t talking about a slice of pie a la mode. I was talking about a whole pie and a pint of ice cream. A whole pie? That summer I was reminded at every turn that I needed to be thin to promote my book. “You don’t want those cookies, honey”, my mom said as I carried off a stack I’d grabbed from the cooling rack. “Remember: You’re going to be in Oprah’s Magazine.” She was wrong. I did want those cookies, and I didn’t need reminding about Oprah. I sighed and took two more. When I asked myself what I needed, I was met with an unconsoling barrage of hungers. I needed to know I was not disposable. I needed a resting place. I needed to know I had enough stuff to carry off the rest of my life—enough talent, discipline, and intelligence—and enough sufficiency to protect myself from more heartbreak. I needed enough hope to find the friends and man I mourned the lack of. From August 1999 to August 2003, I’d gambled that losing weight would get me closer to all that, and I was told what to eat in those years. Now, after three years of maintaining my weight loss, I needed to be told what to feel when everyone but me has an opinion of who I am. I knew I—not just my body but my very self—was in trouble when I brushed aside a fleeting thought about how fat I looked with the answer “Never mind. You’ll like yourself when you get thin.” How does one live with self acceptance as a future and an always-conditional state of mind? More pragmatically, in lieu of my size 8 clothes, my career depended on self assurance. When asked, I admitted that I’d gained weight, adding that I never presented myself as the poster girl of thin. I said this with poise, which is not the same thing as confidence. Poise is teachable; confidence is one of the elements missing from the periodic table, three parts self respect to two parts experience. To get to confidence, I was going to have to listen to my self-accusations and sit with the rejections. Maybe shame had something to teach me. My next recovery period from food addiction would be based on therapy, heretofore more a matter of coaching than peeling back the layers of self. My psychiatrist’s and therapist’s offices became the places I could air my feelings about myself and the hopes I could change my self-perception. “There’s no point in getting depressed just because I’m depressed” I told my psychiatrist, who increased my morning meds anyway. That October, on a blue-and-gold afternoon, I had Indian food with Lanie, a friend visiting from my hometown, Missoula, Montana. I described how depressed I was by my weight gain until she preempted me. “You’ve been very fat, Frances, and you’ve been very thin. Welcome to where the rest of us live.” I twiddled my fork in my plate of saag panir. I think of Lanie as being very tall and very thin, but a few months earlier I’d helped her pick out a dress. Her dress size was similar to what I was wearing that day. The event we shopped for had been a gathering of Montana writers, many of them old friends, all middle-aged. One had a rounder face than I remembered; another wore layers of a truly terrible print in the style that catalogs and store clerks describe as “flattering”. Someone else was still very thin but looked drawn and brittle as age caught up with her bone structure. These were woman I’d long envied for their pretty thinness, and yet I’d been less like them when I was a size 8 than I was now. At size 8, I had to admit, I was so self-conscious (and secretly, overweening proud of it) that often that was all I was. I could have programmed my answering machine to announce, “Hi, you’ve reached a size 8. Please leave a message and either the size 8 or Frances will get back to you.” None of the women at that party, or Lanie savoring her lamb jurma across from me, claimed their identities from their weights that night. They wanted to gossip, compare stories of their kids and discuss what they were writing, tell old jokes more cleverly than thy had at the last party, and sample the Desserts weighing down the potluck buffet. I was not unlike them. Smaller by a size than Lanie, larger by a size than Laura, a little fresher looking than Diane. Of the Americans who lose weight, 95 percent gain it back within five years. I had gained a third of it back. Not all of it. To some extent, I had beaten the odds. I was stronger than the echoes of the boyfriend and boss allowed me to hear. I was determined not to repeat the mistake of being, rather than having, a thin body. I’d lived through my size all of my life, so acutely aware and ashamed of my obesity that the likable things about me—my sense of humor, my intelligence, talent, friendliness, kindness—were as illusory to me as a magician’s stacked card deck. As long as I defined myself by my body size, I would not experience those qualities for myself. As fall turned to a snowy winter, I picked through the spiral of relationships that had unglued me the year before. I didn’t blame the boyfriend or my boss for my relapse. I had been half of the problem; healthier self esteem would not have collapsed under their judgments of me. In obesity, I had clamped my arms to my sides to keep from swinging as I walked. I craned my body over armrests in theaters and airplanes, stood in the back of group photos to minimize the space I took up. I got thin and continued to hide. Whatever reasons the boyfriend had come up with for not seeing me, I met with amicability and sympathy. Had I reacted honestly, even to myself, I might have ended the relationship. Instead I’d gambled all my sweetness only to find out I was disposable. Likewise, I had not pressed my boss for an agenda of responsibilities from the start, nor had I clarified with her that her work and recreation styles frustrated and frightened me. Slowly I began to find toeholds in the avalanche of food and doubt. I worried about how fat I looked to potential readers and what I could possible wear to flatter or disguise the 40 pounds I’d gained. At the same time, however, I had become the canvas of makeup artists, stylists, photographers and publicists. They weren’t looking at my stomach. “Give me a hundred-watt smile,” commanded a photographer whose censure I thought I’d seen when I walked in. I licked my teeth and flashed a grin only somewhat longer than her camera flare. “Wow.” She straightened up at the tripod. “That really is a hundred watts. These are gonna be great.”. When I saw myself in the magazine, my smile was, in fact, the focal point. When I began dating, at the age of 45, my smile was an attribute men commented on, but I hadn’t really seen it until it was emblazoned on glossy paper. It was bigger, it seemed, than my face itself. I’d been a size 8 in my author photo, taken as my food plan was wobbling but not yet in smithereens, in June 2003. I was surprised to see I still looked like….myself, apparently. The power of my smile fueled me through more publicity, giving me a sense of authentic attractiveness that allowed me to enjoy the process. When I had a couple of days in Santa Monica between readings, I had a chance to assess and absorb at my own pace. Walking along the Palisades, I admired the sea-twisted pines and pearly mist funneling out of Malibu Canyon. I felt as lucky as I had once felt by being hired, by being loved, and I felt worthy of my luck because I appreciated the prettiness of the place, the serendipity that brought me there and my particular grateful awareness that knitted the moment together. I’d tried to rob myself of that by punishing myself for the boss and the boyfriend. You should not have treated me that way, I thought. The emphasis was on “me”, and just then I knew who that was. I looked around carefully. There was a family reunion going on, or so I assumed until I got closer and realized it was cookout hosted for the park’s lost and unfound citizens. I smiled to myself. How…California. No gritty, iron-shuttered Salvation Army outposts here, no Soup and Jell-O punishment for being a bum. No siree Bob. In California, the homeless are just one more variant on the Beach Boys. I laughed out load. I’m here, I gloated. I like my own company. I was tired of the games—with food, with hiding what I looked like under big clothes and my big smile, with waiting until I was a size 8 again to like myself. I recommitted to chipping at my food addiction, but I let go of some of the rigidity I’d had in the first years of losing and maintaining my weight loss. “I want to be praised when I do things right, and I want to be forgiven when I mess up.” I told people closest to me. “And I want milk in my coffee.” It was a small list, but significant because it allowed me to fumble as I gained my momentum of eating sanely. Esteem, kindness, patience, forgiveness: By cloaking myself in these qualities, I could build a self that was not afraid of authority figures and charming men who have one eye on the door. Maybe these attributes will curb the millions of things that make me want to eat, starting with seeing my parents or returning to Montana. I turn into the kid whose mother had to make her school uniform, whose big tummy stretched the plaid into an Etcher cartoon; I became the sad, joking fat college student who was reading The Fairy Queene while her girlfriends were soaking up the half-naked wonder of being 20 years old. I think of my parents’ kitchens, and my mouth waters for gingerbread and well-buttered toast. I regress when I let people like Lanie, whose struggle is different, comment or take chare of what I eat. “That’s two Entrees, Francis,” Lanie pointed out when I said I wanted goat cheese salad and roast chicken for our first lunch together in Paris. “Oh, Well, then, I’ll have the salad I guess,” I settled, grumpily. That’s the way I eat, that’s how I lost 188 pounds; vegetables and Protein. I was allowing her to limit me to a smidgen of cheese, or insufficient vegetables, and allowing her supervision is how I got so mad--the fatal elixir of anger and crazed desire—that I bought all the chocolate in Charles De Gaulle for my untasting delectation. I am the kid who, when told not to put Beans up her nose, heads directly to the pantry. “I have got to learn to tell people to stay out of my food,” I reported to my therapist back in new York. Then again, perhaps this is an evolutionary process rather than a one-time miracle cure. In 2003, I denned up for two months in Montana and ate. In 2004, I struggled again in Montana but I also did a lot of hiking, alone with my dog and with my niece. My slow pace didn’t frustrate either of them. I went horseback riding and got a terrific tan while swimming every afternoon. My thighs did not chafe in the August heat along the Seine, and I was thrilled to cross the Appalachian Trail later that autumn. I had spells of disappointment and fear from the way I ate, but I was living in my body, on my body’s terms. It’s a small world I’ve pulled from the wrappers, boxes and crumbs in the past two years, but a very human one. I’ve seen my family, close friends and therapists hold on to the stubborn believe that I would come through this. They loved me enough to countenance my mistakes and let me start over. Each day, I venture a little farther from the safety of food, and my courage comes from understanding that I am a lot like a lot of people—a family member, a friend, a dog owner, a recidivist, a middle aged woman, a writer who got a good rhythm going and forgot to brush her hair. There is safety in numbers. Depression and relapse would have to wait for a different excuse than my size. I am ready to hope again. Frances Kuffel is the author of Passing for Thin: Losing Half My Weight And Finding My Self (Broadway books, 2004). Her website is • Frances Kuffel • author of Passing For Thin - Home

I have locs (22 yrs now) and I did A LOT of low manipulation and semi free forming when I originally had surgery in the end of 2017. I was so worried about hair loss I did a ton of research in med journals on treatments for Telogen Effluvium (the type of hair loss most WLS patients experience) you can find a compilation of the journals I found most promising here: I had mild thinning along my temples and didn’t lose any locs. Pics included❤️

I have PCOS too. The whole hair thing drives me crazy. UGH. Anyway I saw some news report lately (can't remember which show, sorry!) that PCOS is now sometimes being called Androgen excessive disorder. Apparently since not everyone with PCOS actually HAS the cysts, but all seem to have an excessive amount of the male hormone Androgen-hence the hairiness, weight gain in the stomach area, fertility issues, male pattern baldness etc etc.... they feel it's a more appropriate name for it. Anywhoo that was my biggest worry when I was banded- that because of PCOS I would not lose weight. I have lost over 30 lbs already though. The loss is slowing down now to about 2 lbs a week. The key has been getting that Protein in, and the Water too, I think. No one has really noticed the weight loss yet or at least they haven't mentioned it- but someone last week said my skin looked like it was "glowing" and I attribute that to my water intake....but I've always had such horrible skin issues that they had no idea how much they made my day!

My doctor said there is a prescription you can ask for if you're worried about hair loss (or in your case losing hair), that they can prescribe to reduce the hair loss during the weight loss. I will ask the name of it on April 11th when I go back in if your doctor doesn't know what it is. Meanwhile, I'd ask your doctor if he knows what it is? When I did the Atkins diet, I lost weight rapidly and did lose a signicant portion of hair at the time. That was partially why I stopped the diet :confused: I had a bald spot on the back of my head for.. well, that was 2 years ago and it's still a thin spot for me now. I use to have extremely thick hair, and it's grown back some but it's not back to what it use to be. Good luck!

I figure I'm going to shed like crazy anyway, I haven't bothered with biotin. I lost so much hair after each kid that I had visible stubble. I started going silver/white at eighteen. I've been married for twenty-three years to the same man whose been my best friend for 31 years. I'll shave my head before I worry about hair loss. Now, just because I don't give a flying flip, that doesn't mean all of you are as comfortable with hair loss as I am. Best wishes, and I hope the biotin helps.

I've been dreading this for awhile, but as of this past Tuesday I'm no longer in my 40's - I guess I'm officially "middle-aged" - yuck! After all this weight loss most people say I look younger, and I FEEL younger, but I've noticed a huge change in the elasticity of my skin now that it's not full of fat to fluff it out. I hate the saggy areas near my elbows and top my arms, the crazy stretch marks on my tummy that look like a pleated skirt when I bend over, my non-existent butt (just boney now). And yes, to answer the question - I AM vain, and Carly Simon wrote that song about me - ha! I SO wish this surgery had been available about 15 yrs ago when I was still young and had more time to enjoy this slim bod. Now I feel like I'm too old to to wear certain clothes, and worry that even growing my hair out this long may make me look like I'm trying too hard to look younger. I guess I shouldn't wallow in self-pity too much. In the last week, I've had several people think I was in my 30's (sounds like they all need an appointment to LensCrafters!). My 22 yr old daughter and I were at a restaurant bar before my birthday dinner and the bartender thought we were two friends out for a drink. So I KNOW it could be worse. I guess I'm just having a hard time coming to terms with this whole aging thing, and knowing that every day from now on I'll just keep looking older and older. One of my co-workers who's around 70 told me I'm still young. Buddy, 50 is NOT young, it's just not as old as 70.

Yeah! Every doctor I have seen about this has told me not to worry that as soon as my weight loss slowed down, my hair would stop shedding. They were right for sure! After 12 long months of which 9 I shredded about 2/3 to 3/4 of my hair volume. Now, I have short hairs poking up everywhere and the shedding has finally completely stopped. It actually is funny and if I wasn't so happy to see all those beautiful new hairs I would be annoyed because I swear I look like alfalfa from the little rascals! Everyone going through this just really needs to have faith, it will come back!

My story. Skip down to ‘my journey’ if you just want the trip stuff. I was under the misapprehension that I have been overweight my entire life. My women in my family were all thin and petite (size 7 shoes, had to have all watches made smaller, etc.) I started wearing a size 9 shoe when I was about 10 and to top it off I have a ‘fat face’. In my mind (and apparently theirs) I was fat. I look back at photos of myself back then now and realize that I was not fat, not fat at all. I was actually a great size, not skinny, just right. I remember weighing 60 pounds when I was 10 and my cousins all weighed about 45, so that was just a fact, I was obviously fat. I didn’t actually become fat until I turned about 20. When I look at those pictures I think, “Yeah, I was starting to become actually overweight”. Oddly, though, when I did start becoming fat, the comments from family/friends stopped. I no longer had fat jokes or fat comments, I don’t know if it is because everyone matured or what. I was never one of those who lost 40 pounds and gained 50 pounds, I basically just never lost anything substantial. I gained! I gained steadily until I found myself age 42, 280 pounds. I had been looking into weight loss surgery for about 5 years, but I did not have any way to pay for it. My husband (soon to be ex) was not at all supportive of surgery and he did not support any of my ideas of financing it, either. (Remortgaging the house, etc.) He said the usual things, ‘Just eat less, go on Adkins with me, let’s just start walking every day, if you only didn’t eat sweets, blah blah blah’. I was seeing a lot of specialists, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, nephrologist, cardiologist, hepatologist, all of them kept asking me if I had considered WLS. I had, but my insurance absolutely does not cover any form. Fast forward to last year, I had filed for divorce (still waiting on him to sign!!) and I knew that it was the time. I could refinance the house without his consent, use my credit card, get a line of credit at the bank, etc. etc. I started really looking to see where I could go. During this search, my father passed away. I was totally crushed!! I knew his health was bad, heart, diabetes, cholesterol, etc. and I so wanted him to see me get slim!! Unexpectedly, he left me a little money. Suddenly there was the money and I took it as a sign. I already have all the health issues, diabetes, cholesterol, fatty liver, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, etc. etc. It was NOW or NOW. I contacted several doctors, both local and out of country, including Brazil, Argentina, India and Mexico. I decided that Mexico was closest and I didn’t want a long trip on the plane after the surgery. I came on this forum and read and read, several doctors names kept popping up, Dr. Acevez, Dr. Almanza, Dr. Pompa, Dr. Alvarez, Dr. Rodriguez, Dr. Kelly. I also looked into Dr. Joya. All of the above have had many satisfied customers. I chose Dr. Kelly because of the combination of price and experience. I went directly through Trish, because I knew she was the person who was actually in Mexico. In comparing notes with others who have gone to Dr. Kelly and used coordinators, yes, they get more information via email/paperwork, etc., but when they are in Mexico, the only person they have to rely on is Trish. So why have a middle man, I thought. The Journey Monday, May 16th: Took a plane early in the morning for an arrival at San Diego at approximately 10:15 am, their time. I knew surgery was going to be that day, but it would depend on the hospital when I would get to go. My plane had a problem and I was worried that I would be delayed by several hours, but they were able to fix it and I arrived half an hour late. I should have arrived around the same time as my Sleevesister, Kelly L and we figured we would all ride together to the hospital, but since I was delayed, they took her ahead. When we did arrive, there was no driver there and I started to panic, thinking since I had missed the first driver, I might have to wait an hour or more. I put in a call to Trish and she told me she had already dispatched another driver when she found out I was delayed. Within five minutes, there was a man holding a sign with my name on it. I was on my way!! My brother went with me for the trip. He’s an older brother, thin all his life (used to try to gain weight with Protein shakes), now a good size, very healthy, very fit! Our driver was not very talkative. We went across the border with no problem. The van stopped at the border, the driver got out and talked to a lady in uniform. The driver asked my brother to push the button. (The driver is not allowed to push the button, only a passenger). The button basically is random and you either get a go or a stop. If you get a stop, that means they will search the vehicle/belongings, if not, you go right through. We went right through. We passed through a very poor section of town, lots of poverty, rough looking area, which I found interesting. The hospital used is the Oasis Center of Hope/Hospital florence. It’s a small hospital near the beach, near a large school. It has a security officer and is gated. Once you get in, the area you will go to is 12 rooms, all private rooms, with a full size bed in each for the guest and some have a recliner also. (Mine did not). The rooms are clean and have everything you need, including the full bathroom in each room. Each also has a large window. The rooms vary in their furnishings, some are a little fancier/newer than others. If you are bothered by things like cracks here and there, you will be unhappy. I am not. Many of the things would have been replaced in an American hospital and each room would be identical. However, here, if it still works, then why not keep using it? (I have taken pictures and will be uploading these soon). Trish was at the hospital to meet us and she left us in charge of another lady named Susan who was also very sweet. We were taken to a room that was ready for us. A hospital gown was on the bed and I was told to get into it so they could start the testing. I changed into it and soon I was wheeled into xray (I could have walked, but I guess it’s just something they do). I had a chest xray done and was wheeled back to the room. A nurse came in promptly and put in an IV and drew blood. I was asked to give a urine sample. I was started on IV fluids to make sure I was well hydrated even before surgery. Dr. Kelly came in to see me and advised he was going to operate on one of the other patients and that I was to be the last patient of the day. The cardiologist came in. I don’t remember his name, but he is really sweet/funny. They did an EKG right there and he printed it out, looked at it, said “You look great, no problems, you are cleared for surgery”. I lay in the bed in my gown with my IV watching tv or playing with my tablet. BTW, they do have WIFI at the hospital. Before I knew it, they came in with a bed and asked me if I was ready. I said I was. (*If you are nervous pre-surgery, they do offer to give you something for the anxiety, I did not ask for anything, but I know my sleevesister did and got it). I was helped onto that bed, and then wheeled to the hallway. I was then put on another bed waiting in the hallway near the operating theatre. Then, I was moved from that bed, to the bed in the operating theatre. (Not sure why I had to keep moving from bed to bed?) There were several people in the room, but I didn’t see Dr. Kelly. This was my OMG moment. Here I was, having my arms strapped to the sides in that crucifixion style, the anesthesiologist was there asking me my name and saying he was the anesthesiologist, there were instrument techs, nurses, I think about 8 people, but where was the doctor? Was I going to be cut open by someone else? Before I had a chance to panic, the IV Fluid went in and the next thing I knew I was in my hospital bed with an oxygen mask. I kept asking “did I have a hernia?” “Did everything go well?” “Are they done” My brother said that everything went well, that Dr. Kelly came in afterwards, told him it was all good and that he would be in to check on me, that there was no Hernia to repair. YEAH!! That night was the worst. My nurse came in regularly to add pain meds/nausea meds and stomach meds to my IV, the nausea was pretty bad at first, but it finally subsided. Only once did I actually feel like I was going to throw up, but wound up just spitting into the little cup and not really having any vomit. Tuesday: May 17th By the next morning, I was much better, still a bit of pain, a bit of nausea, but it was well controlled. I was worried about the pain since I take tramadol for joint pain and I was afraid I would have a tolerance and would need morphine, I did not. I was up and walking that next day. The only problem I had was having to drag that IV thing around. For the guests staying, we had been told (and I have read on this forum) that your guest gets three meals a day at the hospital cafeteria and that the food is vegan. This is no longer the case. Apparently there is a new contract with the hospital and the guest no longer gets any free meals. They can buy a voucher for dinner at the hospital cafeteria for $7.00 My brother did this option a few times. He had chicken and enchiladas and something else, he liked all the food they had there. For Breakfast, I know they have fruit and juices, toast, etc. They also have some menus and they will order food for you and have it delivered. I know someone else ordered a pizza from dominos. My brother is a walker, so he went out and wandered around, went to the boardwalk, took pictures, had his hair cut for $7, found a coffee house and wandered around. Me, I was in and out of bed, walking around, eating my ice chips (the only thing allowed during your hospital stay) and wishing I could get the drain and IV out so I could be ‘wireless’. There is a scale at the end of the hall, the doctor’s office kind that you slide. It is in kilos, remember to multiply by 2.2. Dr. Kelly and Trish came by that night to see us all. He said everything looked great, we talked about surgeries and the sleeve and gossip on the boards about coordinators and how it gets old for him and he prefers to stay out of it. He said the next morning we would be picked up early and taken for our leak tests to the Hospital Angeles. Yeah!! Wednesday: May 18th Uneventful night, nurses come by each day and ask you to take a shower so they can dress your wounds. This morning, they came in and told me to get a shower and that Dr. Kelly was coming to pull the drain out so we could go!! YEAH. He came in early that morning and pulled the drain (this part feels weird, not painful, just weird). The nurse took out the IV, I was all freshly bandaged, told to get dressed and wait to be picked up. About an hour later, Samuel, (Dr. Kelly’s son) came by to pick us up. He could only get three people in his vehicle, so he took the three patients and our guests waited for another person to take them to the Hospital Angeles. This hospital is very luxe! More like an American Hospital, all fancy. We went in right away and did our barium swallow. This was actually not as bad as I had expected. The liquid is clear and watery (in fact, it looks just like water). As long as you take a big swig when they tell you, you don’t have to take any more. You get to watch the screen and you can see the liquid going down into your new tiny tum. After that, you get weighed, and you get a print out of your xray. The whole thing took less than 10 minutes for the three of us. When we got out, our guests were already at the hospital lobby waiting for us. We did find out on the way to the hospital that we would not be staying at the Lucerne. BUMMER!! Apparently there was some big convention and the hotel was overbooked. We were all disappointed by this at first because we had heard such nice things about the hotel. We were taken to the Hacienda del Rio which happens to be within walking distance to Dr. Kelly’s office. This is a very nice hotel. The only complaint I had about it is that there was no WIFI in the rooms. There is wifi in the lobby, restaurant and near the pool. If you have a regular laptop or something that you can wire, you will have no problem as there is internet cable in the rooms. However, we didn’t bring our laptops with us, just our wifi internet tablets, so this was a drag. Otherwise, the hotel is beautiful, everyone is friendly, the restaurant has great broth and it is convenient to many things. Trish came by soon as brought us the famous gatorate/jello care package. I love Jello. However…this jello I did not like. The reason I did not like it is because it is too sweet. This is because it is made with both SUGAR and STEVIA. Not sure why, since it is higher in calories, maybe just to save on sugar or make it slightly less calorific. In any case, I was not a fan, although I was also desperate, so I did manage to eat two of these while I was there. The Gatorade is regular Gatorade, no problems there. Samuel came by with the medication, this includes a spray, gauze and some tape for your dressings. (The spray is disinfectant, iodine based), you get pain meds (toradol) antibiotics (cephalexin) and omeprazol (prilosec). You take the antibiotic every twelve hours, the toradol every six (as needed) and the omeprazol two at night. I had no problem swallowing any of these, and the capsules are quite large. The restaurant has three choices for Soup. Tortilla soup, Chicken/rice/veggie soup and I forgot the other one but I know it had chicken and chipotle peppers. I had the chicken/rice/veggie soup strained, so it was just the broth. However, you cannot drink (or at least, I cannot drink) the entire amount, so even if you got it regular, and just had the broth out of it, you would still have enough broth to drink. This day was when Trish proved why she is such an angel. My brother and a sleevesister’s husband decided they would go and ‘get something to eat’ and be back later. This was around 1pm. Our cell phones did not work at all in Mexico and my only form of communication was my tablet, which I had to use in the restaurant, lobby, etc. I get a phone call to my room at about 2pm from my sleevesister, Kristina. She is worried because her husband isn’t back and she thought he went to get her some broth. I told her I heard him talking to my brother and that they were going to get something to eat. She said “OH, ok, good”. Well, we waited…and waited…and waited…and waited…. And it was 6pm now and we had no idea where they were. Kristina kept trying to call her husband and his cell phone (which did work) was off. We had no idea what to do. My God, they’ve been kidnapped or killed or in jail or something. Who do we call, where do we begin? We had no idea where they were heading, all I knew is that they went on foot. Trish called earlier and I had told her I was concerned. She tried to reassure me and said they would be fine, probably went to the mall, but she could tell we were worried, she kept calling every half hour to see if they had returned. Finally, when it got to be 6, she said she was coming over and we would go look for them. In the meantime, I had been in touch with my sister-in-law and she was worried sick, she had been afraid for us to come to Tijuana and she just knew that the worst had happened, just like she worried it would. She called the credit card company and found out that a charge had been made to a place called “La Gatita” approximately 2 hours earlier. I asked at the front desk, but nobody seemed to know where that was. It means “the little cat” and we had visions of some small gentlemen’s club or something. We were able to find a phone number and called it and it was (are you ready for this….? ) The HELLO KITTY store at the mall. Trish drove us to the mall and we went in and asked if they had been seen. The lady there remembered them; my brother had bought a few shirts. We instantly felt relieved, at least they were alive and well a few hours ago and shopping. Once I got to the mall, I really wasn’t too worried anymore, it had a lot of neat stores and I could see my brother getting lost in them and losing track of time. Kristina’s husband was the same way, just go with the flow, time means nothing kind of guy. They also have two large movie theaters, so we knew it was possible they went to the movie. Trish was a star, asking everyone if they had seen them, asking her friends to keep an eye out, we kept calling back to the hotel to see if they had shown up and finally got a call from the Kelly who was our other sleevesister. They were BACK!! When we got back we read them the riot act, but they seemed surprised. They had had the time of their lives, first going to the Brazilian steak house across the street from the Hotel which took them two hours, then they walked to the mall, bought some things and then decided to go to a movie. They were gone 7 hours. My brother also bought a pay as you go Mexican cell phone for $20 including minutes. He was able to keep it topped up and use it after that incident for texts/phone calls. They had never been in any danger, but they had failed to think about us crazy, sleeved women waiting at the hotel. GRRRRR. That night Dr. Kelly came over to check on us all, he got a kick out of the story, especially since he had spotted the two at the mall at around 7pm, but had no idea they were ‘missing’. That night, I slept good. My brother had a lot of ‘splainin’ to do to the folks back home who had already started prayer circles and were making arrangements to send mercenaries out to rescue. Thursday, May 19th My sleeve sister Kelly left early in the morning to catch her flight. She left me a care package of Gatorade and jello and some mixers for bottled Water that she didn’t have a chance to finish. We had breakfast the hotel restaurant. I say ‘breakfast’ but I mean I had a cup of chamomile tea. (*I have taken pictures of some of the meals I was tortured by that my brother had while I had liquids). Trish agreed to take us to calle revolucion that afternoon for some touristy shopping. I have read some comments about Trish and shopping on this board and I want to clarify things. First off, it is not a ‘requirement’ at no point did we feel pressured to go shopping. Yes, Trish knows a lot of people, she used to work across the street when it was a department store and knows many of the vendors. Yes, she will take you to the places where she knows the people, that is because she feels comfortable with them. Does she make a commission on it? I don’t know, possibly, but I don’t care, because it doesn’t affect what price I would pay and she is driving us there on her TIME in her personal vehicle (she actually had to borrow a vehicle to take the four of us because we would not all fit in her car). So, I hope she does get a kickback from what we buy, she pays to park the car, drops you off right there so you don’t have to walk and will haggle and negotiate for you if you need her to. We could have gone to any of the places on calle revolucion, but really, most of them sell the same things, so once you have gone to two or three shops, you have seen most of everything. Across the street is a great little restaurant, I forget the name. They have tortilla soup broth (the lady there knows all about Trish’s patients and she knows what they can and cannot have). My brother and Kristina’s husband had beef fajitas with homemade tortillas!! ARGGHHH. The soup was very good, much tastier than regular chicken broth. We also had fresh pineapple juice. I paid $5 for some mariachis to come and sing us a song while we ate. Touristy, I know, but I was in the mood to be a tourist. Trish took us back to the hotel and my brother and I decided to take a taxi to the mall later that afternoon. He got his cell phone topped up and I bought some things. He bought some shoes. They have many very good coffee houses around the area. I had a tutti frutti hot tea with honey that was delicious! There are taxis at the hotel that will take you most anywhere for under $5. Taxi drivers are very nice and all have their own unique stories. Drivers in Tijuana drive erratically, but they all seem to know how to drive to avoid any mishaps. Taxis are in various stages of repair, most seem to have suspension problems, (but when you see the roads/potholes, etc., this is expected). I so wanted to be able to eat so I could buy some of the stuff that the street hawkers were selling as you drove by. Fresh cherries, candy, gum. They even will change out your wiper blades while you are stopped at a light. That day we did so much walking from walking around calle revolucion to the mall, to walking around, I felt no guilt about not getting enough walking. When we returned, the four of us went to the 24 hour farmacia and bought some stuff. I got two asthma inhalers (albuterol) for about $8 each. Also some more toradol, in case I needed it (I haven’t), prisolec (pretty cheap) some of the same wound spray they used at the hospital (clear, not iodiny), and some cyclobenzaprine (flexeril-muscle relaxer). All the prices were good, I couldn’t think of anything else to get at the time but I am sure there are many other drugs I wish I had bought. You do not need a prescription for anything except antibiotics and controlled substances. (Toradol and Flexeril are not controlled in Mexico). The people working at the pharmacy know all about drugs, but they are not medical, despite their official looking doctor’s jackets. They can pretty much figure out which meds you are talking about and can recommend meds for certain conditions, but keep in mind that they are not doctors and unless you know what you need and what is safe for you, be wary of buying. Pharmacy sales are big business and you will see more pharmacies than anything else, they are also very competetive. This pharmacy across the way also sells shampoos, deodorant, razors and an assortment of Vitamins, drinks (they have muscle milk in vanilla only). Slept well this night also, the hotel is very noisy (or rather, the guests at the hotel are not shy about screaming across the way to each other or being loud), However, I did not wake up in the night for any reason. Television has a few English channels and many of the channels are playing English movies that are subtitled in Spanish, so if you do not speak Spanish, you should be able to find something to watch. Friday, May 20th Woke up early and had breakfast the hotel. (If you are up early enough (between 7am and 9am) they have free continental breakfast, we kept missing this. My brother had French toast, I had a glass or orange juice. (I had finally gotten my diet sheet from Karla last night and it listed orange juice and grapefruit juice as an acceptable ‘clear’ even though I know it isn’t that way on most other sheets). Kristina and her husband were leaving that day; they joined us in the middle of breakfast. Kristina tried some very thin oatmeal, but could not get too much of it down. Before we knew it, their driver had arrived and they were gone. I called Trish and asked her if she knew a good place to buy yarn (my mother and I crochet and knit and we remember an aunt of ours getting her yarn from Mexico, which was a very shiny pretty yarn). She said she did and could take us later that day. We went to the “cultural center” in Tijuana where they had some outdoor arts/crafts stalls. We bought many nice things to take back. Once we returned, we waited a bit and Trish arrived, she took us downtown to the ‘heart of Tijuana’. There are many street vendors. We were looking for a lady who sells yarn, but when we got there was the time that a lot of people pack up their stuff, she was gone by the time we arrived. They have many good stores that sell cloth, and these had some yarn, but nothing unusual. I did buy my mother many knitting/crochet magazines. We walked around the downtown and then Trish took us to drive by the red light district (our request), there is also an area full of mariachis who hang around hoping to get hired for a special event. After that, I think we stayed in, but we had a good night. I kept missing Doctor Kelly. He came Thursday when I was in the restaurant or out and he came by today too. We were leaving the next day and I kept trying to think if there was anything we wanted to do before we left, but we couldn’t think of anything else. Slept good Saturday, May 21st Got up early, had tea for breakfast, my brother had the continental (no charge for any of this). Trish called and told us the driver wanted to pick us up at 10 because he was afraid there might be a long line at the border. I asked her if I could have copies of my medical stuff that was done at the hospital (the EKG and blood work, I should have asked for it while I was there, but I forgot). She drove to the hospital to get it and then met us in the lobby. We said our goodbyes and the driver arrived right before 10am. We checked out, got in the driver’s van. He gets to use the ‘medical’ line which is much smaller than the regular line. We didn’t have much to wait in that line, once you get up to the border, itself. You have to get out with your bags and go in to customs. Again, we got to go to the line for medical and we were the only ones in the line. We showed our passports, they asked if we had any medicines, we both said yes and asked if it had been prescribed. I said some of it is prescribed for me, yes. They didn’t even ask to see it. They just waived us through. Then we had to put our bags through a scanner, pick them up at the other end and then we were out of the building. When you come out there are many taxis and the trolley that will take you to San Diego. We waited in the circle drive. The driver had to go around somewhere to get to us, so we were out way before he got to us. He parked in a lot and walked over to where we were waiting. He carried the heaviest bag over to the van which was parked behind the trolley line. From there, it was a quick ride to the airport. Since we arrived early, we had a little wait, but nothing bad. No problems after that, we were home by 10pm after changing planes once. All in all, my experience was great! I really thought I would have more pain, more discomfort, be unable to do anything, have nausea, not be able to drink anything, have a complication, but everything has been smooth. The ONLY issue I am currently having is that my incisions are itchy, both the actual incisions (which is usually a good healing sign) and the area around them where they had a reaction to the tape. Otherwise, I don’t feel hungry, I don’t feel weak, I honestly feel great. Long may that feeling last!! Dr. KELLY and TRISH really are all that everyone says they are. If you have any questions about my trip, please feel free to send me a message.

i'm good. i've been wondering how you were doing after your last fill. the restriction that i did feel is gone. i ate an entire crispy chicken sandwich kids meal the other day for lunch. yesterday i ate the sandwich but not the fries. i'm finding all of a sudden this week that i am beginning to lose interest in food. it's kind of cool. used to i would have my lunch planned out for the day as soon as i got to work..i knew what type of junk i was going to cram in my face that day. now, i'm like..i don't know..i don't really care, i'll just get some chicken...maybe i will go shopping first. ha...spending more money now, because i'm shopping more. it seems my impulsiveness has gone toward the shopping side instead of food. that's bad, but this is the perfect spending for it. i have to get control over it though, because dh wants to buy some lake land, or mountain land soon. i went to get my hair cut last night. i have hair that falls about 5/6 inches below my bra strap. i have real fine hair, but i have a lot of it. well, i went to a new hairdresser so i'm not putting a lot of stock into it, as my hair has always been on the thinner side, but with it being long, it doesn't look thin. anyways, she said she could tell i was losing hair around my crown. GREAT!!! i haven't been eating much Protein though, i will admit that. so tomorrow, i'm going to start logging foods again. i have noticed some loss on my coat, in the shower, etc. my hair has been my greatest asset for so long, i don't want to lose it. my 2nd fill is wednesday. i'm surprised that they said you are on your own after your 3rd fill. if they do that to me, i'll probably call the next day to schedule a fill and then cancel if i don't need it...haha. i don't know if dr. wellborn spent two hours talking to you at your consult or not, but he said journaling is the best way to tell if you are restricted. his rule of thumb is that you should not be able to eat more than half a sandwich, with bread. when he was talking to us, he was talking about subway. which, to me, before surgery, a 6 inch sub was pretty filling. i think he meant half of a 6 inch...not sure. but he does say that about 10 bites and you should be full. i'm sure this is only ture if you eat real dense foods and eat your protein first. like, if i eat Cereal or something, i'll be able to eat more than 10 bites, but if i start with chicken or fish, i get full faster. if you are losing though, i wouldn't worry about it too much. i admire you for what you have done so far. i am still maintaining, i thought i had lost, but i was wrong, it was just fluctuations in Water weight...so 2nd fill here i come!!

Thanks again! I went to a siminar last night and found the truth about the hair loss. Doctor said if you don't eat the protein advised by the doctor then that happens. If you do as told, no problem with that. Does anyone worry about care after age 65 up? From what I understand the doctors don't like to treat or operate on persons over age 65. Anyone have news about this subjuect?

Hi, I'm starting to extremely worry about my hair. I've read a few posts regarding thin hair/hair loss post operation and most of them have said they have gotten their hair back to normal 6-10 months post operation. It's been almost 2 years since my operation and past month or two my hair has been shredding quite heavily, just by sweeping my hands through my hair, I would get around 10-20 pieces of hair on my palm. Unfortunately, I've been stupid and neglected my required vitamins in the early stages after my operation until recent, where I've been required to take; B12 injection every 3 months, Fultium-D3 20000U capsules once a week and Calcichew-D3 500 MG chewable tablets twice a day. I'm currently also not meeting my required daily protein intake, will using protein shakes/bars on top of food that contains protein help with my hair loss? My worry is, am I losing hair or is my hair just thinning? Is it too late to save it now? Will it ever go back to how it used to be? I'm only 23 years of age and it just looks horrendous when my hair is in that state... Please see attached images of my hair.

My only regret is not having the single incision operation, which would have cost only $1000 more through my surgeon and left me without visible scars. The coordinator I worked with when booking my surgery (I had it in Mexico because I didn't meet insurance qualifications for having it locally) had encouraged me to opt for the less expensive procedure, with the rationale that I'd probably have loose skin I'd eventually want to have surgically removed, so the scars would't be as relevant. She'd lost over 200 pounds after having the VSG and said the surgery to remove the excess skin removed the scars. I had far less to lose, and doing so at a slower pace resulted in having no loose skin, and therefore no need for a second surgery. The scars aren't horrific, but for they are visible. This summer was the first time since my early teens that I felt truly confident to wear a bikini at the beach, but the scars held me back. Still, I felt fortunate to have that problem, since for years I didn't want to go to the beach at all out of self-consciousness, despite living near it. I also wish I'd been less worried about all that could go wrong and instead more focused on all that could go right. I do think it's very important to make yourself aware of complications, and all the other potential problems or setbacks you might face, prior to having surgery, so that you're prepared. I've had no complications, no loose skin, minimal hair loss, and was able to lose weight as hoped. The coordinator was sincerely trying to be helpful in making me aware of what many other people have experienced. She'd asked me if I wanted to have my gallbladder removed during the surgery, free of cost, and said that if I didn't I'd likely need to have it removed within the year. My doctor disagreed, and I didn't have my gallbladder removed, and have had zero problems with it.

Well good news-- I got my surgery date for wednesday to take the evil gall bladder out! As long as I am careful to rest in bed and take all my anit nausea stuff and things like that its not so bad. I'm getting kind of hungry since I have only had Clear liquids most of the week, but I'm really afraid to try anything, even a Protein shake or Soup. I think if I decide I am hungry enough at some point I might try a little bit of soup. But I am worried about throwing up esp. since a couple of days ago really nasty stuff that nots supposed to come up was. Thats the sort of thing I need to try and avoid, though if I did have to go the ER and get the operation sooner or something they told me that my surgeon's partner was on call this weeked at one of the hospitals. My rate of weight loss seems to be slowing down. I guess my body is reaching some sort of equilibrium mode or something. But its really only in the past couple of days that I have noticed I seem to be a little bit thinner. My cheeks, for example, seem to feel a little less fatty to me, and my wedding rings are looser. Not loose enough to have to resize them yet though. Since I have big man hands I'm always glad to see any size reduction there. I have some cute little rings from highschool I outgrew a while ago-- nothing remotely expensive or special, but fun stuff like a snow globe ring and a mini level ring. I'd like to be able to wear and buy more rings esp the fun ones again if I feel like it. Maybe someday, far down the road, I'll even be able to wear chokers or smaller necklaces, bracelets that aren't extra big... well maybe not. I've always had trouble with that stuff. But I did notice that the one online store I use for all my candles and herbs and other pagan stuff has some cute hair clips as well. Those I can wear. I look at the Christian thread. I feel bad for them. A lot of them seem so conflicted and guilty and stuff. What is with major religions and guilt anyway? I'm kind of sad that I am going to have stay at home for beltane and the planned rituals to recuperate. My group had planned out a nice one using plants in our circle and making bath/massage oils. A friend and I had talked about going up to wisconsin too since she heard that in the milwaukee area they have a good one. Oh well, theres always next year! DH also said our plants outside are doing well. Last year I planted a ton of stuff and we put in bulbs, etc. Between my black thumb and the rabbits just about all of it died. But the onions I planted were always strong and still are. And the rhubard I thought wouldn't come back, but it did. Maybe now that there is a direct comparison I can finally convince DH that the burdock type stuff he planted a couple of years ago really isn't rhubarb and will never turn red

I too decided on Dr. Aceves and I am scheduled for April 10th for the vsg. I have all sorts of pre-jitters, but none in concerns to the Dr. I chose. I am worried about how I will handle drinking all the time, i am worried about my hair falling out along with my weight and looking sickly. i also wonder if my expectations of feeling overall better within a month or two of the surgery are fantasy or will come to fruition. this weight has me feeling sluggish, tired all the time. i read in some posts how tired people still are afterwards, but others seem to feel physically (not just emotionally because they look better) more energetic. i hope the weight loss will help me feel better and inspire me to work out.

I was banded in Mississauga (Toronto) on December 18th, 2014. I am 11 weeks post-op and down 37 pounds. It may not be a ton of weight lost, but its all gone, gone gone forever, and I am losing slow and steady. As I lay in bed last night, I touched my ribs (I have ribs?!) and reflected on how things have changed for me since being banded two and a half months ago. I realized last night that I am totally, completely, madly in love with my band. Here's why: My size 22 pants fall down to my ankles if I don't wear a belt. Even when I do wear a belt, my size 22 pants look like I'm wearing a parachute. I can put on my "old" jeans without unzipping/unbuttoning the fly. My tummy scars are a proud (and only slightly scary) red/purple, and serve to remind me every day of the commitment I've made to myself. My College students talk about me when they think I have my back turned/can't hear them and say things like "Damn, she's looking GOOD". I no longer have to use a "bath sheet" sized towel. A regular sized one wraps around my bod, thanks very much. I am no longer winded when I climb a set of stairs. People at work tell me hair looks AMAZING. What they are actually saying doing is choosing my hair as the way to give me a "YOU LOOK AMAZING!" compliment without verbalizing my obvious weight loss. This gives me JOY. I can no longer feel my thighs pressing against the sides of my office chair. Truth: In the shower, I no longer have to lift stuff up to wash other stuff. Seriously. When I get up to pee in the middle of the night there is no pain in my body. Anywhere. The aches are gone. My favourite LL Bean down jacket from before I chubbed out FITS ME and I can zip it up easily. I proctored an exam the other day sitting cross-legged on a desk. My herniated disc (due to obesity) has resolved. I can now roll over in bed pain-free. I can sleep on my stomach again. This is also something that gives me JOY. I sat on the floor with a group of students the other day, and realized I had gotten up again with absolutely NO EFFORT. I can chug water! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do this after being banded. (It's the little things...) I have been watching my cheekbones emerge. Wow. Our grocery bill has gone down dramatically. I eat 1/3 (if that) of what I used to eat. My husband says with the grocery money saved since being banded we could buy a cottage in Muskoka. (lol!) Speaking of my husband, I weigh less than him for the first time in a decade. And more about my husband: I've noticed him touching my bum. A lot. And smooching me up. And hugging me close. He's proud, I can tell. My band gently (and sometimes not-so-gently) reminds me to slow down when I eat. Thank you, dear band. I have learned what freedom from the hunger monster feels like, and MAN OH MAN is that ever sa-weet. I have a constant backdrop of satiety. I no longer think about, or worry about, my next meal. Love those band adjustments! I am looking forward to getting into my MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op - the Canadian version of "REI") 'Rad Pants' I've kept from 1994. They are red, they are a size 10. The summer is almost here and with it comes a canoe-trip. I will be wearing those pants. I feel like a I have a new lease on life. Woo hoo! It's okay to stall. It's ok to have the occasional chocolate banana fritter. (Whoops - damn it was good). I am in a love affair with my band, but more importantly, with myself. THIS is why I am in love with my band. Happy happy!

So, I take my bariatric multi. I read lots of posts about getting in Iron, how it can help you with energy (which I am still lacking at about 6 weeks) and hair loss which I am worried about, should I be taking much more? How much is too much? I know there are a lot of people that swear by the iron so any advice can help!

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone that has had the surgery and posts here. It has been so helpful and cemented my commitment to getting the gastric sleeve. My surgery date is April 7th! Eek! Anyway, I have a bunch of random questions, and I'd appreciate your help! 1. For those of you who are married, or in a serious relationship, how did the surgery effect your relationship. (I am married to an amazing man who supports me 100%, but I worry how our relationship will change as I change) 2. Did you tell your work, friends and family? If not, how do you explain your diet and weight loss? (I am only telling my husband and two close friends. I am telling everyone else I got my gallbladder out) 3. Do you have very saggy skin? (I'm 264 lbs, 5'6, 44 DDD and 31 yrs old. I am super nervous about my stomach and breasts. The nurse told me many people regret having the surgery because their skin is so saggy) 4. How much hair did you lose? (It seems so vain, but I have super thin hair as it is and I don't want to be bald! I've already started Vitamins, including Biotin, and I will start using Aveda thinning hair treatment after surgery. 5. For those of you who have active jobs, how was returning to work? (I am a first grade teacher and am planning on returning to work 11 days after surgery.) 6. What is the worst part of the recovery process? What is the best part of having the surgery? I have a ton more questions, but I'll wave it at this for now!! Thank you so much! Sent from my iPhone using BariatricPal

1. My marriage is more exciting and fun now! Being 80lbs heavier really kept me from enjoying doing any kinds of activities with my husband and kids. Most times I would just sit back and watch them have all the fun. Now I can keep up and more! 2. I wanted to keep it a secret and tried to in the beginning. I would tell people who asked what I was doing that I was eating 6 small meals, no sugar and doing lots of exercise - all true! About 4 months after my surgery I decided to just tell the whole truth. Reasons being... I felt too bad not being completely honest especially to people who had weight problems themselves and... I feel really proud of myself and dont care so much what others think anymore. It took me awhile to get to this point though. I have always had issues with worrying about people judging me. I have had nothing but possitive comments and praise from everyone ive told! 3. My loose skin isnt too bad. Maybe I will feel different in the summer when im wearing less clothing. My arms bother me the most. They are very jiggly! I actually prefer the loose skin on my stomach to when it was SO big and hard and always in the way. My boobs... lets just say they are pretty sad looking! Push up bras help! For me, the loose skin beats how unhealthy and huge I was. 4. I was really nervous about loosing my hair too. I was very lucky and didnt have any noticible hair loss. I took biotine up till a few weeks ago. 5. I agree with Babbs that the hardest part will most likely be feeling tired. Also trying to focus on your Water and meals and eating slow is crucial. I run a home daycare and I took only one week off and then I had my mother help me all day for 2 weeks. I was lucky to have her help and could go lay down and rest when I needed to. She had to force me to take the time to sit down and eat mindfully which would have been hard to do with my busy job of taking care of alot of little ones. 6. Worst part of my recovery was also reflux. It was bad! I dont think its too common though. Also being constipated wasnt fun. Overall my recovery was better than I thought it would be though. The best parts... im full of energy no more sleep apnea no more aching legs my size 10s are baggy can participate in and enjoy life can cross my legs

Hi bartval30, It sounds like maybe you'd feel better if you put a pause on this whole surgery thing for a while, perhaps to give yourself a chance to see how much further you can go on your own. Kudos to you for losing as much as you have; that certainly shows a lot of tenacity and commitment on your part. Do you feel like you have a different relationship with food now? I lost 80 pounds preop and then with a lap band, but my fixation on food hadn't changed. Given that and lots of complications, I wound up gaining over 50 pounds back prior to my sleeve surgery. I'm only ten weeks out from surgery, but I attest that this has completely changed my life. I sometimes still deal with head hunger, but I'd say it's decreased by about 80-90%, which has been a huge relief. I understand your worry about losing hair and losing your nice boobs. I'm not at the hair loss stage yet and I worry about it a bit because my hair is thin, but my boobs are awful already (very big for my frame and droopy). I've needed a breast reduction for about 30 years, but I kept telling myself that I needed to reach XXX pounds first. I've started saving money and look forward to a breast reduction/ lifting/ reshaping and all that. I particularly wanted to respond to your concerns about depression. I've been depressed since childhood (was then dysthymic) and have been on antidpressants for 25+ years. You name it, I've been on it without much in the way of great results. I was super depressed when I had the surgery (was actually on a medical leave because of it and the surgeon questioned if we should wait for a while because she said patients tend to become iritable afterwards). I convinced her that I was ready to go for it and I'm glad I did because we wound up cutting my antidepressants way back and after the first month I started feeling great. I feel like the surgery has reset my personality or something. I don't quite know how to explain it and I'm sure the fact that I'm exercising daily is helping a lot. 25 years of therapy has also helped make me ready for this, I think. I just wanted to let you know that I, myself, felt some moodiness at first, but after just a short while I'm feeling very optimistic and have great energy. Life is good. Good luck in making this decision! Only you know what's best for you. :-)

The hair cycle is about 12 weeks, the surgery confuses the hormones that regulate this cycle, and many follicles are sent into shed mode. So, yes, it can take 3-4 months for it to start, and it can last several months too. I have actually found the hair loss to be shocking. I had very little hair loss with the lap band, but after my revision to the sleeve, I started losing hair by the handful every day at month 3, and it just keeps going. My pony tail is about half as thick as I'm used to. For awhile there my hair would clog the shower drain every day. But, the good news is that it does grow back. I just cut my hair short right after surgery, and started taking biotin to make regrowth go fast. Don't worry about the short term, there are ways to deal with anything for the now. The important thing is to focus on long term health goals.

I know people loose hair after their surgery but I am 4 months out and the hair loss has gotten excessive. I worry about brushing it to much because it comes out. I used to only have to clean my hair brush every 2-3 weeks. Now I clean it every time I brush it. And it's coming out in gob amounts in the shower as well. I am taking B-12, a multivitamin, calcium citrate and biotin... what else could I be taking?? I called and talked to the lady in my doctors office this morning and she said it is normal and it probably won't stop until 12-18 months out.... if you ask me I don't have that much to loose. My sister is getting married and march this year and I don't want my hair to be this thin it's gotten crazy. I actually put brown eye shadow on the hair line so it doesn't look that bad I need help with this.

There are several articles online. Sounds like they really cant explain why some people experience hair loss after surgery like this and some don't. What I have read I doubt you will continue losing tons of hair for months on end.....I think there is a window of time when the hair loss can occur. Most seem to say it starts anywhere from 4 mths to 6mths after surgery and lasts for a few months. I know all advise is different. One thing I was told by my nutritionist is that our bodies store Protein and Vitamins...it builds up in our systems like a reserve.....so when you go without protein and vitamins like B12 and Biotin for a few weeks at surgery it will show as a loss of those essentials several weeks later when the reserves run out. Try not to worry too much....the stress cant help the situation either. I have no doubt you will be fine. I'm sure the hair loss is more noticeable to you than to others. I have thinned out a bit and to me I feel bald....to my hair dresser its hardly noticeable. My thinning only lasted about 5 weeks. Hang in there! It will get better!

My best advice would be to get a wig now especially if your hair is prone to thinning or breakage . I have a great wig that I have been wearing for the last two weeks. I was trying to grow out my hair as it's in an awkward in between stage but also I wanted something to hide the hair loss when it does happen after my surgery on the 4th . I can now rest easy knowing that I will not have to worry about when and how bad my hair will thin. I've also been taking biotin religiously for about the last two years and I'm hoping it will help. I lost my hair after childbirth and due to chemical relaxers at least three times in the past so I'm not overly concerned about it but I have been growing my hair out ( African American natural hair) with such care for the last 15 months I really want to keep as much as I can.

I have an underactive thyroid and after much experimentation, I know that the ONLY thing that keeps me from losing my hair is EPO. It's going to be bad enough with the VSG, I want to at least minimize my thyroid-related hair loss. Only problem? My EPO pills are like horse pills. HHUUUUGGGEE! I used to worry about swallowing them pre-surgery, there's no way they're going down now! Does anyone take these and if so, what brand have you found that makes them small it effective?