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Yes, you can switch if you need too. Find someone else who does fills and find out more about them. I am also so confused about the diet because my doc is very strict. Here is the rundown:

up to day 5 post op-liquid

5-9days five preselect foods (cottage cheese, yogurt, refried Beans, pudding, egg beaters)

9-21days (five preselect foods PLUS ham salad, egg salad, chicken salad and tuna salad)

3 weeks solid foods but nothing you would need to cut with a knife (ex: steak)

6 weeks normal solids

When normal I should eat about 1/2c 5-6x's a day. 65g Protein or more a day. I was told specifically if you cannot eat more than a bite or two after your fill, your band is too tight!!

You still need your nutrients! The thing that gets me about this diet I have is, why can't I add Soups, mashed potatoes, things like that? Ya know? but they are very concerned that you don't eat that stuff and yep, I have cheated a little. I don't want to hurt my band but if I can have pudding, why can't I have mashed potatoes? right?

When did everyone else start eating normal again after surgery?

I have an excellent surgeon( not a support system), but when into my post-op appointment, he was very short with me and I had to chase him out of the room to finish answering my questions.. I thought he is busy then I realized he was talking in the room about brochures to his staff. It really upset me. Can you change surgeons once you have surgery to a more supportive office staff? It probably depends on your insurance, but has anyone ever done that and regretted it?

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And my nutritionist said in order to keep my hair from falling out, I need 70-75 grams of Protein. If I were you, I would absolutely find another doctor.

I was getting 80 grams of Protein a day and my hair is still falling out. It actually has nothing to do with protein (although that helps of course). It has to do with the shock your body goes through after the surgery. Most patients experience Hair loss 2-3 months out after any major surgery.

here is an article on it...

Everyone experiences hair loss on a daily basis. Normal hair loss is barely noticeable, amounting to less than 100 hairs per day. However, the stress of a major surgery can cause hair loss to accelerate up to three times as much in both men and women. It's the body's way of reacting to the trauma of the operation.


  • The Facts
    • During a normal Hair growth cycle, hair grows, then enters into a resting or "telogen" period and eventually sheds. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, "telogen effluvium" is a term used to describe hair that has been rushed into the resting state after the body suffers a shock due to major surgery. As resources are redirected to help heal the affected surgical area, the body temporarily shuts down hair production because it is not necessary for survival.

Identification

  • Telogen effluvium related to surgery can be distinguished from other forms of hair loss in several ways. Individuals typically begin to notice the increasing hair loss two to three months after the surgery. Hair loss after surgery is uniform, noticeable on the scalp but never excessive enough to cause a patchy appearance or complete baldness. In addition, the shed hairs all exhibit a specific pattern at the root, which resembles a white bulb.

Time Frame

  • Hair usually resides in the telogen phase for a period of two to four months before growth resumes. Individuals don't begin to notice the increase in hair loss when showering or brushing the hair until about three months post-surgery. Although the resting hair is being pushed out of the scalp by new hair that is already growing, it can take anywhere from about six months to a year for the hair to return to its normal fullness.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

  • Individuals who have undergone gastric bypass or other operations of the digestive tract designed to reduce obesity are more prone to hair loss post-surgery. This is due to the reduced intake of food in the weeks and months immediately following these procedures. The body needs an adequate amount of Proteins and Vitamins to maintain hair production. Protein-enhanced shakes are often recommended for these patients as a substitute until solid food can be better tolerated.

Proper Diet

  • Hair loss related to surgery typically reverses itself without any medicinal intervention or the need for over-the-counter hair loss tonics or treatments. However, maintaining a diet rich in protein and Iron is believed to help promote and speed up healthy hair growth. Suggested foods include salmon, Beans, eggs, spinach, broccoli, nuts and whole-grain cereals. Avoid foods that can inhibit hair growth, such as those that contain high levels of caffeine and fat.

Read more: Losing Hair After Surgery | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/...l#ixzz1QtFeANl3

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o.k. I agree with you to an extent.......I can easily loose weight between 1616 and 1856 so depending on your size( I say use the calorie calculator) find out really what your age, body, weight...to loose weight there are a lot of variables!

Im supposed to eat less then 1700 acording to myfitnesspal.com (love that site) to lose weight and it seems to be working, plus the band helping with restriction (FINALLY!). So I eat about 9-12 bites at any given meal (ignoring what the doc says) sitting and lost 6 lbs this week since my last band tightening! This was after 2 months of no real weight loss.

:success1:

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This doctor told you that you can have a bagel? My nut says "If you are gonna eat a bagel you may as well go to the ER." I actually had forgotten about it and man I was hurting. Most of the food items you mentioned would take more that 3 bites. You should be eating small bites and would take alot of chewing.

I noticed you live in Illinois. I, do also. Not sure how far you would be willing to travel, but I would find a new doctor 2 months ago. If you are trying to follow the guidelines the doc has set forth, that is why you are losing your hair. Back to point, my surgeon is out of Joliet and is absolutely WONDERFUL.

This is supposed to help you live a fuller life not dread it and starve yourself.

My problem is I am on Aetna Better Health Insurence and the case worker still has not found any other doc in the area who is covered by them.... :(

6 to 12 small/medium bites (of anything I WANT to eat has been working and I feel full. I'm just following my own rules now and I lost 6 lbs in 1 week. So "eff" the docs! :prrr::mad3:

:woot:

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I don't know how you can have been told you need to get your nutrition from liquids. The band does not work with liquids. The majority of Dr's say that liquid calories should be avoided.

Definitely time for you to get a new DR.

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Yep, I thought it was crazy as well. When I said I was eating 1- 1.5 cups of food and not losing any weight, she said no way, only 3 bites should be eaten. I am supposed to get my nutrients through liquid Vitamins.

Every post that I have seen you respond to with your doctor's advice further embeds in my head that your dr is a quack...no you...you're a perfectly reasonable person, I'm sure. But your dr(nuts)

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Every post that I have seen you respond to with your doctor's advice further embeds in my head that your dr is a quack...no you...you're a perfectly reasonable person, I'm sure. But your dr(nuts)

Apparently so because I was so upset with them after the surgery (my experience was horrible and painful), and when I came on here searching for real answers, I realized that NOTHING anyone else posted matched what I was told (or never told). Then I went on to try to help others with things that I was told, and got attacked each time! Am I the ONLY one on here with docs that don't know what they are doing?

Even my FAMILY is angry with them! It's not like I am an idiot and not aware of this... The real problem I am having right now is my insurance does not cover anywhere else (at least not yet). So I am stuck and just ready to cry because of all the negative responses I have had on this whole forum from people and I'm just doing what I am told!..

What I will say though is that once I stopped listening to the main doc at the surgeons office, and took some control I started finally losing weight. I'm down 6 lbs this week. whoopie.

That's all I have to say.

*SIGH*

:crying:

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The best advice I can give you is to use this web site everyday while you are in this transitional period.....also use your own god given brain.....log every calorie down and just do the math....water, and exercise will do the rest....good luck you seem like a sharp pup!

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Apparently so because I was so upset with them after the surgery (my experience was horrible and painful), and when I came on here searching for real answers, I realized that NOTHING anyone else posted matched what I was told (or never told). Then I went on to try to help others with things that I was told, and got attacked each time! Am I the ONLY one on here with docs that don't know what they are doing?

Even my FAMILY is angry with them! It's not like I am an idiot and not aware of this... The real problem I am having right now is my insurance does not cover anywhere else (at least not yet). So I am stuck and just ready to cry because of all the negative responses I have had on this whole forum from people and I'm just doing what I am told!..

What I will say though is that once I stopped listening to the main doc at the surgeons office, and took some control I started finally losing weight. I'm down 6 lbs this week. whoopie.

That's all I have to say.

*SIGH*

:crying:

I understand only being able to go to who your insurance approves. I try not to be too skeptical of my own dors but there are somethings that I just have to figure out myself and not follow their orders to a T. Not everything people post on this website is accurate as well but if you find multiple posters from all around the country posting similiar responses...its probably a bit more accurate in your case..the 3 bite thing. If I can only eat 3 bites its usually because I am too tight. You're doing fine, just take what people say with a grain of salt, including drs. Try it, if it doesn't work, modify it.

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I understand only being able to go to who your insurance approves. I try not to be too skeptical of my own dors but there are somethings that I just have to figure out myself and not follow their orders to a T. Not everything people post on this website is accurate as well but if you find multiple posters from all around the country posting similiar responses...its probably a bit more accurate in your case..the 3 bite thing. If I can only eat 3 bites its usually because I am too tight. You're doing fine, just take what people say with a grain of salt, including drs. Try it, if it doesn't work, modify it.

I really appreciate your attitude, thank you. The good thing is I finally talked to a woman who gave me some hope today and good advice. I am crossing my fingers that this is the beginning of a healthier path now and not a blurry one.

Take care.

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