Hi All!

I wanted to start a thread for African-American sleevers (no worries I HEART all sleevers from the rainbow). I just thought, no scientific proof, that African-American sleevers may respond to the surgery different than our lovely non-African American sleeved sisters and brothers. I wanted to know if we had the same skin issue, hair problems, and other surgery related issues. Also, how to deal with the culture shock. African-American "soul food" may be something of the past... or not. So I was just looking for a space to voice culture related issues and concens.

PS- I TRULY :heart: ALL SLEEVERS.

I didn't have a drain...I wonder why some do.....I am 16days out 14lbs down, still weak....Hardly any energy but better than expected....Order Hairfinity ...I'm natural and love my hair...Can not take hair loss

I actually use Hair Skin and Nails it works GREAT!!!!

I have no regrets about surgery. I dealt with my mental food demons the months before surgery. What I noticed is that I had made food my friend, my therapist and used it to down my emotions in. I have started to feel more like myself, my "real" self, the person who used to put herself and her needs before all else without feeling guilty about it. I had lost that for a while. Taking on everyone else's bull is how I ended up here.

@ keewee

I take 7500 mcg of biotin and 500 mg of msm...i have been a wls patient since 2005 and no hair loss or thinning..biotin needs to be at high dosage to work is what i was told!!

Hi msfitn2014, I just read your post. What's msm? Thanks in advance.

MSM pills are joint support pills, but if you google them they are also used for hair thinning and host of other great things for your body. You can get them from Walgreens or CVS. I order my biotin and msm pills from puritanpride.com with free shipping

Curious. I have seen a couple of people mention "drains removed". Just curious because I did not have drains after I woke up from surgery. Are drains normal for sleeve?

I asked the same question as well, since I didn't have a drain either. It's not too common, but some patients have a drain attached either during or a few days after their surgery if they have a fluid build-up at the site of the operation. Nothing complicated or anything...more of precaution than anything else.

Hi Msfitn2014, I wish I would have read this sooner. I forgot all about Puritan Pride. Stupid me went to GNC and purchased Biotin 6000mg (highest dose they had) 150 ct. for $25.00. smh and I purchased two bottles (buy one and get one free) of a liquid multivitamin for $40.00. I am so kicking myself in the butt. Thanks so much for sharing the information. I will use Puritan Pride in the future. Take care.

@ keewee
I take 7500 mcg of biotin and 500 mg of msm...i have been a wls patient since 2005 and no hair loss or thinning..biotin needs to be at high dosage to work is what i was told!!

Hi msfitn2014, I just read your post. What's msm? Thanks in advance.

MSM pills are joint support pills, but if you google them they are also used for hair thinning and host of other great things for your body. You can get them from Walgreens or CVS. I order my biotin and msm pills from puritanpride.com with free shipping

Good evening all. I'm new to the site and I'm excited and nervous all at once. I had my egd procedure on the 23rd and my preop is on Friday. It seems like it's happening pretty fast. My surgery is on June 16th and I have like 500 questions. Majority of my friends have had the lap band. I chose the sleeve because I felt it's what would work best for me. I haven't told a lot of friends and family about my journey because they don't agree with my choice. I've never been a follower so of course I have to be different lol. Only problem is I have no one to go to who has been through this. If anyone has any advice to provide for I am in the beginning stages of a life changing experience it would greatly be appreciated. Thanks in advance

Welcome Trina

Hello everyone I just joined today. I will figure out how to post my picture. I was sleeved last week on May 20. I actually had the lap band taken out and revised to the sleeve. So far its been okay. I saw my surgeon today for the first week follow up. I am down 9 pounds...yay. I had a drain but it was taken out before I left the hospital. I am able to get my liquids down really good and still do not have an appetite. I concurrently have Senegalese Twists, my hair is very thick and I am concerned about losing hair. If anyone knows, is the hair loss just because of the lack of protein. I'm doing good with the protein as well. Trina I understand if you have any questions, I'm new to this but will try to help as much as possible. Thanks for this thread.

Welcome Trina and K. Everyone here is really helpful! Search through the post a lot of stuff has been talked about over and over but if you can't find what your looking for, just ask. Congrats on your journeys.

Today I had my Lapband removed after 3 years. I lost 135 lbs in 1 year and 1/2. At the end of 2012 I had to have fluid removed to have my thyroid removed. We started to refill it again in about 3 months. I would continually be back and forth in dr's office for removal of fluid. In a couple of months we would fill again. We did that for a whole year. Finally, I asked about revision. So today was first step. I actually feel pretty good. I haven't had to take any meds since I have been home. In eight weeks I will have the sleeve done. Oh, I forgot to say I gained about 50 lbs. I am so excited to join the sleeve club.

No drains and I had hernia repaired too

Regrets sure cause surgery is major and risky wish I could maintain without wls but happy I'm down 70 since vsg on 121213 -- been under goal of 175 since 4.5 months out

Challenges & ordeals ...

Initially:

Dehydration

Constipation

Heavy menstrual clotting/dizziness

Current:

Massive hair loss despite adequate vitamins

Ongoing gastritis & inflammation pain

Hiatal Hernia repair pain from hell

Various food intolerances

Back pain upper right but gallbladder ultrasound is normal

I'm on carafate, nexium and Pepcid which help a little but no complete relief

This too shall pass

Hello everyone I just joined today. I will figure out how to post my picture. I was sleeved last week on May 20. I actually had the lap band taken out and revised to the sleeve. So far its been okay. I saw my surgeon today for the first week follow up. I am down 9 pounds...yay. I had a drain but it was taken out before I left the hospital. I am able to get my liquids down really good and still do not have an appetite. I concurrently have Senegalese Twists, my hair is very thick and I am concerned about losing hair. If anyone knows, is the hair loss just because of the lack of protein. I'm doing good with the protein as well. Trina I understand if you have any questions, I'm new to this but will try to help as much as possible. Thanks for this thread.

--- I hear hairloss is due to shock of surgery and low vitamins but some ppl never lose any hair despite low intake of vitamins and surgery shock

I started losing at 2 months out and it is still pretty bad at 5.5 months out -- I cut 85% off and wearing a full weave --- braids can be stressful on the roots as well post op but we are limited in options so do what's best for u

Edited May 29, 201412 yr by sandisleeve

Wow the hair loss thing is scary...I guess I will see how it goes and deal with it...I also noticed that my cycle right after surgery was long and heavy and I was wondering if the surgery had anything to do with it...to the ladies that have had the sleeve for a while with all the complications/side effects would you do it again?

Wow the hair loss thing is scary...I guess I will see how it goes and deal with it...I also noticed that my cycle right after surgery was long and heavy and I was wondering if the surgery had anything to do with it...to the ladies that have had the sleeve for a while with all the complications/side effects would you do it again?

I also forgot to mention I had very low iron so needed 5 iron infusions -- I'm being monitored by a fabulous metabolic doc to be sure I stay at healthy levels now

I'm almost 6 months out and although I really enjoy wearing smaller clothes and having more confidence and energy I wish I could have done it without wls

Happy that wls is a relatively safe option for those who struggle with keeping weight down and I'm happy about the large network of support systems for wls patients -- also happy happy happy my insurance paid every single penny

Hard decision to make but we all do the best we can with healing - my healing is just longer than many others

I would not recommend anyone rush to wls as the only option and I would be honest about my many challenges post op - it's not an easy road even at almost 6 months out

I'm needing some prayer and cheerleaders. I'm exactly one week from surgery and down 13lbs. I should be excited but I feel so bad the weight loss means nothing! I still can't get everything down and daily pray that I don't dehydrate due to severe heartburn. They kept me in the hospital for 4 days because of it and still no combination of drug is working. I'm concerned about potential hair loss and needing to live with this pain. ..It's way too much. Really feeling like I made the wrong decision right now. Who knew that heart burn could be so significant? ??@!@@@