Kaywieny

I decided to just take one every day, and two every other day. I've already been trying to counteract the side effects---I take 7500mg of Biotin a day, a hair, Skin, Nails formula, and silica, Omega 3 and my regular bariatric vitamins/iron/calcium supplements. I've done that since I was discharged. I expected it, I've read all the posts about hair loss at 6 months or more, but nevertheless, it's still alarming when it comes out and tangles around your fingers when you wash your hair. *Enter several OMG here* I'm going in and having a couple inches taken off the length, I heard this was supposed to help with breakage and stimulation...I'd rather have short hair than no hair.

WOW. I can't say I can't believe they wouldn't do your follow up care. It's been almost three months since my surgery. In the course of the last few months I have found out quite a bit and have tried to keep some speculations I've had to myself about Iowa Weight Loss Specialists. My experience with Dr. Eibes had been good overall, but I have some reservations about some stuff. I have a blood test coming up, and then my 6 month check up in March, but it's my plan to see if my Primary Care doctor will 'help or even take over care afterwards. I thought Dr. Eibes was great, but there's been some issues that have come up that have concerned me, and it's with some of the policies/procedures or whatever they adopted as they have expanded. For example, originally when I went through orientation almost a year ago, before surgery, I was told by Dr. Eibes that they WOULD take out my gall bladder if I still had it. That wasn't the case when surgery rolled around, I was told they would leave it in so I could still benefit from it. I'm on Urosodial which makes my hair fall out, gives me constipation, and after 6 months I will NOT be given a refill. I HOPE I'm still losing significant weight by then, but I don't know. I just think that I'll be a gall bladder case waiting to happen, because of medical history, etc etc.. And then, well, the clinic and the staff have grown so much over the last year, people in and people out, that it just doesn't feel so comfortable going there anymore...I've begun to feel like I'm on an assembly line, in a way. I also had problems with the insurance staff. I was not submitted for my surgery until 4 weeks later because there was only one gal and she was overwhelmed. Felt bad for her, but....not my fault. I was miraculously approved within 24 hours though after I was submitted. At the time though I was with Principal Insurance. I don't blame you for not wanting them to follow up care if on an emergency basis. Frankly, I think it's cr*p that they refused to see you for follow up care. I was wondering if you ever checked with the Grinnell, IA bariatric clinic, (I don't know the name) or no because of insurance reasons? My insurance wouldn't cover because they are out of network for me, otherwise I would just go there because it's only a few miles away. I also don't know anyone who has been to that clinic. BTW...I do believe the OP of this post did have her surgery.

I'm 2 1/2 months out, or around it. I can manage with some crackers okay, but my pasta and bread intake is nil. I just can't tolerate it, and I know if it's because of what clk said above, or if because some other unknown digestive issue with grains. Some people who have experienced even orthopedic surgery have developed intolerances to pasta, breads, milk...etc.. I think it's just because the stomach I used to have is just gone.

Hi Sue, I'm not quite 3 months out, but I've had some old habits creep up and swallow me whole. I just experienced one while at work. I work overnights, and I work with some food-lovin' gals, so it is especially hard. Tonight I had chinese...pepper steak. Two hours later, some hot and sour Soup, an hour after that, teriyaki chicken on a stick. Chinese food is my downfall. Could I have done worse? Definitely. I don't want to think about sodium levels, and I'm not quite sure about the carb count in pepper steak. Not only that..but I do believe you could call the above grazing. My weight loss has been phenomenal so far, so when I make mistakes like this, I have to examine why and how I let it happen, but I have to DO something about it. I hate on myself, I feel sorry for myself, I mean, I have already given up so much (smoking, drinking, pastas, and breads), that it shouldn't FEEL like a crime to enjoy some Chinese food, or even some popcorn. Yet it does. SO...what to do about it.... Tomorrow (or today, after a nap) I'll be going out for a long walk, and I'll also slip back into liquids and puree's for three days, so I can get myself back on track. I think as 'early' sleevers, we are bound to experience these moments when old habits need to be addressed one way or the other... and that's okay, but you also need to think of all the reasons you had your surgery and the things you want to do; or even things you may have already gained. (Er...not weight...or the medical bill) I've definitely failed today, but I won't tomorrow. We can only do the best we can, and only we can decide what our best is. (I hope that makes sense.)

I'm curious for those that are taking it, or it's generic Ursodiol...what is your dosage? Two pills a day? I'm 2 and 1/2 months out and while I've been taking it, I've been thinking about stopping or going with just 'one' pill, or even taking none during those weeks there are stalls. (I know, not recommended, and I also want to keep my gall bladder...but, maybe a decrease wouldn't be so bad?) A side effect of Ursodiol is hair loss and I'm experiencing it, and having issues with constipation.

A few days after surgery, some do experience hunger, or, some do experience the need to eat something more solid, like puree. There comes a point after surgery when your energy returns and so does a bit of an appetite. Your stomach IS smaller, and yes, you will feel satisfaction by drinking liquids, but the only way to describe it that it's short lived. I guess you couldn't really call it a craving, it's more like wanting (or maybe it's craving) something more solid. There is not a time you'll appreciate refried Beans more than when you graduate to puree. Even if you can only take three bites.

I'm on Ursodial, I take it twice a day and will take it for 3-4 more months. I noticed the hair thinning after the 1st month, and that's with taking Biotin and Hair, Skin, Nails formula. When I started the process to have surgery months ago, my doctor told me that they WOULD take out my gall bladder. When it was time for surgery however, I was told that they would leave it in so I could still benefit from it. I wouldn't have minded losing it at surgery and I sure as heck don't want to have to go get it taken out, so I make sure I take my pills. I'm curious though to find out if anyone after taking the gall bladder meds or +6months post op still had to have it taken out?

I started the drybrushing technique right out of the hospital, along with taking a hair, skin, and nails formula. The drybrushing...some of you might think it's crazy, but I think it feels great and I've noticed a difference in my skin since those first few days following surgery. I do it maybe every other day. I have had some acne pop up on my face, and I agree with the above. I think the break outs are because we're detoxifying.

I agree with Rosieb. I'm only a few weeks out but I've slowly been incorporating soft foods in. I have really been watching my carbs, but I'm planning this day as a treat to myself for so far a job well done. My plan is for a little bit of dark meat, a little stuffing around noon. For dinner I'm going to have white meat and green bean cassarole. For dessert I'm having Eggface's apple pie innards, and I'm going to make my own crumb topping for a treat. Appetizers I'm going to stay away from unless they're high protein, and besides, I want to be hungry so I can enjoy a very small meal. I think planning it out is key, and a way to stay away from ALL the carbs. But I also think it's a good day to reward yourself with some of the things you have loved in the past. I then plan to make the mad dash to Walmart so I can wrestle with the other psycho shoppers the morning after.

Debi-c....Not sure what you're NUT or Dr's told you, but according to mine, on the all liquid phase you might do a little 'grazing' because you need to get fluids and nutrition in, especially when you're less than a week post op. I had no issues keeping fluids down or getting them down, I did experience fullness, though. My first week went sort of like this... Shake, yogurt for breakfast, Shake, broth, Jello for Lunch, broth, pudding for dinner. Never the first week did I finish what I set out for the entire meal, so if I didn't finish my yogurt or pudding, I finished it as a snack between meals. The shakes weren't hard at first, but they became that way just because I was tired of all the sweet stuff. By the near end of week two I was ready for puree. My first meal was refried beans. They were the best refried beans I ever ate.

They were mine too. I was sleeved on the 31st. All I can say and it's reiterating what everyone one else has said. It will pass. And if it's gas, it will pass! The Gas-X and moving is the best thing you can do.

Me too. Learning to pace yourself is not easily conquered, and feeling a golf ball in your esophagus really does SUCK.

Gas-X was a miracle drug for me 1 week post op. I too had some pretty severe back pain, lower right side, I think mine was gas too. Another possibility, just remember too that you had some muscles cut into and since they all work together, you're back might be reacting. Whether you noticed or not, you have/are sitting different or even walking or laying different. Subtle changes can effect other parts of the body. If it's not getting any worse, just treat it like you are now. Heat pad, hot shower, buy some gas-x..you are still storing it, believe it or not. Do you have spasm medication, or did the Dr give it to you? Does it help?

Drink as much as you can without feeling uncomfortable. It is impossible to stretch your stomach or break the staple line, at least impossible by simply drinking water. If you throw up you've drunk too much, obviously, but don't worry about doing damage, not going to happen. Just worry about getting in at least 32 ounces per day.

Hi, Kara. I'm two weeks post op, on puree now. The Diarrhea had been nightmarish, but since intergrating puree a few days ago, I've moved on to...well, just 'loose stool'. I drink one Protein shake a day, and that's in the am. I had one freind who just went through this process tell me that the diarrhea/loose stools is normal post-op, she suggested that I drink protein in the morning, and then follow it up with a little cream of wheat or oatmeal. Tried that three days ago and that seemed to help, but then I also decided to try and use 1% milk, instead of skim or Water. In regards to soy protein....are you lactose intolerant? If you are, it might indeed be the choice for you, but can't give you any suggestions, sorry.