Aimee480

I know there are THOUSANDS of hair loss questions on this site. But I am wondering who has not experienced hair loss. I am almost 4 months post-op and have not experienced noticable hair loss. Yet, I worry every day that today will be the day that my hair starts to fall out. At what point should I stop stressing about this? On a side note, I am extremly pleased with my weight loss results. Just still concerned about the hair loss possibility.

I was going to get the band, then I did some research and decided on the sleeve. My issue with the band - I am only in my mid-30's and I can't imagine having a foreign object in my body for the rest of my life. I just could not imagine myself as a 65 year old person with this device in me. My sister had breast implants and said she has to have them replaced every 10 years. Will that end up the same for a band? And the fills, I could not imagine having a pump that I have to fill and reduce as needed. The sleeve, which I had back in mid June, has been FANTASTIC for me. I like that I can eat what I want, but quantity is limited. I said that I can eat what I want and I do eat what I want. I want to eat clean and healthy, so that is my new choice post-surgery. I would go witht he sleeve if I were you. It is a wonderful life-style change that is very worth it.

I am making this post because I need to come clean. Prior to surgery I would drink nearly every evening, a glass or two of wine or a couple of beers a night. Did I feel I had a problem??? - Maybe, but I would rationalize it by telling myself I could go days at a time without drinking, so it could not be a problem. During my pre-op stage I did not touch alcohol, nor did I even want a drink. Post surgery, I did fine for a month... Then, I thought, I want to try a glass of wine. I did and one glass was all I needed. But the next day there was still that wine left, so I rationalized drinking again by saying I did fine the night before might as well have another glass. A week later I have rationalized my way into having a glass to a glass and a half of wine nearly every night. I see an old habit returning and I don't want it back. I poured out the remaining wine and am making this posting to come clean about my error. For those of you who might be like me (a regular alcohol user pre-surgery) and want to have drink post surgery.... Please don't. It could be slippery slope into letting other impulsive negative behaviors back into your life. Yes - I know there are people who can have a drink with no problem post surgery. I am just admitting I am not one and I started to slide down the slippery slope into old unhealthy behaviors.

I teach 5th grade in AZ. Had my surgery on June 14th and have lost almost 35 lbs.... I mentioned that I was considering surgery back in the fall of 2011, but did not talk about it with anybody outside of my close co-workers. I have not seen but two of my coworkers since the end of the school year and am SO hoping they notice a difference. I am beyond glad I was able to have the surgery at the beginning of summer break, it gave me time to heal and learn how to work on my new lifestyle. Not to mention it will be nice to go back to work looking and feeling better. I figured if someone asks what I did I will tell them the truth.... Eat a high protein, low calorie, nearly no carb diet and exercise. Not a single word of this is a fib.

Good to know I am not alone with this. I SO wanted some wine yesterday evening, but I knew it would only make me feel yucky and mad at myself. Which would lead me into negative self talk and on and on with the negative behaviors. Amazing how physiological ALL of this is..... The food, the drinking, self talk. I just want to BE....

I am one month post op and eating soft foods. I too miss certain foods like chips and salsa, but I ask myself "will eating this really make me feel better/happy?" I think of the times where I would eat myself into a coma and how I NEVER actually felt good or happy when I ate that way. If you are craving something, take a bite chew and chew, then spit it out.

Try Crystal Lite PURE. My NUT (who is STRICT) said it is approved. It saved me.... I could not do regular Crystal Lite or other fake-ass sweet stuff. The Pure does not taste fake and is so yummy!

I also have Hashimoto's and had a partial thyroid removal eight years ago and had not a single question or concern about this issue when going through the surgery process. On a side note, I had the surgery almost four weeks ago and have been successful with weight loss. I don't think my thyroid had much to do with me being over weight. I am over weight because I was eating and drinking myself to death.

Think of this as your "rock bottom." My rock bottom was also on day one of my two week pre-op clear liquid diet.... I snuck food under a towel and sat on the toilet eating cold scrambled eggs and two sausage links. I was never so ashamed or embarrassed with myself and this gave me the strength and resolve to be a better person. You can do it!

I was sleeved on 6/14 at Gateway with Dr. Schuster and was BEYOND impressed with the Gateway staff. All of the Banner Gateway Docs have great reps and rightfully so, they are very professional. The pre and post op support groups are also an important component of the process. I as SO apprehensive about the surgery and am beyond happy I made the decision.

I had to do a two-week pre-op diet where I lost nearly 20 lbs. Since I felt so successful on the pre-op diet, I thought I did not need the surgery. Up till the moment I was put under, I almost backed out. I thought I would die under the "knife" or that I was just making a dumb decision. I did not back out and I am THRILLED with the process. I feel wonderful and know this is the best decision outside of deciding to have children. On a side note, and please don't think I am being critical. But I do not care for it when people refer to this as "a new life." Your live will still be your life, you will still have the same problems and issues. I think of this process as my new attitude towards myself and the way I interact with food.

I tried decaf hot tea for three weeks, but it is just not the same as coffee. I broke down one week post op and had myself a cup of coffee. I limit myself to one cup a day of real coffee. I do not have any other caffiene during the day and usually do not drink the entire cup of coffee. Now, I am NOT back up to my cup of hot coffee and large iced coffee w/ sugar free vanilla from McD's, and I will NEVER go back to that bad habit. But my single cup o coffee is so nice. :wub:

I am almost three weeks post op and am EXACTLY the same. The first few days after surgery I could just take little sip after sip, but then at about six days out I could drink pretty normally. If I am thirsty enough, I can easily drink a 16 oz bottle of water in ten to fifteen minutes. I was worried that there was something wrong with me cause I could drink so "normally," but I am not too worried b/c when I try to drink an entire protein shake I get FULL when I am not half-way done.

I had the sleeve on June 14th and have also his a stall. I went in for my two week post op appoitment and was told that this is normal. I also attend a support group for WLS patients and everybody said they his a three week stall. Some folks said it lasts a short time and for others it was a couple of weeks. Everyone gave the same advice, take your measurements. My thought on all of this is that I am 26 lbs down and happy. I never want to go back. Good luck, you'll get through this.

I am one and a half week post-op, but completed two weeks of a two week pre-op clear liquid diet. During the pre-op diet and a week after surgery I lost 23 lbs!!! BUT...since last Thursday I have only lost 2 lbs. I was getting depressed thinking I am "eating" too much. But when I plugged in my food diary into My Fitness Pal, I was pretty much on target. After reading this post and the comments, I feel SO much better. Knowing there is a "three-week" stall for many makes me know I am not alone.

Wow, you all are LUCKY! I am on week one of two weeks of a clear liquid pre-op diet. I have three to four protein shakes a day, sugar-free Jell-O, broth, sugar free liquids, and sugar free popscicles. I has been difficult, but down ten pounds in one week and feeling so much better. Good luck with your journey.

I received a notice from a third party entity informing me of the "Initial Denial Notice." The letter stated I was denied because "No Severity of Illness." Since my BMI is slightly under 40 I must have A co-morbity, which I do, I have high blood pressure. My main annoyance is from the lack of communication. The surgeon's office NEVER communicated the denial. I received a letter in the mail. When I called the surgeon's office, the insurance coordinator seemed put-out with my questions. This is suppose to be a top-noch/top-rated program. I have been very impressed up till this point. She made it quite clear that it is MY problem to do all the appeal work, she did her part by submitting the initial paper work, so wiping her hands of it all. When I called the provider, they said to call this other provider b/c they do not handle the claims (BUT your number is on the letter!!!!!!!). So, after numerous calls, I learned there is one nice person out there. She does not know exactly why I was denied, but she gave me some info for my appeal letter. I have written my appeal letter, will be calling my PCP to get records of my blood pressure with note of the blood pressure meds I am prescribed. And keep my fingers crossed. Anybody been through this process could offer words of wisdom/advice, I will be so grateful.

I am new to the Forum World, so please excuse my ignorance in posting (but just for now). So, I had my first visit with the WLS doc and found out I need to complete six months of a medical supervised weight loss program because my BMI is a tad over 38 and to qualify for surgery I need to be at 40 BMI. I went to my PCP for my medically supervised weight loss visit and he commented, "if you gain ten pounds you will qualify." I was thinking the same thing, but then began to wonder..."Will my insurance cover me if I gain ten pounds in a month?" The thought of gaining ten pounds makes me sick (well, I have gained ten pounds in the past year, so I am not sure why I am sick over this). I am just so afraid my insurance company (BCBS of AZ) will deny me flat out if I gain ten pounds. So, does anybody have a thought? If I gain the ten pounds while on a medically supervised program will insurance do the big DENY.... Or, if I am officially at 40 BMI which according to their standardes is covered. But can they deny me b/c I have not been at a 40 BMI long enough? I am just so sick of being sick!!!!! Thoughts????

I guess I know how much I want/need this and am just afraid of the insurance co. But you are totally right. I have been over-eating more than normal. I am looking forward to the day that won't be able to over-eat. I know that sounds silly, but I am so sick and tired of feeling totally out of control. I know I am actually in control, but I don't feel in control.

So, your insurance company didn't give you push-back? I am so fearful that the insurance co will do a BIG DENY if I gain weight. I was thinking they would say that I have not been at a 40 BMI long enough.

I am going through the Banner system.

This is my fear. If I gain weight, I will NOT qualify b/c insurance companies are smart enough to know I am trying to manipulate the system. I am just going to follow their rules and see where it takes me. I will have to wait no matter what and maybe the wait time will provide me with more opportunity to learn and be successful in the long run.

Creative. I did shrink an inch, how, I don't know. But it helped.

That is the attitude I am keeping. This is a major change and worth the wait. I am just afraid that after six months they will find a reason to deny me, but I guess I will have to wait till that time comes no use stressing now.

I have high blood pressure and high cholestrol, oh, wait.... I am pre-diabetic too. But must do six months on physician supervised diet and jump through hoops. I am not in a super-hurry to get this done, but I am annoyed at the system.