MichiganChic

Every day since surgery, I have weighed like it's my J.O.B. It's just me, but it helps keep me focused. I don't let the fluctuations drive me nuts. But to answer your question, only you know what you can handle. A lot of people will tell you just don't get on the scale, and others will say they do. I've seen studies that show people who weigh daily tend to be successful with weight loss. I log my weight daily on one spread sheet, and then on another tab I log once weekly. During weight loss, that's what I relied on to see if I was truly trending down. For most of us, the closer you get to goal, the slower the loss. Anyway, now that I'm in maintenance, I still weigh and log daily, but now I keep a monthly average of those daily weights. That's been pretty effective to give me a realistic picture of where I am, and what I use to determine if I need to make a change. All that logging isn't for everyone. I just happen to like data, and I think gives me information that's useful. One thing I don't ever do is get on the scale more than once a day, because that does not give me useful data.

@@proudgrammy enjoy your trip! Nothing better than grandkids and (hopefully) warmer weather.

So sorry to hear about your leak, but glad you are on the mend. I didn't have one, but there is a complications forum you might want to check out. Lots of stories there. Also, there are lots of people here who did have leaks and have good recovery stories. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

I lost a half to a full size, and whole lot of width. I'd take them back.

You are a wonderful success story. You look great, congratulations!

Funny how some docs are so opinionated about surgery, when they are clearly uninformed. They are probably basing their opinions on their experience with a few patients. My doc was a little like that, and would give me dumb, obvious, or useless advice about diet. I really like him, though, so I have just been "helping" him understand about gastric sleeve. I think he is slowly changing his opinion as he sees me continue to succeed. I know he had a couple of people with hypoglycemia, and a couple who gained their weight back. Just ignore her for now, and know that she does not know everything - even if she thinks and acts like she does

I don't know for sure, but I imagine it depends on the cycle of the hair follicle. If the cycle is 6 months, then I would think that you would be safe after 6 months.

@@CowgirlJane they just got the chicken skewers at my Costco. Great suggestion, thanks!

While iron deficiency can absolutely contribute to hair loss, it's not something you just want to take blindly. Too much iron is a bad thing. You might want to check with your doctor before adding more.

That made me chuckle. It reminded me that when I was really little, like 4 or 5, my great grandmother would always comment on my big legs, calling them "mill posts" or something. She was very southern, and so I didn't understand a lot of their expressions, but even now, I don't know what that is, and neither does my mom, but I knew it meant big, lol. Point is, I've always had huge legs, and that never changed, no matter what I weigh. I don't even plastic surgery can totally fix them.

At 3 months, I ate about 500-600 calories a day. At about 4-6 months, I was at 600-700. From 6 months to a year, I was 800-900. Since then, I average around 1000-1400. I have always gotten in at least 75gm protein a day.

At 3 months, I ate about 500-600 calories a day. At about 4-6 months, I was at 600-700. From 6 months to a year, I was 800-900. Since then, I average around 1000-1400.

Yeah, it was really rough. I went to a dermatologist, got injections and magic potions, and I think they did help because I noticed it slowing down after that. I also used an absurdly expensive shampoo and Vitamin combo he prescribed, but I think that helped, too. It was all just super slow recovery.

Mine started coming out at 4 months and kept coming out for another 8 months, and stopped at a year post op. Coincidentally, that's when I started increasing my calories and weight loss slowed. It's taken another year to recover. Almost all my hair is back now, but not all of it. I think I had a worse case scenario because I didn't have thick hair to start with, I had a lot of weight to lose, and I have to eat super small calories to lose, and I'm past 50 and post-menopausal. That's a lot of things working against me! I never missed a Vitamin or a day of getting Protein in, and I took Biotin, too.

My understanding is that you can never take NSAIDS after gastric bypass, but you can after about 6 weeks with the sleeve. The reason is because the suture line at the pouch anastomosis (where they attach it) is prone to ulceration in the bypass. I have a sleeve and I've taken ibuprofen every day for the last 2 years. It was one of the main reasons I had the sleeve. I find Tylenol is useless for me.

If I were you, I would try to do some true research (in medical publications) about outcomes for diabetics with both the sleeve and gastric bypass. Any librarian at your local library can help you do that if you are not sure how to find valid information on the internet. I would be most persuaded by the results for diabetics who were able to get off insulin and maintain a normal blood sugar. Both the sleeve and bypass can improve or resolve diabetes, but I have read that bypass might be better (though I'm not sure). There is a lot more long term research about that with the bypass, but I haven't really done the research. I think you should do that, and then make the most informed decision based on your findings. There are pros and cons associated with both surgeries, so it behooves you to understand the implications.

Mine was easy, too. My insurance didn't even require a pre-authorization. I was sleeved 2 months from the date of my seminar. I had a psyche eval, GI swallow and an ultrasound, some labs, and was ready. So fortunate!

It is possible to lose that much Water weight, especially if you have a tendency to retain water. There might be a pound of fat, too.

Those look great! I'm going to try those!

@@CrazyJaney Thank you, and Congratulations on your great loss! Such an accomplishment in a short time. You're smart to know that you may or may not get to a normal BMI. I saw some people have as much to lose as me and get there, and thought I should be able to, too. I now know that it is the exception, and not the rule when we have so much to lose. And it's not a failure to not be one of the ones who can't do that. There's more to it than just eating less and exercising and it's a guarantee of getting there. Science still does not have all the answers about obesity. I saw my surgeon last week for my 2 year visit, and was looking through the book of successful weight loss patients. Very few had a normal BMI, and most were squarely in the overweight category, and some were still in the obesity category in the low 30s. He is considered a highly successful surgeon with good outcomes, and the practice is certified as a center of excellence. We are all so much better off than where we came from - a true gift.

@@VSGAnn2014 Yep, we do have to live in the moment and be grateful for it, because whatever "it" is that we have, can all be taken from us in an instant. Many years as a hospice nurse have taught me that and also really helps to put things into perspective. So, when you spend a lot of time and effort on one facet of your life, and then spend a lot of time talking about it with like minded people, it might give impression that there is nothing else going on in our lives. It also has the potential to take over if we let it, so it is important to not be too narrow minded in our thoughts. Two things, though: If you had a magic wand, just zap me to a permanent and healthy BMI lol! And two, while it's true none of us is getting any younger in years, I think weight loss can turn back time from a health perspective. I am way healthier than I was two years ago. And a little help from my plastic surgeon has definitely made me look way better and younger on the outside, too! I haven't decided, but I might be getting a little "dewier" I do totally agree with your message, though! It is absolutely time to be good to ourselves and be happy. It's a choice, almost always.

This topic comes up all the time, both on BP and in real life, for many of us. There seems to be a general belief that having weight loss surgery is somehow easy, or "less than" traditional, non-surgical weight loss methods. I read thread after thread from BP members having to deal with yet another judgment around their weight and approach to managing their health. They report feeling judged, and express a sense of dismay, sorrow, or outrage. We discuss whether to tell or not. So, I've been thinking about this. First - I don't care what people think. Don't judge me until you've walked in my shoes. But, when I compare my attempts at weight loss pre-sleeve, I have to say, having a sleeve is WAY easier!! So before anyone gets riled up, I am not saying its easy. It's a major surgery, and all of the associated procedures and hoops you deal with just to get the surgery make it a challenge. You have to deal with post op pain, and if you are not one of the lucky ones, there are complications of varying degrees. Once you get through all of that, there is being FORCED to change what you eat, and how you eat. It's forever, and there is no break from it. You have it all day, everyday. So no, not easy. But when it comes to weight loss, it's been easier for me. I still had to do the work, but at least the work paid off for once. I used to be on weight watchers for years, and I'd be lucky to lose 50 pounds in a year, and I'd be more miserable and hungry than I've ever been with the sleeve. I did medically supervised diets, and have the same outcome. At the end of the day, I always gained the weight back, and felt miserable for the time, effort, and money I put in, only to fail. Yep, the sleeve has been much easier for me, and I do not feel the need to defend it. It's just the way it is, and I'm grateful for it. What about you - has it been easier for you?

Here's another reason I supported my 26 year old daughter's choice to get a sleeve: In addition to a better quality of life with her growing family, it also has the ability to improve the quality of her baby's life. He'll grow up in a house where food isn't the focus, and where he parent's eat for nutrition, not fun/sorrow/boredom/whatever. Also, I've seen studies that children will have a better chance of a normal weight if born to normal weight mothers, so that impacts her future, unborn children.

One of the main reasons it is easier for me is because I had to eat 900 calories to lost weight. With a whole stomach and hunger hormones raging, I could not do that, and didn't even know that it would take that sort of deficit. So, in that respect, it sort of IS the only way out for some of us. I never said it didn't require extreme effort, but at least for me, the efforts are helped along with decreased capacity and controllable hunger, and those efforts are rewarded with weight loss. So I still work very hard, but that's new for me.

Since your surgeon didn't give you much information, you should probably get a book. There are several out there that give good information about the post op diet. You can also search on the internet, but be careful with that. You can't believe everything on the internet, including what people say on Bariatric Pal, lol! However, here are my thoughts: At this stage, you should be progressing very slowly with your diet. I had to be on full liquids for the first 17 days. That means shakes, strained cream soups, Jello. The pureed soup your mother in law made is probably good, too. After that I progressed to soft foods, which meant cottage cheese, pudding, hot cereals (cream of wheat), scrambled eggs, etc. Make sure to measure your food, and eat slowly. No more than 1/4 to 1/2 cup at a time. Only eat 4 times a day, and no grazing. As for what feels like hunger, it might be acid. Get some over the counter Prilosec and give that a try. And keep after your surgeon. Don't let them ignore your concerns. One other thing, it does get better. I still remember how bad I felt for the first 4-6 weeks. Good luck!