Indigo1991

Omg, 2 years, will be too old to care by then lol!!! I wanted to leave it a year post surgery but I am beginning to look like Jessica Rabbit the smaller I get )))

And so it begins. Noticed increasing hair loss in last few days and today BIG lots going down the plug... Am I sad? Yup, I love my hair. Am I going to freak out? Nope. Knew it was likely, irrespective of what protein/vitamins/biotin/water I have taken since the surgery. I suppose that as there's no such thing as a free lunch, there's always a price to pay for something that is working for me as well as my sleeve is. Have lost hair before when taking a chemo drug (although hope not to lose my eyelashes this time!), so been here before and hair recovered. Like everything in life, this too will pass... So as I watched the hair swirl away this morning, I thanked it for making the ultimate sacrifice. Then I stood in front of my mirror and looked at the bright eyed, healthy woman looking back, who I still struggle to recognise as me. No diabetes, no pain from arthritis and no nasty meds any more. I put on my trousers and T, which are 5 sizes smaller than in April, along with the high heeled sandals that are a size smaller than then. And smiled. Je ne regrette rien, I have no regrets as Edith Piaff sang, not even hair loss. Got my hair Fiber product ready to fill in any really thin bits, have even found a local place that does infills for hair loss. So I am cool and relaxed because when this phase is over, I will still be healthy, slimmer and well - and my hair will be regrowing. To all losing their hair, hang in and don't stress ... will just make it worse.....others have been here before us and have come out the other side just fine. x

I am so with you on this. Whilst as adults we are free to make our own choices, there are deeply ingrained behaviours and patterms that are incredibly difficult just to set aside and forget about them. But you understand what the problem is and knowing that is the start of changing things for the better. Out of everything you say, the most significant phrase is "I struggle to believe that my desires matter" ... and therein lies the root of your inability to do nice things for yourself without feeling the need to justify them against being wasteful. You matter. So what matters to you is important. Your logic tells you that it is a better deal to buy a new lipgloss than eat fast food. But your internal voice still tuts and tells you off for wasting money. So time to give yourself permission to live as your adult self, free to make decisions in your best interests, because your happiness and wellbeing are in your hands - and because you matter. Who sees that you took a sip of Coke and poured the rest away? Only you... so time to tell your internal critic to take a seat in the corner while you enjoy life's small pleasures, cos that's what they are. And we all need them. Every time you do something that should make you feel good, stop and allow it to feel good, don't put the other side of the argument - just enjoy. As you know, new habits take time to develop and so you need to praise yourself without thinking "ego" or "*******". Those are other people's opinions that you've absorbed over the years - tlme to let them go. I come from a background where I can relate to everything you say. In recent years, I have walked a tough path to let go all the associated behaviours as I knew I couldn't move forward with anything until I did. To begin, with I didn't think I could at 51 years old. But I have, taking small steps, culminating in paying $15,000 for my sleeve never having spent anything on myself in years because I didn't think I mattered... Good luck, you look fab and you deserve to be toxin free. The rest of us are right behind you :-))))

You usually get a diet to follow to shrink your liver, some docs go for liquids only, mine did low carb, high Protein, restricted calories. You need to ask the nutritionist what diet he or she wants you to follow, it's not up to you to decided, lol - but as Arts137 says, odd too that you don't have a date for surgery but they are asking you to shrink your liver... Good luck, with the right diet, you will lose weight pre-surgery :-)

Surgery plays havoc with ur hormones post op, hence the effect on periods. It settles and things go back to normal. But it can be a bummer coping with that and everything else all in the week after surgery, lol'

Sounds as if you feel you should be there but know, in practical terms, that you can't... You just did something major and positive for yourself, now give yourself time to heal, recover and get used to the new life. We can hear your distress at the thought of missing this event but, as you say, you went to his first wedding. Cut yourself some slack, your hormones will be all over the place which will also be making you feel emotional. Decide today what you are doing then stick with your decision or it's going to be another week when your focus is elsewhere rather on you. And at the moment, you need to concentrate on you. Final thought - we would all like to believe that if we don't go to something, we will be missed. That's true up to a point, but if you don't go, everyone else will still go and have a good time, your absence will be noted - but that will be it. Limited impact. Meanwhile you will be safely at home doing what you need to do, looking forward to seeing the pics of the day... Think you know what my advice is :-)))) Just make the decision then relax, stress isn't good for weight loss

Trudyjo, go online and search for hair fibers or keratin fibers. These are tiny fibers in a powder that u apply to thinning hair (attaches to individual strands to bulk them up) and it fills in the gaps. Won't come out in wind or rain, just when u shampoo. Does work, hopefully will be just what u need to get u through :-)

I had my moments early on when I was grateful that someone shared their positive attitude. Am doing what I can to repay that... Thanks for all the comments, glad I spoke up :-)

Yup, fibers seem to do the job. Google them and there are a number of companies that offer this as a treatment for hair thinning/loss. It's keratin fibers (which is what hair is made of), they are in a powder (like a dry shampoo), puff them on the thinning bits and they stick to individual hair shafts to bulk them up. It creates the impression of more hair and they don't blow away in wind or rain - they need to be shampooed out. From reading others posts, including Mykeld 2 on this thread, a good haircut can also help... fh61, we are in the same boat, my 22 year old had knee cap stabilisation surgery four days ago and I wish it was me not him going through it... He looked after me so well after my surgery, I am doing the same for him now. He was in such pain this morning that when I was showering and watching my hair disappear, it really didn't seem as important... Jen 35, the fact that you are trying not to fret about things you can't change is a great start. When I was young, i worried about everything, as I have got older, I am more selective about what gets my time and energy - and there's not much... lol!!!

Most people, if they are going to experience hair loss, see it start around 3 -4 months out. But some people don't lose hair, some lose it later, some lose it earlier and the amounts vary hugely. Like most things in life, it's your reaction to a situation that dictates whether it goes well or badly... If my hair's going to fall out, it's going to fall out no matter how I feel about it. I am a great believer in not wasting energy on the things I can't change - am keeping it for my new dating life, lol!!!!

From seeing what others say, it varies. For some it's a few weeks, for others it can be months - and in a few cases, quite a while. Some lose very little hair, others lose a lot. But you seem like you're on top of it irrespective of what happens :-) Stressing doesn't help, which is why I am staying pragmatic. Life has changed sooo much for the better, this is just another bump in the road to where I am meant to be be x

Think you need to take what your friend says re genetics with a pinch of salt. He may be right but there are those who say we can cross any genetic barriers with the right training - it's the training that stops the progress that you might achieve if it's not right for your body. There's a lot of noise out there because there isn't a definitive answer to the basic question as to whether we are genetically predisposed to only a certain amount of muscle growth or not - and no way to prove what our pre-programme is. For what it is worth, I wouldn't touch hgh with a barge pole. Look more into ways of innovative training and just make sure you aren't in a rut with your programme. It's very easy for your muscles to get into the routine and give up cos they know what they are doing - regularly shock and awe them into submission! Weightlifting, even heavy weights, doesn't mean you are strong, it just means you have developed the muscle need to lift big weights - and being strong is the best basis for building muscle and definition. As a woman, I am usually found working out next to guys who are shocked to see a wee thing like me working with the same weights as them... and I bet I could beat them at arm wrestling Good luck, persevere but no hgh yet....

Thanks for the nice comments :-))))

Sorry about ur situation but u r doing this for u so u don't need anyone elses approval - and u will get there, with or without ur family's help, because u have support of everyone else, including all of us :-) Give urself permission to be weepy, it's a physical reaction due to all the changes ur body is going thru. Sometimes people just don't get what has actually happened to us. My friend, who is neither mean nor stupid, turned up to see me a week post op with a box of chocs and a box of sugar frosted fruits! As she handed me them, before I could say a word, I could see by her face that she just hadn't thought until that moment. She explained that these were her default gifts for visiting sick people and she was sooooo embarrassed but I laughed as I appreciated the sentiment behind the gift. I gave them away to the next visitors who came by... How we react to negative situations is up to us. Just dont waste ur time on people who don't care enough to deserve to have a say in ur life. Good luck!

Now that I have told everyone I want tell amongst friends and family, if anyone else comments on my weight loss or what I eat, I say I had stomach surgery earlier in the year and I eat smaller portions. All true. To date, no one has asked me anything beyond that....

I am a loser - and for the first time in my life I am delighted to be one! Speed of loss and stalls are irrelevant to me, as my weight drops, I don't intend to see these numbers again! Took me 30 years to put on weight, will take as long as it takes to come off. Stick with it OP, u r on the right road :-)

And eat slowly as TwinsMamma says. If ur doc says persevere, try not to go back to purees, it will get better once u get over this blip...

My way of avoiding nausea is to cut my food into very small pieces, then chew, chew and when u can chew no more - chew again. It means I swallow a liquid consistency and that seems to go down well irrespective of what I eat. Not been sick once on solids - Just a suggestion :-))))

Eating too fast and eating one spoon too much usually gives u those symptoms... Chew well, helps u get a reasonable amount of food in, eat slowly and pay attention as u eat - and stop before u feel full. The last one is hardest for me of i am enjoying the food :-((((

Fh61, very early days so take a deep breath and do what you can to get through the first couple of weeks, which are the hardest. There are good suggestions in the previous posts for upping your Protein but don't get obsessed. You are only coming up for 3 days out from surgery. Make sure you get your fluids and do ur best with protein. Your stomach is still swollen and as the swelling goes down, drinking all this liquid gets easier. I cried all day on day 4 cos I felt I was failing - couldn't get everything in and felt I was spending all day every day either thinking about protein and Water or drinking it, lol. This passes and things do get easier. Three months out, it's an increasingly distant memory and I couldn't be happier... Hang in there. Good luck :-)

Good for you!!!! Great attitude cos it does get better. You just have to hang on tight to the roller coaster ... Hope it all continues to go well for u :-))))

I am in the same boat. I make smaller amounts but I have learned to just throw away what I don't or can't eat. That's tough for someone who was brought up to clear her plate - and part of my weight problem was not wanting to waste food. If it was there, I ate it. But now if there's something leftover, I don't hesitate, in the waste it goes before I have a second thought. And it is sooo liberating!!! Part of my newly established eating to live, not living to eat philosophy.... Good luck!

You are soooo doing the right thing! For your family but most of all for you and your life. It is scary - anyone who undertakes being sleeved and thinks it will be easy is sadly mistaken. You have to work hard, the sleeve doesn't do it for you as if by magic, but the rewards are beyond just weight loss. Loved your NSGs. Bet there will be many more than you can imagine now... My favourite thing that has happened to me was that my mother-in-law, who has known me for 33 years, walked past me while looking for me when out shopping. Her face said it all, lol!!! Good luck, everyone on here will be rooting for you when the time comes - and will be here to support you when you join us on the sleeved side :-)

And that's a "thanks" from me to Fiddleman too - looking good!!!

Lol that should have read " won't eat a meal again"!