lark60

recommend checking the duodenal switch information. I believe the failed RNY patients go for the switch.

I am almost 9 months out from surgery and my hair loss has finally resumed a normal loss (just a few hairs on the brush in the morning). I have a lot of new hair growth that is about 3 inches long so I am hopeful the regrowth will replace the loss. My pony tail is thinner than my 5 year old granddaughters and I don't have enough to put up in a bun anymore.

start weight 168 goal weight 160

I drink them cut 50/50 with water (have tried all the flavors) and when I have a stall, I drink the clear protein drinks for 2 days to help get over the stall.

I thought I was loosing slowly. I had my surgery 2 months before her and have lost more than double her loss. Something doesn't add up.

I would like to participate too! This will be my first challenge (I missed the valentines day one by a few days)

I add Fiber One (the original Cereal that looks like fish food stix). I use about 2 tbs and this works for me to stay regular. Since a serving has 14 gm of fiber (in 1/2 cup) I figure I get about 7 gm of fiber, plus the cereal has added Vitamins and minerals (which I am always trying to get in my diet in hopes to get off all the pills)

I had a similar experience with my surgeons recommendations at the beginning. He didn't want me eating "anything but protein" and drinking Water. He would tell me I could loose weight by "just drinking the Protein drinks 3 times a day and no other food till I hit my target weight. (thats under 500 cal a day) I hit my first plateau at about 6 weeks and couldn't keep up with the exercise regimen with this limited intake. I spoke with others that have been through the surgery and told them my concerns (also had the same concern about fiber intake) I chose to increase my calorie intake against the surgeon and NUT recommendations. The weight started coming off again, my energy level came up and I could exercise again. I am now eating about 900 cal a day and usually get 50 oz of water in (that is my biggest struggle) I am loosing slowly and no longer need laxatives (I add fiber to my yogurt snack in the afternoon) There are many threads on this site with suggestions for daily intake. The best rules to remember are to get enough protein (at least 20 gm per meal and 10 per snack), water and exercise daily. Watching carbs & fat are secondary to getting the protein needed. Complex carbs are good and also needed to balance the protein intake. Avoid simple carbs.

Jerky is a great treat and since you can carry it with you, it is good for those times when you cannot find Protein when you are out and about. I do not recommend eating it until you are at least 4 months post surgery. You also have to chew the jerky ALOT before swallowing. Some surgeons do not recommend beef until you are 6 months out. I couldn't eat beef until 6 months but found I could eat beef jerky at 4 months (maybe cuz I would chew it "forever" before swallowing to make sure it wouldn't get stuck)

I have type 2 DM, and Hashimotos thyroid (low thyroid). I wanted to get the gastric bypass but after researching the options and talking with the surgeon decided the sleeved would be the best choice. My weight loss has been slower than the surgeon expected but I am still loosing. Initially I had several stalls and they were usually because I was not eating enough calories. I had to add an afternoon snack to get the calories up to 800-900 calories. I am 9 months out from the surgery and still have a Protein shake Breakfast and dinner. lunch is 1/2 cup of food with 20-25 gm protein, then a veggie, rarely do I get fruit in that meal. I find I can add fruit to the breakfast shake to get at least one serving of fruit in the day. My afternoon snack is greek yogurt and cottage cheese mixed together (2 oz serving of the mix) or an ounce of cheese (usually a cheese stick) or 1/2 a Protein Bar. I struggle with getting the Water intake needed each day (to be honest, I think I have only had 20 oz of water today but this has been a bad day for me) Exercise for me is walking or work out with the WII. I shoot for 10000 steps a day. Reading your diet menu I was surprised you could eat 2 eggs and other food for one meal. I am lucky to get one egg down and usually cannot eat anything else for that meal.

I am 54, sleeved at the end of last May. I do have "loose" skin on my thighs, abs and my breasts are "flat" so I guess the skin is loose there too. I plan on having my upper arms "trimmed" after I get to my goal weight but haven't decided if I will have any other surgery.

I'm 5'2 and my starting weight was 265. Now 8 months out and almost to the 100 lb lost mark. It has been slower than the surgeon expected but I have a lot of stress in my life at the moment. I am just happy the weight is still coming off.

Insomnia is why I am reading your thread at 3 AM. I cannot fall asleep and hate tossing and turning in bed so I get up, surf the web till I am finally tired and hope I don't sleep all the next day. I used to work night shift and think my body prefers being up at night but I never get more than 3-4 hours of sleep when I finally do get to sleep. (and I don't wake to pee, just wake and am up for the day)

contact your insurance carrier and explain the situation to them. They can note the issue in your file and recommend the next step. They should let you establish with another provider (and will probably give you a list of names if you ask so you can see who can get you in the soonest) and allow an exception since this was to be your last weigh in. As for the letter, there should have been notes in your file with your current PCP and the new provider should be able to write the letter with those notes (or you could get lucky and find a new doc that is willing to go off your history and write the letter for you) Good luck

Most likely your Vitamin levels are starting to drop. Low magnesium, zinc and potassium will affect how you feel. Thats why the 3 month labs check all the vitamin levels to see if you are taking enough supplements.

I too was not impressed with my first local group meeting sponsored by the surgical office. The meetings were for pre-op and post op patients and so the information was very general and basic. There wasn't really a forum to ask questions and I was not comfortable asking specifically what I needed to know about with so many pre-op individuals there trying to get their questions answered. I did find another support group in the area and liked it better but trying to fit the meetings in my schedule plus the group meets on the opposite side of town than where I live made it hard to get to the once a month meeting. I prefer getting online daily and reading the treads here. Plus I feel more at ease answering others questions as well as posing my own. I have told several people about this site so they can get the information about WLS and have support after surgery.

I am not sure specifically what part drooping you are asking about. I am 8 months post sleeve and have lost over 90 lbs so far. Gravity is not a girls best friend and as the weight comes off there is extra skin "everywhere". I was sad to have saggy breasts and have gone from a 42 DD to a 34 C. I hate to look at myself in the mirror in my birthday suit since "things sag" and look like empty bags laying on my chest. As for the Hoo-Ha (south parts I am supposing) the skin sags a bit and since I wear boxer type skivvies I have noticed the outer lips parting when I walk. Never felt this sensation before but I wouldn't get surgery to "tighten things up". Hope this gives you some sort of an answer (not that I would call myself an expert)

I started donating clothes as I dropped a few sizes. When clothes started hanging on me, my co-workers commented that I needed to go shopping. I was confused at first and then they clarified that I shouldn't keep wearing things that were too big. I have always had multiple sizes of clothing in the closet so I too have organized them by size. As things get baggy, I move them to the donation pile. Since the surgery, I have donated over 15 bags (the kitchen size bags) of clothes to Good Will. No longer are there size 20, 22, 24 or 26 clothing in my house. There are 5 bags of size 18 and 16 in the garage for the next pick up. I am now wearing 14 (almost too loose) and 12's (fit just right). I didn't have many size 12's and don't want to buy any so the 14's will do until I am in the 10's. My goal is to wear a size 8 so after the surgery, my daughter took me out shopping to by my "dream wardrobe". I have them tucked away and hope to be in the size 8 in a few months.

Well…not to rain on your parade but I figured I would tell you my experience with DM. I was taking 2 oral medications before surgery and stopped both the day before the sleeve. My first 3 month lab had an A1c at 5.3 so I was ecstatic. Then at the 6 month labs the A1c jumped to 6.7 so I started back on Metformin. Next month I will get the 9 month labs and anticipate my A1c 6.0 or lower. I am happy to only be on one medication. I know there is NO cure for DM. WLS will buy one time off meds and that is the reality.