VSGAnn2014

Yes, I'm on Twitter. It wasn't really a meltdown, just a short drama llama. Twitter is the best invention ever made to encourage over-sharing. Unless you have an anonymous Twitter account, all your posts can be seen by everyone on the internet. It's not like Facebook where you post only to your friends or subsets of friends. If she needs support, she should come over here, tell her story, and get meaningful responses that are longer than 144 characters.

I think I'm doing great! Today is Day Seven post-op for me. Came home from hospital Day One post-op. Had my WTF?! day on Day Two. Was over all that by Day Three. Finally hit 60 grams of protein on Day Four -- will hit 74 grams of protein today. Have been sleeping well, and surgery gas is mostly gone. Am walking for exercise a bit. Have had some very energetic days (laundry, light housekeeping, exercise, grooming like a teenager, etc.) alternated with days when I nap a lot. No pain, although some occasional tummy soreness. The biggest surprise for me is that I can drink (better every day) and eat yogurt and soup just fine. I burp sometimes, but I have had zero nausea and haven't thrown up at all. Oh, and I'm down 5 pounds from pre-op. So that's -11 pounds dieting on my own earlier this summer, -8 pounds on pre-op diet, and -5 pounds since surgery = -24 pounds below my highest ever. Have my first surgeon visit this coming Thursday. That will be Day Ten. I'm on my way.

Your post reinforces for me why I DESPISE that show. There are significant differences between Gillian Michaels' and my bodies -- in how they work and how WE work. She's welcome to what works for her. But the conceit that all other American women have to ape her to become healthy is not only inaccurate -- it's offensive and dangerous.

OK. Bye.

Good luck to you, Pagie. If you lost 115 pounds, you can take this all the way. Go for it!

Honestly, you'll need very little. This is surgery. Not a staycation.

@@BeagleLover ... Come on, now! Yes, you are ready for this surgery. But if you already know there are aspects of food that you cannot control, it's time to (as they say) "do something different." In my case, that has meant finding a therapist. I have committed to myself to be in in therapy with him for three years. That gives me the Honeymoon Year (of weight loss), the Second Year (of learning how to maintain), and the Third Year of Boring, Real Life (when lurking old habits will want to creep back in). That's my plan. So far.

Damn! I'm one week from pureed foods, and for me this thread is porn!

Misty, great job. Great work. You are doing great. The new photo is great -- LOVE your hair. So wish I had the courage for something like that. At 68.

Jesus, Miss Mac! That sounds awful. Please take care of yourself!

Seriously? Your mother is a WLS expert? Keep doing what you're doing. Make sure you're getting in ALL your Protein, ALL your Water. Gradually increase the amount of exercise you do -- without injuring yourself (that would set you back, eh?). And tell your mother to back off.

Nope, our hair loss post-WLS is not caused by "Atkins diets." It's caused in our cases mostly by the loss of Protein (which we're eating lots of, but directing it toward our body's recovery and rebuilding) and the general shock to the body of having surgery -- which happened MONTHS BEFORE the hair loss starts. Rapid weight loss is another factor that contributes to hair loss. There's a name for this phenomenon: telogen effluvium. Here's a good article about its causes, when it starts, when it stops, and more: http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/weight-loss-surgery/weight-loss-surgery-nutrition-and-hair-loss If you want to learn more, google it. There are many well-sourced articles out there about it. tl;dr You will lose some hair. The hair loss will not last long. Your hair will grow back. Biotin probably doesn't help.

Treadmill is just walking. You can walk now -- go for it. But, of course, ask your med team about weight lifting -- remember the 10 pound warning when you were first released from hospital? (Not sure how long that lasts.)

(Grinning!) Congratulations, Rovobay. Love, love, love your attitude.

Luciana, I think if you don't go to follow-ups you will reduce your chances of long-term success. My advice is to pull up your big-girl panties and resolve this conflict. You and your surgeon don't have to be best friends. But you do have to figure out how to work together. To throw away your future medical follow-up resources because your feelings got hurt (and yes, that hurt!) is not acting like a grown-up. You have to get over this and get beyond it.

That sounds so good, I may repeat your menu in a few weeks. Thank you!

Adam, This site has thousands of posts. The best thing you can do is search the archives here and read / learn from others who've had the surgery. However, remember that the majority of people with WLS do NOT post on forums like this one. The folk who did tend to be people who don't work outside the home, people who are internet-savvy, people who have (maybe) more than higher anxiety about the process, and people who are experiencing problems. I can't give you the six months out version, but like you I am also five days post-op (was sleeved on Monday, August 18). Happily, I'm doing great. I'm 68 years old, had an easy surgery on Monday morning, came home Tuesday afternoon, rested up on Wednesday (took only one dose of hydrocodone - hated that stuff), feeling stronger every day. (I'm not ready to run a marathon yet though.) Today, I did three loads of laundry, some light housework, finally hit 60+ grams of Protein, drank 40 ounces of Water (so far), even got on my elliptical for a short (7 minute) stint. I also spent longer than a year studying up on WLS before having the surgery and have been active on this and another board since last fall. In other words, I've learned a lot. You know the national stats (I assume) about how effective it is, how rare the complications are, etc. But here's my plan: I figure that a year from now I'll be eating modest amounts of most things I want to eat (eating protein first, then veggies, then if have room, a little carb). I expect to drink occasionally. I plan to live my life more enthusiastically and more vitally than I have in a long time -- working, traveling, being a lot more social, and having a ball. I honestly don't expect my sleeve to slow me down at all. At my age, I expect I'll have a lot more loose skin than you. I've seen LOTS of pictures of people your age and older who have virtually no issues with loose skin. Frankly, I think you're worrying yourself overmuch. Take a deep breath ... and relax. For now, just finish Day Five. And tomorrow do Day Six and after that Day Seven. Everybody says this and it's right: This is a long, long trip.

Thanks, @@HaddocksEyes ... you, too! I think you're doing great! Every day I feel more normal. This morning, I did three loads of laundry, straightened up a closet, did some light housekeeping, and got on my elliptical (for the first time). It is hot as Hades here, so I didn't venture outside to walk. Today I'll total 64 grams of protein. Heh, heh -- makes me feel like I'm big stuff to finally hit the minimum. Water today will be 40 - 48 ounces. Depends on how long I can stay awake. Other liquids today include 26 ounces of: protein-fortified chicken soup, protein drink, hot milk with 2 ounces of coffee. (My doc is strict about everything but allows "a little coffee.")

@@LipstickLady ... I've just found your showstopper thread! What a stunner OP. Your kind of WLS success is what I want. Thanks also for your good sense, straight talk and encouragement. I've truly appreciated it. Ann

Fascinating thread. Thanks to all for your answers.

Today is also my Day Five post-op (was sleeved on Monday, August 18.) They also gave me a Rx for that monster bottle of liquid hydrocodone -- 400 ml. I took one dose the evening we got home. Had little hallucinations as I was going to sleep and the following day (Day Two) I felt depressed all day. IT SUCKED! I never took a second dose. And I didn't need it. My pain was minimal. Yeah, my tummy's still a little sore, but not the same as "pain." I'm sorry you're having a hard time. If you lived near me, I'd give you the rest of my bottle. But seriously ... I really do think that drug has some crappy effects. It could even be fueling your current feelings and behavior. I am not a fan of it.

This is Day Five. sleeping great! I'm tired at night, but not badly so -- just feel ready to sleep. I'm still in the recliner, but it's a very comfy recliner. Keeps me on my back, for one thing, and feet are the same elevation as my head (maybe 3" lower). Hubby will be glad when I come back to bed though.

CGJ, Although I only know you online, your posts have been a friendly lamp in the dark for me for a long time. Rather than mutter much more, I hope you know that your contributions to many people have earned you return support here through the digital ether. And I hope our support and regard for you can help light up some of dark where you are. Ann

Here's the deal. If you once liked yourself, you can like yourself again. Everything @@McButterpants said I can relate to. I bet you can, too. It happens. We set standards for ourselves. We don't meet our standards. We beat ourselves up (quietly, on the inside, where no one else sees it). Of course, we hide out. That's what I did for the last year and a half before surgery. But you know what? That's over. It's in the past. I don't have to "live" there anymore. All you have is your future. You really can make that what you want it to be. When you *get* that, you will start smiling again. In your shoes, I'd start a bloody fantasy document of *everything* in the world you want to be different. Keep it private. Make it honest. Be as outrageous as you want. Pretty soon you will realize that the sky is the limit. And that you can actually put your foot on the sidewalk and go right or left. It's going to be OK!

Thanks, guy.