MrsSugarbabe

I concur with what @@bobbyswife and @@Bobby46 have said. You will find your way one day at a time. Everyone's journey is different, but having all this information on BP available has been a huge help with giving me ideas, encouragement, understanding why some things happen or not. You will do fine!!! Just do what your surgeon recommends along with your NUT, and anyone else on their staff who is involved in your care. As a side note - Several days after my surgery, I started having some problems and had to be admitted to the hospital again (for 19 days) which was so totally not fun. I won't go into the details, but mention it only because my recovery from the sleeve surgery was delayed until I returned home and was able to begin adjusting to my new tummy without all the other cr*p I had to deal with. That being said, I took it one day at a time and began figuring out what worked for me food-wise and exercise-wise. During those 19 days in the hospital I lost about 30 lbs. and a lot of muscle and strength so I was recovering from that as well as the sleeve surgery. As I got stronger each day, I was able to do more physically (not jumping huddles or anything) and was able to begin regular foods as tolerated. All is great now and I have no regrets about the sleeve surgery or the challenges that followed.

@@frankie152 - Today marks 4 months post-op for me. The biggest hair loss started about 14 weeks post-op. The excessive shedding started sooner. I don't know for a fact that the supplements will make a huge difference in slowing the hair loss, or encouraging the new growth, but my surgeon and his staff, my PCP, along with a lot of BP members, all have said the same thing so I'm hoping it helps and I'm not just making expensive urine

@@theotherfatgirl - I agree with @@Jennifer4775 about my weight loss expectations after surgery - the weightloss is slower than I would have expected. Also, my NUT did suggest that I NOT stock up on too many Protein powders, drinks, etc. prior to surgery (which I did not do) because taste preferences can change following surgery.

@@Elode - the clumps were/are rather scary! I want my thick hair back! Just have to be patient until it starts growing in again.

I never considered the lap band because the one woman I work with who has it has not been as successful as the those who have had the RNY and the other woman who had the sleeve. The sleeve made the most sense to me from a lifestyle perspective and physically since the intestines aren't rerouted, etc. My surgeon was encouraging to have the RNY because he felt like it would be the best option for losing 100 lbs. After discovering BariatricPal.com and learning of so many of you who have already lost 100+ pounds, I knew it would be possible for me to accomplish that kind of loss also. Regardless of the procedure chosen, in order to be successful, you have to do the work to reach your goal and maintain it, i.e. healthy food choices, Portion Control, physical activity. It takes work regardless.

I have to supplement my Protein intake with shakes to get enough protein each day. unjury is my choice for shakes. My minimum for protein is 70 grams daily, and preferably 100 grams. Most days I can get to the 100 grams, but not with just food - have to include at least 2 servings of Unjury.

Sounds like you're doing exactly what you need to do for yourself. Each journey is different. Keep up the good work! Tomorrow will be 4 months since my surgery. My NUT and surgeon recommend 1000-1300 calories/day, min. 70 grams of Protein, max. 100 grams of carbs. I'm tracking my food via SparkPeople which is a huge help because it is so easy to consume more calories than I realize if I do not track. Some days I do eat fewer calories and some days I go over. I walk about 25 mins. on my lunch break more days than not and go to the gym 2-3 days for either some circuit training or elliptical and a couple other weight bearing exercises. I've found that when my weight stalls, the inches do not

I used to enjoy an rare Diet Coke or Diet Orange Crush pre-surgery, but have not had more than a small sip once in a blue moon when my husband drinks a Diet Orange Crush. A small sip is just enough to satisfy my "taste" for something other than Water or whatever sugar-free beverage I'm drinking.

About 2 1/2 weeks ago, while shampooing my hair, it started coming out in clumps like never before. The clumps have gotten a tad smaller each time I shampoo, which is only once a week now, but it's still coming out. Plus I'm shedding like crazy!! I knew hair loss was going to happen at some point post-surgery, but sure did not expect it to be this much all at once each time I shampoo. I've always had really thick, nice hair regardless of what length I'm wearing it, but now it has gotten so thin, especially at my crown. I am taking additional Biotin, continuing with the Iron and have read that others are taking folic acid as well. Does the folic acid help? My PCP and surgery have assured me I will not lose all my hair, that this is only temporary, and that it will grow back and I know this to be true because of all the other WLS patients who have already traveled this road. I've started collecting the hair I lose so I can share it with my backyard birdies to use for nesting material...LOL!!! They might as well benefit from it

So far my new tummy has been accommodating just about everything foodwise, including fruit albeit in smaller portions, i.e. 1/2 of a SMALL banana, a few sections of orange, cantaloupe, raspberries and blueberries. Because I love most fruits, I have to be really careful about how much I eat and how fast I eat it. I've always been a slow eater, but now it's like I'm at a micro-crawl!

59 I took a year to research gastric sleeve surgery, think about it, discuss with my hubby, and to talk with everyone I knew who had already had either the bypass or sleeve surgery before I committed to having it done.

What is chike coffee and where do you find it? It sounds interesting. I'm 3 mos. out from surgery and have returned to drinking my morning coffee some mornings, but not every morning. And when I do drink it, I cannot drink all that I prepare and was used to drinking pre-surgery. I, too, use the unjury Protein powders and make a variety of flavored shakes, one being a combination of vanilla powder, chocolate splendor, skim milk and a little brewed coffee for a mocha flavor.

Happy Birthday!!! Congratulations on achieving Onederland!!!

I just finished reading this article and thought everyone on this forum might find it interesting and/or helpful..... http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/weight-loss-surgery/weight-loss-surgery-nutrition-and-hair-loss

I'm 3 months out and haven't had any problems with any particular food.....yet.....although I have not tried Pasta yet, and actually, we eat soba noodles instead of regular pasta. Since I've not been craving carbs like I used to before using unjury Protein shakes, I'm doing my best to stay away from things like bread, rice, etc. Something I do have a problem with is eating or drinking too fast which causes some discomfort. I just stop what I'm doing and wait until the discomfort passes. I was a slow eater before surgery, and now it's like I can't eat slow enough, probably because I don't want my food to get cold before I get it eaten.

Thanks for starting this conversation! I was thinking of starting one on this topic today because this morning while shampooing and conditioning my hair in the shower, my hair started coming out in chunks. Really freaked me out! I knew to expect some hair loss following surgery, and have been losing hair along the way, but never in clumps like today. My surgery was 11/10/14 and I've lost about 52 lbs. I get at least 75 grams of Protein a day and I'm taking Biotin. After my surgery, and the complications that followed which put me back in the hospital for another 19 days, I came home on Coumadin. Just this morning I read where it can cause hair loss as well. Sure glad I have a thick head of hair if it's going to be coming out in clumps for awhile. Sure hope it doesn't last months and months!!!

It's good to know this period of slow weight loss is fairly typical because I'm experiencing a slow down myself. It can get discouraging, but I figure if we keep doing what we know we're supposed to be doing re: food and exercise, we will continue to lose the weight even if it is at a snail's pace. Hang in there!!

I'm in the same place as FineDiva and Mae7365. Because my new downsized tummy will tell me when I've had enough, it makes it easier to NOT over-indulge in the things that taste the best to me, i.e. crunchy, spicy, salty foods, but if I want something, I will take a bite or two and quit, and that includes the sweets/chocolates/etc. What I miss the most right now is being able to take more than just a sip of ice cold Water, and I would LOVE to have a Diet Coke, but carbonated beverages are not permitted per my surgeon, so I am doing my best to follow his instructions so I can (and will be) successful in this journey, but I also don't want to feel deprived food-wise.

Congratulations, Mike!!! It is a wonderful feeling when your clothes get too big for you and it's time to downsize I've transitioned from 24/26 slacks and 3X tops to 22 slacks and 2X/1X tops and sweaters. For me, it takes about 20 lbs. to lose a size, but with exercising, the inches are changing even when the scale doesn't. Find you a great consignment shop for transitional clothes. I finally went shopping last weekend for a couple pairs of slacks for work and some tops to go with them. Most were purchased at a nearby consignment shop and the slacks were on sale at 70% off - couldn't resist a $10 pair of slacks! So I bought two pairs - sizes 20 and 18 since those sizes are on the horizon. Seems like I've read on BariatricPal about a clothes swap for those of us who need to get new sizes and get rid of the old sizes. I'll have to look into that option. Again, congratulations and keep up the great work!!

I think your friend has other issues going on and should consult her doctor. DO NOT let her experience change your mind or affect your decision to move forward with your surgery for YOUR health's sake. My surgery was in November, I encountered some complications afterward and didn't really get to start adjusting to my new stomach until after 12/6. I've been tolerating all foods rather well. The only discomfort I experience is when I eat or drink anything too fast or eat more than my new stomach can hold. I'm still learning to chew, chew, chew, and to sip beverages slowly, no matter how much I would love to drink 2-4 oz. of good, cold Water at one time.

I was instructed to always eat Protein first for meals and if I was hungry between meals to go for something with protein, i.e. Protein Bar. Protein is always my first choice because it is for satiating than something that doesn't have much protein in it. unjury has a chicken soup flavor that might help you through the liquid and pureed phase of your post-op meals.

A lot of people like those shakes, but I'm an unjury gal It's been a huge help to me during my journey. Love having the chicken Soup option for something that isn't sweet.

Prayers and encouragement coming your way!! You've made a smart decision to take care of your health! To help with the 6 month program you have to follow, you may want to try incorporating some Protein shakes into your meal plans. I started using unjury shakes (Unjury.com) last May, long before I had a surgery date because I was planning to have my surgery next month. Well, because of a lot of life events, my surgery was moved up to Nov. 10th. Prior to surgery I was having an Unjury protein "meal" for Breakfast and lunch and eating supper with my husband. I did lose some weight during that time. Now that I'm post-surgery, I continue to use Unjury because it helps me get the required protein grams needed for weight loss. It tastes great, and there's a chicken Soup flavor which gives you an option that isn't sweet. You may be wondering if I work for Unjury because I'm recommending it, but I don't. I just like it that much and it has made a big difference in my food choices because I don't crave the carbs like I used to. Blessings and good luck to you!!

For awhile after surgery, apple juice was the only thing that would quench my thirst, but I had to stop drinking it because I didn't want those calories. I love orange juice and pineapple juice so lately I've been mixing the sugar-free Walmart Orange Sunrise drink with a little bit of pineapple juice. Yesterday I drank some OJ mixed in with the Orange Sunrise. It's not that we can't drink it ever again, it's just that OJ has a lot of acid in it and can mess with your stomach. Sometimes you just have to go with the real thing for a short time to quench that craving.

Most insurance approvals are good for 6 mos. to a year so this isn't uncommon. My surgery was approved very shortly after I attended the orientation and before I started any of the appointments required by my surgeon. My insurance did not have any requirements for me to do prior to approval. Curious - if you're in Mass., why are you having surgery in TX?