catwoman7

if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. Fortunately, most of us don't lose enough hair for others to notice (and even if you're one of those who do, it's pretty rare for it to fall out in big, noticeable clumps - rather, it's more like shedding - so your hair just looks thinner). About all you can do is keep on top of your protein and supplement requirements to keep it from getting any worse than it will anyway. It's temporary and will all grow back, so there's that. I had loss from months 5-9, but it was pretty minimal. I noticed more strands than usual in my combs and brushes, but just looking in the mirror, I couldn't tell - so no one else would have noticed, either. And then there are people who don't lose any hair at all. nothing you can do about skin. Although you're what we call a "light weight", so you're not likely to end up looking like a Sharpei puppy like someone who starts out much heavier might (I was one of the latter - I was almost 400 lbs and in my late 50s when I had surgery). You'll likely have some sagging, but it probably won't be what I'm guessing you're imagining. And there's always plastic surgery if it bothers you - but I'm betting it won't be that bad. I was really worried about the hair loss and saggy skin (I think most people are), but honestly, most of us would take those any day of the week over being obese. And again, the hair loss part is temporary.

^^^ agree with this 100%!!

that's weird. I was even told to increase my protein a couple weeks before and a couple weeks after all the other surgeries I've had (not just my WLS) because it supposedly helps with the healing process.

water them down. Or get some of the fruit-flavored ones from Syntrax and mix them with water

I took this online test that I think went about an hour. It seemed to ask the same questions over and over, using different wording. I think, like ShoppGirl said, they're looking for signs of untreated mental illness, addiction issues, etc. I talked with the person one-on-one afterward. I think he also wanted to make sure I had realistic expectations from the surgery.

it seems 15-25 lbs is pretty average for the first month, but you'll always find a few folks who lose more or less than that. They're kind of outliers - but on the other hand, since you're male, it wouldn't be surprising that you've lost more than the typical range.

probably not a physical issue (like a stricture) since you're not having a problem digesting. I know for the first five months or so, I was never hungry and had pretty much zero interest in food. Eating became a chore. Could it be something like that? I actually liked being that way and wished it would have gone on longer since it was so easy to lose weight when I really didn't like food and had no interest in eating. however, if you're concerned, contact your clinic - esp if you think there's something going on other than loss of interest in food (which isn't uncommon when you're early out from surgery)

I don't know of any plans that limit or restrict spices. some people have a harder time tolerating spice, though - esp the first few months while they're healing. I was more sensitive to it the first couple of months out so I had to dial it back, but I've been eating spicy foods for a long time now with no issues.

I'm a few years out so I don't remember how many calories I was eating early on, BUT....my clinic had the bypass people and the sleeve people on the exact same plan, so calories would have been the same. I know a lot of people on here eat around 600-800 calories from about month 2 to about a year out, but some plans are allowing more than that nowadays. And then there are some clinics that don't want patients focusing on calories (mine was one of those - but I always knew how many I was getting since the tracking apps display calories)

since it's at the same time every day - and after you take iron - I'd suspect the same thing. Plus iron DOES give some people G/I distress. Maybe take it before you go to bed? Or switch to another form of iron that's less likely to cause G/I issues? (heme iron and carbonyl iron are two forms that cause fewer problems - but there are others as well. Check the internet (but only reliable sources, of course) - there's a lot of articles on this)

pain is all across the board - some people have a lot, some of none at all. Most people experience little to no pain with these surgeries - but if you're one of the unfortunate ones who does, you'll have meds for it (they'll send you home with them). Just stay on top of it. Should only last a few days at most.

it's rare but it happens. Sorry you're going through this.

most people lose 15-25 lbs the first month. Of course you'll always find a few who lose more or less than that, but they're outliers. So you're perfectly normal. if you're basing your loss on that show "My 600 lb Life", then you need to adjust your expectations. Those people start out MUCH heavier than your average WLS patient, so OF COURSE they're going to lose a lot faster. Your loss is completely normal. In fact, it's even a little on the high side. P.S. I lost 16 lbs the first month (so probably around 12 lbs or so in the first three weeks - but I have only my monthly weigh-ins recorded from that far back), and I started out MUCH heavier than you. You are fine. Quit worrying. If you're following your program and your overall trend is down, you're golden!

I wasn't repulsed by food, but for the first five months or so, I was never hungry and didn't give a flip about food. I kinda wish that would have never ended because it was so easy to lose weight when I had no hunger and zero interest in food. Sigh. if you're worried, call your clinic. I'm guessing it's probably normal, though.

like the above poster, I was also encouraged to slowly transition off caffeine before surgery - took about a month - so fortunately, i didn't have to deal with caffeine withdrawal along with everything else. and like Sunnyway said, some surgeons are OK with caffeine from the get-go. They're really all across the board on this issue. Some say you can never have it again, some say you can drink it from the start, some are OK with it once you're a ways out. So...just ask your clinic.

I think in this day and age most doctors are comfortable with weight loss surgery. Some aren't - but most are willing to do the referral. In fact, mine was the one who brought it up first because she was familiar with my history. Once your BMI is over 40, it's very difficult to lose weight through diet and exercise alone - most doctors should know that. I wouldn't worry until you see the person. If they aren't on board with it, can you switch doctors?

how far out are you? Those amounts are low, but not crazy low. If you're early out (like within the first couple of weeks post-surgery), focus more on the fluids since being dehydrated can land you back in the hospital. I was able to meet my protein requirements right away, but it can take a month or so for some people to reach them. Never mind - I just noticed the title of your post - almost four weeks out. Just keep working at it. It does take some people longer to get their protein intake up. And like I said above, yours isn't crazy low. having the first stall within the first month is SUPER common, so you may just be in a stall if you're not losing weight. Are you following your program to a "T"? If so, the stall will eventually break and you'll be on your way again... also, I don't know what your starting BMI/weight is, but if it's on the low side (for a WLS patient), you're not going to lose as quickly as someone who starts out at over 300 lbs...

mine isn't chronic, but I was experiencing occasional reactive hypoglycemia (RH) when I got to be about two years out (it'd hit me about two hours or so after eating - not all the time, but enough that i knew something was going on and had a complete work-up). My PCP recommended eating something about every three hours - preferably a protein - and if I DID eat a carb, to be sure to pair it with a protein. Seems to have helped - I rarely have that issue anymore. btw - if yours is due to RH, that's not unheard of with bypass (not sure about the mini version of bypass, though...)

I didn't like the milky flavors the first few weeks after surgery, either (eventually I got to the point I could drink them again, though) . During those early weeks, I had the chicken broth-flavored Unjury one that someone above mentioned, and some of the fruit-flavored powders by Syntrax.

I didn't have oatmeal the first few months, but I do now. I Just use the regular old-fashioned oats. I just add the protein powder before I heat it up. Unflavored would work, yes, but I usually use vanilla or cinnamon flavored. depends on if you want a slight flavor or not...

I know of several people who've had surgery who just have a protein shake for breakfast since they can't tolerate real food that early. Nothing wrong with that!

people are kind of across the board when it comes to hair loss. Some don't lose any at all - some lose a lot - but most of us are somewhere in the middle. It's not really common for it to fall out in noticeable clumps - most people just kind of "shed" for a few months. I didn't lose very much hair. I know I was losing it because I saw a more strands than normal in my combs, but just looking at my hair in the mirror, I couldn't tell. So I'm sure no one else could. about all you can is keep on top of your supplements and protein so it won't get any worse than it will anyway, which you're already doing. And keep your fingers crossed! I don't know if not manipulating it would make a difference, but someone else might have experience with that.

some of those things are requirements of the insurance companies, not the surgeons. Since you're self-pay, it makes sense you may not have to deal with as many requirements as other people. also, I've had several surgeries - the only time I've ever met with the anesthesiologists is about an hour before they roll me into the operating room.

it's a stall. Almost all of us experience them - and the first one is usually within the first 4-6 weeks after surgery (it's usually the third week, but not always - sometimes it's the second week and sometimes it's the sixth week. But if you want more info about, search this site for the "three week stall" (it's so common to have it the third week that we call it the three week stall). There are over 17,000 posts on it here on BP (and no, I am NOT kidding..). best way to deal with it is to stick to your program and stay off the scale for a few days. Stalls typically last 1-3 weeks before you're on your way again. And just so you know, this is likely the first of several stalls. It's a normal part of weight loss.

you're not likely to feel restriction until you move to solid food. For one thing, liquids and purees move through your stomach pretty quickly. For another, you've had nerves cut, and it takes awhile for them to regenerate. Also, once you start feeling restriction, your "full" cues might be different than they were pre-surgery, and it can take awhile to figure out what the new ones are. Some of us (myself included) feel a pressure in our chests. Some people get runny noses when full - or start sneezing. I know it's weird, but.... I don't feel "full" the way I did before surgery - as mentioned before, I just start feeling pressure - and when I do, i know it's time to stop eating or I'll be sorry... constipation is common and in fact can be a chronic issue for some even years after WLS. Many of us take a capful of Miralax every day to keep on top of it. Others take magnesium, stool softeners, or eat a few prunes every day. Whatever works for you... Of course, yours might be temporary - but for some of us, it's a chronic problem. It's mostly due to the high protein diet and some of the supplements (namely, iron and calcium) rather than the surgery itself. fatigue will go away as for reflux, does your surgeon have you on a PPI like omeprazole or panteprazole? A lot of surgeons just put the patients on them automatically for the first 3-6 months. If yours doesn't, let them know you're having reflux issues.