Clementine Sky

I was grateful to have very minimal hair loss in my first year post-op when I lost the vast majority of weight. I'm bewildered as to why I'm losing it so profusely now, nearly two years since having the VSG in August of 2015 when I've essentially been in maintenance since December 2016. I've lost ten pounds in the past year, 75 in the year before it. In November of 2016 my endocrinologist put me on 1000 Mg of Metformin with the hope it could help with my PCOS (I'm not diabetic). Hair loss is not listed as a side effect for it, but in having searched online many have stated that they lost hair while taking it. However, many weren't certain if it was the medication itself, or the weight loss it helped them to achieve. For me, the weight loss was more minimal because my BMI was already 21 when I started taking it, and my body wasn't willing to budge much lower. The hair loss was insidious. A few years ago a horrible John Frieda product had caused immediate and profound hair damage and loss, so it was the obvious culprit. With this I hadn't realized I was losing so much hair until one day when it was suddenly obvious that I had. It's also breaking off. I just had blood work last week, and my B12, thyroid, and Vitamin D levels are normal. My primary care doctor had ordered it, and he's not as knowledgeable as my endocrinologist (but you can get an appointment with him that month, whereas with my endocrinologist you have to book five months out). He was totally unhelpful about the hair loss, offering no potential explanations. Has anyone else experienced hair loss so far out from having surgery, or while taking Metformin?

Oh you're a lucky girl to have hair down to your waist. I've read on diabetic and PCOS forums about Metformin and hair loss, but there seems to be other variables. All my blood work has come back as normal, but I'm going to track my food again and see if perhaps I'm not getting enough calories in. I unfortunately cannot take biotin and have to be very careful about what vitamins I take because with PCOS they tend to trigger cystic acne breakouts. I hope you don't mind the questions, but what dose of Metformin are you taking, and is it for diabetes or PCOS? I'm taking 1000 MG for PCOS. I don't know if it's having much of a benefit overall. It had originally helped to boost weight loss when I wanted to drop another 10 pounds, but since then hasn't had an impact. I'm worried that if I stop it, I could regain. I'm below my goal weight, but would like to stay where I am.

Thanks so much for the kind words and for letting me know about JupiterinVirgo having this issue. I'll send her a message right now.

My dad was also on Metformin for years and the only hair loss he experienced was due to the natural aging process (he's in his 60s), but it seems to impact younger women differently than men from what I've been reading on various other forums like ones for PCOS and diabetics. A lot of women have talked about hair loss while taking Metformin, but aren't sure if it's the medicine or the weight loss it caused. With me, I lost most of the weight prior to taking Metformin, so I don't know if it's the weight loss catching up on my hair, or the Metformin, or something else. I haven't read any posts yet from someone who has had bariatric surgery and taken Metformin. I consume quite a bit of protein, but am no longer tracking exactly how much. I'm going to start doing that again. Thanks for your response.

I've had blood work every six months since having the VSG, and I know my iron, B12 and vitamin D levels have been fine. I'll check on my zinc levels. I'd had B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies in the past, but was able to correct them prior to having the VSG in 2015. I am going to start tracking what I eat on MyFitnessPal again. I do eat quite a lot of protein, but am no longer diligently adding up exactly how much since I've been maintaining at ten pounds below my goal weight for eight months now. I felt like I'd established healthy enough routines to sustain the weight loss without adding everything up, but tracking provides a better overview. It's possible I haven't been getting in enough calories, or healthy carbs and fat. I eat a lot of turkey burgers and salads, nuts, protein smoothies. My BP is on the low end of normal and my cholesterol levels are good.

Thanks to you and everyone else for their response. I'll check the iron levels on my blood work when I get home tonight to see where my levels are on the range. I've been taking Spiro for over a decade since being diagnosed with PCOS in college, but very gradually reduced the amount two years ago from 200 to the current dose of 50 because of adverse side effects I was experiencing due to it. I've contemplated going back to 100, but ever since having Lasik, an increased dose has caused unbearably dry eyes no matter how much I hydrate and use drops and ointments.

I'll look at the results from the blood test when I get home to see if my zinc levels were tested, and if so, if they were normal. I know my iron was tested and was fine. That had been a point of concern, but the blood work indicated no issue with it. I am taking a multivitamin with iron every day, and have since a month prior to having the VSG in August of 2015.

The John Frieda product was called Go Blonder. I was contacted by other women who'd experienced horrific damage and loss from using it after I wrote a review about it on a popular site, asking about working together to form a class action suit, but I don't know if they pursued one. I contacted John Frieda with photos documenting the damage. I moved forward after doing so because of too many things going on in my life then to justify the time expenditure in pursuing it further. I did have blood work last week that didn't flag any issues. I have an appointment at the end of October (unfortunately, that was the first available time available) with my endocrinologist and will ask for more blood work then. In the meantime I'm hoping to find out if anyone else had similar experiences.

One of the benefits of Halo Top is that you cannot eat it directly out of the carton because of the unappealing texture when it's frozen; you must leave it on the counter for about 15 minutes to warm enough to reach a creamy consistency. This can help with portion control if you carefully measure out one serving and then immediately put the carton back into the freezer, so that if you want a second serving you have to wait again. I didn't know about Halo Top back in 2015 when I had the VSG. I might have considered it. I discovered it a year later when I was already at goal, and loved it at first, then grew tired of it. During the post-op recovery stage I was actually reasonably content because I had fun experimenting with protein shake recipes on a blog called The World According to Egg Face by someone who also had bariatric surgery. At the time The Vitamin Shoppe sold single serving packets of their protein powders (now they don't at my local stores, so you have to get the enormous tubs) and that allowed me to have a lot of variation with flavors. You might want to consider trying out shake recipes so you're not as bored with the monotony. I think you'd be fine with having Halo Top, but I wouldn't make a habit out of it, or count it as a meal.

I occasionally have Diet Coke and have never experienced negative effects from it, but I'm more careful to not overdo. I mainly have it if I'm at a dinner party or the like and being served something spicy, because I have a wimpy tongue and Diet Coke helps to soothe it better than water. Every once and a while at the movies I'll order a Kids Pack which comes with popcorn and a tiny soda. I no longer habitually buy gallons of Diet Coke at the store, and very rarely ever order it when out. I started doing this about four months out from the VSG, and continue to perhaps once every month or thereabouts. (I've been below my goal for a year now). The main carbonated drink I have to avoid is sparkling water. It makes me sound like I have something bubbling inside of my chest when I drink it, which is quite embarrassing when I'm out socially.

I've had the NutriBullet (the one with the gold base) since just before having the VSG in August of 2015, and have used it on a nearly daily basis. It's very fast and efficient, and I like being able to just pop on the lid and take it with me. It's also easier to store it in the fridge if I can't finish it all in one go, because it's much smaller than a blender. You have to be careful to not overfill it, but the perk of this is that it helps with portion control. I've mainly used it to make smoothies but also have made some tasty soups using steamed vegetables, milk, and a little melted butter. I bought mine while it was on sale at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and used an extra 20% coupon. I've used it far, far more than the bulkier, cheaper, less effective blenders we'd previously owned.

I was worried about that as well, but I think it's really an issue of planning. I would slide down slippery slopes by grazing, making unhealthy choices spontaneously or while already ravenous, or having a "well I already cheated today, so I might as well just start again tomorrow" attitude. That's different from deliberately choosing extra calories you're incorporating into your diet, and keeping track of them. It will probably scare you less once you start doing it, because you'll see that you still have that sense of control. For me, having the set routine of adding in the same extra calories every day - the afternoon latte with whole milk for the first stall, and later single-serving packs of almonds - helped me to stay on course because it was all disciplined.

It might seem like a contradictory action to take, but you may want to experiment with increasing your calories and healthy fat with good choices and see if that makes an impact. There was an article in The New York Times a few months ago about a long-term study of the contestants on the weight-loss show "The Biggest Loser," and how extreme dieting and exercising permanently damaged their metabolisms. Eating too little can be detrimental to your weight loss in the present and the future. When your body isn't getting enough calories to sustain your lifestyle it sort of freaks out to try to protect you. With the amount of vigorous exercise you're doing, you're not really consuming enough calories. So when you're not getting enough food, your body thinks you're going to starve and slows down your metabolism to try to protect you. It's an adaptation method the human body evolved to have back when our ancestors were going through famines. I broke my first month-long stall simply by adding in a daily afternoon latte made with whole milk. I broke my second stall and actually lost weight at a more rapid pace when I was on vacation with my family and not tracking what I ate. I was still being mindful and making reasonable choices, but did have frozen yogurt and the like at times. I think my body took to the extra calories like a car with a tank nearing empty being filled up. Your body can also just stall out because it needs some time to catch its breath. I've had several lengthy stalls, but had exceeded my goal weight by the one-year mark. I then lost another 15 pounds, and have been maintaining that for six months. Slow and steady seems to have helped me with keeping the weight off. Congrats on your weight loss thus far. You lost more in three months than I did in nine.

There's a line from a book I read years ago that I try to apply to online activity - "be a filter, not a sponge". I try to filter out all that is unhelpful or unnecessarily hurtful rather than sponging it all up and weighing my mind and heart down. Using a post as a soapbox, an opportunity to lecture or demean, or to give unsolicited advice isn't unique to this forum. I moderate a forum for my college and frequently encounter responses that are very similar in tone and approach to ones here, even though the topics are vastly different. Of course on this forum there's more people who are going through liquid diets and other challenges that will naturally impact emotions and sense of wellbeing, and I think that does deserve some extra consideration from responders.

74 pounds is a substantial amount, so try to not be discouraged. You're doing fantastic and looking good. I bet you're wearing smaller clothes than you were this time last year, and that this time next year they'll be even smaller.

I've never had anyone ask me if I've had WLS, but my response would probably be to stare at them with a look of incredulity at their audacity and then finally say "I cannot believe you just asked me that question" and walk away. IMO exceptional rudeness doesn't warrant any more of a response than that.

I don't think it's a productive habit because chips have very little to offer in the way of nutrients, but are high in sodium, fat, and carbs. Are you eating them because you're actually hungry, or simply because they're enjoyable? Many people make the mistake of not eating enough during the day, and then feeling ravenous or deprived at night and overcompensating with less healthy choices. It would be much better to have three reasonable meals at routine times that are higher in protein, lower in carbs, and include some vegetables. Snacks like almonds or cheese cubes are better snack options. Keeping track of your food with an app like MyFitnessPal can be helpful. If you really love chips, I'd consider having them just once a week instead of nightly.

Most Chinese restaurants, including fast food chains such as Panda Express, will allow you to order an entree on its own rather than a combo that includes rice. This helps to drastically reduce the number of carbs you consume. We often go a neighborhood restaurant that has really steamed boneless chicken that is yummier than you'd expect, and I'll have it with some veggies.

Return to the habits that helped you to lose weight. I'm almost two years out as well, and have had a bit of regain but have been able to lose it again by going back to tracking my food on MyFitnessPal and following a lower carb (under 70 carbs, so not strictly low carb, but moderately so) plan, and exercising more. You've already lost 118 pounds, which is fantastic. Just see this time when you've had a regain as a bit of a vacation for yourself, and now you're ready to get back to work. Don't be discouraged, just get back in there. There's a girl on Facebook who goes by Fit Miss Bliss who has been really successful with losing weight post-VSG, and she has a lot of recipes and ideas. One of the habits that helps her the most is meal planning. On Sunday night she prepares lunches for the first few days of the week, and makes a meal plan to follow. She includes snacks. I think that's wise because it gives you a roadmap to follow for the week.

I'm sorry you went through that frightening and stressful experience. I was worried about having complications in Mexico after reading a post shortly before I booked my surgery there about a woman who had a host of problems after having the VSG with Dr. Ponce De Leon. (He was not the surgeon I ended up choosing, but her experience wasn't the reason for going with another surgeon). She did rave about how they took wonderful care of her, and she didn't incur additional expenses for it, but it was of course very scary. I'd asked my surgeon's coordinator about it, and was told the clinic was equipped to handle emergencies, and that the surgeon also had privileges at a nearby hospital. There is also insurance you can buy to cover the costs of any complications, including transportation via ambulance to a hospital over the border. I haven't read all the fine print of it, though. I think you raise an excellent cautionary point.

I added in an afternoon coffee break with coworkers / friends. My typical order is an iced latte with whole fat milk, or almond milk. The extra calories helped. My stomach was a bit temperamental for the first couple of months post-op, and I reverted to liquids and soft foods at the time when most would advance, to give it a bit more time to adjust. The downside of this was not consuming enough calories, which made the "week three stall" last much longer. I switched from 2% / low fat dairy to full fat milk and yogurt. Fair Life was my favorite milk, and I most often used the Trader Joe's brand of plain Greek yogurt. I had a lot of smoothies with their full fat yogurt that had 22 grams of protein and 7 carbs, berries (lower in carbs) and frozen kale (the taste and color were disguised by the berries). When I made chocolate protein shakes I added in freshly ground almond butter or peanut butter from Whole Foods rather than PB2 to get in more calories and fat. Liquids have always been easier for me to take in than solids. I have to be careful with them because I can overdo it, but during that time they were beneficial.

I had the VSG in August of 2015, and to date the only ones who know about it are my parents (who were my support team), my husband, and my doctors. That's it. It's worked out perfectly for me. I prefer keeping personal health matters private. If I want to share about it, I interact with others on here, while still maintaining my privacy, which I value.

The vast majority of people experience the "dreaded three week stall" after having WLS, though sometimes it comes a bit sooner or later. That is most likely what you're going through right now. If you do a keyword search about the stall you'll find heaps of threads here about it with tips. You haven't done anything wrong. Your body just needs some time to adjust. It's been through a major surgery, radical eating changes, and weight loss all in a rush. You will start losing again. Just persevere. My stall broke when I increased my calories. Basically I'd been consuming far too calories, so my body thought it was starving and was holding onto to everything I took in to help protect me. It relaxed when I started having more calories.

Curiosity got the best of me so I tried it last week. It was beautiful, but the taste wasn't sensational, especially for the calorie expenditure. It starts out somewhat bland, and then becomes increasingly sour to nearing Warhead-strength, face-puckering. I can see why it's appealing to kids, but it's not something I'd buy again. I'll stick to my cold brew coffee with almond milk. I think it's just a limited-time offer. Or else Starbucks' claim that it is was merely a part of their marketing strategy to get people to try it while they could. Worked on me, haha. Oh, and to clarify, I'm the better part of two years post-op, and have been maintaining for six months. My BMI is at the low end of normal now. An occasional splurge like the unicorn frappacino has a negligible impact on me since I eat healthily the majority of the time.

I had a very positive experience in Mexico having the VSG, and I felt more confident about it from speaking directly with other patients. This forum provided some insight, but on RealSelf people posted more detailed reviews that included pictures, and that was helpful. I PM'd with about ten people who I felt reasonably sure were genuine and not slyly working for coordinators, about the surgeon I chose and others I considered. I also found articles from legitimate newspapers that were positive. Most were from Canadian newspapers detailing how people opted to go to Mexico to avoid the lengthy waits for having it locally. YouTube is another source because some people created videos showing the hospitals / clinics where they had their surgery, and discussing their experience. Coordinators should be able to provide the full credentials for the surgeons they work with, so you know they're certified. As for research on WLS itself you can find ample studies on it from leading hospitals, and articles in more trustworthy papers. Best wishes to you!