ShelterDog64

It gets better every single day, and at one week you'll feel a LOT better! Don't hesitate to call your doctor if you're feeling really awful...dehydration happens quickly and it's hard to recover from. Good luck!

I'm not a vet, but I had my surgery in June of this year, and I've gotten through my 'shed'! I lost at least 1/3 of my hair, and it was fast and furious! I'm lucky enough to have crazy thick hair so it was only noticeable to me, really, but if my hair was longer than shoulder-length I would probably have had some length taken off. Longer hair almost always looks thinner to me. My stylist told me to shampoo as seldom as possible, same for brushing or anything that put stress on my hair. I'm not sure it made any difference, and it was shocking to shampoo and come away with double handfuls of hair I lost hair for about 2 months, it's just about stopped but now I get to deal with all those darned short hairs sticking up all over the place as it grows back in.

What do you put your Genepro in? I have some and tried it with watered down juice (I can't handle artificial sweeteners) and it made it change a weird color and get really THICK. And it was a large glass. Yuck. I use it in coffee every morning...I dissolve it in some half and half in the bottom of the cup, with a fork, then add the coffee. If you don't use cream, some lukewarm Water works too. I also put it in refried Beans, yogurt, soup...anything loose or moist works well. And I tried something new the other day that worked fine: I think you probably know about my incessant struggle with meat, so cheese is a huge source of protein for me. I like the La Tortilla Factory high pro/high fiber/low carb tortillas, so I took one of the small ones they made and made a quesadilla like I usually do, but I tossed the shredded cheese in some Protein Powder before I put it in the tortilla. I used the rest of the scoop in the sour cream + salsa mixture I make to dip it in. That little bit of extra effort got me 20+ grams protein in my quesadilla The secret to Genepro, in my experience, is to mix it into something cold or cool then add it to warm liquids. I add it directly to warm thicker foods like refried beans with no problems. I don't use it in cold liquids at all, since all I drink is water. I'd think you could mix it into lemonade, though, in a shaker bottle then let it sit for a few minutes for the foam to settle.

@@jess9395 Blood sugar regulation is definitely a known issue when you're having parathyroid problems. I think seeing an endocrinologist is in order, for you to get a handle on all this. That A1C isn't bad...5.9 is barely within the 5.7-6.4 range for 'pre-diabetes' (I hate the term) and if you don't have a family history and no gestational diabetes during pregnancy, it's unlikely to be independent of your parathyroid issue.

Portioning your food is a great thing to do, and I use a food scale daily, to weigh any meat or cheese that I eat. If you don't have one, a scale would be a great Christmas gift to yourself Have you started using an unflavored Protein powder yet? Have that to add to refried Beans and Soup has been such a help for me. Even as far along as I am, I still use a scoop of unflavored Protein in my coffee every morning...it's a good way to start the day, as I'm not much of a Breakfast eater. I use GENEPRO, lots of people like Quest and Syntrax. Any of them would be good for you to try. And I still have to work hard to get my Water in and I often fall short, just keep plugging away at that. Walking has been a game-changer for me...when I hit a little bit of time where I'm stuck at one weight, I can get the scale to move by increasing my exercise for just a few days. That's never really been the case before when I've dieted and lost weight, so it really motivates me to get out and move!

Have u had surgery yet? If so, How much did u lose two weeks out? Sent from my SM-G530T using the BariatricPal App My surgery was in June of this year...at 2 weeks, I was 10-15 lbs down. Everyone loses differently, but it looks like you're right on track. How are you doing with the post-op food plan? As long as you're getting enough Protein, drinking enough Water and getting some kind of exercise, you WILL lose weight, don't worry!

@@MTWilliams Sounds like things are going well

@@jess9395 If you had/have hyperparathyroidism, it can cause insulin secretion and glucose tolerance issues. That could explain why, post-op from parathyroid surgery, your A1C would be high but your blood glucose level wouldn't. I hope it all turns out okay for you.

WOW! Is he still your husband or is he now your ex husband? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App I'd be a widow after that exchange

This is an abstract and only reflects a small sample set. It does not go into the causation of the failures such as non compliance with food, follow up appt., taking medications that can cause issues. Without having the full study and understanding the study criteria, rigorous of the analysis, etc this abstract is not scientifically interesting. I read a lot of success stories from people who have the band and are successful. I choose to focus on encouraging everyone to reach their goals. Had lapband surgery 10/12/16 Well, by all means... discount research as 'not scientifically interesting', whatever that means, and focus on anecdotal evidence! What a GREAT way to make life-altering decisions! @@dvons Thanks for trying, but academic rigor around here falls short quite often. I enjoyed the abstract and poking around in PubMed for a little while

Here are some of the things I wanted to know: 1) what kind of meds pre-op? (this was a good time for me to drive home about my severe nausea from inhaled anesthetics...led to me getting a scopolamine patch in pre-op area plus anesthesia was able to use primarily IV agents for surgery to reduce the nausea) 2) would I have a urinary catheter placed during surgery, and if yes, would it be removed before I went to recovery? 3) how do most patients feel immediately post-op? (this ended up being a very important question for me...I woke up in the PACU in very severe pain, right at my sternum. But I knew it wasn't abnormal and was able to stay calm until I got some dilaudid on board) 4) would I have stitches or staples or skin glue on my incisions? 5) what kind of pain relief once I got to the room where I'd stay overnight? 6) expectations for mobility/showering while I was in the hospital? 7) would I have to meet any benchmarks in order to be discharged? (ie, have to be able to urinate, have to be able to drink 'x' ounces without vomiting, etc) 8) what meds should I expect to go home on? what should I do if the meds aren't doing the job? and then I made sure I had a VERY concrete understanding of the first month's post-op instructions were...what EXACTLY I was expected to eat/drink during that period of time. Good luck!

@ I drank Atkins Lift early on...it's very palatable and easy on your stomach. I liked the lemon flavor and never tried the berry. The consistency is thinner than Isopure clear drinks.

I had a morphine PCA pump and it was wonderful. There's no prize for using the least amount of pain meds...I'd rather be comfortable and able to walk around than in pain and miserable. I went home with liquid morphine and liquid Tylenol and used both until I was feeling more normal and wasn't having any breakthrough pain at the end of the dosing period.

You inspire me SO much, @@LisaMergs ! Mwaaahhh

I had no pre-op diet at all, but a lot have at least 2 weeks, some longer.

I'm sorry, I can't. All I can say is good luck to you.

Never. You will never again have a normal intake of food at one meal. That's why we're all aghast that you had a VSG to lose weight when you don't have weight issues or food issues. Did you have any pre-op teaching at all?

@@LittleBill **It is possible. I looked at the Charge 2 and the Surge. Finding the XL band is like trying to find a unicorn. And for the Surge, they want a premium of almost $40 for the XL band over the large. I will do some more looking tonight.** I'm pretty sure the XL Charge 2 is only available online. Good luck!

@@Babbs **And who is the hack of a surgeon who took 85% of your stomach out for a temporary fix?** Literally, the $10K question.

@@WLSResources/ClothingExch is right on....you should take a day off, rest and ice your calves. Get some electrolytes and fluids in as well, and you should be back on your feet the next day.

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The Fitbit Charge 2 has an extra-large size that fits wrists up to 9.3 inches circumference. That should work?

@@GinaCampbell **From the messages that I receive here from people, mostly resident Americans, there is a higher rate of complications than is even being reported publicly here.** What kinds of things are these patients experiencing? I'm truly interested, not trying to dispute you at all. I know what the numbers are nationally and regionally, as well as within my hospital's practice and throughout our particular health system, but interested in the civilian sector's common complications.

@@r8rs4lf I know, it's hard. I've been there! But if you're taking a PPI and don't have a physical complication, you have to force yourself to drink and eat. Or you can get readmitted to the hospital. I truly feel for you, the kind of nausea you get after this surgery is awful, but not eating will not make it better. Hopefully the applesauce and/or yogurt will sit better and you'll start feeling less horrible. Good luck

@@JøAnna Congratulations! Your post was so nice to read...you have such a great and realistic attitude! You're going to do great