azuresky

Yes. I began taking 10,000 msg biotin, about 3 months before surgery. I began 4 550 mg beef gelatin about 3 months after&take a bariatric high dose vitamin about a few weeks after surgery. Doctor tests showed all vit levels normal. I DO struggle STILL to get in enough protein....food, in general. I cannot, 7 months after surgery, eat meat...eggs are about as unpleasant. I throw up if I eat too fast or often, if it's meat. I cannot tolerate the extremely sweet, nauseating protein shakes or bars. My best protein supplement is Genepro, which I mix in oatmeal, cottage cheese or a bit of sweet potato. Thanks for replies. I'm going to have to cut what's left of my hair. Has anyone used minoxidil??

When my hair started falling out I thought OK, this is what I'd heard about. Now, 3 months later, I am nearly fully bald. My hair had been almost to my waist, silver, thick my whole life. Help...what can I do?? Looks like I must now buy a wig. What have I DONE TO MYSELF?!!! Surgery was 8/18/17..began at about 272...now 176 at 5'6" and 68 yo. I had RNY bypass.

I am the same with protein shake or bars. I cannot stand the sweeteners used. Makes me sick. If it's savory I 'm all in. Eggs...at first, were good, now I just can't get it in. Think I'll try the egg drop soup suggested at beginning of thread.

Six months out and still can't tolerate chicken or beef except in tiny amount, maybe mixed with sweet potato. I turned off many foods, especially sweets & breads. I was a carb addict. Now white rice, potato'S, bread, pasta&sweets are big no no's, disgusting really. 68 yo, lost 76 lbs. since surgery 8/18/17

Surgery 8/18/17 & life has changed dramatically. I rarely had a constipation issue before, after...my gut went into lockdown. Major taste changes, amount, speed of eating, all changed. Get it wrong, too fast, (still can't handle beef or chicken well) & I'll be nauseous, salivating like a water faucet left on, stomach pain. If I'm lucky, I'll throw up, usually saliva, maybe a tiny bit of food. Then, I'm good. But, the worst was gut on lock. I mean, ZERO URGE......until what went in must go. Pain...? Wow..! So, here's my routine now. Most mornings, oatmeal w/Genepro, maybe unsweetened applesauce mixed in. Btw..glad someone mentioned PRUNES! I will incorporate that too. BEANS...I try to have them in some form at lunch daily. Don't overdo cheese! But, most importantly, I take the recommended dose of Yerba Prima Fiber Plus caps (5 caps) at minimum, every other day. Once a day has worked well for me. BUT, I am going to try a few of the other methods too and see how those work for me. Glad this topic was posted!

Hello, I've completed all testing & surgery is scheduled for 8/18/17...IF I am able to get in at least 2 weeks on CPAP. I have "severe," sleep apnea. Anyone else have experience with having surgery and dealing with sleep apnea?? Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgeon's practice requires a thorough health SD creek & includes a cardiac screen. Mine began with an EKG, filled by a stress test and echo cardiogram. All was good. I also, to my chagrin, had to have an endoscopy, colonoscopy, sleep study..in addition to all the less bothersome tests. Take heart, grin & bear it. Your surgeon just wants to make sure you are healthy. Finding out you have an underlying health while under anesthesia is a real bad idea. It will all come together! You'll get through the testing hurdles in no time and your new life after surgery will have already begun. Good luck and best wishes!

You are not alone. I'm going through similar things, emotional, hungry, food cravings, even imagining tastes & smells. We must comfort ourselves that it will over very soon. The food is an addiction, everything about it. We need it,but have to change our thinking about it. I've cooked all my life, have 5 sons&1 daughter, none obese but love my cooking. Everything must change. No more cakes, pies, big casseroles, my famous this that. Grandma WON'T be baking all day anymore cause Grandma's trying to save her life. So I'm mentally having to fight myself here until Surgery now, in 5 days! Best wishes! Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Have my surgery date 8/18 when I went for results visit. Now on liver reduction into 2ND week w/pretty diarrhea beginning today. But bigger issue is my surgeon's staff was supposed to get my CPAP machine to me in May& despite my pleas by phone&via the office portal, NOTHING. I won't be allowed my surgery w/o CPAP for some time. At my results spot. my surgeon froze like a statue,when I told him, no I had not been using the machine. No one from his staff even tried. He left the room, talked to staff & two told me I would be called the next day. Nothing. Monday. Nothing. All last week I waited. Friday...she called & said someone from the company would call me in 10 minutes. Nothing. I waited an hour, called & told she was at lunch. Long story short....she never came back from lunch. So here I am...back waiting...4 months for a CPAP machine& oh yeah, I have severe sleep apnea. What the heck does it take to get a CPAP machine? BTW...I live near Raleigh, NC. There are many suppliers. Tomorrow am I'm getting on the phone to as many as possible. Any thoughts, ideas? Need to know also are these high protein shakes supposed to cause diarrhea? Feel like I'm right back to colonoscopy prep. Thanks Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Same kind of experience here. I'be yo yo'd my whole life & with each yo I added to the pile. During&after menopause, my weight just kept growing. Medications added to the problem. Throughout it all family, friends, coworkers always just HAD to advise. The general idea is, JUST stop eating, push away. I just am so thankful for this opportunity and to Bariatric surgeons for the innovations that allow us this safe option, for young and older ppl, like me. Hope you have a successful journey, with a fast recovery. It's good to know there are others who support you, respect&honor the challenges before, during and after. This isn't the easy way out. It's a huge deal. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Looking forward to hearing how your surgery went. The good news is you will never be the same, in a very positive way. Will pray for quick recovery and healing Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Newbie here, though I'be been doing testing and Medicare compliance over the last 8 months. My question is I went to what I thought was final clearance appt. with gastroenterologist,who I was told was ONLY reviewing my upper GI & abdominal ultrasound results, which already knew results about. But..he says to get clearance for surgery,which my office was going to set my appointment for final visit with surgeon today, tells me I have to have a endoscopy and colonoscopy first! I'm very upset about this because 1) at no time has anyone ever told me about those two tests were prerequisite, nor is it in the Manuel for doctor's office. And 2) I will have to be put to sleep for these procedures, the prep will rigorous and very uncomfortable and these are invasive procedures. Can any comment or advise as to the necessity and/or how commonly these tests are done?? Thanks.. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Just an update for any interested. As it turns out, it was a Godsend to have had both tests. The hardest part was the colon prep. But, the gastroenterologist found and took 7 polyps and took a stomach biopsy from inflammation caused by gastritis. Short story is good news, bad news. He cleared me for bypass surgery but I have to have another colonoscopy in a year because most of those polyps were precancerous, called adenomas. So now I wait for my Bariatric surgeon pre-op, results visit, in which I am instructed for the liver reduction diet and am told my surgery date. The great thing about having the bypass is that my whole diet will change and be the diet my gastroenterologist wants me on anyway. BTW, being forced to have the colonoscopy probably has saved my life as much as having the bypass will. These are answers to prayers and I just thank God for these opportunities. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Great question! ...and response. I am in a solar situation. I am ready for dentures AND done with all testing, waiting for appt with surgeon for surgery date. I guess the remedy is to expect adjustments as we lost weight??? I need dentures to be able even to eat certain foods OR stay on a semi-soft diet. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

No family history at all, healthy most of my life, but I AM 67 yo, never had a colonoscopy before. I(be had bad high bp for 20 yrs, type 2 diabetes 2 yrs ago, rheumatoid arthritis, GERD for about20 yrs. MOST of my medical issues will be greatly relieved by weight loss. Besides the RA, I am text book for why obesity is so bad for us. My heart is good and strong and all of my doctors say with the loss of the weight I should be able to come off most of the pills I have to take. My sister in law was 71 when had her gastric bypass, she's lost most of her weight and came off her Metformin and bp meds. Her arthritis greatly improved too. I am doing this to save my life, I have 4 grandchildren 13 to 3 to raise. I just wish I had known sooner that Bariatric surgery technique had improved so much that it's safe for people my age. I had no idea till last summer. I cannot WAIT to feel better, get off so many pills and pain meds and be FREE. BTW, my family is against the surgery. They want to keep fat Mama and Grandma who cooks all the time, lives in the kitchen. But that's not what I want, been there done that & it's killing me. If my surgeon says yes I'm doing it! Thanks for responses. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

So these are my last tests before my final appointment with my surgeon. That appointment will be a long one of to set my surgery date, get instruction for liver reduction diet, which they already have done and a one on one with the nutritionist. The endoscopy and colonoscopy prep goes on for a few days with the day before and day of a nightmare, at least it was for me. Clear liquids only day before, 24 hours of nonstop uncontrollable diarrhea. My gastroenterologist took a biopsy of my stomach gastritis, 6 polyps from my colon. All sent for pathology. So I guess it was really worth it to follow through with the whole thing. NOW I need to know if gastritis will exclude me from having the surgery! I've had GERD for 20 yrs, had h pylori and a gallstone. I hate to think I've gone through the testing only to get turned down ~ Any thoughts or experiences to share on these issues? Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

I have no idea why. He said cause I'd not had one before. He was kind of vague. I was told by patient coordinator I was all clear by tests and insurance approved,ready to go, just do this consult & I'd meet with my surgeon next week, begin the liver reduction diet and a date set for July for my bypass. Now according to this gastroenterologist, July 12, I have to do those 2 tests which will be hard on me as much surgery prep, maybe worse really. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks for reply. Were you put to sleep for the procedures? I have to go to hospital, if started, put to sleep and both procedures done. No one told me about having to do this. It's not in the manual. I just feel invasive procedures like this should be well explained up front. My problem is the pain and discomfort involved in preparation. I have rheumatoid arthritis, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and severe leg cramping. So just getting back & forth to toilet is going to be major. So it's pretty scary and seems like unnecessary testing. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app

Yeah I had to do a 6 month nutritional counseling too and the psych evaluation. My psych evaluation consisted of filling out long questionnaires...then a conversation with psychologist. Easy, breezy..one appt. Nothing further. My big deal I object to strongly is having to submit..after aaaaalllll the many hoops I've jumped through over 8 months, to a colonoscopy and endoscopy I have to be completely under anesthesia for! Good grief. Why? My husband & adult children are now objecting to my even having the surgery at all now. Anyway..you'll do fine on the psych part. Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using BariatricPal mobile app