over65

I had gastric sleeve May 28. Will have 6-month check up end of November. Just this week, I am shedding hair everywhere. But I have very fine hair but plenty of it. Don't see any bald spots. So not concerned and expected. My 3-month checkup blood work showed all vitamin levels and other tests perfect. I am just 9 lbs above clinic's goal weight with seven weeks until 6-month checkup. My post-op experience has been extremely smooth. No pain with eating. Always getting all my protein and water requirements without any issues. Eating normal food now with just one protein shake per day. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

I had very long hair for years. It is very fine (Scandinavian blonde) but thick. Always surprised hairdressers when I got my hair foiled to add highlights. Took a lot more time than they thought. The week before surgery I got my hair cut just above shoulder length. I started high protein diet (90g/day) and biotin a few months before surgeryand have maintained since. My surgery was postponed due to covid so I just maintained my preop diet. I lost 30 pounds while waiting. I am now 4.5 months post-op and lost 70 pounds since I started this last December. I started shedding hair just last week. Not in clumps. Just fine hairs in hairbrush, on pillow, on floor around recliner where I sit. The shedding is more like my dog's seasonal shedding. No bald spots or significant thinning. I know everyone is different. My hair has grown about an inch a month so need a haircut. Couldn't get earlier because covid restrictions. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Did your doctor recommend it? What brand and how many strains of bacteria in it? Why are you taking it? I am considering a probiotic for chronic constiptation for years which existed before VSG. I am in full liquid stag postop and already having constipation. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have lost 70 pounds now. Have minor saggy skin in expected places and I can hide with clothes. But my neck is really ugly. I guess I had a lot of fat in double chin and I lost a lot fat there. What can I do (without plastic surgery) to improve my neck? I don't want to wear turtle necks all the time. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Just be careful about hot spices. Will really bother your stomach. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Just made big presurgery shopping haul. Found new READY Protein Water at Sam's club. Great price. $14.88 for 12-pack. Three flavors. Orange Mango, Blueberry, Lemon ice. 15g protein, 1 carb and no fat. 70 calories for 16.9 bottle. No sucralose. With electrolytes: sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and Calcium. Ingredients: filtered water, whey protein isolate, phosphoric acid, citric acid, natural flavors, stevia extract, fruit & vegetable juice (color). I can add unflavored Isopure to increase protein so won't have to drink so much. Haven't tasted yet. My local Sam's Club had them in stock. I start my two days clear fluids tomorrow. On my 3rd day full liquids. Also found a great low fat cream Soup at Kroger. Smooth as silk, no lumps or pieces. PACIFIC Creamy Butternut Squash Soup. Yummy. Does have some cane sugar but not a bunch.

I am a bit concerned that my pouch is too big. I never have had any pain or problems with swallowing. I was able to drink 6 oz Water at once first day after surgery with normal swallowing like before VSG. I can swallow large pills and tonight was able to drink 11.9 oz Protein Shake in 5 minutes. After reading all you struggling with 1-2 oz in 15 minutes, I feel very different. I am ONE WEEK post VSG.

GNC filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy June 24. GNC has struggled financially for years. Is now $900M in debt. Yet paid its CEO a $2M bonus but thousands employees lose jobs. GNC is closing about 1200 stores (about 25%). In 2018, Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Holding Co., a company controlled by the Chinese government, agreed to acquire an approximately 40% stake in GNC. GNC Vitamins and supplements likely made in China at Harbin Pharmaceutical Group.

My surgeon says no raw fruit or veggies for 3 months post-op. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

I tried Celebrate sample packs. The chewable vitamins tasted horrible. I did get 2 packets of 4 in 1 but the vitamins tasted so bad, I threw the packets out. I suspect the 4 in 1 just has their vitamins in powder added to protein shake pack. Find a brand of Bariatric chewable vitamin you like and switch. BARIATRIC FUSION chewable are the cheapest and complete, including calcium. Different fruit flavors but avoid the ORANGE as it is really overwhelmingly strong flavor. For protein shakes, I have been drinking pre-made FAIRLIFE Nutrition Chocolate. I really like it and only 150 cal with 30g protein, 2 carbs in 11 oz serving. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Was encouraging to realize despite my slow weight loss, I am on target. I weighed 211 on day of surgery. I am 8 weeks postop and my weight today is 190.2 pounds. Those weighing 200 pounds on day of sugery weighed 184 on average at 3 months. So I will quite likely to weigh below 184 (6 pounds to go) at 3 months. I need to remember that those much heavier at time of surgery show faster weight loss in the first 3 months. So I am encouraged. Hope some of you find this table helpful. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am still in week one clear fluids following VSG last Thursday. I am easily getting at least 70 oz of fluids and 70 g Protein. But the only carbs I get are 5 calorie Jello. So at the end of the day all my calories are from protein. Each gram of protein is 4 calories. So 4x70=280 calories total for day. I have yet to get 300 calories. Is this typical? I was so used to 800-1200 calories per day. Is that why we lose so much weight first few weeks after surgery? Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

My bariatric center doesn't give any narcotics to control pain immediate postop. They use combination of acetaminophen and Celebrex. I can't take Celebrex because previous reaction with sky high blood pressure (220/120). So not sure what they will provide for immediate postop pain. Hoping I will have a chance to talk with surgeon before surgery. Don't think acetaminophen will be enough after having 75% of stomach removed. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

Despite all best plannings, my BiPAP macine was not available for me in PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit). I discussed my severe obstructive sleep apnea with anesthesiologist, surgeon and preop nurse. We all agreed that I needed to have my BiPAP on immediately after operating room. I even took it out of case and totally assembled it so all they needed to do is put on my mask. Didn't go as planned. When I arrived to PACU from operating room I was having difficulty breathing and immediately said, "I need my BiPAP." I was told it had been sent with all my other belongings to my hospital room. I really struggled to breathe. Coughed frequently to open airway and get a gasp of air. The male nurse said, "You have oxygen mask on. You don't need BiPAP." What an ignorant nurse. Oxygen isn't going anywhere when my airway is closed off. He clearly had no education or knowledge about severe obstructive sleep apnea in recovery room. I struggled for 45 minutes trying to breathe with coughs and gasps. Kept myself from falling asleep because didn't want to be intubated to fix breathing. Could hear the monitor alarming with dropping pO2. They finally decided I was stable to go to my hospital room. BiPAP was applied immediately. I finally could relax and breathe. I slept 13 hours and only awake when nurse came in to give blood thinner shot or add pain med to my IV. I emailed my bariatric center coordinator later and she immediately discussed with supervisor of PACU. No patient with severe obstructive sleep apnea should ever be deprived of their CPAP/BiPAP in recovery room. It is very dangerous. It is well-known that we need machines immediately because we are unable to keep airway open if we fall asleep in drugged state. And positioned on our back when obstruction is worst. Was a very scary and uncomfortable experience. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgeon said he has taken patients to O.R. and found liver too large to safely operate so stopped. You certainly don't want that to happen. You should lose some weight and shrink liver during presurgery diet. Hopefully you have time to get back on track. Fast food cannot be an option for you now anr at least the next year during weight loss. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

I had sciatica frequently before VSG. Visit to chiropractor always relieved it in one or two visits. I never required any steriod injection. Now after 50 pounds weight loss, I have had no recurrence of sciatica or low back pain. I couldn't walk before without recrrence but now walk 2 miles everyday. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Found good app to track exercise. It uses your height and weight to estimate your step length. Then calculates distance, calories burned and time. You can also set it to use GPS to calculate distance if running/jogging. Saves daily total for weekly, monthly report. I walked 1.03 miles in 24 minutes. Downhill starting and uphill back. Burned 122 calories in 2702 steps. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Called "Step Tracker" in Google Play store. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

No, uses your Android cell phone only. Fitbit and other devices on wrist are highly inaccurate as they are measuring arm movement only. I have a friend who drives big rig all day. He gets 30,000 steps just steering and shifting. I put my cell in fanny pack. It measures distance by GPS. First morning I walked 1 mile. Checked the distance by Google maps and was spot on. It calculates number steps by estimating your stride length according to your height and weight. I am 5'1" and walking a mile is many more steps than someone 6' tall.Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Adding regular exercise, about 30 minutes a day, could help rev up your metabolism. Just walking helps. Add some strengthening exercises to help with batwing arms. There are simple exercises without equipment on YouTube. If your "surgery not successful" has nothing to with you. In fact, a recent published scientific article shows that the skill of the surgeon has about 50% of influence on success. Ignore idiots who try to blame you. Like blaming a couple for inability to conceive a baby. Plain stupidity. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Been investigating sugar-free candy by type of sweetener. Many are Maltitol, Sucrulose, aspertame, Splenda. Found some Russell Stover candy swetened with Stevia sold at Walmart. chocolate assortment or chocolate mint and caramels. Doesn't give calories, macros or ingredients. Also sold at Kroger in smaller packages. Will check it out on my next grocery run and get photo of back of package. Sent from my SM-T580 using BariatricPal mobile app

A lot of people cannot tolerate sugar alcohol after surgery. Causes diarrhea, abdominal pain. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Most patients are on full liquid diets on day 10 postop. Your surgeon allows yogurt this soon? Are you eating fat free plain Greek yogurt? Or name brand, carb-loaded regular yogurt? Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211. VSG.

Back to basics. Avoid junk and fast food, high carb food like rice, Pasta, bread. Choose whole, unprocessed foods. And exercise as much as you can. Logging intake may help but you probably already know what you are eating that you shouldn't. Too many return to old eating habits and then mystified tgat weight is returning. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211.

I really don't understand the low fat emphasis except the higher calories content. Reasonable amount of fat is necessary to absorb fat soluble Vitamins, help with dry skin and deal with constipation. Even saturated fat isn't bad (hangover from decades of misinformation about cholesterol). Many people are successfully losing weight on ketogenic diet which is very high fat, low carb. Most of us are high Protein, low carb with limited fat. I suspect high protein, medium fat, limited carb would be best post WLS diet from my own research. I have been high protein (at least 80g), limited fat, limited carb (less than 50g total carbs which includes fiber). In the beginning, no caffiene, no carbonated beverages, no raw fruit, avoid fruit with seeds. Stats: 5'1", age 67, female. Highest weight: 245. BMI 41. Surgery Date: May 28, 2020. Weight at surgery: 211.