belld

I was banded August 4th and about 1 month ago, I started losing massive amounts of hair as well. I have lost weight very quickly and I continue to lose about a pound a week. I just want to know that the hair will grow back. I know I went through a period right after I started eating that I had a lot of trouble getting in all the Protein I needed because I just couldn't consume that much food or liquids. I have just gotten to where I can eat what I need. My rheumatologist tells me that there is a delayed reaction to changes in your body like drastic weight loss and that the hair loss now is probably steming from what was happening several months ago. He says the hair will grow back and I have noticed some regrowth even as I continue to lose a lot of hair. It is getting pretty thin. Better bald than fat? I don't think so actually but I am very happy with the weight loss and I would do it all again. I am down 59 pounds without a single fill and I am still losing. Debra

I use GNC Soy Protein chocolate. It is just the right chocolate. For my preop diet, I drank it with water then after surgery I switched to skim milk. It is good both ways but I wanted the extra boost of protein the skim milk gives. I tried several other kinds of protein drinks and they either did not give me enough protein for the calories I was consuming or they were too thick or chocolaty. I never thought I would like soy anything but I developed a whey protein allergy during preop and had to switch. It really is good.

mashed potatoes first, then scrambled egg, soup, pudding, applesauce today. I am at three weeks on Wednesday when I can "officially start mushies. I plan on branching out to some well cooked veggies..probably stewed squash first...yummy. I have been satisfied with my weight loss so far so I hesitate to move on but I know I should. My dietician says it is always better to eat your protein than drink it. I am not supposed to move ahead with chicken and other dense proteins until the 1st of September. I am looking forward to it.

Ok so it has been awhile. I have had a few struggles over the last week with weight loss. I had been losing about a pound a day and for 4 days I lost nothing. I have been extremely gassy and had bouts of diarrhea and constipation. I went to my support group and the nurse and dietitcian sort of helped me figure some things out. I am now including 1 solid item a day in my diet. I have tried mashed potatoes, cream of chicken soup, scrambled eggs and today I tried tuna. I have tolerated all of them well. The tuna today made me kinda bloated. I think I will stay away from that a little longer. I still intend to continue my protein drinks. I really like the GNC Soy protein chocolate and in 16 ounces with skim milk I can get 70 g of protein. They are convenient and I am not hungry in the morning so I can take it with me to work. Anyway, bloating and gas are gone today and I was down 2 pounds from yesterday. School starts Monday and I am in a good place emotionally and nutritionally. I have dropped 26.5 pounds and I think most of my clothes will fit again. I will wait for awhile to buy new stuff. I barely got to wear the new stuff I bought in the spring before it was too small. I am excited for the future and prepared to do battle in the classroom. My knee works great now thanks to surgery in June and I have satisfied the arthritis dragon for another couple of months.:biggrin:

I did the same thing. I added a little benefiber to my protein shakes for 4 days. Just as i was about to take the next step to relieve the discomfort, all hell broke loose. I was at my sister in law's house and had to drive home. I didn't leave my house for two days. No more benefiber but I do still have a lot of gas ad it takes two days or so sometimes to get any relief. I guess it just has to build up. I am still in the liquid phase.

There is a support group that meets once a month. Next scheduled is the 19th of August. I am definitely going.

I had my first post op appointment yesterday. I was a little annoyed at the doctor. First of all my doctor is a general surgeon who does bariatric surgery. It is a Blue Cross Center of Distinction which is the reason I had to go with him. 2nd, he has 2 "fellows" who study under him. I felt like I was on a moving sidewalk. One of the fellows came to get me in the waiting room. He weighed me and thought I was 3 weeks post op. The date was right there on my record. he didn't even read it. He looked at my incisions (for about 2 seconds) and asked me if I had any problems. I went through my list (he didn't write anything down) I told him I was very hungry and that the 1 ounce every 15 minutes would not work with my school schedule. We were interrupted by the other "fellow" who needed the scale so we moved to another room. I was left for the doctor. The doctor came, he didn't want to listen to my difficulties and really didn't give me time to talk about them. I told him I was hungry and that the 1 ounce every 15 minutes would not work when school starts. He seemed surprised that I was only drinking 1 ounce at a time. He said I should be drinking 2-3 ounces at a time. When I mentioned moving to some more sustainable foods,he accused me of "food negotiation" He said he wanted me on protein shakes as long as possible but if i was desperate, I could have some soft scrambled egg. He said come back in 1 month and he would consider a fill! A fill! I haven't even tried to eat food yet! GGggrrrrhhh. The entire conversation lasted 5 minutes. So I cannot count on any kind of food guidance from him. So I will have to make my own deciisons based on how I feel I guess. I was trying to follow his guidelines that he publishes in a nice booklet but it is obvious he doesn't even know what is written there. I can put in 2-3 ounces at a time without discomfort so I should be ok at school. At least I know that I can get in all the protein I need for the day. He is a great surgeon, no doubt, but he is not in touch with his bariatric patients. I mean he could have suggested that I stay in touch with the nutritionist or something. anything but slamming the record shut and saying well you can do some soft scrambled eggs if you want but don't get anything stuck. Eeerrrgggghhhhh:mad:

I have the problem of not being ABLE to burp. It is very painful.

Last night was the first night that I have slept anywhere near flat. I am still on my back but it really felt good to be flat. My back has been hurting terribly. I drove 2 hours yesterday to get my new car. I was crazy but I love it. Bill wants me to fly to NC tomorrow to get our RV and drive home (2 days away by mileage, 3 days by RV time.) I am a little scared to fly. I have read some good experiences and some bad. I guess people who go to mexico and beyond, do it all of the time. I still have an empty band. That seems to be the kicker. Soooo I will try it I guess. I am still having large gas bubbles or at least that is wht I think they are. I had to get up and walk at 4 am. I can't burp. Why is that? I am still having abdominal pain at the port incision site and down my right side. The bruising is hideous. I can't say much for my surgeons plastic surgery skills.:thumbup: I read some entries about hair loss today. I seem to be losing a substantial amount. I can't get all of the protein in. Don't know if that is all of it or just plain ole stress. Hanging in there.:ohmy:

I was a little shocked at the hideous looking port scar. Will this diminish over time? It is too painful to touch but I was able to lie flat for the first time last night which means it IS improving. I get so impatient. I want the days to pass so I can get over the initial weeks and move on with life. Drinking 1 ounce every 15 minutes has been annoying and I can't get all of my protein in. I guess i will just have to go bald. ha ha

I need help in a hurry. My husband wants me to fly to North Carolina from Texas (about 2 hours) tomorrow. I will be 5 days post op. I am terrified to fly with the new band. Has anyone flown this soon after surgery and what was your experience?