I'm scared!!!

[katieo 0]

Hi Everyone

First of all I would like to say what a god send finding this site has been to me. I have been a member for a while just reading and finding out as much as I can.

I want to do something about my weight problem but like many others on this forum, it simply is not just about weight and food. I'm a compulsive eater who has calmed down alot over the last few months. I am starting to try and LIVE, to not put my life on hold until I am slim and i have come quite far with it but I am struggling with my body image and becoming at peace with it. After not daring to look in a full length mirror for years, during the summer months of last year I tried soooooo hard to get used to my body and just appreciate it for what it is but it is so incredibaly difficult when you are so large. So I was thinking this operation might help.

I know very well that this IS NOT the easy way out out but I feel that it will help me control what and how much I put in my mouth.

I am not worried about losing my favourite foods but what I am concerned about is losing my hair. I would rather be fat with hair than slim and bold!!!!! There are obviously health concerns attached to my decision but at the moment I can't think past the possible Hair loss. It scares the hell out of me!

Can anyone reassure me?

X Katie

[taninoz 0]

hi katie what i can say to you is that i have been banded for 6 years and it has been pretty great i have had my days where i have stressed about my band but that is just me i can still eat what i like but in moderation which is a good thing i enjoy going out to dinner and partys and i get by just fine to me it has been life changing i feel great and i really enjoy life. I havent had any problems with my hair but we are all different as i speak i am being naughty but its sunday and i am having a piece of pie and i dont feel guilty as i want to enjoy life so if you get the band which i highly recomend embrace it and keep enjoying life regards tanya:)

[your247realtor 0]

Katie- I am also getting it done Jan 31st. I have weighed all my options

looked into the negative & positives of the surgery & the positives won.

I am sad that I have let myself get into this mess & I want to continue

the life I have left in contentment with myself. I am tired,grouchy,irritable,

and find myself becoming more reclusive as the weight packs on. Usually

I am an outgoing, happy person. Mentally & physically I think this is the best option for me

[Kelsy 1]

Hi Katie,

We are the same age!! woohoo - I do not have the band -yet- but i am scheduled next month and let me tell you... I am really happy and excited about it! I feel like i have made the right decision especially after attending the info sessions.

I have been struggling with my weight since i was born! I weighed 10lbs 1oz - lol .. And i swear, It's just something i have lived with my entire life. I am ready to finally get it under control and do the things that i just do not have the energy for anymore and even new things i could never do because of my size.

My friend/co-worker has the band and she looks great. AND she did not lose ANY hair. I even asked her if she had Hair loss and she gave me a strange look, lol. When i told her people on the forum, a lot of people mentioned losing their hair.. She said she never lost any of hers.

Even if you lose -some- .. It will grow back. You won't stay bald or anything. lol

I also know 3 people who had the gastric bypass and one woman, her hair is kinda frayed ... The other 2 look fine, I did not notice any hair loss on them.

Trust me, I was really upset after reading the hair loss thread. But i'm sort of getting over it now, lol.

[sophrosyne 0]

From what I've heard, the key to not losing your hair, is making sure you get enough Protein.

The other thing that I would think would work, if you're worried about losing your hair, is taking pre-natal Vitamins. I've heard that it works wonders with hair and nails. I wonder if this is because of the extra folic acid?

[ReneBean 3]

Hi Katie!!!

Welcome to LBT. Take a deep calming breath... ok. Feel better

Not everybody loses their hair. I know that I have't lost any appreciable amount at all. Some people have some temporarty Hair loss about 6 mos out from surgery - but it is not ALL your hair - just more than normal.

I haven't even experience that. I might have lost a little more than normal in months 6 & 7 - but honestly, it wasn't noticable to anybody but me, and I was looking for it.

I think some folks here have it worse than others because they lose weight really fast - and that shocks the system, hence a little more hair loss than I experienced. If you take it very slowly, not only do you get to live a very normal life, but you get to keep your hair.

Don't freak out, now. Honestly, even if you lose a TON of hair, they have made great strides in the wig-making industry... seriously - get yourself a little fall to add to the volume and go for the band.

There are a ton of threads on hair loss. There are hundreds of suggestions to help slow or stop the process. Personally, I would rather be bald and wearing a wig than fat for the rest of my unnaturally short life.

Hugs and good luck!

[juliegeraci 7]

Hi Katie, I haven't loss any of my hair. Hope your decision is the right one for you. Good luck.

[maryrose 2]

Hi Katieo

I agree with you on the hair issue. I have been worried about it also. I decided to start taking hair, skin and nails from GNC. I ordered it from drugstore.com. A great site. Not expensive either. I figure it would not hurt to get started on this ahead of time. My first consult is next week and I will let you know what they say about this supplement. I think the Protein is the key though.

Good luck with your decision!

It does take time. I have been researching this for proably a year now, but this site has really made me feel 100 times more comfortable with my decision. The way I look at it is that the technology is there, it's safe and I'm going to take the help that is offered to me at this point!

[flabuless 18]

Hi ya katie...I had my lapband over a year ago now and I have as much a head full of hair as I always did. Think positive, chances are you will be a lucky one too.

Keep us posted

becky

[enterprise01 0]

Katieo,

Even if you do lose your hair, don't worry -- it's almost always treatable. My hair started thinning about 6 years ago, and it was awful. I suffer from hypothyroidism, and I was losing handfuls every day. Well, I tried Rogaine, and believe me, it is a miracle drug. I used it consistently for 1 year and after the first 3 months, my hair stopped falling out. By month 4, it was regrowing. After a year, I decided to stop because I thought my thyroid condition was improving. Within 6 months, I started losing hair again. I went back on Rogaine and have used it consistently since then. My hair is now as thick and as full as it was when I was a teenager. And I've had no side effects from using it.

I'm scheduled to be banded on 1/17 and have lots of concerns, too. But thanks to Rogaine, I'm not concerned about potential Hair loss.< /p>