UpCal D (500mg Calcium Citrate with 250iu Vitamin D3), it is a powder i put in my protein shakes. Calcium Citrate. I also open a capsule of Tender Magnesium 200mg in my protein. www.vitalady.com

Hair loss could be caused by the stress to our systems from the surgery, the rapid weightloss. Also Low Iron HAIR LOSS AFTER WLS Yes it will take longer for the hair loss to stop and regrow. why? READ ON: According to Dr. Louis Flancbaum the author of: "The doctor's guide to weightloss surgery: How to make the decision that could save your life", 2001, pgs 69-70................................................ (paraphrased) "Hair loss can occur with any form of stringent dieting and weight loss. After WLS 10-30% of patients will experience hair thinning or easily removed hair during combing. Protein and iron deficiencies are a common cause, and increasing both can help. If it occurs it will start around 3-6 months and stop around 6-9 months. This is because immediately following WLS adequate protein intake is difficult and it takes about 3 months for the effects to become evident, therefore taking in additional protein via shakes/supplements at the time hair loss is seen is ineffective. There are also many other things including medications that can cause hair loss" ? Protein and calorie intake insufficiency ? iron deficiency ? mineral/vitamin insufficiency ? major systemic stress (surgery. trauma...) ? Chronic diseases ? Ace inhibitors for high BP ? Actigall taken to prevent gallstones ? allopurinal taken for gout ? anticoagulants, (ex coumadin) ? anti-depressants ? anti-thyroid medicine ? beta-blockers for high bp & heart disease ? birth control pills ? tagamet for stomach acid ? lithium-a mood stabilizer TREATMENTS: Increase protein intake (we need at least 60gms a day according to most sources, remember we malabsorb some we take in!), & make sure you are taking a good quality multivitamin.Some people use Rogaine for women and some people take a natural B vitamin product called biotin (800-2,400 mcg a day). Also some have reported that biotin shampoo available at GNC or zinc 50mg a day sometimes helps (beware too much zinc for too long can raise cholesterol...and possibly lower your HDL)....

I am doing wonderful. i have lost from 275lbs to 216lbs. i had my surgery 12-6-05. I make sure to DRINK At LEAST 60g of Protein shake pre-digested whey. We CANNOT absorb all we need from food alone. Why on earth people choose children's vitamins i will never know. I am so lucky i found great support from those much farther out, who due to bad info from Doctor's and bad programs learned the hard way. This might interest some of you. Subject: protein requirements > A regular lurker just asked me to do my protein thing again. Hope you guys > don't mind? You guys who are coming up on 1 yr grad know all the words, so > sing along. > > 60g of predigested liquid protein SUPPLEMENT is the basic, basic for good wt > loss and health. That's 30g twice per day. Taking larger doses won't help > unless you are working out several hours a day and have boosted your > metabolism way into the stratosphere. I even question whether most of us > will ever reach NORMAL metabolism, let alone exceed that. > > You can eat all the protein you want, but bearing in mind, ALL food protein > requires the use of a stomach to be digested. Then the first 12-18" of > intestine for best absorption. No RNY has this part, so we're all equal > there. Those with more common channel will stand a better chance of trying > to absorb this UNDIGESTED protein, so you can never be sure how much you're > really getting IN. This includes bars. > > Getting in 60g of good protein (not with milk) will give you the basics you > need without fats or sugars you don't want during rapid wt loss. It doesn't > push the space in your pouch, so you can easily get it in. It also helps > stamp out cravings since you are being nourished. It promotes good wt loss > because it can fool your body into not knowing you are "starving" it. With > a couple oz of undigested protein, you are starving it, just very slowly. > > When you plateau, we recommend hitting 90g a day (3 times) for about 2 > weeks, then drop back once it gets moving again. And of course, the more > water the better. > > The elements you lose with your stomach are: > protein > iron > calcium > the fat soluble vites (A, D & E) > B12 > zinc > and maybe potassium & magnesium > > It's important to get your labs done AT LEAST twice a year, and get copies > for yourself. Just compare them, one to another, and see if any "trends" > are developing. Easier to correct a slight problem as it happens. > > If you notice increasing sugar cravings, that may be a sign that your level > is dropping. It can drop a little before it becomes dangerously low. But > you'd want to reverse those cravings. > > And not to disappoint, my anti-milk and sugar statement: milk contains > sugar, nearly twice what you should be thinking of as a good wt loss dose. > You can't really absorb much calcium out of it, but you do get every g of > sugar. > > OK, enough. > > > Thanks, > > Michelle > www.vitalady.com Michelle is 11 years post op. She created her business because she wanted to make sure other wls pateint had access to GOOD nutrition. Her business came out of her not being able to find sources when she was postop. She and other's have done alot of research on our conditions. check out the grad list on yahoo, and gbic http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/GastricBypass-InfoCentral/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG/ http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-Protein/ These are wonderful resources.

I think everyone needs to read the book "Hormone Hell to Hormone Well" by C. W., Jr., M.D. Randolph and Genie James, as it will help you figure out just what is going on with your body. It is well written and easy to follow. I refer back to mine so often - I have been to 2 8 hr workshops on hormones put on by Dr. Cheryl Hart who wrote the book "Insulin Resistence Diet". She is great and says I am now more educated than my doctor because MDs only get 4 hours of hormone training in medical school. It will also make it easier to communicate with your doctor. I use Bi-Est, Progesterone, and a little testosterone all in cream form. It has really helped me get a grip on my emotions. Also, if you are taking synthetic hormones, you should really look into bioidentical hormones as synthetic ones raise your risk for cancer. Diona

All, I started losing hair in the hospital. I cried when I got home and saw that it had broken off in the back at the new growth My hairdresser told me not to get a touch up to my perm because my hair was fragile. It's really thin. I'm taking biotin, getting enough protein and taking my vitamins. I'm now wearing hair pieces. I tried a little bit of a chopped salad from Outback last week. It was so good. I'm afraid to add lettuce to the diet because I'm already like... bubbling crude. Chauncine