Questions you are scared to ask

Hi Everyone, this is something I wrote awhile ago and thought it might be helpful to people who are considering having a sleeve or just had one.  I am not saying all this thing will happen to you, but I did experience them.

Sometimes there are things that you may think you are the only one that this is happening to. So I thought I would write about a few things that happened to me along my journey of losing 105 pounds. My first shock was that about 2 months after having sleeve surgery I notice that when I got out of the shower I would find quite a bit of my hair in the drain screen. I thought to myself I already have thin hair what am I going to do if I keep losing more hair? Well, I did and it was difficult to try to spread my already thin hair all over my head. So I started asked question to people on this board. And guess what there were a lot of people who had lost some of their hair after surgery—not that it made me feel a whole lot better, but I wasn’t alone. I learned that this is pretty normal to loose hair with rapid weight loss or some type of surgery. Then my next question was will it grow back?????—they all assured me it would, but when you have thin hair you don’t really don’t like the bald spots on your head. So, my answer was to get 2 really cute wigs close to my own hair color. Hardly anyone knew I had a wig, because it was close to my own hair style. Lots of people on this site had all kinds of theories about how to stop the hair loss and what to do. For me I found that Nioxin Shampoo and Cream rinse worked well. Most good hair salons sell this shampoo or you can order in on line too. I felt I had a much healthier scalp after using it. I am not saying it stopped my hair loss. I am just saying I felt it gave me a healthy scalp for my hair to return. I also take the supplement Biotin. You can find it with the Vitamins and I still take it. It helps with hair and nails. Both of which I need. I don’t think there is any cure for hair loss, but just time. My hair stopped falling about 6 months after the surgery and then I noticed it started coming back in. For me; my hair had fully returned about a year from the surgery. So I wore my wigs for quite awhile—about 6 months. The most unusual part of my hair coming back in was that it was now very curly—and I had pencil straight hair before. I HATED this curly hair, and I had to learn to deal with it. I am about 19 months from surgery and finally my hair isn’t so curly and it has a lot of nice body to it and I enjoy what I have because it is much easier to manage. It feels thicker now too. So don’t panic or get scared if your hair falls out, this is normal. Not everyone will lose hair, but some of us have.   My next challenge was constipation. When you eat protein you tend to have constipation. I tried different products for this and the one I have found that works best for me is Miralax. I buy the store band at Costco because it cost less. It works really well for me, and I just mix it in with my Protein drink every morning and I have NO problems with constipation anymore. Walking also helps with constipation. I was embarrassed to ask people on the board about constipation. I thought I was the only one who was having this issue then I found out a lot of people were having these issues. I also eat Almonds and that seems to help me too.    We have talked a little or a lot about “slimming or flemming" In case you missed it, when you first start eating regular food you have to re-learn how to eat again and chew. With you new stomach you will need to take small tiny bites and chew until the food in your mouth is almost liquid like. This is nothing like what you had been doing your entire life. In the past you eat and talk and put big bite in your mouth along with a few chews and then swallowing—this will NO LONGER WORK FOR YOU. This is a very difficult thing to change. So with you new stomach and just having surgery you may experience slimming or flemming. First you will feel like the food is stuck, then it comes back up in a clear liquid –your saliva. It isn’t vomit, so that is why it is called slimming or flemming. It’s a wake up call to slow down you eating and chew, and chew and chew some more. Just go to the bathroom or have a napkin ready for the slimming or flemming. If you try to overeat—which is bad you may experience this too sometimes. For me it was always about not chewing enough. When I am full I know I am, at first I wasn’t sure, but sometimes I just got tired of all the chewing, so I stopped eating. I now get the hiccups or my noise will start to run when I am full. I know that other people have said they experienced this too.    For the new people or people who are thinking of having Weight Loss Surgery, I want you to know that I wouldn’t trade one of these things that happened to me for the wonderful new healthy body I now have and how happy I am. It is ALL worth it. It has made me a much better person. I have been where you are starting and I want you to know that this is the last and final thing that you will ever have to go through. If diet and exercise worked for everyone we wouldn’t consider weight loss surgery.   If you want to lose the weight it will happen with good eating habits and some exercise. I will not just melt off of you. This is your new tool to allow you to get where you want to do. You have to put some effort yourself. This site is great for support and questions. So jump in and join us. We are all regular people in different stages of weight loss.    Hugs Suzanne Sleeved 10/28/08 225       120      125 Start     Now    Goal

Thanks for taking the time to pen this.   God bless,

Hi Dixie,

I had been reading the boards and noticed a lot of questions asked, but thought to myself, we aren't talking about everything.  So I thought I would write about what I experienced.

I am always here to ask question and give support.  I had a lot of great support during my adventure.

Take care,
Suzanne

 Thanks for the heads up! It's always good to hear from folks who have been there done that.

Thanks, Suzanne.  I was just sleeved last week and it's awesome to know I can draw support from here!  Hugs!

Hey,

That is what this is all about.  We all have made some life changed choices.  I noticed that these were things that some people talked about, but not everyone.  I knew I wasn't the only one who had to deal with these things.  I hope that you next few weeks will be OK.  Remember the 1st 30 days are the hardest that you will have to do.  I am here if you need help with anything or just need to talk about how your day is going.  Take care and congratulations on your choice.  You will never have any regrets.

Hugs,

 Thanks Suzanne, 
     I am getting sleeved on May 2nd, and I really needed all of your advice. Congrats on your success!
                                                                          jess

Hi Jess,

I am so happy that the information I posted is something you find that is helpful.  I had some great support when I first started and I know how important it is to have people to talk with and get answers from. Sometimes it is hard for our family to give support and it is better to get it from people who know what you are going through.

I am really happy  for you, and that you are going to have this surgery.  It is a BIG step to take.  Please remember you are going to have all kinds of feelings and emotions about having surgery.  You will be excited and scared all at the same time.  You will second guess if you are doing the right things.  Family and friends may try to talk you out of it--do not listen to them.  This really is all about you and NO one else.  You will imagine all kinds of things that could happen to you, you are going to be just fine.  You will morn the loss of the food and the way you are eating now.  These are all NORMAL things to feel and deal with.  I am here for you if you are having a tough time, or just want to talk, or have questions.  I read my E-mail everyday. 

This is going to be a life change event.  Remember the 1st month is the hardest month that you will ever have to do.  It is a relearning process and training our old brain the direction we are going in. 

Take care,