Take a Zinc suppliment to stop hair loss.   The easiest one to take is  called cold-Eze, it is a lozenge and you let it melt in your mouth, the cherry one is good, but the others have an aftertaste. If you can't get that use a 50 mg Zinc tablet for  about a week,  ... since Zinc is  a metal it stays in your body a while, I take mine in alternate weeks...When I use the losenge it is more fully absorbed and a packet will last me a month..   again see my other posts for tips....Denise

   Sounds like you have a good start!.  The urine concentraton is common in the first  couple of weeks, but it is serious to get in the amount of liquids your body needs...it also helps prevent blood clots...after any surgery...... Be sure to get in your protein, use one of the protein liquids, that will boost your weight loss, and your liquid.., will give you more energy as well.  the more you exercise the faster you will loose and everything will work...I had a extended gastric by-pass 16 yrs ago. If you wish, just look at my other posts and it'll keep me from "double posting".. each one is a bit different , with different details...I am new to this site, but not to wt loss surgery or to dieting..If I can help any more just send me an e-mail .   Denise 

 I read the others and pretty much the same here...but  the way to make sure you are where you should be nutritionally is to:
     take those multi vitamins and B complex,( sublingual ) will help with any cravings.
    Get the prescribed protein in    
    Get the prescribed water/liquids in.(throw out the juices)  If you get these in, choose a vegetable of the meal ..and make it second to getting in  protein for healing and muscle building.
    When,( note: not if,) you have a day that it is hard to get the meat ( protein) in no big hairy deal. Just center on the water and a favorite low cal vegetable,a fruit,  or one thing you "want". Your pouch size should still be small enough you will feel full with only a moderate amount of calories...and remember to keep those liquids and meals seperated by the prescribed amount of time...that is what can overstretch your pouch.  Go back to the higher protein the next day. It has worked for me for 16 yrs.
    as long as your calories are adequate for your energy, you are getting enough. and as long as you are loosing , you are getting few enough. Probably something from 500-800 is your target...depending on your activity. Denise

 [email protected],...contact me  for any further info.you need/want. Will be glad to help.!!! put on topic  line   wt loss
   Date of surgery 10/31/94, pre-op weight was 260.
 ..I "had" to loose 30  pounds, before surgery, for Dr to schedule surgery. I think It was Dr. Cowan's way of determining if I was serious about weight loss...
  My heaviest was 292 and a half about 4 months before surgery.. I was wearing a size 30W pants, a 46DD Bra. 
   Since I am 16 years post -op and have been stable for several years... My weight now is 170.. I don't weigh daily, just once a week or  every other week.I don't possess a scale..I go to  my Mom's or go to one of our Docs that has an electronic one..to make sure I get an accurate weight.
     If I see more than 5 pounds, I try to access why, sometimes it's fluid or constipation( not usually****assionally it is just too many carbs. If it is that I know that I need to adjust. I usually start my carb adjustment with taking more B-Vitamins. I use the sublingual liquid from  wal mart, it costs only 6$ for a months supply...and I just make sure not to "forget it" and my carb cravings vanish.B- complex, has all but the intrinsic factor in it to build blood.For some reason my surgery took all my intrinsic factor from my system....My Mom had the surgery 6 months prior and did not have this problem.( Her last Hgb was 12.3 and my last was 9.2!)... It makes a lot of difference.I am working on getting mine up by eating small  amounts of liver  4 -6 times a week.I have a couple of recipes I use that work well for me.
     My weight has been  stable in one of two ranges since the initial weight loss. My lowest weight was  about 14 months post op(149)  I stabilized the week after at 150-155 and remained that way until I changed jobs...... .My job  demanded lifting more than 30  pounds so I was  completely off wor****il all weight restrictions were lifted.  
        2 and a half years post-op I changed "professions". I began  hand-unloading trucks...18 wheelers in a  warehouse. I worked long hours to support my daughter. and my days were filled with nothing but exercise.For  the first 10 weeks I debated quitting every day, but I had  another mouth to feed,and jobs were scarce.    My boss tried to put me on loads that I could handle easier, ( He couldn't justify  giving me a 60 lb  item when there were 15  grown men about) Mine were usually 10-35  pound cases...as I was the only woman unloading at that time. But if he needed to make a point, He would give me a difficult truck, say...do the best you can. I'll  take care of your pay...I need a reference point. I would unload that truck once, ...then He would say to one of the "young dudes"..".Oh sure you can do that truck, Joyce did it last week in 4 hours." ...In about 3 hours would be just starting it., 15 feet ot of 52.....He'd "whoo...doo'd.". them again.!    I built much muscle. and my weight went from 150 to 160. and I was wearing a size 16-18 pants(depending on style)I definitely needed surgery.. (I have never had excess skin removed, didn't have the money for an elective surgery) I remember one of the  ladies at the weight loss support meetings I attended saying," You know it's time for  skin removal when your butt sits down before you do.."..
        My other big  change came when I changed jobs, to a much less physically demanding one. I gained another 10  pounds...neither was I exhausted . and then I got married again.  So My current weight is from 170- and with present activity level  up to..175   to bring it back down I use B complex and go to my 90 Gm protein.....and my husband is disabled, and wants me home..I work part time at a store stocking groceries...We are planning a garden wich will be my primary responsibility. (He will help,picking and ect... but won't be able to dig in it. He will help with the canning and ect.) Now I am trying to increase my activity, so that I will not be sore from the increase in activity...every day.     We plan to plant Peppers, tomateoes, tomitillos,  okra, squash of two or three varieties.and  string beans, corn. lettuce and a few radishes and carrots..and I want butterbeans.We already have sage, spearmint, oregano and tyme. I will add stevia this year.  So fresh veggies will definitely help.  
      I have some problems with gas, Beano helps everything,  and there are other enzyme formulas available,  you need to avoid these until you reach  the range of weight you  desire....for not only do they assist in  digestion, they can also sabotage your weight loss.....,but the amount  they recommend is for someone who has some amount of enzymes...I believe that mine are almost completely absent, from the problems I have with all greeens and squash, pumpkin and beans...
     .  My other big  problem came with an intestinal twist , caused by the above.   I had been had a virus, and  had to go to work...to give me some energy. I put one ounce of cheddar cheese in some instant potatoes, about 1/3 cup.  They were too salty and I drank a cola, I did shake it to remove some of the fizz, but I drank it over  about 20 min.on the way to work.In  one hour I was in agony.   Childbirth pains has no  comparison to a twisted gut.!! The gas formed and twisted my intestines.  That is when I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance and  they found my dangerously low Iron.and my lack of intrinsic factor was diagnosed, I was 5 -6 years post-op.
     I was in the hospital  for five days before it untwisted with intermittent suction. I had several symptoms.of low Iron....I tired easily, and craved shaved ice.I was mucnhing on about 6 gallons a day, but I was working in 110+ temps all day...and sweating like a pig!  Dr."s asked "was I not tired" I asked them ..."When you work 16-20 hours a day...aren't you tired?    They were even more  astounded when they found out I was hand unloading!...and did not have a desk or "sit down "  job.
      All my problems are managable with  over the counter suppliments and food. Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY!.  THEN THERE WERE NO OTHER OPTIONS,  but to get bigger.. with my metabolism and my  hormones I was gaining an ave. or 20 lbs a year. I could keep from gaining by dieting on tuna and string beans...only...Metabolism study showed I  used 1/-1/2  fewer calories than I should have for activity....and I have  polycystic ovarian disease that was diagnosed with biopsy during surgery.
      Educating yourself is an on-going process. Your pouch will aid you in some of it, the rest requires that you actively search... for alternatives to your favorite foods...changes in a chocolate pie, to make it "pouch" and "calorie friendly".. learn to make these things, and If you already have a family, don't tell them it is diet until they have tried it.  
      Some common exchanges are:    My husband doesn't want to know...If I put splenda or stevia in a recipe instead of sugar...or if I use starch in place of flour., one egg instead of two, 1/2 cup of margarine instead of 1 cup.  or 3 tbsp of corn starch, and a tow teaspoons of sugar.. in 3/4 cup cold water for 1 cup of milk.
 You can usually make  one or two  recipe changes in a recipe, without  a change in  satisfaction.   Denise

Thank you for the info!  I just ordered his info, and will look forward to reading some more details about it.
Before you chose this surgery, had you considered other types of surgery?  Why was this one the one for you?  If you dont mind me asking for personal info....?

Thanks,
Kim