Im new here

Hello everyone I have been searching for a board like this, and Ive been here reading so much. I have done my research yet have only spoke to 1 person who actually had this done so its nice to find others. I am a 38 yr old mother of 3 children, Currently I'm 245 at 5'4" everyone seems to say I carry my weight well and I am to small for this surgery but my insurance approved it before the doctor told me I had high blood pressure. and this weight is keeping me from doing so much, and feeling confidence which I had 20 yrs ago. Lets see my journey has been trying so many different kind of diet pills 8 yrs ago I used phen phen and it worked i lost 50 pounds and dropped to 150 then got pregnant... you women know how that goes..2 yrs ago I was 200 pounds and had a tummy tuck to lose my stomach that hung over and lipo so my stomach is now flat but in these last 2 yrs Ive put on 70 pounds. eeek. so now im 245. and my surgery is scheduled for November 15th at 1pm. I guess what i worry about is the hair loss issue I have read about and if anyone suffers from depression because they can not eat the foods they use to be able too? I am a nurses aid and so on my lunch I have been eating fast food every day for lunch becuz i know soon that will end so its like my last few days of it... any advice you offer i will love... thank you Beth : - )

Hi Beth, you have come to the right place - I doubt there is a diet out there that most of us haven't tried and failed at during our lifetime. I was really worried about the hair loss too but I never lost any - neither did two of my friends - but some people did - but it grew back and they survived it.... I never suffered from depression because you can eventually eat a lot of the foods again - in moderation or changed because your tastes do change a bit after surgery. lol! Many of us went on an eating binge prior to surgery as if we would never get food again! It is understandable. Just make sure you have your vitamins and protein ready for after surgery because you will not feel like looking around for them just after surgery.... Good luck and ask away if you have any questions! Jackie

Hey Beth! Welcome! Don't worry too much about the hairloss. It will grow back. And...no matter what type of diet/significant weight loss plan you are on...whether it be weigh****chers, surgery, etc....there is the potential for hair loss. Sometimes it is not much...and we don't notice and other times it is more dramatic. It is a small price to pay for regaining your health and your life! You have come to a great place for info! Look forward to getting to know you! Stephanie

Hey there beautiful ! Congrats on your surgery date . I know you are excited . As to the hair loss . I tell people all the time , to keep their protein levels up ... and take biotin .. our hair is nurished from the inside out .. not the outside in .. some go and by the shampoos with vitamins in them , but I have been a stylist and can tell you that this will not work . I suggest going to get you some HAIR , SKIN AND NAILS . You can find this at Walmart . It has all that you need . Start takiing this now .. as well as getting in extra protein .. this will aid in the cell repair and muscle healing for your surgery . I am currently in the hospital and not at my computer , but I do have some info that would benefit you if you want it . Just email me at [email protected] and I will be more than happy to send it to you . Many blessings and best to you on your journey . Natalie

Hey Beth! I am new here to. I see that you live in Fredericksburg VA - So do I. I am planning to have surgery in January 2007 - Our statistics are much alike except I am a couple years older than you. I am 5'5" and 240 lbs. I have just restarted my journey that I started 3 times prior and chickened out of all three. Good luck on the 15th - We'll be praying for you!

Hi Beth! Congrats on your upcoming surgery, and new beginnings! I had surgery weighing a little more than you, and I am 5'3 (was 5'2 prior to surgery - go figure!) - and now I weight 118 lbs. You will be able to achieve so much more than ever before! I had severe hair loss - due to the surgery, then a second surgery at 17 weeks out that was a complication to the GBS (bowel obstruction). I'd been growing my hair out for a long time before the surgery, and wound up having to get it cut short after all the hair loss. It turned out to be a blessing - everyone said how much younger I looked with the short, cute style, and that it was more flattering to my new face and shape! So, I've kept it, and love it! Silver linings you know! I remember my last week prior to surgery! I'd been losing weight on a liquid diet (see your other post), but that last week I decided to have a few of my favorite things. We ate out at 3 of my favorite restaurants, and then my daughter and I had one last hurrah at the mall - Chick Fil A, dippin dots, and Auntie Annie's pretzels! The funny thing is that I can now eat at any of those places, but only one at a time - and not much...... I could never (and would never!) do all three in one day! Enjoy your lunches, but don't panic - you will be able to have normal food eventually! Lots of luck, Crystal

Hi Beth. I'm relatively new here as well and just had surgery 10/23. I'm a lot like you; I stand about 5'5" and weighted 247 prior to losing weight before surgery. I'm older than you and only have 1 child (who is grown now, thank goodness). I haven't really noticed an increase in hair loss--I was already losing hair prior to surgery due to other health issues. My biggest problem right now is remembering to drink my protein drinks and having to eat pureed foods (yuck!). I had a slight bout with a little bit of depression the week after surgery but that was because I felt so guilty about making my husband and my daughter take care of me. They are both just so supportive so after crying myself to sleep one evening, I was better able to deal with it the next day. My only advice is to just try to take things one day at a time. I tried to drive this evening and realized I wasn't ready for that yet so I'll have to work at home again this week (thank goodness I can do that). Good luck!

Welcome Beth, I had surgery 11 months ago and would do it all over again, it's THAT good! With that said, yes, I did lose some hair, but it's growing back and looks fine. Don't worry too much about never having your "favorite" things again. Truthfully, you'll be able to have modified versions of almost anything... and your tastes will change. Biggest difference is you won't each much, and you'll learn to be very careful of what you eat and when. Fortunately, I haven't had any depression issues, but I'm a postive person anyway. I view this proceedure as a gift for health and life and am thankful everyday that I'm here, healthy, and feel so much better. I also find that the support group (most surgeons/hospitals have them) is a key in my success as I work on changing the eating behaviors I have developed over the past 45 years. The discussion and information in these sessions help keep me focused for the long run. Best wishes! Tammy -125/25 to goal 11/29/2005 RNY