Question:
i'm 2 weeks out from surgery

Hi all, this is a two part question, i've notice my skin is getting very dry on my arms and my back, when after i have a shower its tender to dry it with a towel.... like i'm getting a rash , maybe i'm getting a reaction from my soap could i take some benedryl,,,,, or what do you think,,,,,also since my surgery i've only lost 7 lbs is this normal to loss slowly after surgery ..... maybe i'm expecting the loss to fast,,,, i know it will come off eventually.... how did you guys do in the biggining....    — claire G. (posted on November 18, 2008)

November 17, 2008
i wasn't getting in enough liquid. try drinking more water... it was really hard for me to get as much as i should. my skin and constapation came because i couldn't drink enough. i felt like i was sipping all day long. and still was falling short. good luck
   — peggy R.

November 18, 2008
Weight wise I am 1 day later than you for surgery. I find if I don't drink enough water my skin gets dry. I have lost 12 pounds since surgery but I had more to lose than you so I think that makes a difference as well. I am also older than you but doing great. A little sore but no real pain. Sheri
   — sheri139

November 18, 2008
Hi, 7 pounds in two weeks is not bad!!! In the beginning i lost about 1-2 a week. I am now 19 months out and have lost a total of 150 pounds. Hang in there you are doing fine.
   — Alvernlaw

November 18, 2008
Are you getting in enough fluids, perhaps you are dehydrated. Also, I like the Aveeno Oatmeal Bath packets as they are very soothing to dry itchy skin. My daughter has excema and it helps her a great deal. WARNING!!! This stuff makes your tub very very slick so please be super carefull not to slip and fall. You could be having an allergic reaction to any number of things, your vitamins, you pain meds, any new soaps you have tried. Some people do come home from the hospital with a rash or even complain of acne from the anesthesia. I would prefer you leave such diagnoses up to the professionals and get in to see your doctor asap. He is the only one that is really qualified to diagnose and treat. Best of luck, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

November 18, 2008
I had the same problem. My surgeon recomended Eucerin and it worked wonders. As far as your weightloss, I didn't lose any weight at all for the first 3 weeks. Hang in there... Drink plenty of water, get your protein and walk as much as you can. Good luck.
   — maria09elena

November 19, 2008
It's very common to get contact dermatitis after WLS...You could be allergic to your soap suddenly...You could just need to drink more liquids too and even add some good oils to your diet, such as omegas thru eating more fish like tuna or salmon...or almonds and ground flax....eggs...Olive oil is anohter good oil to use for quick frying veggies or as a salad oil with vinegar (once you are allowed to have raw veggies again) I found that the only soap that doesn't dry out my skin is Dove soap...I cannot use antibacterial soap on my body either...I get soooo itchy it feels like bugs crawling on me! Moisture too! Use something without fragrance for now until the skin is healed...Because flaky skin can pull and leave small invisible tears that could be irritated by lotions with fragrance! Good luck! Benedryl will help if it's really bad!
   — .Anita R.

November 19, 2008
Remember, you still could be holding some of the fluids that they gave you during surgery, too. It seems like it took me forever to loose that extra swelling. That will help to make up your weight loss. Fluid replenishment will actually help to push that through...Push water - as much as you can handle and both the dry skin and the weight should balance itself out. I have lost over 140 pounds in almost 16 months and most recently have stepped up my weight loss again to 8-10 pounds a week, so if slows down, even when you think you won't loose another pound, it will surprise you...Good Luck!
   — mcgriff_d