Question:
What can I start doing?
I am on-track to hopefully have lapro RNY in December-January. I've lost 50lbs of the 50-60lbs the dr wanted me to lose before surgery. What else can I start doing to ensure the best surgery/recovery experience possible? I'm concerned about the hair loss I hear about, but am not sure what this Biotin is or how I get that (prescription?). I've started trying liquid drinks but, oh man, are they bad or what?! LOL Thanks for the help.... — opheliafl (posted on September 17, 2008)
September 16, 2008
I had plastic surgery on 7/2/08 and my hairdresser told me to start using
Nioxin before my surgery.....and up to 3-6 mths after. So far no excessive
shedding. You can get it at the mall at Trade Secret...but I have even
seen it at the hair salon in WalMart. Great job on your wt. loss...and
good luck w/ the surgery.
— jamiedaugherty
September 16, 2008
make sure you quit drinking soda, if you drink it or caffeine, try start
cutting back, I was a bring soda drinker, and I started cutting down like 2
a day, to 1 a day to 1/2 can a day, to a few sips, and then I just quit,
alot easier that way. that was my big thing. Biotin is over the counter in
the vitamin section, you can get it at walmarts. I would try to find a
protien drink I liked, and have it on hand when I got home. I use chocolate
eas super whey from sams club, 5 pound bag is like 32.00 it is in a purple
bag, it is easy to get down and isn't gritty like some of them I had tried,
I had surgery in Feb. and it is by far my favorite. I have had quiet a bit
of hair loss, but they said it may also be from being put to sleep and for
various reasons I have went under anesthesia 5 times in a year. my hair was
thin to begin with, and I still have hair, I can tell though, and a short
cut wouldn't hurt anything, smiles!! and congratulations, it is all worth
it.
— Lisa Koch
September 17, 2008
Congrats on your weight loss. That is fantasic!! The best thing you can
do to "minimize" (its going to happen regardless) your hair lose
is to keep your protein up. Biotin will not prevent hair loss, it only
stimulates new growth but you have to play it by ear. Some on here have
said that Biotin causes facial hair. Who wants that?? Not me. I've also
heard that Head N Shoulders is good because it has zink in it. Not sure
though. And there was only one thing that I was able to drink for protein.
I mixed equal parts of Slim Fast Low Carb and 2% milk. The milk cut the
sweetness of the SF and provided animal protein which in my opinion is
better than whey protein. Crab legs are also an excellant source of
protein. I think like 3 oz of crab has 26 grams of protein so shortly
after surgery, I ate crab all the time...yum!! Hope all of this helps.
You'll do great and you'll never be sorry. I am 6 months out today and am
down 80 lbs. I feel amazing and wish that I would have had this surgery
years ago. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask...I'll
help anyway that I can. [email protected]. Good luck.
— Mary G.
September 17, 2008
Gosh, you guys are great. Every time I post something on here, I feel so
reassured and enlightened! I don't really drink much caffeine, just a
Sprite Zero here and there (I'm not sure if that even has any). I'm
thinking those protein drinks will be my biggest challenge, but from there
onwards and downwards (in a good way ;o) !!
— opheliafl
September 17, 2008
before my surgery I was drinking carnation instant no sugar added and was
great but after surgery it didn't taste good. I went to GNC (very
informational people) and they turned me one to isopure powder (chocolate)
I mix 1/2 water and 1/2 fat free milk and it is really good. It is 50
grams of protein per 12 oz. I drink 1/2 (6oz) in the morning and the other
1/2 at night and by the time i'm done I have almost all my protein for the
day. I had surgery 8/4 and I am done 40 lbs. Hope this helps good luck
— anxious247
September 17, 2008
Isopure, good tip there, and 50 grams? Wow, that would be great and if
it's just 12oz and I can split it up, I can probably handle that easily.
Jamie, can you tell me what kind of Nioxin that was that you used? I
called a place and they said it's a whole line of products called that.
Thanks!
— opheliafl
September 17, 2008
Don't forget your "liquid" vitamin / mineral supplement like
VEMMA. It has Biotin and 1000 IU vitamin D3, very important. There are
some shampoos with Biotin also. Check with hair dresser. Go to
www.TrySomeVemma.com
— [Deactivated Member]
September 17, 2008
Congratulations on your success to date, you are doing great and it is easy
to tell that you are determined to get the job done. These are the things
I would recommend starting now:
(1) Stop drinking carbonated beverages
(2) Exercise as much as possible
(3) Get an incentive spirometer and do deep breathing exercises to get
your lungs in shape to prevent pneumonia
(4) But low carb cookbooks and begin trying recipes now
(5) Read "The Emotional First Aid Toolkit" by Cynthia Alexander
to prepare for emotional work
(6) Get samples of protein shakes and find ones you can tolerate or even
like as you will be relying on these for awhile
(7) Take vitamins every day
(8) Attend support groups
(9) Meditate, be positive and thankfull everyday
(10) Read "Before and After" by Susan Maria Leach- the owner of
BariatricEating.com- she had RNY and the first half of the book is her
story, the second half is recipes for all stages of post op life. I love
the egg custard, protein pudding, sugar free cheesecake (only a special
occasion), meatballs with peanut dipping sauce, etc. Haven't tried
anything I didn't like yet.
(11) Search low carb websites and purchase some things to try out- protein
puddings like Snack&Slim are great, Isopure protein drink, etc.
Hope this is not overwhelming, just things I have used to be successfull.
The very best of luck to you,
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
September 17, 2008
Biotin is an over-the-counter vitamin and can be bought at any pharmacy,
wal-mart, etcc..... Biotim helps metabolize fat and is also good for
hair/skin/nails. It helped my hair to stop falling out in clumps.
— Gina S.
September 17, 2008
that is a good question I had surgery 8/4 and I too am very concerened
about loosing my hair as well, but I have heard to make sure you take in
all protein that the dietician tells you on a daily basis also for 42 grams
of protein try the gladiator at smoothie king it is delicious
— relaxingcrowd
September 17, 2008
WOW! Congratulations on your weight lose before your surgery! My hair
started to fall out about 1.5 months after my RNY! It fell out in clumps.
YIKES! I was worried that I wouldn't have any hair left. But my hair is
thick, so I could afford to thin it out some. I really started
concentrating on my protein intake and making sure that I was taking in
enough pre-digested protein in my diet. Then I started taking 5000 mcg of
Biotin, which I bought in the vitamins section at Wal Mart. I made sure I
was taking my vitamins and B12 sublingual as well. In other words I just
started to do things right! My hair stopped falling out in clumps and I
stopped worrying about it. Now, I've even collored my hair with no
problems. Good Luck!
— irish4girl
September 18, 2008
As far as the liquid protein drinks, try soup as well. Go to
www.unjury.com. I am really pushing their website. No, I don't work for
them, but am in love with all of their protein drinks. They have
Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry Sorbet, Chicken Soup, and Unflavored. The
Chicken Soup is the best. You can not smell or taste the whey at all. All
of their products mix really well and taste very good--very palatable.
Their website has a menu plan and recipes for all of their mixes. May God
be with you during your trials and tribulations!!!
— Teresa J.
September 18, 2008
Thanks for all tips, keep them coming! WHat I've been doing when I post a
question or find ones from others that I'm interested in, is print them and
keep a binder so I will have all my answers when the time comes in case I
can't sit in front of the PC. Chicken soup flavored protein drink, that's
excellent! I'm not into sweet stuff so that would work great!
— opheliafl
September 18, 2008
Congratulations on your weight loss. That is excellent advise. What Dawn
says is right on! I would also say check out unjury.com. Their protein
powders are great! 6 oz. skim milk, unjury powder, ice cubes and 2 or 3
packets of splenda to sweeten makes a great milkshake. Also AchievOne ready
to drink protein drinks are unbelievalbly good, if you can find them. They
are available on Bariatric Eating or IBariatricb websites. Keep up the good
work.
— SLittle1
September 18, 2008
Karen, Way to go girl!! I am scheduled for surgery on Oct. 13 and we were
told to get powdered protein and mix into all our liquids so that we get 60
- 70 grams per day and that will reduce hair loss. SOme people have no
loss at all. Keep up the good work.
— Debfaw
September 19, 2008
I can't help with the hair thing but I can lead you to some wonderful
protein drinks, I love both of these because they do not have the shack
taste like the other. One is call unjury and it's on the internet, here is
it's link.
http://www.unjury.com/
the other is sold at my health food store it's called
Nature's Plus Spiru-Tein high protein energy meal if you can't find it
local here is it's link also
http://www.totaldiscountvitamins.com/Merchant/npframe.htm
I hope this help's Good Luck and GOD BLESS
— LBowker
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