10 months out: What they don't tell you...

[kildaere]

..and some things that they do tell you, but bears repeating

I went back to work 6 days after surgery, with no problems (though I'm an accountant, my work is 10 hours a day behind a computer monitor). Everyone heals differently, it's true.. but the radiologist that scanned us for leaks after surgery in Mexico told me she had the surgery 8 days prior! I find that work, movement, distraction, getting back to routine.. It all helped in my recovery.

I've lost +/- 120lbs in 10 months (I've been gaining and losing the same 6lbs for a month and a half now). I'm happy about this, of course, but I had already put in 2 years in the gym to lose 140lbs prior to the surgery.. I'm sort of kicking myself that I did the surgery instead of just keeping on with the gym to lose the last 120lbs. It would have taken me at least 2 years though, and patience is not a trait that I possess. That's not to say I didn't continue the gym, I definitely did, I was on the treadmill&elliptical 3 weeks after surgery, and started up with my trainer again after 5 weeks, lifting weights (no ab work), and was back to 100% strength and ability in the gym at about 10 weeks.

Though the BMI scale says that I am "overweight", I have been weight lifting for 3 years, I'm carrying a good bit of muscle. However, I have become gaunt a bit in my face, and I am bony in places. Due to problems with extra skin, I'm scheduled for a mommy makeover this coming week. I will have to have an arm lift and a leg lift in the foreseeable future. I may or may not have had the extra skin problems if I had continued my slow & steady weight loss. I guess it doesn't matter now, but I would have preferred to not look like the bride of frankenstein when this is all done and over with.

For me, the mirror/my eyes/my brain, just haven't kept up with my weight loss. I look in the mirror, and I see 460lb me. It is impossible to eyeball clothes anymore when shopping, I end up trying on things that are many sizes too big. It is impossible to eyeball space anymore either. For sure some of you know what I mean; it used to be necessary to constantly gauge where and when you would fit somewhere - in the backseat of a cab, in a booth in the restaurant, etc.

All of this is just quirky and/or minor frustrations of a new life.. I'm not complaining about them, just putting it out there.

However, there are 2 things that have happened that genuinely scare me.
One is that 10 months out, I am still losing hair by the handfuls. I've always had very thick hair, and it's always fallen out in large amounts, particularly during the changes in season from spring to summer and from fall to winter. But I have lost massive amounts of hair in the last 10 months.. I have maybe 60% of the hair I used to. Hoping/praying I don't lose any more.

The second is that I am never hungry.
EVER.
They said that happens for most people that have the surgery, something about the part of the stomach that produces some hunger hormone is gone. I never thought much about it, hunger wasn't my problem when I gained all the weight, I ate because I LIKED it. It was fun to eat an entire bag of chips instead of tuna salad for lunch. It made me feel less sad if I had an entire foot long from Subway at the end of a bad day. Being hungry had nothing to do with what, or the massive amounts that I ate. I can totally understand how some people struggle with alcohol abuse or other addictions after losing the food. I'm thankful and blessed that this didn't happen to me; I am a strong person in so many aspects of life, but when I find a crutch (such as food), I lean way too hard on it.

Back to the hunger thing. It is scary. It has happened where I will go an entire day without eating, and completely not realize it until I get in bed that night. On gym days, I'll realize it sooner, I'll get lightheaded and nauseated. Food has zero appeal anymore. It doesn't feel good to eat. It's uncomfortable even. There's no warning to the pending uncomfortable either, I go from not feeling anything in my tummy to one bite later being full to the point of pain. Now I know the amounts of certain foods that will get me to that point, but it means I'm eating the same thing every single day. 1/3 of a bagel is ok. If I go to 1/2.. pain. I've been just drinking my nutrition lately, it's just easier and less painful.

I order watery foods when I go out, lots of vegetable only salads, soup, etc., because its easy to eat them and eat what seems like an acceptable amount to whomever I'm out with, so I can avoid coming up with creative answers as to why I eat 3 bites only of a sandwich or steak.

For all of these reasons, I often regret my decision to get a sleeve. Though just as often, I'm thankful for it and that I was able to get it done.

[dlknigh]

I've lost quite a bit of my already thin hair too. Not sure if it's the weight loss or lupus or both. Thanks for sharing and congrats on your weight loss!

[lookitsabird]

Keep it up, you are doing great.

[Socaldixiegal]

Very good information and thank you for sharing. From everything I've read on WLS, the hair loss may be tied to malnutrition. Make sure you're getting enough protein and taking vitamins. Can you contact your surgeons support team about this?

[marilynlw]

Thanks for posting. I see so much of my in your post. I lost about 100 lbs on my own before surgery but I knew I would never be able to keep it off without this help. I can see where they are days when you have regrets but hopefully those days will get fewer and farther between. Happy Holidays.

[KJR]

I see how losing the food crutch is like giving up an old friend. I have not had the surgery yet but I need it. I have gained and lost weight and gained it back too many times and now I am 63 and weight more than ever. I am having health issues and need to get a grip. I am reading everything and I think its the right decision if I want to enjoy my retirement some day.

[Munchkin]

Congrats on your success.

For hair loss, are you taking in at least 60g of protein a day? Are you taking your multiple vitamins, biotin, zinc?

I wish I am lucky like you who never get hungry. I was only not hungry the first two months. I would be so so skinny if I am not hungry.

[Mbenson5]

For hair loss, the only thing that has worked for me is taking an iron supplement every day - I actually lose less hair than I did before my surgery. I went through a stage around 4 mo. po when it was falling out so bad it was carpeting my bathroom floor. When I started taking the iron, no more loss and it's growing in thicker than ever! Best wishes!!

[Munchkin]

I take iron supplement too. And calcium. I don't really have much hair loss. It did for a little bit around 4 or 6 months. I think protein and the vitamin supplement really help me.

[niamh]

I think it's really helpful to hear about your ambivalence. Thanks for sharing. I haven't experienced any ambivalence yet, I'm just relieved and happy every time I have to stop eating because I'm full. I think because I'd regained significant amounts of weight 3 times over the past 10 years after losing large amounts, I have no part of me that believes I could have done this on my own (short of moving to a third world country where they don't have lots of high calorie food). Anyway, sounds like you're getting on and making the most of it nevertheless. Congratulations on your achievement with your health and fitness with the gym stuff - tres impressive! I haven't started getting back to the gym yet, but have my eye on that for the new year. I'm going skiing in March so need to get some fitness and muscle strength before then.

Happy Holidays!

[niamh]

I think it's really helpful to hear about your ambivalence. Thanks for sharing. I haven't experienced any ambivalence yet, I'm just relieved and happy every time I have to stop eating because I'm full. I think because I'd regained significant amounts of weight 3 times over the past 10 years after losing large amounts, I have no part of me that believes I could have done this on my own (short of moving to a third world country where they don't have lots of high calorie food). Anyway, sounds like you're getting on and making the most of it nevertheless. Congratulations on your achievement with your health and fitness with the gym stuff - tres impressive! I haven't started getting back to the gym yet, but have my eye on that for the new year. I'm going skiing in March so need to get some fitness and muscle strength before then.

Happy Holidays!

[slim&proud]

First of all congrats on doing so well with your weightloss!
But I'd like to point out, hopefully without causing offence, that if you're not eating healthy nutritional meals than of course your hair's gonna fall out. You could be doing some serious damage to your health especially if you're working out alot and not getting enough calories. You need to look after yourself a bit better.x

[compact]

Thanks for your honesty, kildaere.

[Msvetrn]

Very good information and thank you for sharing. From everything I've read on WLS, the hair loss may be tied to malnutrition. Make sure you're getting enough protein and taking vitamins. Can you contact your surgeons support team about this?

"Surgeon's support team"? LOL. You obviously do not know about her surgeon's "lack of" support team. But, she can come here anytime for support!

[Msvetrn]

I am hoping all will go well with your Mommy Makeover! I worry that if you have been so nutritionallly compromised, you will have a hard go of it post op mommy makeover. Plastic surgery takes A LOT out of a person. It is very stressful on our entire system. Not that you are asking, but the best advice I can give you is (and you probably don't want to hear THIS) DOUBLE up on your PROTEIN in order to assist your body in the healing process...if you smoke...STOP now. Smoking is the number one cause of poor healing and poor RESULTS of plastic surgery, especially in the breast area.