Introduction

Hi Shortchick,

you sound very down but you shouldn't be. You have reached a wonderful deciscion and it as all going to work out for you. You might take a little longer but it is going to happen. I'm a kiwi and have a different surgeon to most of the lovely sleevers on this forum. Both my surgeon and my dietician tell me that hair loss can be avoided as long as you get enough protein. So remember, after you have your surgery, to always eat the protein part of your meal first. You will be taking multivitamins which will make up for any losses in your diet from reduced vegetable intake. After a few months your diet balance starts to return to normal but always remember the protein. Best of luck with the journey

Alex

Hi Sarah,

That makes me feel so much better, I was told from early on that the band was a crutch and is there to help you. I don't regret the band, but I have had not a lot of success with it.

41st here I come.

Kind regards,

Lisa

Hi Shortchick

I can see a fabulous 80s 41st party next year!! the sleeve will change your life, there are heaps of banders here who have gone on to the sleeve and had great success. I still get hungry if I don't eat enough protein, but the best bit is that I don't think or obsess about food the way that I used to. Food is just not a big deal for me anymore. Wishing you all the best and looking forward to hearing how you go.
Cheers
Sarah

Hi everyone.

Other and my health two other reasons I want to lose the weight is because being only 150cm's 4ft 11, I can't get clothes that fit they are too long or too big on the shoulders etc. Also I can't get clothes for my age, as I have to buy older age clothes so it makes me look older. My hubby doesn't understand this. The other is I look older because of my weight. I didn't have a 40th because I am ashamed of my weight, and everyone that knows me expects me to be slim because of having the band. My sister 11 years older than me gets told she looks younger, that is very hurtful. I wanted an 80's party but could not find any clothes that fit for it, so i just ignored turning 40 this month and pretended it was another day.

I just want to start my journey, I see my specialist this Wednesday.

Cheers,

Short Chick

Kate wrote:

Hi Shortchick and welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place for info and support from friendly members. As others have mentioned the hair loss is mainly from having an anaesthetic and it happens to the majority of people. I have had hair loss with every surgery I have had, this time may be just a fraction more and for longer but our bodies are going through a huge change. Have a read of some diaries and look through the thread topics to find out what you need to know or just ask and someone will help you out. Not everyone feels full all the time as we are all different but for me it is not the nagging hunger I used to get pre sleeve nor I am hungry 24/7. I can usually have a drink or something very small to eat and it goes away. It might help to make a list of questions you want to ask your surgeon so you don't forget anything. If you're like me and have no memory it certainly helps. Good luck with your appointment.

Kate

Hi Shortchick and welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place for info and support from friendly members. As others have mentioned the hair loss is mainly from having an anaesthetic and it happens to the majority of people. I have had hair loss with every surgery I have had, this time may be just a fraction more and for longer but our bodies are going through a huge change. Have a read of some diaries and look through the thread topics to find out what you need to know or just ask and someone will help you out. Not everyone feels full all the time as we are all different but for me it is not the nagging hunger I used to get pre sleeve nor I am hungry 24/7. I can usually have a drink or something very small to eat and it goes away. It might help to make a list of questions you want to ask your surgeon so you don't forget anything. If you're like me and have no memory it certainly helps. Good luck with your appointment.

Kate

Welcome ShortChick to the forum!

The sleeve helps in two ways from my personal experience -

1. You feel full pretty much all the time. I have to remember to eat and when I do, it's not long before I need to stop
2. There seem to be no dodgy foods like with the band. Apples, steak and bread will eventually be on the menu and will not get stuck.

You've been banded for as long as my wife was. Did you have a tight fill most of that time? Did it slip or fail?

My wife lost body hair (legs, armpits), but not so much from her head after gastric bypass (not sleeving). Don't worry about the hair loss, it's barely noticeable. A more common issue is gall bladder issues. Make sure you ask your surgeon about that when see him or her.

Good luck! :)

Hi Shortchick and welcome to the forum.

Hair loss is from the anaesthetic and blood thinners, as I had hair loss after my tummy tuck and well as the sleeve!

Wishing you all the best with your journey from band to sleeve. The sleeve is a brillant tool. There is lots of people in here who have made this journey.

Hi shortchick!

I just read what you had to say, and you have excellent reasons for getting the sleeve. In answer to your question about hair loss...you WON'T go bald, don't worry!

After major surgery, your body has a reaction to the anesthetic, and after a few weeks, or months, your hair will thin a bit. (It grows back!) In my case, I hardly noticed the loss.

Some people say it is because we don't eat enough to begin with, but we are put on multivitamins, and so I really can't see that that is the main reason for losing our hair!

Nobody has gone completely bald yet, and as you can see by my avatar, I still have my own hair! It is not a wig!

Good luck with your decision,and welcome to the forum.

Hi,

I live in Melbourne and had a band in Oct 2001. I really want to get a sleeve, as vomiting is not nice. My hubby is very supportive. I hate being judged by other people because I am over weight. I hate not being healthy, and I dread getting type 2 diabetes. I turned 40 this year and something has to change. I am very short 150 cms so hence the name shortchick. My specialist recommended I think about getting a sleeve. My BMI is 39. The band was definately not a bad thing, however I could never get the balance right. I am going on the 25th Jan to see my specialist. I am so glad there is a forum. I have a hubby and a 14 year old son, and I want to be around for them as well. I was banded by Ray McHenry he is brilliant.

I have no other dates yet. After reading other peoples comments I have felt so much better. I weigh 87 kilo and to get into my healthy BMI I need to get down to somewhere in the early 50's. This might sound like not a lot but boy it is as 2 kilos on a short person like me is 10 on a taller person. At the moment I can't even get up from the floor easily. I just saw holiday photos of myself from last week and was appalled. I seem to have so much fat under my eyes.

I never lost like other people and felt like a failure with the band. I think we see a pyschologist. I always say to my hubby food is my only addiction. He has never had a weight problem.

A few questions

I keep reading about hair loss, why is that?

Anyone that has gone from band to sleeve what are the differences re food do you still crave food once it has gone down or does having the part cut off that makes you feel hungry help?

Cheers,

Short Chick