RE: My Almost Six-Month Out From Surgery Update

[Guest guest]

Deb, I am 7 weeks post-op and have several questions for you. First when

did you start to notice you were losing your hair? I have had nothing but

problems since my surgery particularly nausea, vomiting and dehydration. Even

today I was unable to keep anything down. I have been in the office for IV's

four times and even hospitalized twice for tests and meds. Did you have any

problems after surgery? Dr K keeps telling me I will wake up one day and it

will be gone and I will be able to eat, but it hasn't happened yet. I am just

so tired of being sick. I can't eat anything and I get frustrated very

easily lately. I have tried everything from hot to cold liquids to drink as

well

as juices, waters, and almost every flavor of crystal light. I used to

drink at least a pitcher of tea every day before surgery but now I can't hardly

swallow any. Does any of this sound familiar? Any ideas for getting through

it?

Lynette

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynette,

I wanted to jump in here and give you a few words of encouragement. I had

problems after my surgery, mostly with the diabetes stuff but other

complications as well. I was throwing up for a few weeks and went back in twice

for dehydration as well as other stuff. I couldn't wait to feel better again.

It was as if death warmed over my whole body for weeks. It took 10 weeks for me

to feel better again so I wanted to tell you to hang in there, it will happen

for you too. I am 18 months post-op. I feel great now. The hair loss was

noticable a few months after surgery and only lasted a few months. I can't

really give advice on how to get the liquids in, I never had a problem with

that. I just remember sipping water for weeks. I only threw up for 3 weeks and

that was from the diabetes complications. Hang in there.

--

Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirthis heaviness.

Proverbs 13:14

-------------- Original message --------------

From: lynnccrn@...

Deb, I am 7 weeks post-op and have several questions for you. First when

did you start to notice you were losing your hair? I have had nothing but

problems since my surgery particularly nausea, vomiting and dehydration. Even

today I was unable to keep anything down. I have been in the office for IV's

four times and even hospitalized twice for tests and meds. Did you have any

problems after surgery? Dr K keeps telling me I will wake up one day and it

will be gone and I will be able to eat, but it hasn't happened yet. I am just

so tired of being sick. I can't eat anything and I get frustrated very

easily lately. I have tried everything from hot to cold liquids to drink as

well

as juices, waters, and almost every flavor of crystal light. I used to

drink at least a pitcher of tea every day before surgery but now I can't hardly

swallow any. Does any of this sound familiar? Any ideas for getting through

it?

Lynette

[Guest guest]

Dr K keeps telling me I will wake up one day and it

> will be gone and I will be able to eat, but it hasn't happened

yet. I am just so tired of being sick. I can't eat anything and

I get frustrated very

> easily lately.

==========================

Lynette

7 weeks is a long time to feel bad, so the feelings of frustration

are completely understandable. Being sick for weeks is enough to

make you an emotional wreck..but I want you to be aware that there

is also another factor coming into play with your emotions. A form

of Estrogen (Estrone) is stored in your body fat, as you are rapidly

losing weight your body is experiencing extra surges of this

hormone. For me it was kinda like the first trimester of pregnancy

when my emotions would bounce all over the place to extreme levels.

Just some FYI.

I wish there was some magical solution to your problem...all I can

say is get up each morning and keep trying. Today cold liquids may

not work for you at all but next week it is the only thing that

works. Ya know, things like that.

Have you given Ginger a try? Ginger is a home remedy type of thing

that can really help settle a stomach. (That is why Ginger-Ale is

advised to be used when your tummy is sick...ginger-ale is made with

Ginger) You can try drinking Ginger tea...I used a Ginger Chew that

I bought at TraderJoes...here is a website that makes them

http://gingerpeople.com/order_chews.html I got the green package

of Original Ginger Chews...they are a sweet-hot flavor. If you can

find Crystallized ginger that would work. You can get ginger root

from the store and steep it in water for a tea. Anyway it is worth

a try.

Sympathy hugs

Jo

[Guest guest]

Deb,

I lost hair for six weeks. I did nothing to TRY to prevent it. I

think all that junk is a waste of money. I wore my hair very short

and got nervous towards the end. Nothing like waking up and sitting

up in bed and looking back at your pillow and seeing LOTS of hair on

it, or looking in the mirror and seeing your scalp through your hair.

Anyway, it quit on its own after six weeks. I don't notice any

difference, but then, I have always had baby fine hair so it lies flat

and looks thin all the time.

Whatever works for people is the last thing they try before the

thinning stops on its own, I think, and from then on they swear by

it! lol

Marta

hair cynic

(Sharon, where are you?)

[Guest guest]

Lynette,

While I am not Deb, I am just a bit further out from my ds than her. I had

my ds on July 5, 2006 and had all of the same symptoms that you are

currently having for almost 3 1/2 months. I swear it does get better. I

feel so good now!

I noticed my hair loss about 2 months out and it just stopped within the

last 2 weeks and I will be 6 months out on the 5th of January.

It seemed like I vomited every day for the first 3 months and then one day I

was fine. I haven't vomited in over a month. That's not to say that I

won't take one bite to much for lunch today and have to, but I'm finally

learning my limits.

And if the 6th month weight loss number is really an indication of how much

you will actually lose, then I'm going to be very skinny!

Keep pushing those fluids (although, I wouldn't recommend tea) and try as

hard as you can to eat through the nausea.

It will turn around for you and you will be amazed at what this can do for

you!

Hugs,

le

-111 with clothes on

Re: My Almost Six-Month Out From Surgery

Update

Deb, I am 7 weeks post-op and have several questions for you. First when

did you start to notice you were losing your hair? I have had nothing but

problems since my surgery particularly nausea, vomiting and dehydration.

Even

today I was unable to keep anything down. I have been in the office for

IV's

four times and even hospitalized twice for tests and meds. Did you have

any

problems after surgery? Dr K keeps telling me I will wake up one day and

it

will be gone and I will be able to eat, but it hasn't happened yet. I am

just

so tired of being sick. I can't eat anything and I get frustrated very

easily lately. I have tried everything from hot to cold liquids to drink

as well

as juices, waters, and almost every flavor of crystal light. I used to

drink at least a pitcher of tea every day before surgery but now I can't

hardly

swallow any. Does any of this sound familiar? Any ideas for getting

through

it?

Lynette

[Guest guest]

LOL le~

Most people accidentally put 2005 when its 2006 not the other way around. LOL

I'm glad your doing well.

Jenni

le Greene wrote:

Lynette,

While I am not Deb, I am just a bit further out from my ds than her. I had

my ds on July 5, 2006 and had all of the same symptoms that you are

currently having for almost 3 1/2 months. I swear it does get better. I

feel so good now!

I noticed my hair loss about 2 months out and it just stopped within the

last 2 weeks and I will be 6 months out on the 5th of January.

It seemed like I vomited every day for the first 3 months and then one day I

was fine. I haven't vomited in over a month. That's not to say that I

won't take one bite to much for lunch today and have to, but I'm finally

learning my limits.

And if the 6th month weight loss number is really an indication of how much

you will actually lose, then I'm going to be very skinny!

Keep pushing those fluids (although, I wouldn't recommend tea) and try as

hard as you can to eat through the nausea.

It will turn around for you and you will be amazed at what this can do for

you!

Hugs,

le

-111 with clothes on

Re: My Almost Six-Month Out From Surgery

Update

Deb, I am 7 weeks post-op and have several questions for you. First when

did you start to notice you were losing your hair? I have had nothing but

problems since my surgery particularly nausea, vomiting and dehydration.

Even

today I was unable to keep anything down. I have been in the office for

IV's

four times and even hospitalized twice for tests and meds. Did you have

any

problems after surgery? Dr K keeps telling me I will wake up one day and

it

will be gone and I will be able to eat, but it hasn't happened yet. I am

just

so tired of being sick. I can't eat anything and I get frustrated very

easily lately. I have tried everything from hot to cold liquids to drink

as well

as juices, waters, and almost every flavor of crystal light. I used to

drink at least a pitcher of tea every day before surgery but now I can't

hardly

swallow any. Does any of this sound familiar? Any ideas for getting

through

it?

Lynette

[Guest guest]

>

> Deb, I am 7 weeks post-op and have several questions for you.

Hi Lynette,

So sorry to hear you are having post-op problems. Fortunately, I did

not have any issues apart from sheer exhaustion the first 8 weeks and

having my tastebuds go a little crazy, such as liking things I never

liked and disliking things that were always a favorite. But, now the

exhaustion has transformed into boundless energy and my tastebuds seem

back to normal except my desire for sweets is very low (that's good!).

My first several weeks post-op I simply concentrated on getting in my

water, then protein (mostly eggs, tuna, yogurt, cheese, Atkins

Shakes). I did not include any " countable " carbohydrates in my food

regimen, not even veggies since I could not " get them in " . That, too,

has changed....I can now get in some veggies and a little bread now

and then. At about 10 days out I added all my supplements with no

problem. Also, I have NEVER thrown up, not even early-on. I had some

bouts with minor nausea in the first week post-op but none since then.

I believe I took prevacid for the first 2 weeks or so.

Dr. K. is right....you will get through this. I don't have a magic

solution but there seems to be a consensus that you must keep hydrated

even if you don't feel like drinking fluids (mainly water). Keeping

hydrated wards off nausea, so even if you feel nauseated please force

yourself to sip as much water as you can frequently throughout the day

and night. I always keep my water bottle by my bed for middle of the

night thirst; I drink my water at room temperature as it is easier for

me to drink.

I started losing my hair around 3 months out....in huge handfuls!!

Now at almost 6 months out I think it has slowed down a bit, but I

still get a handful of hair when I wash it. I actually have stopped

washing it daily and have gone to every 2-3 days....it sickens me to

see all my beautiful hair in my hands and on the shower floor. I hope

my hair grows back, but, in spite of the hair loss, I do NOT regret my

decision to have my DS!!!

I wish you the best. You will love the results once you get through

this rough patch.

Deb S.

Rancho Cucamonga

[Guest guest]

> I lost hair for six weeks. I did nothing to TRY to prevent it. I

> think all that junk is a waste of money. I wore my hair very

short and got nervous towards the end. Whatever works for people is

the last thing they try before the thinning stops on its own, I

think, and from then on they swear by it! lol

Marta

> hair cynic

> (Sharon, where are you?)

************************************

Nothing to lure me out of lurkdom like hair loss! lol

Long story short- I had hair below my waist, thick curly hair. My

biggest fear was hair-loss- ie: going bald...

At 3 mos out I started losing my hair, and continued to lose for 3

months. I kept the hair from my hairbrush in the mornings in a

baggie to show Dr K. (this does not include the shower, or trails of

hair that I left everywhere I went!) I have 3 big baggies of hair

(which I am making a chain in victorian fashion for my sweetheart.)

I never got bald, although my fear level was high, and for the most

part it grew back. At 9 mos out I cut my hair just below my

shoulders (because it felt thin to me and was all scraggly) and

started straightening it. I liked the new look and kept it.

I always got in my protien (always, esp to prevent hairloss) and

took biotin and folic acid. I still do- it makes my hair feel

better. I tried going without and my hair got dull. I also found a

hair care product during the middle of my hair loss (suggested by

another Dr K patient) Mane & Tail. I started using the shampoo and

cream rinse then and still use it today. I like it, it is cheap,

and it works. (no matter if Marta thinks it is in my head or not!

lol)

If you cant find it in the shampoo isle, look in the pet care

products. It is for horses.

My hair is normal now, not as thick as before, but if I let it go

natural (curly) it appears very thick. But I like it straight.

Bottom line. You lose it - But it does come back. Sometimes

different, but it comes back.

YMMV

Sharon in Onyx

[Guest guest]

Oh, I used to buy that for . I didn't tell you that I quit using

shampoo at all and switched to & s's Moisturizing Baby

Wash. I already had it on hand for Lily. My hair felt really

brittle, too, like yours.

Marta

> Mane & Tail. I like it, it is cheap,

> and it works. (no matter if Marta thinks it is in my head or not!

> lol)

[Guest guest]

le, During those first 3 months, what did you do to keep hydrated?

Did you have to get IV's from Dr. K? Did you go thru any tests or workups?

Today I went and had an UGI with barium swallow done and all it showed was a

very small opening through my stomach which means my stomach is still very

swollen. Dr. K said to increase activity to see if it helps with nausea and

vomiting. I ask about the IV's because I have had so many that my veins are

shot, I didnot have good veins to start with and now they hunt and hunt to find

one. I am just wondering if maybe a PICC line would be next.

Lynette

[Guest guest]

> Today I went and had an UGI with barium swallow done and all it

showed was a

> very small opening through my stomach which means my stomach is

still very

> swollen.

===================================

Lynette

I know you don't feel like it...but this is great news. What is

shows: There is a physical reason why your still having

problems...and... it is a physical problem that will resolve itself

with time.

You just have to keep pushing onward...I bet your fingers are real

sore from hanging on to the edge of that cliff with what feels like

bad luck stomping on your fingers.

Hugs

Jo

[Guest guest]

I live in Indiana and haven't seen Dr. K since my post-op appointment, so

no, I didn't get IV's from him. I did have bloodwork drawn by a Doctor in

Ohio who does the DS in November and everything came back fine.

I tried to just focus on drinking and forgot about the protein for the first

few months. I couldn't do both, because if I did, everything came back up.

I drank first, ate second. The food didn't start staying down until the 4th

month.

I had my 6th month anniversary yesterday and I still struggle with getting

in the amount of protein that I am supposed, but I always get my fluids in.

I don't eat a lot of stuff that I am not supposed to, but I do have my

moments. But I feel like if I don't indulge on occasion, that I am setting

myself up for failure. I always pick stuff that has some protein in it and

I always eat my protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and then if I have

to have a piece of candy, I do it as a late snack.

To get my water in early on was really hard and I rarely did it. It is kind

of uncanny how everything just falls into place one day out of the blue.

You really will just wake up one day and say, boy, I'm thirsty, I'm hungry,

I'm thirsty, I'm hungry and I feel great!

Come to think of it, when I started walking on the treadmill, I started

feeling better. There is something to be said for that!

Good luck!

le

Who is currently eating a boiled egg for breakfast

Re: My Almost Six-Month Out From Surgery

Update

le, During those first 3 months, what did you do to keep hydrated?

Did you have to get IV's from Dr. K? Did you go thru any tests or workups?

Today I went and had an UGI with barium swallow done and all it showed was

a

very small opening through my stomach which means my stomach is still very

swollen. Dr. K said to increase activity to see if it helps with nausea

and

vomiting. I ask about the IV's because I have had so many that my veins

are

shot, I didnot have good veins to start with and now they hunt and hunt to

find

one. I am just wondering if maybe a PICC line would be next.

Lynette

[Guest guest]

>I did have bloodwork drawn by a Doctor in

>Ohio who does the DS in November and everything came back fine.

le,

You wouldn't be referring to Dr. Hess from Bowling Green, Ohio, would you?

If so, he may be one of the very few DS surgeons that is on par or even a

bit better than Dr. K. If I remember my research correctly, Dr. Hess is

the surgeon that " perfected " the ds here in the U.S.

If you can't get back to work with Dr. K., I don't think you could do much

better that Dr. Hess.

Jerry