very CONFUSED

Nope, it's not falling out anymore. It's actually growing in. But in this inbetween stage it looks funky. So I'm letting it grow in and wearing a wig in the meantime.

I am almost 2 years out and have occasional bouts of my hair thinning.  I get in all my protein and vitamins.  I don't know if it used to do this before surgery or not.  Never paid attention until after surgery when I had a big thinning at 3 months out.

Like a previous poster said it may or may not happen.  It is not the end of the world.  It is hair.

Sarah

my surgeon and his nurses told me it was normal to not be able to get in all your fluid and/or protein in the 1st few weeks, so don't fret. get in as much as you can, you will be ok. it didn't take me long to be able to get in all my fluids, but it took me a few weeks to fit all the protein in. i still lost lots of weight, felt great, etc... you will get there!

I'm 8 days out.  I have to get in b/t 40 and 60 gms per day.  They have me on a schedule that goes like this: top of the hour, 2 oz protein drink; every 15 mins. thereafter, 2 oz. clear liquids until the top of the hour, then repeat.  I have been able to make high protein concoctions from things that I got either at Target or the Vitamin Shoppe.  Vitamin Shoppe has the best selection of whey protein isolate where I live.

My morning shake is this:  8 oz. milk (8 gms), 1 scoop vanilla Designer Whey (18 gms), 1 scoop Click mocha latter (7 gms).  Put the dry powder in first THEN add the liquid (this will prevent clumps).  Total amount in this drink: 33 gms.  It takes me the morning to drink this (roughly 4 hours at 2 oz/hour).

then I make something different for afternoon.  Surprisingly, the Syntrax Nectar fruit flavor mixed with milk are very good, I found individual packets at the Vitamin Shoppe, so I didn't have to commit to one fruit flavor.  Each pouch as 23 gms of protein, then I add milk (8 gms), so that one 31 grms total.  I get those 2 in during the day and I am set!

Good luck to you - I strongly suggest using the milk to make sure that you are getting enough calories to feel good.  My NUT said to be sure that each protein drink should have at least 180 calories for that reason.

Protein intake does NOT determine whether you will lose hair or not after surgery.   Google Telogen Effluvium - THAT'S why you will lose hair!!!!

At one week out, you should be concentrating on fluids more than protein - lots of people go to the ER because they are dehydrated, they don't go for a protein deficiency.   You will be able to get your protein in as time goes on - as long as you are getting your 64oz fluid every day, you're good!

That is the truth Kim.  Fluid intake is the most important right after surgery, not frikkin protein shakes!  I sure as hell didn't want to end up back in the hospital so I focused on flavored water.  Thank you for letting everyone know about Telogen Effluvium.  There are too many other myths going around of why people lose their hair.  Jane

As time goes by, you will be able to eat more. As you can eat more, you can get in more protein very easily. But in the early days, concentrate on fluids as Kim said, and do your best with protein.

Honestly, hair is a renewable resource (so says Christina, and I agree). Yes, it's an aggravation to lose it, but for most of us, it all comes back and we carry on. In the meantime, wear a wig or a fall if it bothers you. Mine thinned out and it was somewhat noticeable, but it came back.

good luck

At a week out here's the schedule I put myself on:

B:  1 oz thinned greek yogurt, 1 oz apple juice

AM Protein:  1 ready to drink (RTD) Oh Yeah Chocolate Milkshake (Vitamin Shoppe carries these).

L:  1 oz strained cream of chicken soup, 1 oz V8 juice

PM Protein:  1 RTD IsoPure Zero Carb (pour over ice, sometimes I would thin it out with a little water but finish the whole bottle over the course of a day). 

D:  1 oz strained cream of chicken soup, 1 oz V8 juice

Once I finished the protein drinks, I added my water in between. 

Your pouch can only hold so much and trust me, 3 oz is plenty.  These early weeks are prone to surgery remorse because it does require a whole new schedule for eating and a bit of mental toughness. Not to mention getting the hang of your vitamins.   I likened it to bringing home my baby and sticking to the schedule suggested by the hospital.  I remember a few total meltdown moments early on but it does get better.  Sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk and you'll be smooth sailing in no time.  I have lost some hair but I had thick hair to begin with and it is well worth the sacrifice to no longer be morbidly obese.  Hang in there!  

we just get EAS and Atkins protein drinks at Target or Costco, plus some Unjury soup, plus various cream soups from the store that we add Beneprotein to. Didn't you get a food plan from your surgeon or nutritionist? our nutritionist also hands out samples of various products at our hospital's support group, so we can try them first. do you attend a support group? That's how we found out what all this is. About, what to expect, how to go about it, where people buy stuff, etc. It was a few days before I could get the protein and liquid requirements, but then it was fine. it was a full-time job, but that was ok, it was temporary.

Hair will fall out after surgery for a number of reasons - not just protein or calories in. You'ld lose hair if you had your gall bladder removed or hip replacement. Most of us lose some, it comes back better for a lot of us, and we're the only ones that notice it.

You won't get 65 or 70 grams in at first - but you will in a short amount of time. You should eat your 3 ounces at a time like your doc said to. There's a reason we have rules this early out. If your new pouch is 3 ounces or less any more will rip out your sutures inside and your new pouch will be back in surgery.  You'll start to see how this all works and you won't regret your decision in a while. It takes time to adjust. Focus on the right foods in the right amounts and you'll lose like you want to.

Jen 11 yrs  post op RNY