Re: questions, questions, questions?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-09-09 05:55:45 EDT, you write:

<< Again, I am pre-op so if any of the post-ops disagree with what I say

they are more likely right than I am. One thing I've found in my

research is that everyone's different so you may get widely differing

answers to your questions. Welcome to the site and I know you'll

have lots of your questions answered.

Regards.

Joe Frost >>

thanks joe for answering some questions..really appreciate it...

mer

[Guest guest]

Mer:

I see you have gotten lots of welcomes but few answers to your

questions. I am pre-op as well so can't answer from experience but I

have read a lot, primarily here, and can answer some of them.

>>they make it sound like anyone that has had WLS has an odor about

them...is this true??<<

Some people have odor from stools and flatulance but that's all. No

general body odor. Some find it worse after surgery and some don't.

There is really no norm. I have not heard that it is any more

uncontrolable than normal though sometimes, like the dog...

>>what about blood clots? is this aproblem with only WLS patients?

or do you have to worry about that with all surgeries??<<

All surgeries. It isn't a common problelm but it can happen with any

surgery and I suppose it probably is more common with the very obese.

>>what about hair loss?? anyone experience this??<<

Many people have it, not all. I understand it is an effect of losing

the weight, not the surgery. And I understand it almost always comes

back pretty quickly.

>>i have no spleen so will i have problems? anyone out there

> without a spleen have this surgery?<<

No idea.

>>i've read people can have badbreath..why/...what causes this? is

it temporary or forever?<<

I haven't heard much about this. Ketosis can cause this when the

body burns fat rather than carbohydrates. So in cases of rapid

weight loss it does happen. If this is the cause it is strictly

temporary.

>>when someone reachs their smallest weight i hear you can gain just

a few pounds and then sort of stabilize, sort of your body adjusting

it's self after all that it has been through...has anyone experienced

this?<<

Haven't heard about that. I expect everyone is different.

>>how about water intake...i was wondering in the summer months is it

hard to get enough fluid in you.?<<

It can be, especially if you work outdoors. But it's important to do

it. Having water with you all the time is a good plan. You have to

drink lots of water but that is something you just have to get in the

habit of doing.

Again, I am pre-op so if any of the post-ops disagree with what I say

they are more likely right than I am. One thing I've found in my

research is that everyone's different so you may get widely differing

answers to your questions. Welcome to the site and I know you'll

have lots of your questions answered.

Regards.

Joe Frost

[Guest guest]

Dear Mer:

Okay I will try to answer some of your questions.

There is no body orders from having the DS!!! This seems to be some kind of

urban story on the other WLS sites it just isn't so. Now I don't know about

you but my gas and stools have never smelled great anyway and now it is about

the same although something's I eat make them a little stronger and it isn't

uncontrollable.

I will admit that when you first have this surgery it takes a few months

sometimes for your body to adjust to your new plumbing and settle down so I

was careful.

I had no problems with blood clots, Dr. A gives Heparin shots while in the

hospital.

I had hair loss at 4 months and it lasted about a month or two, now I had

always heard it was because of the weight loss and the malabsorbstion but

after my second surgery this June I think it is because of the anesthetic

because as of around the middle or end of Aug. I am again losing hair like

crazy but this is my opinion and I will test it again with my next surgery

hopefully around the first of the year.

I also think this may be why not all have hair loss but the percentage

seems to be higher for hair loss.

It comes back just fine if not fuller and I wear my hair very short so it

isn't as noticeable when I am losing it and it helps to have really thick

hair.

I can't help with the spleen question as I still have mine.

There are times my breath smells weird but when I talked to Dr. A about it

he said it is because of the way we eat, I do not eat a whole lot of carbs, I

eat more bread than anything else with carbs and just like those on the

Adkins diet we sometimes get this. I am sure one of the more knowledgeable

ladies can explain this better than I.

As far as drinking is concerned you start out slow, (very slow) little sips

and most of the time water taste like crap!! But you just keep at it and your

intake will increase just like the amount of food you can eat will increase

as you progress.

Huggles

Tiger

[Guest guest]

One more thing to add. Dr. Macura sends his patients for a test (forget the

name) to check for blood clots after surgery. it is a sonogram of your legs

and they can determine if you have any blood clots. It was very reassuring

to know that I had none. Also, getting up and walking helps.

Just my .02

Smiles,

McG

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an

invincible summer. Albert Camus

<A HREF= " http://members.aol.com/Tappenct/index.html " >MIS2-2's homepage</A>

[Guest guest]

Dear Margie:

My problem is being a little to thin! Isn't that a kick? I am at 160 pounds

and need to be around 175 so I am working on gaining muscle weight.

Huggles

Tiger

[Guest guest]

Hi again, Mer -- Let's see, I guess I'll just jump in here. You've

gotten some answers from Joe and Tiger already...

> i have tons of questions so please be patient with me

At least you're asking and not just lurking! That's great.

> what is the questions about gas? i mean they make it sound like

anyone that has had WLS has an odor about them...is this true??

where have you been reading, darlin'? I have had WLS for thirteen

years; not true for me!

> or are they just talking about whne they ahve a BM or pass gas?

> normally gas smells!!...i mean at least mine does..lol...

Does anyone's smell good? Depending on what a person eats, it can be

worse at times, but never good!

> so should i expect this to be worse after surgery,

There will be a period of weeks when your body is getting used to the

changes and you may be somewhat unpredictable, but you will learn what

foods cause the " events " . It's different for everyone.

> will i not be able to control myself? ( ie;

> uncontrolable flatulence...like my dog who is at my feet and just

rolled over and silently assaulted my nostrils.lol)....

My dog comes in real handy for blaming farts on. It's controllable!

You control what goes in, so you control what comes out. Beano helps

some people, Lactaid helps some people, Devrom helps some people. I

don't take any of that, but I do spray the bathroom afterwards to keep

my husband and teenagers from teasing me (they're merciless!).

> what about blood clots?

Any major surgery, not just WLS. Being severely obese makes most of

the risks a little riskier, but not so much that the surgeons aren't

confident of the outcome. The squeezing boots and Heparin shots are

for prevention.

> what about hair loss?? anyone experience

> this?? i heard it's from lack of b vitamins?? and if you lose it

does it come back?

I lost very little hair post-surgery. I also have lost my weight very

slowly. Getting enough protein in consistently is important because

that's what your hair is made out of.

> i have no spleen so will i have problems? anyone out there

> without a spleen have this surgery?...

Can't help you there...

> i've read people can have badbreath..why/...what causes this? is it

temporary or forever?

Can be from ketosis sometimes. Can be from other things, I've heard.

> when someone reachs their smallest weight i hear you can gain just a

few pounds and then sort of stabilize, sort of your body adjusting

it's self after all that it has been through...has anyone experienced

this?

I think Tiger's going through this right now. I'm sure others have

too.

> how about water intake...i was wondering in the summer months is it

hard to get enough fluid in you.?

Not hard at all. The ice water at all times is a good idea.

ok ithink thats it for now..LOL Ü all answers will be

greatly appreciated...TIA..

> mer Ü

You're welcome. Regards -- Margie in Austin, TX

5'4 " , pre-revision 275#, 09/02/00 down 42#

RNY GB in 1987, revision to DGB/DS 02/01/00

Dr. Crookes, USC University Hospital, LA, CA

[Guest guest]

thanks tiger i appreciate the anwers..

mer

[Guest guest]

thanks tiger i appreciate the anwers..

mer

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-09-09 18:54:36 EDT, you write:

<< Not hard at all. The ice water at all times is a good idea.

ok ithink thats it for now..LOL Ü all answers will be

greatly appreciated...TIA..

> mer Ü

You're welcome. Regards -- Margie in Austin, TX >>

*****thanks Margie..you all are so helpful..

mer

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-09-09 18:54:36 EDT, you write:

<< Not hard at all. The ice water at all times is a good idea.

ok ithink thats it for now..LOL Ü all answers will be

greatly appreciated...TIA..

> mer Ü

You're welcome. Regards -- Margie in Austin, TX >>

*****thanks Margie..you all are so helpful..

mer

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-09-09 20:35:17 EDT, you write:

<< One more thing to add. Dr. Macura sends his patients for a test (forget

the

name) to check for blood clots after surgery. it is a sonogram of your legs

and they can determine if you have any blood clots. It was very reassuring

to know that I had none. Also, getting up and walking helps.

Just my .02

Smiles,

McG >>

thanks ..

mer Ü

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 00-09-09 20:40:36 EDT, you write:

<< My problem is being a little to thin! Isn't that a kick? I am at 160

pounds

and need to be around 175 so I am working on gaining muscle weight.

Huggles

Tiger

>>

hi tiger..your what 18 or 19 months post op? how long have you been 160

lb.s?

mer

[Guest guest]

Hi Mer:

Since June,

Huggles

Tiger