GiGi

Hi all. Sorry so long since I blogged...... I just wanted to report on how things have been going. This past week I had some issues with eating. My stomach was really hurting and I think I just introduced some new foods to quickly. My tummy was burning. It was bad. I talked to the Doctor and they said to slow down with my diet and go back to the full liquids. I did for the most part and I am getting very little calories but I have been loosing weight. I am down to 254 from 295 which is 41 pounds and tomorrow is my 4 week anniversary. I am just eating protein mostly and not eating much because I don't want to disturb my tummy. I have lost a lot of inches too and I really have not been working out too much since I have been a little lathargic. Things are now on the upswing and I am really only eating now just because I know I need to to live. I am trying to get in 800 calories a day but sometimes it is hard. Next week back to exercise and I mean full on work out so I can begin to tone up and loose more fat (not muscle). I have a Doctor follow up visit on Wednesday so I will post about that as well. They put me on Carafate which is a liquid you drink before you eat and it coats your tummy on the inside and it really helped. Sorry to sound rushed but my hungry family awaits

Just to chime in! I am not on here as much as I would like but I try to pop in and update and post. I am 4 months out and my surgery went fine. My restriction is still very good but I have stalled at about 60 pounds of weight loss. I started at 295 and I am now about 233. My food choices have not been great so I have no one to blame but me and I have not been working out like I should. I feel fantastic and that is how it used to be when I would loose weight. I would feel good start eating bad foods and gain the weight back. Luckily I have not gained anything back but if I want to reach my goal I must get back on a good diet. I will probably get a lot more serious after the holidays. It is a MUST for me to hit my goal by 1 year. Good luck to you!

The only problem with Salad is the lettuce. It is difficult to maserate the lettuce leaves therefore they open up in the stomach and fill it up quickly. I was told to try shredded lettuce and I have had that on sandwiches and it seems to work okay. I have never had a whole salad yet. I am 4 months out.

I had the plication done on the 16th of July. Dr. Ponce in Chattanooga TN did the surgery and he had me on liquid protein for 2 weeks prior to the surgery in order to shrink my liver as much as possible. He mentioned that it gave him more room to work. I assume that it is your surgeons preference!

Everyone seems to be different but I didn't feel like doing much about a week after my surgery. I was tired and couldn't eat anything and was just uncomfortable. Other folks have said they were only down for about 2 or 3 days so I just think it is different for everyone. Good Luck to you! I hope it goes well!

HI everyone. I just went in for my 3 month follow up appointment. I had the Plication done on July 16th 2012. It feels like it was much longer than that. My starting weight was 295 pounds and when they weighed me I was 237 so that is 58 pounds in 3 months. I am excited about the results. I eat good most of the time but I have my days where my choices are not so great. I am exercising at least 3 times a week. I can actually run on the treadmill which is something I never thought I would do! My clothes are very loose but until I am down to 225 I am not buying anything new. I was a 24 and now can fit comfortably into a 18. I have lost over 55 inches all over and I am loosing inches evenly. My restriction is very good but I have a cookie here and there or a piece of chocolate or a glass of wine. I am not perfect by any means. I have plateaued again but I have been here before. To kick start the lossing I just switch back to my protien shakes for Breakfast and lunch (no snacking) and chicken or fish for dinner. Doing that for a week does the trick so that is where I am headed on Monday. It also shrinks up your stomach again too which is a nice feeling. I am still a classic emotional eater so I am looking into getting some help in that area. I have to break that habit. It is great hearing everyones stories!

Congratulations!!! I can't wait to post that I am down 80 or 90 pounds. Right now I am sitting at about 51 pounds but I am only 2 months post op. Seems like it was ages ago. I have hit a wall and I have not been eating very well so it is only my fault that the weight loss has slowed. I need to work out, count my calories and stay away from sweets. It is hard just like any diet but I have no excuses. I have been rather down on myself here lately and that only makes my behavior worse. I am getting back in the gym TODAY and every day going to work out for an hour. I know that is going to be a big part of the answer. Thanks for the inspiration! I would love to see some before and after shots too. GiGi

Hello there Errado3317. If you had read my profile you will see that I am part of a clinical trial being held right here in the USA. There are other trials in the Northwest and also at the Cleveland Clinic and all are going well. Plication is just a less evasive way to have the food restriction that I myself need to loose and keep the weight off. So far on my 7th week post op I am down 48 pounds and I am very happy with that! Did you have the surgery? Have you suffered some complications? I would love to hear your story. Sincerely, GiGi

Hi there Ana. I had trouble with Okra. I think because it is so fiberous. I am introducing foods slow and easy and eating very slow and controlled and not drinking during meals. I had a turkey meatball with red marinara and I think the sauce was too acidic for my tummy. Figure my new stomach is learning as we go so I am just really going to introduce new foods slowly and carefully. Congratulations on one month post plication! I think this past month was the hardest part!

Hi there WednesdaysSun! Thanks for adding me as a friend. I am happy to report no more tummy problems. I think I got a little ahead of myself on the food diversity. Now I try something new and see how it feels. I was getting protein via my shakes and cottage cheese. After a bit I put in a piece of fish (cooked in the oven) which is also high in protein. Food restriction has been better than it was two weeks ago. I can only eat about a cup or maybe a cup and a half of food at a time. Sometimes it is more restrictive than others like when I eat just fish....wow that fills me up ...just a 6 ounce filet. I am not drinking while I eat which I know also helps!

Well I have been trying to blog but my blogs have been disappearing for some reason. I submitted a message to the technical folks and they said it is all fixed now. For an introduction you can read my profile but in summary I am a 47 year old overweight woman. I weighed in at 295 at the Doctors office and now I weigh 279.5 from being on the pre-op diet. I have always been able to make the pounds go away but they always return and usually with a few bonus pounds. I am 5’8” tall and large boned. You might ask why I am electing this surgery and the reason for me is that I want to be around for a while. I have had some really bad problems with my right knee (I had surgery to cut off the meniscus about 2 years ago due to a fall) and also swelling and pooling in my lower legs. The later problem is new and not one that I am fond of. It is painful and prevents me from doing the things I love. Like hiking, walking, touring etc… I am not ready to become an invalid just yet. I have been on every diet in the spectrum…. Seriously every diet I am sure I have tried it. I am constantly hungry and never have the feeling of being full so keeping weight off is difficult. I love food. It is my pal. It is my buddy. I love to cook. I love to try new things. I love the comfort of food. I eat when bored to help me stay awake. I eat portions much too large. I have had a long and happy affair with my food. I had a revelation while being on this pre-op diet… I am not tired any more. I used to sit at my desk and barely be able to keep my eyes open now I am wide awake and I sleep like a baby! The pre-op diet is 3-5 protein shakes a day and maybe a broth soup here and there. I have not cheated at all and don’t plan on it. I want to succeed. Best moment on pre Op? When I made iced tea sweetened with splenda with a fresh lemon slice squeezed in. I don’t know if I have ever tasted something so good. That was about 5 days into the diet and I had not had tea at all. It was a hot day. I had taken the dogs to the park I was so thirsty… I know the plication surgery is not magic and I am not suddenly going to shed pound after pound. It is going to be a way for me to loose the weight and not gain it back due to the restriction. I joined a weight loss site called myfitnesspal.com and I LOVE IT. So easy to use and so fast. It is the other tool I am going to use to count my calories after the surgery. I live with my Husband and two teenage girls. One is 17 the other is 14. I will still cook but it is going to be much healthier. I am the most fortunate person in the world in that my Husband is so supportive. He has been doing the pre-op diet in the evenings with me so I am not so alone in my endeavor. When I can eat it needs to be healthy and tasty. I have joked about having my own show on food network one day called Potions for Portions or 6 ounce mega taste.. I haven’t worked out all the details of my show.. lol Surgery date is 7/16/12. I have been told to be there at 6am, surgery at 7:30am, 3 hour surgery, 40 mins in recovery then moved to post op room until blood pressure is ok, can drink something, and breathing is okay then they will release me the same day. They did tell me I will be very very nauseous and sick. I have a friend coming to stay with me for a couple days so my husband can go back to work on Tuesday. So… that is where I am. If anyone is interested I have made some pretty yummy protein shakes and would be happy to share my recipes with you! I will write soon (If this works lol) GG

Hi all. Surgery date 7-16-12 and I am down a total of 42 pounds. Started at 295 now at 253. Pre Op was 17 pound loss and 25 since surgery. I am still loosing. eating mostly all protein. I have had a few snacks here and there but not over doing the carb thing. Feel great. Need to work out to keep the weight loss going my goal is 170 pounds so 83 more pounds to go! Congrats to everyone on doing so well. GiGi

There are several Bariactric Groups in Atlanta but the only physician I know who is specifically doing plication surgery is my Doctor. Dr. Jaime Ponce who is in Chattanooga, TN. He is conducting a clinical trial that I am part of and he performed his surgery in Dalton, GA at Hamilton Medical Center. Even if that is too far away I feel sure he could recommend someone for you to use as a follow up physician.

I decided early on not to hide the fact that I had the surgery and I have been amazed by the support and concern from co-workers and friends. Most people have questions about the procedure and are very curious how it is going. I am glad I have not had to keep it to myself simply because there are times when I have been weak or tired and just needed a break and everyone has been so understanding. There are some that tell and others that don't I think whatever is comfortable for you is what you should do! Good luck to you and I hope it works out great! GiGi