mrsto

How many fills have you had since surgery? What size band do you have, and how many cc's are already in it?

I had plication done with my lap band on 3/25/13. I can't really say what the difference is over the lap band alone, because I have no reference point. But I WILL say that I've been very happy with my weight loss so far, and do feel that the smaller stomach capacity is a secondary form of restriction. There have been times when I ate past the point of being satisfied, but got full a lot faster than (what I think) is normal. The plication doesn't mimic the bypass; it's like the sleeve, without removing 3/4 of your stomach and then stapling.

I agree with debee. When you go into a health food or Vitamin store, make sure to tell them that you're a bariatric patient. They should be able to show you the right products. I went to the Vitamin Shoppe, and based on the criteria of the Protein I was looking for, she knew right off the bat that I was having bariatric surgery. If it's a good store, they probably know what to show you. If you have costco where you live, they carry the ready made Premier Protein shakes......which I love. They are the only ones I continue to drink being 3.5 months post-op. The chocolate is best. The vanilla is horrible (in my opinion). They're 160 calories, with 30 grams of protein. I suggest that you call your doctor & ask the same question that you posted here. It makes absolutely no sense to me that you weren't advised of the daily requirements to maintain your health while going through this. And not JUST going through it, but for the rest of your life. Did they not provide education classes?

LOL! But I don't think the question is redundant at all. My initial thought (and response) was based on a small lump I had under an incision from kidney surgery. The incision lumps are pretty common. It never OCCURRED to me that it may be the port! Duh is right

Actually - a really GOOD question.

Here is a blurb from WebMD regarding incision care after surgery. It mentions the lump.... You may notice some soreness, tenderness, tingling, numbness, and itching around the incision. There may also be mild oozing and bruising, and a small lump may form. This is normal and no cause for concern. http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/incision-care-after-surgery-topic-overview

Honestly.......make your own I didn't find a single one in a can, that tasted good.

People who fail with the band (I believe), will ultimately fail with the other surgeries as well. With the band, our work starts as soon as we open our eyes from surgery. With the bypass, there is the 12-18 month honeymoon period, where weight melts off due malabsorption (and a dramatic drop in caloric intake). When the honeymoon period is over, then the work has to begin. If someone isn't "of mind" to do the work they ultimately have to do with ALL surgeries, then there isn't one out there that will have long term success. When I chose the band, I knew well and good that I would have to hit the ground running. My thinking was that if I'm going to have to ultimately kick in with my "want power" (thanks CG), then why would I rearrange my innards? No matter how you slice & dice it, there are no free rides when it comes to losing weight.

SO true! I think that so many people get the band, and think that it will solve their problem; we see these posts all the time. Since being banded, I've worked as hard or harder than historical dieting. The difference is, I can comfortably eat much less, and stay satisfied for much longer. THAT is the key. Can I eat around the band, sure. Do I mentally and emotionally want more food, absolutely! But making the decision to have WLS is a huge step, and I have no intention of eating through it on a regular basis. Honestly, when I hear "the band didn't work for me", I wonder WTF people were thinking going into it.

Good job!! I know how great you feel

Ditto! In the beginning, things didn't taste the same. Over time, that ALL changed & now I'm back to the way I was before. ACCEPT, I eat smaller portions, very slowly; chew well and savor every bite.

I love quinoa! And it's high in protein and fiber. I used to eat brown rice on a regular basis, but now I prefer the quinoa. Health wise, it's a better choice.

Sorry you are having such a difficult time. I don't know how I would have felt, had it not been for the Lortab. I leaned on that quite a bit, and it really helped with the pain (and kept me loopy enough not to care). I have a strong feeling, that in a few weeks you will report back that you are happy about your decision. The beginning is the worst, but as you begin to settle into your new way of eating, AND the weight is coming off, things look a whole LOT different Regarding the gnawing hunger pangs, I had that too. It would wake me up in the middle of the night, and it was really bad. The nurse in my doctor's office said that they hear it a lot; mostly with banded plication patients. Though they don't suggest having anything before going to bed, I drank a small glass of milk. It helped a great deal, so maybe that is something that may help. Or, some of a milky Protein shake.... Anything to quell the hunger. But the good news is, it DOES go away. I no longer have the gnawing that I did in the beginning. Hang in there..... As you've read in these forums, things do get a lot better with some time. I was surprised at just how laid out I was after surgery. But now, that is ancient history, and I'm down 30 pounds. It's all good

CG - I'm with ya! I miss my Advil, just about more than anything else since being banded

I disagree with taking Aleve. Most all doctors tell us absolutely NO NSAIDs. Aleve is in that category. Try extra strength Tylenol. If that doesn't work, call your doctor for a recommendation. I hope you get some relief soon!

When was your last fill?

YAY! Glad to here that it's all over, and you're on your way

YES - I second that......Karma IS good! I strongly believe in it.

Good luck!! It's very exciting

There are mixed reviews on this issue (as well as some others). My doctor also says no straws, yet I do not have any negative issues with them. I rarely ever drink anything without a straw, and without one, would never get in all the Water I need to drink. I don't see how you get in all that air they talk about, unless you keep sucking at the bottom of the glass; like trying to get that very last drop of liquid? My doctor also said no gum. I tried that one out about two weeks after surgery, and was miserable. I used to chew gum all the time, now I stick with Tic Tacs.

I'm so sorry that you had to deal with that BS. The old "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me", isn't really true, is it? I agree with everyone above..... That guy is a bottom dweller, and either he will continue his life as an ignorant low life, or someday he will "find religion" (metaphorically speaking). Either way, those types will continue to walk the earth, and it's most important that you find strength within yourself, and cultivate a strong sense of self worth. Jules, just try & focus on what you are doing for YOU. Stay strong within yourself, and keep your eye on the big picture. You are moving toward a healthier life, and with every pound lost, you will gain a pound of self esteem. PS: LOVE what your friend said. It was perfect :-)

It's 7:15am here in SoCal. You're probably in the midst of your procedure. I'm thinking about you....and I'm EXCITED for you! Please let us know how you're doing, when you're up to it. This is the first day of the REST of your life :-) You've done a really good thing for yourself.....

My surgeon also stitched mine into place, and he mentioned some sort of mesh fabric type of thing underneath it. He said that this new way of doing it, has dramatically reduced the amount of slips.

My suggestion is......stay off the scale! If you're doing everything your supposed to be doing, and the numbers on the scale are damn near making you want to sabotage your program......stay off of it. Weigh yourself once every couple of weeks. I can't deal with the scale, either. And because of that, I only weigh once every week or two. Give yourself a break

I'm curious about that, too. I had plication, and one of the deciding factors on doing it, was that it reduces the margin for these types of band issues.