Mike70

I used him as well. Very nice, very professional. Good staff.

20% of the bill, more if the server was extra helpful. I don't see any reason why the rules have to change because you are eating less food.

I need to lose about 160 pounds total. I just want to get the first 100 off by the end of the year, hopefully, then take the last 60 or so off gradually. Going by that, I have till Christmas to lose the next 75 pounds.

down 25 pounds. My goal was to be down 50 by Sept, so I think its attainable. Want to be 100 by Christmas. We'll see. Maybe I'm reaching.

Still being studied. I got it done last week as part of the trials.

I got banded a week ago. The reality is that beforehand I did everything I could to NOT think about it even as I was being dropped off at the hospital the morning of the surgery. I just focused on what was at hand and trusted my doctors. Before I knew it I woke in the recovery room and was quickly sent to my room. No problems. Sure I had a little soreness. I had a lot more gas than I expected but it passes. There were no surprises. I was up walking pretty quickly, as are most people. I kept thinking, "This is it????" And yeah, it was. Seriously, it seems like its so much scarier than it really is.

Of course I knew why the diet is in place.

I have no complaints about my doctor or his staff. I didn't mean for this post to sound like I was ranting against them. I am still very impressed and happy with them.

Okay, here's the short of it. I got the band with plication, woke up in the recovery room with a big thumbs up from the Doctor, and sent to my room for recovery. I spent one night in the hospital. I had the usual soreness and gas, but I was dealing with it. I had a cup of broth the next morning, kept it in no problem and was sent home. Everything great so far. However, the feeling of hunger that were subsided since the surgery weren't enough to make me feel better. I had extreme bouts of dizziness and weakness, not to mention the remaining gas from the operation that everyone deals with. That was unbearable unto itself. Remember, I still haven't eaten anything in over two weeks since the start of the liquid diet. But I was dealing. Came home thursday afternoon and rested. Drank my broth, ices, yogurt, followed the diet they gave me. But I didn't get better each day, I got worse and worse. Sunday morning was the pinnacle. By then, like many before me I'm sure, I was sure I had made a mistake and this was not working. I didn't care if I payed out of pocket, I was having this removed. The gas and the nausea were too much. My wife called the Doctor and when they got back to me the person I spoke to, someone (not the doctor I had dealt with before), gave me the basic blow off advice: Try Ice Chips. Yeah right. Ice chips weren't cutting it at this point. I couldn't take a sip without wanting to vomit it up and feeling intense pain. So I didn't want to bother someone on their Sunday day off, but you can kind of tell when you are being brushed off the phone. Ice chips. I know they mean well and aren't going to tell you different, but com'on. So I had an epiphany, even though they advised against it, I was going to try and eat something that day. I know I was only four days post, but I needed to do something. I started very slowly and had a few small bites of a raw vegetable. Got it in, no problem. Then a second one, no problem. I then took a piece of grilled chicken and tried a small bite. Chewed thoroughly, swallowed. No problem. Now I took a few mins to see how I was feeling, and I was VERY QUICKLY feeling much better. Over the next two hours I downed in total about one quarter of a small meatball, a piece of grilled chicken the size of a McDonalds nugget, a few raw vegetables. I felt like I was gorging. I was stuffed. It took two hours to eat and when all was said and done, it was less than a real plate of food. By the time I was done eating, I felt like a million dollars. I felt revived, refreshed, actually healthy and not sickly. Now I get a follow up phone call today from the doctors office. I told the person on the phone what I had done and I got yelled at like a five year old. They told me NOT to do that. They were a little unprofessional in their tone, but they were passionate about my health so I respect that. If I had not taken a little action and moved myself forward a little on my own, I would still be very ill. I obviously don't regret my decision, but I would like to know if anyone else has had similar experiences. The end result is, I now feel like this band might be the best thing I ever did and I have only just started. I can't wait to rock this weight off. Thanks for sticking this long post out.

Hi, thanks for asking. My surgery got postponed 10 days because my wife got banded on the 10th and her recovery was a little slower than we anticipated (very sore and very nauseous. The nausea passed after two days). She's doing great now, 2 weeks post op and the two weeks of the liquid diet and she's down almost 30 pounds and feels better than she has in years. She's on this board but never gets a chance to come on. I am going this wednesday and I'm a little nervous. But nothing is stopping me at this point. Will definitely give an update after.

I am using him for my surgery, and my wife used him for hers.

Can anyone give me some feedback on the plication part? I have decided to go through with it, but I would like to hear about any experiences you might want to share.

I am a 42 year old husband and father, and I'm telling you your husband is the one being selfish. If this is what you want and you are ready for it, educate yourself as much as possible, but don't take advice from people that have a financial stake in you NOT getting it, like a Personal Trainer. Do what is right for you. Gyms are filled with people that would think we are all losers for doing this. I spoke to a good friend recently, and all they could ask was "Didn't you try diet and exercising?" Duh. There could be complications to any procedure, but ask yourself if yourself if the outcome if worth it.

I have about 10 days to go before my surgery. I too am nervous, but I know it is something I have to do. If I do nothing, then nothing changes. Will keep getting heavier and less healthy. I have been dealing with obesity for the 15 years. Time for a change. So I'm right there with you on this. I don't post much on this board, but I read a lot of posts. There seems to be a lot of good energy and good people here.