KarenKaren

I'm a plication over band,, Unfortunately, its not working for me,, The band worked really well for about 6 years, but then gained back the 70 i lost,, Plication hasn't worked for me, I don't have much restriction, I get full on smaller amounts, but am hungry sooner, and i feel that my appetite is stronger than its ever been I do wish i had done the sleeve, but I completely researched this, and knew what i was getting into, I just wish it was working for me

yes, yes, yes, yes,,,,,, I had that problem BIG time, and have not really heard much about others dealing with that. It was very frustrating, I even had to go to bed with some applesauce next to the bed because the stomach hunger pangs would wake me up. I would eat something, and be hungry, very very hungry in about two hours. This went on for about the first 6 weeks. I don't have that problem as much anymore, but I can eat a lot more. I tried everything, even a prescription from the doc, but nothing other than eating helped me. So, I wish i could tell you how to make it better, I can't, but I can tell you that you are certainly not along! Anyone else have this problem?

absolutely, i cramping for a month, or more, worse at the beginning,, the drug mentioned in previous post helped, i also found that i had to put food in there often, like just some applesauce,, It does get better

Dr Ortiz did my band, Dr Watkins did my plication,,, both are great,,,, I like that Watkins is in the States,

Thanks for that reminder, I've been seeing the same thing lately,,, that the key is more veggies, and really low carb is helping me to lose again. I've been trying to always have a low carb high protein snack with me all the time, and when I get hungry,, i eat.

Well, lets just say I don't regret having it,,,, I needed to get the band out . Its just not working like I'd like. I remember when I was first banded, and for the first few years, it was so amazing, and I hoped to have the same results from this. I'm not losing. I'm eating less, making good choices, working out, but I'm hungry way too often. I haven't given up yet,,, I keep thinking maybe my stomach needs to heal more, then i won't feel "hunger" so often,, hmmm, thanks for asking. It works for many, many people!! Keep up the good work! How are you feeling KarenKaren? Do you feel like you have enough restriction? I am walking everyday and this has seemed to be too easy for me, I am a week out and can eat yogurt and applesause, very little but I can, no problem. Are you happy with the plication?

absolutely no problem with salads, I try to eat protein on my salad, but i eat some lettuce everyday

Hi Mw, thanks for your post! I needed to read that,,,

I would like to hear more about how people feel after plication, I just don't find enough on here. First, let me say i have no regrets. I LOVE that I get full really quick. I love that I can eat anything I want, nothing gets stuck. I love that i "fit in" at social events, meaning, I can eat what is served, just a small amount of it. (with the band I couldn't eat meat or bread or fresh veggies, which made social and business meals difficult) But, I seem to get hungry about every 3 hours. I know I can lose weight with this tool, BUT, it will take some serious work on my part. I have to really prepare, and have a healthy option readily available after 3 hours, or I find that I grab whatever I can get at work, (which is never something healthy) I guess my hope was that I could eat 3 healthy meals a day and stay full in between. I'm not drinking with meals, not eating slider foods. Christmas was tough, I'm afraid to even get on the scale. I would sure like to hear how others do in between meals,,, do you get REALLY hungry? I just hope its a healing thing yet, and someday soon I can stay full longer than 3 hours.

Congrats!!! when will your surgery be?

Thanks Tracy! Sorry I didn't see this post sooner! I had my surgery with Dr Watkins, he and his staff are great. I did fine right after, no problem with fluids. I ate applesauce in just a few days, and gradually moved to eating more, it really was an easy transition. I had discomfort, but never any pain. Good luck!!

No worry of sliming or puking, at least in my experience. I feel great, at a little over a month since surgery. I did my share of puking and sliming with the band! As for weight loss, I'm too early to say, but it is a tool, it depends on what you put into it. You can't go wrong with Doc Watkins. He is great!

I wanted this surgery to do all the work for me. Just being honest. When I was banded, it did do all the work for me. For a while anyway. I couldn't eat all the things I loved most,,, like bread, pizza, sandwiches, chicken. Sometimes just a bite of something would get me "stuck" and I couldn't eat anymore. The problem is I couldn't eat anything healthy either,, like fresh veggies, chicken. My friends used to say "omg, how can you handle not eating anything!" my response was always "thats what i paid $10,000 for" So, obviously it didn't work long term, I had horrible reflux, fills, unfills, I realized it wasn't healthy for me, and besides, I had gained every ounce i lost. (I did quit smoking tho!) So, I decided on the plication. Its not giving me the restriction I'd like. I wanted to get full from a small amount of food, and stay full. I get full from a small amount, but I get hungry again sooner than I'd like. (in a few hours) I am following the rules, and hoping that as my stomach heals more, I will stay fuller longer,,,, So, I'm trying to work this "tool" !! I have to use it simply as a tool. I'm going to the gym, eating healthy foods, and trying to make the lifestyle change that I need to make to be healthy. I love that i get full pretty fast. I love that i "can" eat anything I want, just in small portions. I love that I NEVER puke, like i did with the band. But i sure wish I was seeing results that the other sleeve patients see. I wish it would do the work for me. I'm fat because I've not been able to do this on my own. Now, I just hope the "tool" of getting full fast will be enough for me to take control and be in charge of my weight loss. I see it as my last hope! So,, to sum up my babbling, I would agree, its not as restrictive for me as I'd like. But I don't regret the surgery, and I'm going to work really hard everyday to do what I need to do to make this work for me.

I am usually a very fast healer,,, BUT, I am getting older! (I guess thats much better than the alternative!) I'm 46,, I had surgery 12 hours from my home on a Wednesday. I stayed in the hospital one night, went to a hotel for one night and rode home on Friday. I went back to work on Monday. So, I was back to work in less than a week. I had a tough time the first few days. If I was to do it over, I would have taken one week off of work. I guess we are all different. If you can take a few weeks off, I would do it.

no, no blog, I've considered it, but just haven't gotten there,,,, I figure my weekly emails to Doc W's office will be my "blog" or at least a way to look back and see what was going on each week. I do post here, and read here every chance i get

Hi Amy! I'm so glad it all worked out for you this time! Get lots of rest and sip sip sip! Can't wait to watch your journey! I agree, Doc W is top notch, and I enjoyed reading your post, it reminded me of everything I went thru there just 20 days ago!

and,, good luck with your surgery today jlo!

In 2011 I want to be able to cross my legs without effort! I want to be able to shop in any store, and everything fits! I want to feel healthy! In 2011 I want to stop wondering if this surgery is going to work for me!

Ya'all are very fortunate to live so close to Doc W! I drove for 12 hours to have my surgery with him. I don't have a much experience yet, still recovering myself, but I can tell you I'm very pleased with Dr W and staff. It just felt right.

shaundra,, I can't help you with that DR,,, But I can say its very normal to be freaked out! Its major surgery. Just do your research, and don't choose a Doc based on price, but I'm sure you know that already! I was so afraid of complications, and not making it thru surgery! There are many fabulous Docs out there, just keep researching, and hopefully someone here has some words of wisdom about the doc you are considering. Good luck!

ahh, yes, I too was nervous as could be! And yep, I had the odd dreams before and after. Just imagine the future, how great you will feel, and look,,, thats what I did, and it helped! Good luck to all of you, please keep posting, we need more action on this board! Karen

Well, I don't have a lot of time under my "belt" , I just had band removed and plication done on Dec 1. I hope that what I've experienced so far will continue. I'm still on soft/mushie foods, but the full feeling is way more "normal". With the band, I didn't actually feel full, I just felt more clogged. Now I can eat about 3/4 of an egg, or about 2 T of mashed potato and I feel "full" very content. I found the recovery to be a little different from when I was banded. I had less pain, less nausea, but I get some odd stomach cramps now, I'm assuming thats because I am still healing in there. I have found that my stomach hates to be empty. If I throw a little something in there every 2-3 hours, and keep drinking Water, I'm fine, but if I get busy, or forget, or overnight, I get the cramps, it just feels like bad hunger, but yet, just stomach hunger, not appetite, if that makes sense. It will even wake me up at times. As far as time off of work, I was under for a lot longer with this surgery, not sure if that has anything to do with it, but it took me several days to feel like myself again. I just was foggy, and felt drugged up, even tho i hadn't taken anything since the day after surgery. I went back to work in less than a week, but really wasn't feeling up to it until 1 week post op. Now at 10 days post op, I can say I am 90% back to myself, I do tend to get tired a little more often, and I have those stomach cramps when I don't eat , well after the babble, lets see if i answered any of your questions How is restriction with the plication compared to restriction with the Lap Band? Its soooo much better, its early, but so far, I love this feeling of restriction! I have never felt stuck, or plugged, or like i need to hurl Do you feel your stomach? Yeah, it all feels normal, just can't eat hardly anything How long did you need off from work? 1 week Are liquids hard? Nope, I just can't gulp yet, that makes me too full, but liquids worked find from the beginning Do regret this surgery? hell no, if it continues to be like this, I will be THRILLED! Good luck, keep posting, we need some action on this board! Karen

I notice that my sense of smell is really strong since surgery also! Good luck to you, your family is all very lucky to have all that cookin' done!

Hi Karen I was in your shoes a week ago! I had my surgery Wed Dec 1st with Dr W, I drove from MN. You are in really good hands. The orange popsickles rock! Good luck, keep in touch! Karen

I'm going to shorten up my response here because I've already typed a long response twice, and lost them both in my loopy state of mind. I just had plication surgery yesterday. I can speak about 2 of the surgeons you mentioned. I had lapband in 04 with Dr Ortiz, then had problems with the band no longer working, had plication along with band removal with Dr Watkins yesterday. I live 12 hours via car from Cinncinatti, (Watkins) and about 3-5hours via airplane to Tijuana. I can tell you both surgeons are excellent. I did as much research possible before making my descion, and here is why I chose the one I did this time: 1 Dr Watkins is in the US. When I was banded in MX,, and tried to get after care here in the states I had a really hard time finding anyone who would even see me. Also, it just seemed like thinks are a little more modern here in the States. Everything was super clean, and nice in MX, but just felt odd, and I had a hard time communicating with some of the nurses. 2 I liked that Dr Watkins takes care of other issues, like putting you on antibiotics and stuff to get rid of the ulcers (H pilori) and does a scope before surgery and takes care of any hiatal hernia problems he finds. (which he did find, so I'm hopeful that my stomach acid and such will be better now) 3 Dr Watkins price was very much competitive with MX prices. You are doing the right thing by asking questions and doing your research, I know I did, and I'm very please with my decision, Dr Watkins did a great job, he is very caring, along with the rest of the staff I encountered I would be happy to answer any questions, and could probly do better answering after my loopiness wears off Good luck in your search PS, I expected this to be a tougher recover than the band, but its actually been easier so far Karen