gingy

Hi Theresa, I felt like my insides were so incredibly swollen for the first week. It was very hard to sleep... I could never get comfortable because it hurt a lot when I laid down. Before the surgery I laid on my sides mostly, but I couldn't do that afterward. I had to lay on my back, propped up on pillows. Just so much pain and swelling. But after about a week of that it calmed down. Read as much as you can about gastric plication before you decide. It's still soooo new. It has to totally be your decision... kinda like do you want to be experimented on? That's how I had to look at it. Good luck and message me anytime. I can let you know how I'm doing and how things progress. By the way... I only get on the scales once a week... so I don't truly know my progress there yet. Gingy

Just checking on everyone... how's it going with staying strong and disciplined? How are you emotionally/mentally? I think I'm starting to snap out of this funk I've been in. Instead of looking at it like I've "lost" something... I'm trying to remember that I'm getting a new outlook on life with a great reward at the end (when I reach my goal). I've stopped weighing myself daily and I will only weigh once a week. I'm being very faithful at getting in my 60-80g of Protein in to help me stay full. Stay strong and we'll do this together! OK? Gingy

i know i have to change the way i think about food. during these past 2 weeks i've realized just how much emphasis i put on food. so now i'm making a conscious effort to change that. i want more than anything to be successful at this! i'm gonna succeed!!! so i'm learning... as will you... what is acceptable to do now that we are banded.

Today is day 14 post-op for me. I have struggled with hunger since day 5. I was supposed to do 3 weeks all liquid diet... well that lasted 6 days before I had a soft/mushy food. I couldn't stand it any longer. So I bought some low fat cottage cheese and ate a few bites to settle my hunger. Then a few days later I tried some refried Beans. I can't tell you how much better that made me feel just to have something "normal" again. I don't eat much of it at a time. 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup. I still let my Protein shakes be my main source of nourishment. I am keeping a food journal and I'm getting about 600 calories a day with 60 - 80 g of protein. But i honestly could not stay on just liquid. My doctor's office would not be happy with this if they knew I'm eating it real slow and real small bites and making sure I don't do anything to get stuck. Feel free to message me if you wanna talk and we can try and keep each other on track Gingy

Hello All, I was banded on 3-24 in Durham, NC by Dr. Portenier. Prior to surgery he told me about Gastric Plication and told me that I could have that done at the same time as the band. I opted to do it. Kinda like 2 WLS in one. Just wondering if anyone else did this?? If so what your experiences thus far have been? I felt absolutely awful the first week after surgery. A lot of gas on my chest, shoulder pain, nauseous constantly and many, many esophageal spasms. The 7th day was much better and I have felt more normal. I'm not doing so great at sticking to the all liquid diet for 3 weeks. I have had some mushy Proteins. Like cottage cheese and refried Beans. I'm still not taking in a lot of calories a day.... still staying hydrated like I'm supposed to, but the scales just aren't moving down. They did the first 5 days. But nothing after that. I appreciate this forum and I love hearing the success stories! Gingy

i've had the same thing. banded 3/24... but i think most of it is i "think" i'm hungry because i see food or smell food. my stomach usually feels full after i eat, so it shouldn't be hunger pangs.

I have not done so well following the rules either. I was supposed to do 3 weeks of liquids, but started eating mushy foods over the last 4 or 5 days. Not much at a time... but enough to make me feel a little better. I've just been hungry and tasting actual food has helped me feel better... mentally too! So I'm right there with you I'm not seeing the scales move at all anymore. I did at first... but now they just sit in the same spot. Banded March 24.

Your goal CAN happen! So happy for you! I'm 35 yrs old as well and had my surgery 1 week ago today. Just now starting to feel better and getting back to a normal routine. Self control and will power have never been great friends of mine... but I know to be successful at this, we have to be best friends Day of banding weight 230lbs. Have lost 15lbs so far. Just struggling through this liquid diet phase for 3 weeks... and trying to remember what I want for my future!!! Keep up the good work!

I agree with others and do what your dr suggests. Mine is completely different and I'm going a little crazy. I have to do all liquids for 3 weeks. I had the lap band with gastric plication on 3-24. So I'm just one week into this. Like bzbrown I have to do the 2oz. each of protein and a hydrating liquid every 15 mins. during my waking hours. With the protein being at the top of the hour. If I said it wasn't hard for me, I'd be lying. I'm hungry! I'm irritable! I want to eat food! But I'm praying and staying strong and using all the will power I have to make this work. I want it to work! Others who have been down this road tell me the first month is hard... but afterward the results will be well worth it Stay strong everyone!

I arrived at the hospital at 5:45am and got home at 3:30pm. I do live an hour away however. The actual procedure (lap band with gastric plication for me) was about an hour long. I had the 5 incisions like Kristi (same day too). so glad to go home the same day, but they did keep encouraging me to stay the night if i felt like i needed to. i didn't want to. Good luck with everything... I'm on day 6 post-op.