chowchows

I know that's what they tell us, but I also know how many calories I am putting into my body...and I should be losing like crazy, but I'm not. I feel restriction, I'm not one of those who doesn't or one who feels hungry all the time. I feel satisfied. I'm eating approx 1200 calories, and gaining a pound? That's not how it works. At my weight I need well over 2,000 calories to maintain, but I am eating much less, therefore I should be losing but I am not. Therefore I wonder if this surgery has changed the way something works in our bodies? Almost backwards to what happens with DS or other malabsortion surgeries. I'm just curious. Can anyone explain this? I know about plateaus, but nobody plateaus this long in regular diets. What about this surgery causes such long plateaus or for people eating less than the necessary calories not to lose weight? Honestly, it is just calories in calories out...all things (exercise, protein, etc) aside...so why are so many not losing or losing so slow (much slower than their calorie intake should allow)?

Ok, I am more than a little discouraged with my plication lately. Feeling that way made me decide to do a little research on all the different boards that have spots dedicated to plication. While there are several people who have been successful with the plication, I keep seeing people who lose for a couple of months and then nothing happens. That's exactly where I am right now, and I am feeling scared that I made the wrong decision and wasted my money and had an unnecessary surgery. I would love to be proven wrong, and have the scale suddenly start moving, but at this point I have not lost anything since May...have actually gained a pound. I have been walking, getting in my Water and Protein, eating several small meals a day and still feel restriction when I eat. That being said though, I am not losing weight. If I had eaten this amount of calories pre WLS, the weight would have fallen off me, so what gives? Is this surgery slowing down our metabolism? I'm sure that some of the non-losers are not doing what they are supposed to, but with all the examples I found I know that there have to be others who are doing the right things and still not losing. I just don't get it, and am feeling very upset over the whole thing. I have been thinking this for awhile, but didn't want to post it and discourage others, but I think if everyone who is having problems posted we might figure this out. Maybe I jumped into a surgery that was too unproven. I thought the years of experience in India and the Middle East were enough data, but who knows now. edited to add: the title should say "Does GSP change our metabolism?"

Hi Kandy, So you haven't had any weight loss, or you've stopped losing now at the 6 month mark? I'm beginning to think there are a lot of us that maybe this isn't working for. I am only 6 weeks out, but most of what I have lost is in the two weeks post surgery. I'm rather discouraged, and I know there are others that feel the same.

I know of 3 people now who have had severe complications post surgery. It is good information to know, and I don't think it should be deleted. I do, however, think that there is a complication factor with each and every WLS. Everyone should be able to see all the facts though, and make an informed decision on whether to have WLS, and if so, which one to pick. There were several reasons why I chose plication surgery, even after hearing of the other two complication cases. I think it might not be the right surgery for some, but for me it made sense. Thank you Lena for posting this! Hope you're feeling much better! Are you going to revise to another surgery now? Take care!

It's funny how different our bodies are. The more I cut calories, the more I stayed the same. I had to increase my calories and carbs for a little bit to get my stall to break. I think my body was in starvation mode. Mine started at two weeks out and lasted almost two weeks. Then I lost 6 lbs in a week. Go figure!

Yeah, I may have to take up donations for a boob job when I get to my goal weight. At this rate though, I have plenty of time. LOL! I feel your pain!

Thought this might be kind of fun if everyone talked about the things that they hated from before their surgery, that they hope to never have to deal with again. Here are mine: Going on an amusement park ride and praying that the restraints would buckle across my stomach. Never had to use an extension on an airplane, but some of the commuter jets made me nervous that I was going to have to ask for one. Having my stomach hit the steering wheel. I could either move the seat further back and not be able to reach the pedals, or have my stomach rub on the wheel. Grrr... Having to use an extension on my life vest while we are out jetskiing. Always finding a reason not to be in the picture!

The pain on the left side is normal...my doc described it as "your stomach trying to uncurl itself". My pains quit abruptly around the two week mark. Not sure about the losing your breath part, maybe you should contact your doc. Could it be that you are just weak and tired from the liquid diet? Either way, I would ask your doc. I am 5+ weeks out and have lost just at 20 lbs since the surgery, so 15lbs in less than two weeks is a lot! Congrats!

I am afraid of that too. I seem to be losing weight differently this time around too. I am not unhappy with where I am losing it, it's just different from what I am used to and that makes me a bit nervous. I am losing in my stomach (which is my problem area) but not any in my butt, so now that is starting to look big compared to the places I am losing inches. I usually lose pretty evenly, with my stomach being the last spot. It's always something!

I've thought about that now that I realize the weight loss isn't going to be as fast as I thought. I don't want the few people who know thinking, "well, she can't even do this right", and you know how most people think WLS is a super simple, magical, instant answer.

Proud of you, but jealous , lol! You go girl...keep inspiring us!

This is for everyone, but especially those of you who have lost quite a bit (even on the band or some other way). How well did your skin 'bounce back'? Did you do anything to try to help it? I am trying to remember to put a high quality lotion on my problem areas, but I am concerned that even though us plicators lose slower than some other surgeries, my hope (that my skin would have time to recover) may not come true.

Thank you-I'm right at 20 lbs right now (1 week and 1 month out) but I think I am entering a stall again. <sigh> MaggieDiva says "thank you"!

I have never seen a nutritionist. I came home with very limited food guidelines...limited as in they are not explained very well. I have been researching and then experimenting my way through my diet. I had bread last night at a social setting, because I didn't feel like I had a choice, even though I am only 5 weeks out. Regretted it big time..it hurt. I have never thrown up, and as long as I have not eaten anytime lately, can drink almost like I used to (water). Ok, so you had a Twix bar twice...I don't know about you, but the old me would have had a Twix everyday and never thought twice about it. I know some will disagree with me, but you have to live life...and sometimes that is going to mean eating a sweet once in a blue moon, or going out to eat at a fancy restaurant. The good thing is that it's not every day anymore, and you can only eat a small amount no matter what. Hang in there!

Was in a social situation last night where there wasn't really much I should be eating. I just picked at my food, and had a few bites of things I wasn't supposed to, because I felt like everyone would be asking me if ate nothing. Regretted it afterwards! I didn't tell any of my family before my surgery...knew they would freak out. Have only told my mother post surgery...the rest of them would just use it as gossip fodder and to put me down, so I said no way to telling them!

That is actually one of the many hopes I have with my surgery. I am always sweating, and I am tired of feeling like I am a freak. Hopefully I will get down to that point-good for you!

Not wanting to dissuade you, as I had mine done in Mexico and would do it again, but I would be prepared for them to speak less than perfect English. I went to the Gallenia in Cancun...it was beautiful, like a resort, upscale and clean. The contact person was Canadian, so of course she spoke perfect English (and Spanish). The doctors spoke pretty good English, but only 1 of the nurses, including the recovery room team where I had an issue and spent 3 hours post-surgery, spoke good English. I have had 4 years of Spanish in high school and College, but that was 20 years ago and I was in pain post surgery...it took everything I could muster to reach back in the cobwebs of my brain and find phrases and words to try to communicate what I was feeling. All night long it was the same thing. The nurses were absolutely wonderful in their demeanor and manner-sweet as could be-I really felt cared about! The communication barrier was just a surprise to me. We go to Mexico almost every year, and whether we are at the resorts or traveling through the central Yucatan region, most people speak some English, so I was certainly expecting the medical staff to speak passable English. Additionally, the websites of the doctors that do the surgery at Gallenia (there are several of them) all advertise the medical staff as speaking perfect English. Again, please do not think I am dissuading you...I LOVE Mexico, had an overall good experience with my surgery, couldn't be happier with the expertise of my doctor (he's one of the leaders in the field, and I felt more comfortable with him rather than going with most of the US doctors), was very happy with the medical skill of the nurses and hospital team, and would think about having another surgery there. Next time though I would brush up on my Spanish, make sure I knew key phrases (I'm having pain in my ......, I need.........., etc) and be a little more aware that the communication was going to have to come more than 50% from me once the doctor and contacts are gone in the evening. I was the last person of the day, and didn't get out of recovery until almost 9pm, so that made it a little worse in that all the day people (docs) were gone...if I had had it earlier I think that it might have gone smoother, as English speaking people would have been around during my recovery time and during the initial time of pain and my complications in recovery. Going to Mexico was really about the only option I felt I had. I would recommend it...just be prepared. Good luck, I don't think you will regret the plication!

The doctors all say this,but I for one had absolutely no nausea. I am just over a month out from surgery and have never had nausea once, so I think it depends on the person. I don't think the patch is a bad idea though, just in case. I heard that it really helped a lot of people post surgery. My doc just gave some medicine through the IV for the first 12 hours. Good luck!

Again, not that I am a big bread fan, but for comparison purposes, at what point did everyone start eating bread? What about raw veggies, like salads?

Congrats on the new plication! Hope you continue to be happy with the surgery,and that it gives you the success you had with the lapband, without the additional problems!

This is good to know as well! Six months seemed like an awfully long time!

Thanks you guys for the words of inspiration! Being on this board has helped a lot! The cute doggy picture is my bad girl Maggie, she's such a diva! LOL!

My doc just said wait 6 months on the rice because it can swell in the stomach and cause lots of pain (or early on could pop a stitch). That is good to know if you are not having any problems with it. I don't eat bread, but I do like brown rice occasionally!

Ok, so it's been a month and I am officially sitting at 15 lbs lost, and I'm down from an 18/20W to a missy 18, in some things I can wear a 16. Had a two week+ plateau there where I started regretting the surgery, but overall I am very happy with things. Went out to eat last night for the first time and no one said anything about my 'wierd eating', but someone did comment on how good I looked and how slim my face was looking...made me happy, lol! Hubby says that he can tell I am losing weight in my stomach, which is my problem area...I think that even during my stall I was losing inches there, as during that time I made the transition down in jean size. This has been the beginning of a long journey, but I can honestly say that if I had to make the decision again I would do the plication surgery all over again.

That's awesome...I couldn't even do that much in my skinny days!