JoanieW

Hi Amy. I hesitated to respond because I don't think I'm the norm. I can take large gulps of drinks now that I couldn't before. I don't think I can down a cup of coffee in five minutes, but I don't think I ever have been able to do that.:thumbup: The other day, I was coming home from a store where I bought a 16 oz fusion drink and had drunk about 12 ounces by the time I got home, about 15 minutes. (note to self: If you change your mind about the flavor, make sure you pick up the sugar free. I thought it taste too good to be true). A day in my life is no different than it ever was, except I have to plan ahead a little. I'm not on "regular food" yet, so if I get hungry I can't just run through a drive through like I used to. I am hungry about every two hours, but from what I"ve heard, that should get better. I have stopped at McDonald's once with my husband and I had yogurt, and I found out that a small smoothie there is made with yogurt and has only 210 calories and 2 gm of Protein. I did do that once. You can't see the incisions unless you go topless.:confused1:

Congratluations! I'm happy for you. What is your preop diet like?

Hey Everybody. Well, I did it. I had my surgery on 8/6. The surgery went fine, and we drove seven hours home the day after. Dr. Watkins and staff were wonderful. He said he would take good care of me, and he did. He repaired a lot of scar tissue from my previous surgeries I had and a hiatal hernia. He is a hiatal hernia super sleuth. He said he doesn't just repair them if he sees them, he takes out his spy glass and goes looking for them. I did go through a stage of, "what the @#$% did I do to myself," but that passed quickly enough. I had very little pain and only some nausea after I drank, but I'm feeling much better today and start mushies tomorrow. My preop diet started on 7/29, and since then, I have lost 13 pounds. WooHoo!!! This is for you, Dr. Wakins: :thumbup1:

Thank you all so much for your well wishes! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Hi Dr. Watkins. Thanks for making things so clear and for actually responding. I had a question posed to me today by a doctor, and he asked me won't the two sides that have been invaginated eventually stick together, making the surgery irreversible? Any comments on that? Thanks!!

Amy, I definitely made the right decision and have no regrets, even if I do get hungry. According to CK, it should get better for me. I'll keep all of you posted on that.

Ck, thanks for the tip on livestrong.com. I went in and added up all my calories for the day, and realized I had eaten more than I thought, 1100. I was thinking it was around 900. Great reality check.

Thanks CK. That is so encourgaging to know.

Amy, I have low blood sugar but have not had any problems yet. Doesn't mean I won't, though. I have been very hungry, real hunger with my stomach growling. It sounds like I'm not the norm, because most people say they don't. The growling is a little uncomfortable in my tummy, but it doesn't take much food to stop it. I have been very disappointed about the hunger part of this, but It's still better than that awful feeling I used to have after I had pigged out the night before and felt like I had a food hangover. I'm hoping this will change once I'm on regular food. liquids have always gone right through me. I'm learning that everyone is so different. Joanie

Thanks so much Amy! I can recommend Dr. Watkins wholeheartedly. I had a dream (nightmare) last night that I had been on a diet and lost a lot of weight, but had messed up and pigged out. Then I couldn't stop eating, just like I always have done in the past. When I woke up this morning, I was so depressed because I had blown it once again. Then I remembered that it was a dream and that I can't pig out anymore, and it was such a relief. That dream told me that I had done the right thing. I wish you all the best and know you will make the right decision for you. I can tell you're a super sleuth, too.:thumbup: Joanie

Hi Jenny. I had my surgery last Fri. and did not wake up with intolerable pain or vomiting. In fact, I have taken no pain meds since surgery and have not vomited once. Everyone is nervous about surgery, but usually the anticipatory anxiety is 100 times worse than the actual event. You'll do fine!

Me too Mari. My surgery is Friday. How has your preop diet been going? Joanie

Hi Penny. Welcome to the board! It's good to hear from the brave soldiers who have gone before us. :-) My surgery is scheduled for this Friday. Way to go on your weight loss. That's amazing. Joanie

Oops! Wrong surgery date. It should be Aug. 6.

Welcome, Nikki. When is your surgery scheduled. Keep us posted on your progress. Joanie

Hello MG. Thanks for asking about me. The consultation went great. I was really impressed by Dr. Watkins and his staff. They all adore him. I started my liquid diet on Friday. It's only been two days but seems like forever. I only have to do a week because my BMI is a little lower. Notice how I didn't say low, because it's not. When I first called the office, I went ahead and scheduled the consultation and the surgery at the same time, so it's only been about two weeks. I didn't want to wait any longer. What's your story?

Hi Bird. I just came back from a consultation with Dr. Watkins. I'm scheduled for Aug.3. I think he's a very caring and dedicated professional, and I know I made the right choice. Welcome to the boards. Hope today is better for you.

Good to have you with us.

Hi Ellen. I will be getting gastric plication from Dr. Watkins in Cincinnati on Aug 6. I live about six hours away from him, so I am leaving today for consultation with him tomorrow. I am so happy this went so well for you and that you are happy. Can I call you a loser? :-)

Congratulations! You're an inspiration.

Thank you, Ellen. How was your surgery and where did you have it done? Joanie

Thank you, momrn and welcome. I'm glad you posted. I trust what you had to say and feel much better about having this procedure which is going to be on 8/6. Joanie

Welcome Ellen. Here's a big WOOHOO! on your 20 pound weight loss. Joanie

The last time I checked on Dr. Watson's stats, he had done five plications. No one in the US is going to have very many under their belt. Dr. Watkins is charging me $10,000 for self pay. Dr. Cottam in Utah is charging around $6300, but I just couldn't get him to call me back in a timely manner. I waited two weeks for a phone consultation, and he never called. Then I waited another week, and he never called. When I did finally speak to him, he said he would have someone in the office call me, but no one ever did, so I called Dr. Watkin's office, and they were on the ball! I think Dr. Cottam is a good doctor, but I wanted to do this and I didn't want to wait any longer. It would have also been another six weeks before the surgery, because they have a catheter made specially for that patient and it takes six weeks after they order it. Dr. Watkins is going to Utah to scrub in with Dr. Cottam next week and to share information with each other. There is a doctor at the Univ of Fla that is doing them, but when I called his office, I got the run around. I was never able to get any info. It may be different now, because that was over a month ago. Yes, I did have a physical with my doctor who did all my blood work, and Dr. Watkins will be using that information. The office said they didn't want to repeat blood work if they didn't have too. They will let me know if there is anything else they require when I see them on Thurs. Thanks for sharing the info that you find.