mednar

I had this the first week or so after surgery. My physician put some type of patch behind my ear afterwards that was to be absorbed through the skin for up to three days after the surgery. I've long since lost that box, so I'm not sure what that was called. It didn't help that it fell off and refused to stick soon after I got home. He also gave me a prescription for ondansetron, an anti-nausea medicine that really seemed to help when I took it as prescribed. Another thing that he prescribed for me was a battery powered wrist bracelet that seemed to help me. I went home from the surgery center with that. I'm pretty sure i recently saw a similar device in the local CVS in the motion sickness department. My completely unqualified medical theory is that the slight shock that you get at the wrist every few seconds helps distract you from the feelings of nausea as your stomach readjusts to it's new shape. The first week for me was rough with the nausea. Hopefully your loved one has gotten through that by now or is getting better. Take care.

Quick update. Don't remember to get on here much anymore. Had surgery June 6, 2011. To date, I've lost 87 lbs. According to the BMI charts in the doctors office, I need to lose ~ 52 lbs to be "normal" BMI range. For me to be happy, I'd still like to lose ~25-30 more lbs. It's gotten harder to lose, but I also gave up on getting up 2.5 hours before work to exercise. Haven't replace that weight training/exercise, and it's slowed my weight loss down. I've got to find something to replace that with, or develop a routine at home. I'm back to walking again 5-6 days a week. Also still trying to train to run when I can. I'm up to 5 minutes running, 2.5 walk, 3 minutes running, 1.5 walk x2. Start a new week this week. The third run this week is 20 min running. Not sure how that will work out. Might have to repeat a week. My weight loss of late has been slow, but clothes sizes are slowly dropping. I've gone from wearing a 3XL mens shirt to a L, depending on the manufacturer. They all seem to have some different body size in mind when they make stuff. Hope all the "old" plication patients are well. Hope all you new ones do well. Take care.

it's diffucult to read this. I hope I'm not there in few months, . I think I just clocked 7 months out last Friday. Overall trend is to lose. My exercise committment has waned with bad weather (1 hour every other day walking and 3x circuit training each week, weather permitting). Both suffer during winter. I just need the sleep during the depths of winter. It's hindered my weight loss with rainy days and days where I just can't get outside. I can't speak for anyone else. I still have restriction. My overall trend is downward. The slope is less steep. Had my lowest weight last week, then had nearly a 9 lb flucuation upward a few days later. A lot of it is Water weight for me. Keep at it. Mednar

I didn't have any complications post op. However, many surgeons offer post op insurance (Bliss-care was what mine was called, or something like that). Since most health insurance companies don't cover WLS to begin with, and also don't cover complications from the surgery, it's probably a good idea to find a surgeon that offers that type of post-op coverage in my opinion.) You can opt into/out of the duration and extent of coverage, at least that was my experience. You would have to read the specific documents from your physician and discuss them and the insurance carrier to be reasonably sure you'd be covered during a specific event. Strongly suggest that you talk with the insurance provider to understand what you're buying with those policies. It was another step and another pain in the ass, but I felt better having it and knowing what they would/wouldn't cover. Traditional insurance plans don't cover anything regarding plication as best as I can tell. It's too early for them to make any money off the procedure.

Hope you're doing well recovering!

You are losing 7 lbs per month on average. That's great. Don't be too hard on yourself, but keep pushing. There are apps tracking food intake and exercise. Maybe one of those could help? You can do it. Keep at it.

Glad you figured it out. Hope you're doing well. I feel like my experience with plication has been positive overall. Day to day, my satisfaction is variable, but that's mostly because I really want instant results. Patience with myself about this issue isn't a virtue I possess in great quantity. I've lost weight consistently, but the scale goes up and down in small increments. The overall pattern is downward however. Hope your return to work goes well.

Thanks TjP. I need to proofread more carefully before I click the post button. Didn't realize I made that mistake I'll see if I can go back and edit it now. I think my surgery was 9600 dollars. I posted somewhere the exact cost, but I can't remember where. There were a couple of tests I had to do before that pushed the costs over 10K (a barium swallow/endoscopy and some blood tests). My insurance covered the barium swallow, but the NP at my employer didn't code the blood tests to my benefit. Not sure how much the barium swallow was, but the blood tests were about 400 dollars. Hope that helps..

Jamie Ponce at Gastric Band Institute in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Researched my options a few years ago. Wasn't happy with many parts (filling of the band, slipping, excision of stomach with VSG, etc). Returned to him when he began offering this procedure as part of clinical trial to collect data about how effective this procedure is. I've lost ~65 lbs since June 6. I have had to work consistently regarding exercise (walking 5-6 hours a week). I've even recently tried to begin running. Not sure my knees are up to it yet, but I'm doing it on my schedule. I've changed how and what I eat. I also get way more activity than I did before. I'd love to think that surgery did all that for me, but even with surgery, at least from my experience, it's still a considerable lifestyle change. My surgery has helped with food restriction. I feel full (though in a different way) sooner. I still fight daily with making the right decisions regarding food. It's possible to indulge and "cheat" with high calorie density foods. It's hard to say how much of my weight loss is attributable to the surgery or to the change in lifestyle. My experience has been that they are linked in ways that are hard to distinguish. Hope you find what works for you.

I had a long draft that I somehow lost track of. Regardless of the procedure that was approved, you need to weigh the benefits of that procedure against what your ideal is. If they don't match to your satisfaction, you have to seriously consider if someone else paying is enough to overcome the short and long term disadvantages. TijPlication has talked about her struggles and regrets, including what she would consider revising to. Please read those. I had all sorts of issues standing in my way regarding different procedures starting 3+ years ago. This has worked for me, but for many others they have had mixed results. For me, when I first investigated this path, nothing matched. I knew up front always that I would be self-pay. I made sure to review my options. When the sleeve plication became available, it met all my criteria. Even if my insurance had offered to cover another procedure, I wouldn't have been able to commit. At this point, making the self-pay sacrifice has been worth it. Gah. I was much more clear before. Be honest with yourself about what you want, research whether or not that's possible with what your ins. co. is offering. Above all, investigate your physician, their patients, and how happy they have been. Ask to speak to some of their patients, either during seminars or individually. Don't make a fast decision because you feel pressured. There's enough of a market for this surgery now that you can research the best procedures for your situation and your insurance/financial situation. I'd say above all, don't go for what the best option your ins. co. is willing to pay for at that moment. Reflect, Research. Reflect, then Reflect some more. Success and all my best, Mednar

One week might be enough. Hard for me to say. I had the summer off. I had nausea (a lot) the first few days, but tat faded quickly.

FTP is right. Moving in that direction is all that matters. I get so pissed some days when I know I've made the right choices and I see no results. For days. Or even weeks. I try to keep in mind that my doctor's nutritionist says that 4 lbs per month is what to expect in general. You're losing almost double that on average. I struggle with that number. Seems like it should be more. Don't beat yourself up for what you consider Halloween mistakes. Keep at it.

I spent nearly a year receiving "treatment" for a compressed disc in my back. My primary care physician at the time diagnosed me with a compressed disc in my lower spine. The machine he had in his office was basically a fancy version of the inversion machines that reduce pressure on the lower spine. He conveniently had the new machine in his office. I stepped up for those treatments because I was in pain and not willing to seek further surgical treatment. After nearly a year of those treatments with little benefit, the primary care physician at the time referred me to have a series of steroid shots in my lower back.. During the second or third trip (I think you can only have 3 of these shots per year), the doctor giving these shots asked a series of questions because the first shots had not relived my pain significantly. He had me do a series of test questions that required me to do things like touch my toes, bend over with my legs crossed, etc. It's been a couple of years ago, so it's hard to recall the specifics. The "steroid" physician then elected to put a shot into my sacroiliac joint rather than my lower back. It was the most painful thing I have ever been awake for, but it also helped. I weighed about 315 at the time. I gave up sugared soda then and dropped to around 295, my pre-plication weight. Losing that 20 lbs and doing the stretches the doctor told me about have helped me avoid a recurrence of that pain. Anytime I have felt my right hip bother me, I try those stretching exercises and they help.

FTP, I'm sorry to hear you're not well. I had a couple of years with right side hip pain that wasn't properly diagnosed. I was finally diagnosed with SI joint issues that required proper stretching techniques. Those exercises have helped me greatly. Doesn't sound like the same issue, but that pain is debilitating. I think we all struggle with making the right choices. At least I do. While reading your post, I was thinking about a big bag of Kit-Kat bars and snarfing them down. I think we might all cave occasionally. It's part of being human. I'm not sure it's fair to yourself to discredit what you've done so far. Stress from health issues is hard regardless. Hoping for your best. Mednar

Hi Doodle. I also had to do the 2 week protein shake diet before surgery. I could have up to four protein shakes a day. My physician indicated that it helped reduce the size of your liver which made the surgery easier to do. It was tough, but keep at it. All the best.

Lmom, How did your 5k go? I contemplated this for a bit, then actually had my first day yesterday. I'd read about it on here and on other websites. I found an app for my iPod that paces you while you listen to your music. I think out of 30 minutes yesterday, I ran about 8. Was kinda surprised, but I actually could do it. I have been walking an hour at day at least five days a week since a month out. I also do an exercise class three mornings a week. I'm going to have to rotate out the walking though. My feet were killing me last night, and I only did the 30 minute interval of walking/running. They were already uncomfortable from the walking, but not sure they can stand this at this point. Any advice you guys have on how to deal with the aching feet, or just in generalwould be great. It took me 15 minutes to walk normally this morning.

Hi Maddy. I wonder what you consider junk food? If by junk you mean fast food type food, having surgery in June of this year and changing my eating habits afterwards, I don't crave that any longer. I used to survive on that stuff several nights a week. Munchies to me usually means I crave salty, crunchy things. I had to retrain my brain away from wanting chips and that type of junk food (or at least try to retrain it). Instead of buying chips, I buy things like good pickles that satisfy that taste and texture sensation I want without setting myself up for failure. I don't often crave sweets, but I keep low calorie popsicles in the freezer so that I can have one and not stress if I want one. I still want chips and that type of stuff, but I'm also really more aware of how much longer I'm pushing back my success. All that said, I have to avoid the chip aisle at the grocery store or I still sometimes cave. I am a stress eater to some degree. A few weeks back, I was really tired and stressed with work. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home one night, and in a moment of psychosis bought a large bag of chips. I managed to eat a good portion of that bag over the next several hours. I also used to get the munchies out of boredom, usually at night. It was when I made a lot of bad choices. It's better now, but there are still nights when I get that urge to eat even though I'm not hungry. I can usually tell myself that I spent a boatload of money on surgery and have worked pretty hard since then to be successful through exercise and diet changes. I can usually change whatever I'm doing then and avoid a snack disaster. There have still been times when I've made the "wrong" decision, but I look at the percentage of "right" to "wrong" decisions I make now and just move on. Take care.

I'm glad you posted. I checked on here earlier today and was worried that you hadn't posted in a while. I hope you continue to feel better as you recover.

I'm fairly sure that I remember being able to drink normally soon after the plication (with water). I was on clear liquids and Popsicles the week after surgery. Clear liquids for me were basically "clear" Crystal Light type drinks, Water, and fruit juice diluted 1:1 with water. I wasn't chugging any of that, but sipping and drinking fairly normally soon after surgery. Hope you're doing well.

Mary, Perhaps some of the other female plication patients can speak up here. I can only speak for myself as a male. I lost 9.5 lbs before surgery (not sure what your doctor recommended). Less than what I (and my doctor) had hoped, but I had great weight loss for two months after surgery, and I've had typical results since then (4-8lbs per month). Follow your Doctor's dietary guidelines before and after surgery. Get your exercise in, drink your water, eat your protein. I'm less than four months out. There aren't a lot of other males who post here. I did exceptionally well the first two months, then dropped to a typical weight loss for WLS patients. Disappointing, but also understandable that those results weren't sustainable long term. There are a couple of people who post here frequently who are also female that might be able to give you more advice as to what expect. I'm sure they'd be happy to share/point you to their posts that describe their experiences. I still have second thoughts every time that payment comes from my paycheck each month. I would like to think it's normal to second guess ourselves. Even though I still wonder what my body's doing sometimes, this seems to have been the best choice for me. Wish you the best.

I teach an independent school where the employee pool is small enough that if someone sneezes, our insurance premiums double 50% plus a dollar the next year (only slightly a stretch). Part of my employer's effort to reduce healthcare costs has been to hire a trainer who runs us through routines M-W-F mornings at 6am. I tried this last year about this time without much success. I lost about 10 lbs, but couldn't control my eating. Without being able to do that, I gave up around the first of October. Once the doctor cleared me a month after surgery, I gave it a week (mid-July), then started again. It was easy to get up during the remainder of the summer and go. Not bad during the first weeks of school. I now despise that I require two alarm clocks with multiple settings on both (in different rooms) to haul my butt out of bed to get there on time. That's in addition to walking 4-6 days a week for an hour. I feel like I should be losing faster! Doing a plank for a minute last year wasn't an option. Never-mind doing alternate side planks. Today I did a set of two planks with alternating side planks. It took every ounce of effort I had, but I held it. Tonight, I actually looked at my arms. I've still got a lot of pudge there, but it's so much better than it used to be. Either there's more muscle there, or less fat. Not sure which, but either will do. My weight loss has slowed from the first two months, but my clothes keep fitting better. I had to buy new pants a few weeks ago. The really bad expand-a-pant waist that I've always wore (however in flat front, which I've never felt comfortable doing). I do have one pair that are not the expandable waist of that same size. I realized today that I can wear the expand-a-pants without needing the extra elastic. I'm on the last notch in one of my belts. The scale isn't budging much or very rapidly. I'm trying to take stock where I can. Hope you all are doing well. ChowChows - hope your GB surgery goes/did well. I'm lost as far as posting timelines go now.

Congrats!

I've never had issues with my gallbladder or gallstones, and it was never brought up by the bariatric doctor. I've had issues with kidney stone formation since being a teenager. I'm hoping the long term changes to diet I've made because of this surgery help me produce less of them, though I've already had to have one blasted post surgery.

Mary, I only realized in the last minute or two that you'd been posing in a blog. Sorry about not catching that. I hope that you'll do well. Holler if you need us

Bekrudz, As far as pain meds, my doctor gave me hydrocodone in liquid form for pain (I had none). There was also an anti-nausea drug (ondansetron) that I put under my tongue and it dissolved there (that was helpful). I used that frequently for about a week after surgery. He also prescribed an anti-spasmodic drug (hyoscyamine) that helped with my feelings of "something weird is going on with my stomach" while it was adjusting to its new shape. I think the last two were far more helpful to me in adjusting to nausea and the new shape of my stomach during that time. I was also given an anti-nausea patch behind my ear the day of surgery. It was supposed to last 3 days, but fell off the day after. My doctor also gave me this bracelet that required me to apply a gel between the bracelet and my skin. The bracelet basically sent an electrical pulse to my wrist every few seconds. I'm not sure how/why that was supposed to help. It was somewhat uncomfortable, but I felt like it helped to a degree. The battery in it lasted a couple of days. Different doctors say different things about what you can have post-surgery it seems. I was on a clear liquid diet the first week after having surgery. I think I had most clear juice diluted with Water and sugar free popsicles that week. The popsicles were the best part of that week. I loved being able to have something cold. I liked broth then as contrast in flavor, but I think my stomach had issues with the salt content of "regular" broth. After one mishap, I avoided it entirely. This whole process has made me more aware of the salt content in food (a good thing for me). Hopefully your doctor has a nutritionist that will have a consultation with you to review what the doctor recommends. Mine gave me a printed copy of what kinds of food I should eat in the first month after surgery. Wish you the best in your journey.