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Where are you in your journey?
Choose the path that fits today. We’ll take you to the most useful discussions.
- GLP-1 medication Zepbound, Wegovy, access, side effects, progress, and support.
- Before surgery Compare procedures, plan ahead, and get honest pre-op answers.
- Post-op Recovery, food stages, symptoms, and support.
- Long-term Regain, labs, habits, and life after the honeymoon.
- Revision Explore revision options, complications, and next steps.
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Banded Plication
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
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Hunger Pains?
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?
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Stomach Cramps After Surgery
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
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plication
Dr Ortiz did my band, Dr Watkins did my plication,,, both are great,,,, I like that Watkins is in the States,
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GPS Update/My DUH moment
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.
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Salad
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?
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Salad
absolutely no problem with salads, I try to eat protein on my salad, but i eat some lettuce everyday
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slow weight loss
Hi Mw, thanks for your post! I needed to read that,,,
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Approved!! :)
Congrats!!! when will your surgery be?
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hungry too soon
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!!
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average weight loss with gastric plication
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!
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Not enough restriction?
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.
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hungry too soon
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.
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recovery time for plication surgery and return to work
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.
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My great GPS experience with Dr. Watkins
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