CeeBelize

Butterfly, I had my surgery done by Dr. Ponce, Chattanooga TN- Gastric Band Institute. I started at 252 and hoping to reach the 160-170 range. Seven weeks out I still do feel restriction and trying hard to keep it that way. I dont want my stomach to stretch so I eat very small portions throughout the day.

I am 7 weeks out and I have lost 20 lbs. I'm with Julie, it is a day to day battle. For anyone who thinks plication is a quick and easy fix, it isnt. With the exception of the 1st week after surgery where I lost 7 lbs, I'm only losing about 1-3 lbs a week since then. I was exercising by the 2nd week just to keep the weight loss going. But I cant complain-although I feel like I have to fight for every pound, losing is losing. Before surgery I would work out like a crazy person and see no results so to finally see a 20 lbs weight loss is slow but good progress. And quite frankly, since no one but family and close friends know that I've had the surgery, people at work and other aquaintences are none the wiser.

Mednar has a very good point. Several months after I had the surgery and started feeling normal again, I too stopped logging in as well. I have my one year appointment next month. My surgery was mid February 2012. I started at 254 and I'm 200 now so 54 lbs lost in the first year. My weight loss and slowed to almost nothing now. I havent lost anything in the last couple months and trying all sorts of different things to get it going again. I can say I never had a month of gaining so that's good. I eat more than I'm comfortable with although I havent completely reverted back to my old ways. There is a little bit of restriction still there. The doctor says the stomach is a muscle and you can stretch it back out if you're not careful so I try to be conscious of that.

Butterfly, I had my surgery done by Dr. Ponce, Chattanooga TN- Gastric Band Institute. I started at 252 and hoping to reach the 160-170 range. Seven weeks out I still do feel restriction and trying hard to keep it that way. I dont want my stomach to stretch so I eat very small portions throughout the day.

I am 7 weeks out and I have lost 20 lbs. I'm with Julie, it is a day to day battle. For anyone who thinks plication is a quick and easy fix, it isnt. With the exception of the 1st week after surgery where I lost 7 lbs, I'm only losing about 1-3 lbs a week since then. I was exercising by the 2nd week just to keep the weight loss going. But I cant complain-although I feel like I have to fight for every pound, losing is losing. Before surgery I would work out like a crazy person and see no results so to finally see a 20 lbs weight loss is slow but good progress. And quite frankly, since no one but family and close friends know that I've had the surgery, people at work and other aquaintences are none the wiser.

Butterfly, I had my surgery done by Dr. Ponce, Chattanooga TN- Gastric Band Institute. I started at 252 and hoping to reach the 160-170 range. Seven weeks out I still do feel restriction and trying hard to keep it that way. I dont want my stomach to stretch so I eat very small portions throughout the day.

I am 7 weeks out and I have lost 20 lbs. I'm with Julie, it is a day to day battle. For anyone who thinks plication is a quick and easy fix, it isnt. With the exception of the 1st week after surgery where I lost 7 lbs, I'm only losing about 1-3 lbs a week since then. I was exercising by the 2nd week just to keep the weight loss going. But I cant complain-although I feel like I have to fight for every pound, losing is losing. Before surgery I would work out like a crazy person and see no results so to finally see a 20 lbs weight loss is slow but good progress. And quite frankly, since no one but family and close friends know that I've had the surgery, people at work and other aquaintences are none the wiser.

I'm not sure what you guys are eating and drinking but may I recommend staying away from all dairy, and Protein Shakes in order to avoid getting diareaha. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery but I could stomach a little milk now and then and ice cream without any problems. After the plication, I was craving something sweet and decided to have a couple sips of a vanilla shake (it was only week 2). I had the worst explosive diareaha ever! Even ice cream makes me queasy now. I wont touch milk or ice cream anymore...cheese has been fine and I havent had any problems with my bowels since. I take gummi Calcium pills instead.

Butterfly, I had my surgery done by Dr. Ponce, Chattanooga TN- Gastric Band Institute. I started at 252 and hoping to reach the 160-170 range. Seven weeks out I still do feel restriction and trying hard to keep it that way. I dont want my stomach to stretch so I eat very small portions throughout the day.

I am 7 weeks out and I have lost 20 lbs. I'm with Julie, it is a day to day battle. For anyone who thinks plication is a quick and easy fix, it isnt. With the exception of the 1st week after surgery where I lost 7 lbs, I'm only losing about 1-3 lbs a week since then. I was exercising by the 2nd week just to keep the weight loss going. But I cant complain-although I feel like I have to fight for every pound, losing is losing. Before surgery I would work out like a crazy person and see no results so to finally see a 20 lbs weight loss is slow but good progress. And quite frankly, since no one but family and close friends know that I've had the surgery, people at work and other aquaintences are none the wiser.

I'm not sure what you guys are eating and drinking but may I recommend staying away from all dairy, and Protein Shakes in order to avoid getting diareaha. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery but I could stomach a little milk now and then and ice cream without any problems. After the plication, I was craving something sweet and decided to have a couple sips of a vanilla shake (it was only week 2). I had the worst explosive diareaha ever! Even ice cream makes me queasy now. I wont touch milk or ice cream anymore...cheese has been fine and I havent had any problems with my bowels since. I take gummi Calcium pills instead.

Butterfly, I had my surgery done by Dr. Ponce, Chattanooga TN- Gastric Band Institute. I started at 252 and hoping to reach the 160-170 range. Seven weeks out I still do feel restriction and trying hard to keep it that way. I dont want my stomach to stretch so I eat very small portions throughout the day.

I am 7 weeks out and I have lost 20 lbs. I'm with Julie, it is a day to day battle. For anyone who thinks plication is a quick and easy fix, it isnt. With the exception of the 1st week after surgery where I lost 7 lbs, I'm only losing about 1-3 lbs a week since then. I was exercising by the 2nd week just to keep the weight loss going. But I cant complain-although I feel like I have to fight for every pound, losing is losing. Before surgery I would work out like a crazy person and see no results so to finally see a 20 lbs weight loss is slow but good progress. And quite frankly, since no one but family and close friends know that I've had the surgery, people at work and other aquaintences are none the wiser.

I'm not sure what you guys are eating and drinking but may I recommend staying away from all dairy, and Protein Shakes in order to avoid getting diareaha. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery but I could stomach a little milk now and then and ice cream without any problems. After the plication, I was craving something sweet and decided to have a couple sips of a vanilla shake (it was only week 2). I had the worst explosive diareaha ever! Even ice cream makes me queasy now. I wont touch milk or ice cream anymore...cheese has been fine and I havent had any problems with my bowels since. I take gummi Calcium pills instead.

Butterfly, I had my surgery done by Dr. Ponce, Chattanooga TN- Gastric Band Institute. I started at 252 and hoping to reach the 160-170 range. Seven weeks out I still do feel restriction and trying hard to keep it that way. I dont want my stomach to stretch so I eat very small portions throughout the day.

I am 7 weeks out and I have lost 20 lbs. I'm with Julie, it is a day to day battle. For anyone who thinks plication is a quick and easy fix, it isnt. With the exception of the 1st week after surgery where I lost 7 lbs, I'm only losing about 1-3 lbs a week since then. I was exercising by the 2nd week just to keep the weight loss going. But I cant complain-although I feel like I have to fight for every pound, losing is losing. Before surgery I would work out like a crazy person and see no results so to finally see a 20 lbs weight loss is slow but good progress. And quite frankly, since no one but family and close friends know that I've had the surgery, people at work and other aquaintences are none the wiser.

I'm not sure what you guys are eating and drinking but may I recommend staying away from all dairy, and Protein Shakes in order to avoid getting diareaha. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery but I could stomach a little milk now and then and ice cream without any problems. After the plication, I was craving something sweet and decided to have a couple sips of a vanilla shake (it was only week 2). I had the worst explosive diareaha ever! Even ice cream makes me queasy now. I wont touch milk or ice cream anymore...cheese has been fine and I havent had any problems with my bowels since. I take gummi Calcium pills instead.

Butterfly, I had my surgery done by Dr. Ponce, Chattanooga TN- Gastric Band Institute. I started at 252 and hoping to reach the 160-170 range. Seven weeks out I still do feel restriction and trying hard to keep it that way. I dont want my stomach to stretch so I eat very small portions throughout the day.

I am 7 weeks out and I have lost 20 lbs. I'm with Julie, it is a day to day battle. For anyone who thinks plication is a quick and easy fix, it isnt. With the exception of the 1st week after surgery where I lost 7 lbs, I'm only losing about 1-3 lbs a week since then. I was exercising by the 2nd week just to keep the weight loss going. But I cant complain-although I feel like I have to fight for every pound, losing is losing. Before surgery I would work out like a crazy person and see no results so to finally see a 20 lbs weight loss is slow but good progress. And quite frankly, since no one but family and close friends know that I've had the surgery, people at work and other aquaintences are none the wiser.

I'm not sure what you guys are eating and drinking but may I recommend staying away from all dairy, and Protein Shakes in order to avoid getting diareaha. I was lactose intolerant before the surgery but I could stomach a little milk now and then and ice cream without any problems. After the plication, I was craving something sweet and decided to have a couple sips of a vanilla shake (it was only week 2). I had the worst explosive diareaha ever! Even ice cream makes me queasy now. I wont touch milk or ice cream anymore...cheese has been fine and I havent had any problems with my bowels since. I take gummi Calcium pills instead.

Ana, I agree that there are probably many other factors involved in Josettes results and I'm not trying to start any internet rumors or even disparage Doctors in Mexico. I guess what I am trying to say is Plication is a fairly new procedure and there isn’t a lot of information out there about it. I did say I personally felt uncomfortable going to Mexico for surgery but quite frankly, that goes for any foreign country for that matter. Also because of the lack of information, this forum has been a useful tool. If someone sees posts from several people who've had complications all from the same place, you would naturally want to consider that information before making a decision. Also Josette clearly says several other people have contacted her to confirm what were my own personal observations. I'm not disupting the fact that you and your friends have had a successful experience but I dont think you can dismiss those who havent. I also heard about the Dr. in Ohio. In fact I asked my surgeon about that case during my initial consultation and he told me he personally spoke to that surgeon himself and explained the whole situation to me.

It was not my intent to claim that I have all the answers and I did say in my post that I'm no expert and not to scare anyone but I do think that this forum is a place where people should be able to freely share information and post their concerns so that everyone who is thinking about making this important decision has as much information they can get..that includes the good and the bad. Everyone can draw their own conclusions.

I dont think any weight loss surgery prevents hunger. After all if it did, people wouldnt overeat after surgery and gain the weight back. This is like every other surgery, it's a mind and habit thing. You have to change how and what you eat. I could still eat all day whether from hunger or habit but what stops me is the really uncomfortable feeling I get when I do over eat (because the capacity is not there) and the fact that I am trying the change how I think about food. I also dont want to be a complete failure at this. Plication is only a tool.