SLSH

I'm doing pretty good. I'm about a month ahead of you. I've lost about 22 lbs since surgery 33 lbs all together including pre-op. I feel like I'm losing slow but when I look back I'm pretty happy with the results. How are you doing?

I know I just answered you in the other post, but thought I'd put it here too. I went with Dr. Ariel Ortiz though OCC. He has sooo many videos. his website is very informative. He shows a 360 YouTube video of him performing the surgery. And there is a private (and public) Facebook group where you can get answers to questions. I'm 43 days out. I'm very happy with my decision.

This article just came out in my local paper. 8 people in my state have contracted the "super bug" in Mexico and one has died. There are many good doctors out there. But do not use Dr. Almanza. Every patient used him who contracted the infection. I personally recently had surgery in Mexico but I'm fine and I've had a great experience. I researched and followed the facility for 4 years before I made the leap. Please do your research. Cheapest isn't always the best. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/07/22/utahn-dies-after-weight/

I chose Dr. Ariel Ortiz with OCC. Soo happy with my decision. It was a good experience. I'm about 43 days out.

8 people in my state have all used Weight Loss Agents, had surgery by Dr. Almanza, and have become infected. One has died. https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/07/22/utahn-dies-after-weight/

The staple and the stitches he has been doing for awhile. More recently he started adding a few stitches to anchor the stomach in place. This will keep us from getting hernias. (They cut a bunch of tissue to get the big part of the stomach out and it can leave it more free floating and can cause hernias. This link explains what our surgeon does. http://edu.occbalance.com/app/public/occ/education/lesson/eyJpdiI6IlZcL1lqZTlIR1pmTEdMMjF5WHBWMDJBPT0iLCJ2YWx1ZSI6IlZIZURPVnNNOFNUVkRPSHRGTTZETUdLSDVMWWc1aGxFT3Y4c21hYk1cL1FvPSIsIm1hYyI6ImZmYTJlOGM2NGY1MjgxNWYzMWFjZTJjYWRmMmYwMmI1ZDhjMWI5MzI1OGQzNTVhMWIwMjM4ODkxZGYzM2M3OTEifQ==

Ninabnina, I'm also glad we find each other!

I've heard 2-4 oz. It is different for everyone.

Haha! I just typed up this really long response and then my phone glitched and it's gone. Yes dr. Ortiz told us all about the super sleeve. That sounds awesome because I think it will keep us from getting hernias. I once heard that plication is the same cost as the sleeve. Someone recently asked if people have regained weights. Two come to mind who said that they regained quite a bit of weight. Some said they have gained back 5 or 10 lb but that they were fine with it because they had lost too much weight. Most said that they maintained within about 5 lb. All of them said that you can never relax and eat the way you used to. You have to use this time to retrain your brain. I hope I can.

Well most of them it's not that it totally failed... It's after a few years they gained weight. Everyone says that this is a tool and you still have to do the work. I'm just afraid that it won't work for me. Even the people who say that it didn't work great for them admit that they are eating food they shouldn't. But seeing the success stories is amazing. OCC does a sleeve rescue. If after a few years you feel like your pouch is bigger, you can have it plicated to be smaller again. Several have done this. I just have to tell myself that it's not all over. I will lose weight and if I feel like I can eat more I can get it plicated. (Of course that's more money $$$)

Have you considered Mexico? Out of pocket mine was about $7,000 (I was low risk and this includes medicines and flight.) I had mine done recently with a BMI of 30. They had me lose weight to get to 215 to shrink my liver before surgery. (Check out OCC with Dr. Ariel Ortiz.) I wouldn't have qualified to have it done here in the United States so I went to Mexico. It was a good experience and I'm so glad I did it. Please don't give up. Find another way. ❤️

I'm doing pretty good. I start pureed foods in a couple of days (although I've had a few pureed things already). I'm starting to gag on protein shakes. I LOVED them in the beginning so I'm surprised I'm starting to hate them. Sometimes I feel my restriction and sometimes I'm sure I don't have any restriction. I am down 9 lbs since surgery (20 lbs total) so I can't complain. I'm just scared this won't work. I can't imagine being thin. On OCC's Facebook page I see everyone's success stories and I get excited, but then there's the handful of people who say it didn't work for them. I'm so afraid that will be me!! Haha. Long rant. How are you doing?

I am experiencing the same thing as you. I'm doing great. Liquids go down perfect. I don't really get a full feeling. I'm hoping when I eat real food I'll feel a restriction. I'm nervous. When I was doing the barium swallow, that doctor said that I had a long stomach. He said I would have good restriction but now I'm worried I'll be able to eat more because my stomach is "long." Hopefully it'll be ok.

I had mine done by Dr. Ariel Ortiz on June 10th! Maybe we saw each other at the Marriott!

Hello, I am 13 days post op and I'm doing pretty good. I'm on liquids only still for another few days and then I'm on to pureed food. I have already had some pureed food and I handled it pretty well. I'm curious how everyone else is doing who is post op. How long does your plan require that you be on liquids and what is the rest of it like? I'm down 20 lbs since pre-op (9 since WLS)

I had my surgery yesterday. Yesterday was rough. Nausea and pain. But today I'm doing well. Hopefully the worst is behind me.

My surgery date is June 10. I'm going with my sister and she's doing it too. We just decided and got our date last Monday. I'm so nervous but excited.

Or is anyone else scheduled to get it? I am scheduled to get a gastric balloon this Friday. I'm curious to see how it's going for those of you who have had it for awhile. I'm getting more nervous the closer it gets.

I thought I'd share my experience. I get my balloon out in two weeks. After two months I basically stopped losing weight with the balloon. I have maintained my weight loss though. (Through the holidays, and 4 vacations including a cruise) I feel almost no restriction now. I often feel what I used to think are hunger pains, but I know I'm full. I know I can eat more than what I am eating but that's basically because I'm only eating about 1300 to 1500 calories a day and that's pretty easy to do even with a balloon. I started with a lower BMI (28) and it's even lower now. I'm hoping I can maintain for a few years. And I will work hard to do that. (I exercise 5x a week and have for years) I'm not sorry I got the balloon. It was a good step for me in this journey. It allowed me a break from having to feel like I'm always on a diet and constantly starving. I feel like it got my head back in the game. I was ready to give up trying. I'm going to struggle with my weight the rest of my life and even though my BMI is 24 now, I am going to have to try to keep it here or get it lower so that I don't go back up. If I'm not able to maintain my weightloss, and I gain back my weight, I will get the sleeve in a year or so. ( my doctor said he would do a sleeve on me even if my BMI is 28.) The reason I didn't get the skeeve in the first place was because my husband begged me not to. But now he has agreed that if my weight goes back up then he would be behind me getting a sleeve.

After two months I basically stopped losing weight with the balloon. I have maintained my weight loss though. (Through the holidays, and 4 vacations including a cruise) I feel almost no restriction now. I often feel what I used to think are hunger pains, but I know I'm full. I know I can eat more than what I am eating but that's basically because I'm only eating about 1300 to 1500 calories a day and that's pretty easy to do even with a balloon. I started worth a lower BMI (28) and it's even lower now. I'm hoping I can maintain for a few years. I'm not sorry I got the balloon. It was a good step for me in this journey. It allowed me a break from having to feel like I'm always on a diet and constantly starving. I feel like it got my head back in the game. I was ready to give up trying. I'm going to struggle with my weight the rest of my life and even though my BMI is 24 now, I have to try to keep it here or get it lower so that I don't go back up. If I'm not able to maintain my weightloss, I will get the sleeve in a year or so.

I'm scheduled to get mine out at the end of May and I'm getting excited, but hearing about your throat makes me scared. I haven't lost much but only had 30 lbs to lose to begin with. I'm down 15 lbs and have maintained that weightloss for about 3 months now. I'm going to work hard and try to lose a few more this month before it comes out.

I had mine inserted today, 2/11/2016, and I feel horrible too. When did you start feeling better? I'm sorry you are feeling so sick. I didn't have flem issues so I'm not sure what to tell you. I used to get that when I was pregnant and had morning sickness. I think it just got better slowly over time. I hope you feel better soon. Your body will adjust and you will feel better. Hang in there!

I have had similar issues off and on. My Dr put me on reglan to help contract my stomach. It does help, but my stomach still empties slowly. Before you go to sleep, lay on your sides (alternate) for 30-60 minutes before you lay on your back. It might help. I can feel mine empty more when I do that. Sometimes I wake up and can tell I still have food in there freon the day before. Let me know what your Dr says

Just my two cents. Zofran gives me a terrible headache. I'd rather feel nausea than the headache I got when I took that.

Thank you for letting us know how it was getting the balloon out! Congratulations on your amazing success! You look great!