ktb2904

Hi Here's an update to my earlier comments on what I was doing for my hair loss. So far (at 7 months) I haven't had new regrowth. Sticking with B12, Biotin shampoo, biotin,supplement and have added primrose oil, 1000mgx3 per day. At this point I think I'd use cow dung if I thought it would help........lol.least the lost has stopped, waiting on the re-growth. In the mean time I found that the Joan Rivers hair filler helps hide those slim patches. You stipple it on with a brush that comes with the product. Yes I was surprised it worked and didn't look fake. Sure hope I get re-growth cause I didn't have a lot per square inch to spare. Cheers, Katie:)

Hi, I went through a plateau too. My plication was Jan 27th, 2011. The first 3 months I call my free ride months because by following protein first etc, and water, water, water I had lost 41lbs. I say free ride because I didn't seriously exercise, I walked, ok, I more like strolled......lol........Then I hit that plateau......after 2 weeks I emailed the office(OCC).......I got a reply with some suggestions. About that same time I was watching a You Tube video of a WL buddy.....she said something that felt like a 2x4 on the back of my head. She too hadn't lost weight for 2 weeks then she said..she hadn't earned any weight loss either. She hadn't been going to the gym regularly as she use to. It hit me I had not really been doing my full part, ok it's true I can be slow to catch on to the obvious! Things started moving again after 2 serious weeks in the gym. My doctor told me that plateau was likely triggered by my body recognizing that weight level. It was true, I hit the plateau at 176lbs, I was that weight for over 5 years, before my weight started climbing to end up at 211lbs. I use the local rec center, and they offer trainers at a really reasonable rate. I know this is how my plateau happened, it's not how all plateaus happen. Hang in, it does get better. Katie

Hey Donna, Let me know if you get that script in MX cause I'm in Baja now(in the south), would love to know if it's worth trying to get a script while I'm here, just to plump up my current results with Revitlash. Thanks Katie

Hi Alcohol is not recommended, if I remember right for at least 6 months. Your tummy is so much smaller, the space needs to be reserved for the good stuff, and booze is empty calories, which during the initial adjustment and learning new habits, you may want to consider holding off on the drinking until you are well on your way to your goal weight. . Carbonated drinks are also on the no-no list, as the CO2 in the bubbles will stretch out your new tummy size. There is not much of my old habits hanging around, esp portion sizes. So far, I can eat everything except any kinda smoked meat, like smoked ribs when I was in NC on vacation. I do my best to avoid foods that are high in fat........for me that would be all those sweet baking things, fried food, switched to oven fried with the scantest amount of olive oil sprayed on from one of those misters................mostly it's how I prepare foods and portion size. I eat a lot of salt water fish(higher in protein than fresh water fish), seafood on the bbq seasoned with lemon or line and a tiny brush of olive oil. I also eat lots of chicken and the white part of turkey. Jenno O does a white meat only turkey pattie.......................33 grms of protein and total cal of 170. I have become one of those label readers...........lol............I use to think they were nuts reading all those labels in the grocery store..so now I am one of those nuts..............................lol.........I use ground white(not dark) turkey meat in any recipe that calls for ground beef. To tackle those veggie dislike........I started off grilling them on the bbq..................carrots slices thin and on a slant, aspargras ........................zucchini sliced on the long side about 1/2 in thick, the tinniest bit of olive oil brushed on and some finishing rock salt just before serving. So to answer your question, I eat more variety, which I introduced slowly, and smaller portions with protein first and no liquids 30 min either side of a solid. Hope this helps..oh in the beginning I cut any solid protein like chicken in to tiny tiny pieces, and still chew lots and eat slow. I'd say that was and is the hardest new habit to learn..............again hope this helps with some ideas, and that protein shake recipe I got from Lindsay on this forum, and it is delish! Cheers, katie

Hi I think for me cravings are a head thing. I've had them several times since my plication on Jan 27/11. Twice I gave in to the craving.................here's what I found out................it was the smell in the bakery that brought on my donut craving..................so I bought one, the one I thought I wanted most.......................broke off a bite, and immediately put the rest in the garbage. The portion was one of my old bites, it took me 4 bites and loads of chewing. I realized the smell got me, my eyes were doing the craving........................I gave into my craving in a controlled way. Also I notice that a tiny bit satisfies my craving. Pre-surgery, I'm not sure I actually tasted much of the donut or any other 'junk' type food cause my taste buds seem to only notice the initial bits after those initial bits the flavor or satisfaction didn't increase by eating more. Not sure if this applies to anyone else, just something I've noticed about my self. The other thing I've noticed is the less I have those 'junk or no-no' foods, the less I seem to crave them. Creepers, now I crave salads, and baked or bbq veggies. Cheers, Katie

Hi, I agree, don't worry about the veggie thing, I wasn't a big veggie fan either. I had my plication surgery on Jan 27/11................did the 2 slim fast and one meal per day plus said good bye to pepsi, which I know for sure I was addicted to. I didn't get hungry in the first 3 weeks, then I started soft foods(no mushies on my eating plan).......so soft food was anything i didn't really have to chew........like baked salmon, shepards pie, mashed veggies like carrots and turnips.............now those are yummy. I was also introduced to making my own protein shake from this forum...........1c. skim milk or almond milk, 1-2 scoopes of vanilla or no flavor powder protein, a dash of vanilla, frozen berries like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries. and for me 1/2t. of honey...................into my magic bullet.................so yummy................I switched not just what I ate bit in what order I ate..............so now it's protein first, then veggies, fruit and only then if I am still a tad hungry, about 1-2 T of say brown rice, or tiny baked potato. What I notice the most is prior to surgery I was always hungry................never felt full.........sometimes stuffed, but in a few hours I felt hungry. Now when I get hungry, it's like a reminder to eat. Now I eat about 30-35% of what I use to eat. I have learned by trial and error my own do's and don't's ..................I know some who have had surgery still feel bad hungry. If that happened to me, I'd be onto my surgery's office right away. Aftercare is part of what I paid for. So far I've lost 44lbs, the last 9 were much slower that the early days and that's okay with me. I know if I do the work and use my tool, I will loose the last 30 lbs. Everyone has nerves and loads of queries before the surgery,. so do ask. Cheers, Katie

Sorry Sandy, forgot to comment on the getting the water down, took me about 2.5-3 months to work up to 64oz. Not sure about the hour wait after eating s my instructions are to not drink 30 mins. either side of eating a solid. Is this what you meant by the hour thing? Katie:)

Hi Had my plication done Jan 27, start weight 211, current weight 171, on a plateau and in fairness to my pliction, I need to get my fanny out walking. I had no surgery pain, had so interesting gas discomfort...here's what helped me..walking.....not lying down within 30 minutes of drinking something.........GasX........think it took about 2 weeks for my body to get rid of all the gas it absorbed during surgery. The other true life saves was and still is chewable Papaya Enzyme, (Walmart), very tasty, and does a super job on gas, don't use GasX anymore, do keep the Papaya around. My surgery was on a Thursday, traveled back to SD on Sunday am........by Tuesday was touring SD zoo.........and I'm in the Vancouver BC area Katie:) PS Day after my surgery I too was out exploring TJ.

Hi, After my plication in Jan, we spent 5 days in San Diego, that included a day at the zoo(I did take the bus tour), shopping and walking around Little Italy. Our hotel was close to little Italy. I had lots of energy, although I was careful to drink lots of fluids. Enjoy your vacation! K:)

Sorry missed answering your other queries...........I wasn't a big veggie fan, now I have an effort to find more interesting ways to cook them like using the BBQ. No real pain from the surgery, some gas discomfort......walking as much as possible after surgery helps along with Gas_X strips and the meds the clinic will give you. Not laying down for 30 minutes after drinking or later eating, helps too. I walk, that is my main exercise cause I have yet to be hit with the gym bug, that will likely change once I'm back from summer vacation in late August. I didn't stop any meds except my ASA 81mg/day....................do be sure to talk all this over with the doctor's..............they will know best, not being a doctor I can't say for sure, but can't see any reason why a tiny birth control pill would hurt, but be sure to get this answered either before you head off for your surgery. Ask for a phone consult on just this topic, write out your questions so you won't forget. and being nervous is so normal..it will pass. K:)

FYI...........carbonated drinks are absolutely a no no. Those carbonated bubbles will end up stretching your new tummy. I was a confirmed Pepsi addict, and I say that cause I drank it every day, several times a day. Knowing what it would do to me is enough of an incentive not to waste the money I spent to have the surgery. The initial sugar withdrawal wasn't all that great, but now I don't even crave it, although my head occasionally thinks ...oh this is a time I would drink a Pepsi...but my smarter sides kicks in and I haven't crossed that line. I've read some doctor's ok these carbonated drinks 6 or 12 months after your surgery......but I'd be afraid to start cause I don't think I could control it..and why waste my precious calories on and end up craving carbs as a result to intro it back into my diet. Cheers, K:)

Thanks good information..................I did start using the Avalon Oganics Biotin B-Complex, both the shampoo and conditioner..........I have blond streaks and the shampoo has not stripped the color. I use Vitamin World brand Sublingal B-12 5-7 mgs microlozenge(which is 5000-7000mcg), wonder if the brand makes a difference? How long before you started notice new hair growth from the places you lost hair?? I'm at just 4 months out and have noticed in the last month or so loads of missing hair, and I didn't have much per square inch to begin with...................lol................so am really curious to when I might expect some re-growth. Per doc's instructions I also started using Rogaine 5%(it's the men's strength, an OTC in the US, prescription in Cdn, if you know someone one who can ship it to you from the states, you'll say a lot....also the OTC 2.5% I'm told is pretty much useless. In fact I think I got the Avalon Biotin shampoo and conditioner idea from this forum.

Last week I was at 171..yes I have had some hair loss, apparently that can happen between 3-6 months. My doc says that it's from losing a lot of weight in a short period of time and that it will grow back in. In the meantime I'm taking 5mg of Biotin, Vitamin A 10,000 plus upping my dosage of Vitamin D3 to 2000 units per her instruction. I have been using Men's (5%) rogaine, but that does take about a year to show results, and some people don't have any results with Rogaine. I buy it in Bellingham Washington as it's not available in Canada at 5%. I'm told the 2.5% strength available OTC here is pretty must a waste of time. I've had to learn how to make better food choices, to eat my protein first before I go onto another food group, limit carbs like pasta, etc as a rare treat. Measuring my portions is the only way I can know how much I'm really eating...........my eyes have always been bigger than my tummy, even more so now with my new tiny tummy. What I notice most is it takes very little to satisfy my hungry, portions control wasn't part of my life pre surgery. Now I can mostly eat anything I want providing I take small bites and chew really well. One thing I will stress for you........the golden rule of no liquids within 30 minutes of a solid food is something I am totally true to. Two times I wasn't watching the time close enough and the gas pains convinced me that it's not worth it. My first solid food at 22 days was poached salmon..never tasted soooo good. Now I eat a lot of fish and seafood that comes from the ocean........high in protein, with lots of those good Omega's..............Jenno O pouts out a really great white meat turkey patty..................5oz/32grms of protein and only 170 cals and it tastes delish. I usually will cook extra for the next day so I will have protein available on those days I go..hummm...what to eat, then I'm prepared not fridge hunting leaving no room for eating unwise choices. I have no problems with salads, and so far haven't found a veggie that's doesn't agree with me. I will point out that everyone is different. You might find certain foods don't agree with you. How we each respond is totally individualistic.............so what works for me might not work for you...............mostly we give each other support and suggestion, for each person it's trial and error, except for that golden rule I mentioned. If you have questions, be sure to ask, we all had many questions, and fears. K:) How much do you weight now?? do you feel tired sometimes or lose your hair?? And how's the diet going so far? Can you eat solids! What kinds? Keep on the good work! And thanks for the sharing :*

Hi Fellow plicators and soon to be fellow plicators......I had my surgery done on Jan 27/11; my weight on Jan 10th was 211, an on day of surgery is was 198.01. No pain from surgery, some mighty uncomfortable bits of gas. I think I was letting air go either up or down for about 2.5-3 weeks, walking as much and as soon as you can after surgery helps release the gas. I didn't find the post surgery diet that hard; I think I was about 3 weeks out before I even felt hungry. And then same amounts of yogurt, protein shakes, cream soups filled me up quickly. I did and still measure my portions because my eyes have been known to be bigger than my stomach especially now with my much smaller tummy. I have had to re-learn how to take much smaller bits, chew my food slowly and not rush my meals. For me if I happen to not be paying attention to my food, I will end up eating to big of a bite, not chew it properly, or eat too fast.......any or all of those will make me feel quite uncomfortable and lead to gas. My weight loss journey has been more than losing weight..............it's been about learning to pick better food choices, like protein first, or what the difference between real hungry and a time of emotional head hungry. I've had to learn exactly what that saying means...the one that goes like this............WLS is only the beginning and is a tool not the solution. The real solution is learning to do things differently. K:)

Hi Lindsay, Yup need to continue using the Revitalash....here's what I did, used it every night for the first 6 months.................my eyelashes are now extremely long, but like i said they didn't go darker nor did I end up with a line along my upper eye lash. I will say I was very careful by putting in right into the lash line. If I remember right took about 2 months to show results, friends who use it too, some took a bit longer to get the long lashes and a couple of others saw results in a couple of weeks. Once I had gotten to where I liked the length, I just use it 2-4 times a week at bedtime, There have been times where I forgot to use it weekly, but no loss in the long lashes. And yes if you were to totally stop using it, then as the new lashes grow in, they will be back to your old length. The product does not make the lashes brittle, which I have heard other products can have this side effect. It did grow back some missing eye brows too. So now when I go on vacation I can get my lashes and brows tinted and not have to worry about putting mascara on. Which for me is a bonus cause with blond eye lashes and eye brows, my face sort of lacks definition without mascara and Smash Box brow teck. Having tried several brands including the orginal prescription version, I find Revitalash brand to be the best I have found. If you start using it, let me know how it works for you. K:)

Hi Kelly. I had my plication done at OCC on January 27th. My weight has gone from 211 to 174.? in the last almost 4 months. I have had a stall, or as most know it a plateau..............so I just recently went back to the basics............640z of water a day min, protein to be eaten first, measure my portions rather than visually trying to guess. Snacks need to be a protein, or say a light veggie, or unsalted almonds. I have come to realize plication like any WLS is really only part of the picture....................it provides a tool .......then it's up to me to either chose to use the tool wisely or not. The latter doesn't help me at all. I also was not exercising regularly...................so no buring up those calories I carry around in the form of extra weight. I chose this type of WLS because it fit my life style. Meaning I travel alot, and often to places where there is no place to have fills for a band. If I were to do it again I would still chose plication.............or if I had more weight to loose then I would have gone with the Sleeve. My goal weight in in the mid 140's so in reality I am more than half way there. I think if I had a lot more weight ot loss say 100+ pounds, I might have gone with the Sleev. At this point it's only a guess cause that wasn't how it was. I have lost hair too, and I didn't have any extra hair to loose...............fine thin hair from birth. So I started taking 10mg of Biotin, 10,000+D3 plus using Rogaine drops, 5%.........yup the stronger strength.....................I can buy it over the counter in the States. So although I live in Canada, I'm about 40 min. to a Walmart in Bellingham, Wash. I saw a demertologist and she recommmed these 3 things to deal with hair loss. She did tell me it takes about a year for all these things to show results.....................so I keep doing these things even tho the results are way down the road. Hey sort of like loosing weigh...........ya do the things ya need to do........then somewhere down the road it all comes together..............................OCC is a great place to have surgery. Clean, Professional, and patient care is foremost. Maybe this might help you. K:)

Hey Lindsay, The prescription is about $120-150, depending on where you get it filled. I use this product I ordered online called Revitalash. Holy smokes does it ever work! Being blonde, my eyelashes are so pale and were very very tiny.......I've been using this stuff for a couple of years. In the beginning I used it every night right before bed. Now I put it on about 2-3 times a week, and that's enough to maintain. I have very long lashes, but they didn't go really dark as these type of products do for some. It didn't leave any 'stain' on my lash line. I just applied it right along the top lash line and then along the bottom lash line. Beware, it does take time for the product to work. I also use it on my disappearing eyebrows too. It has helped there too, I'm not as consist with the eyebrows as I was with the lashes. If I remember right I got 2 tubes of Revitalash for about $120 and one tube lasts me about 3-4 months. So a bit cheaper than the prescription. Let ,me know if you give this a try, curious to see it you get the same results. PS. I've have had those lash extensions too, very expensive as they put on eye single lash, cost was about $150 plus fills every couple of weeks. I gave up as it was getting so expensive, that's how I ended up finding Revitalash. One of the gals who worked in the shop where I had the extension put on told me about it. I think they were at that time selling the stuff in the shop for double what I got it for online. But that was 3 years ago, so things could have changed price wise.

Hi Feather, How are you doing, any closer to being able to book your surgery date??? K:) PS Have put my WLS tool back to work in the last few days. I realized I wasn't using it to my advantage, and have modified things I know will help...measuring out my food, no more visially guessing.............making sure I get at least 64oz of water, more if I can. Have to find time to put some walking back into my routine. I'm not too good in this area, so it's something I need to focus on. As frustrating as a plateau can be..............I know in 4 months at any other diet program I would not have lost 35+lbs(closer to 40lbs actually). .............anytime I've done say Weight Watchers, I can remember everyone seeming to hit plateaus regularly. If I was to re-do my decision........I would still pick plication and followed by the Sleeve. I just didn't like the idea of the after care of the lapband. Didn't work in with my lifestyle(ie, I travel a lot for extended periods of time.....didn't want to plan my travelling about fill locations. K:)

Hi, I had plication surgery on Jan 27th this year. I too hit a pateau at about 35lbs. I did a total review of my eating, ..........amounts, and specifically what I was eating. I had gotten careless and forgot this surgery like any WLS is a tool...........and I was not using my tool to it's full advantage, so I hit that plateau. So now I've gone back to the very basics. Min. 64oz of water a day...more if possible, measuring my food so I don't try and visually guess if I have the right amount or too much. I had discovered I can over eat if I'm not careful. I also went back to chewing each mouthful, enjoying the taste and feel of the food. The one thing I have to sort out is exercise. My home is under renos, so I am living with my bf.......so the walking routine is not there. So I feel I am not using my tool to my full advantage. I heard LT on YOU TUBE say something like this...............she wasn't exrecising and therefore not loosing weight........so she felt she hadn't earnt any weight loss. Such a simply way of putting it and hit me hard cause I realized I hadn't been doing what I knew I had to do to earn my weight loss. I'll let you know how I am doing as I adjust to being with the basics. It's not easy for sure, but when is anything worth having comes easy. Anyhoo, of late, that's how I've been looking at my WLJ. I have this tool, I spent the money to get it, so I'd better use it to my full advantage..............then and only then I believe I will achieve the results I want. Don't know if this helps at all, but it has helped me to see more clearly what I had been doing and what I needed to do K:()

Hi Oh yeah, I was nervous too, and as the day got closer, I got to a point where I just wanted it done. I was ready...............there are changes to be made including eating more healthy, something I wasn't doing before surgery. My cravings are gone, and I had a horrible sweet tooth. I live on the West Cost of BC so for me I had a direct flight to San Diego. Was in TJ Mexico from Thursday to Sunday mid day. The day of surgery I was pretty much out of it and the next day I was ansy to get released; 24 hours later I was wondering about TJ, wanted to see if their Walmart was any different than here. It wasn't except for the Spanish and they didn't take US dollars, Pesos only or credit cards. I didn't have any reaction to the surgery, no vomiting.........had lots of gas from both ends due to the CO2 that is used during surgery. The gas thing is normal and there are things yuou can do to help it. I went with my bf and we ended up adding a few days at the end to have a bit of vacation in SD. I had lots of energy. I know some people have reactions to being put out. You don't get released until you can take liquids. The blood clot issue can be addressed by just walking about every little while. Do ask the surgeon about this. I use to have a sense that I was always starving, just didn't feel full, and could eat a lot in one sitting and be hundry a few hours later. I don't have that anymore. I am satisfied with so much less now, maybe 20% of what I use to eat, and I don't walk around ready to eat anything and everything in my sight. I did ask Dr Ortiz about the hormone 'ghrelin' . I can't remember how he put it, I think the term he used is 'debunked' that therory. Do ask about it tho, so you get the information directly. What I can tell you is a very small amount of food satisfies me now. Something I never knew before, nad I don't get those ravious sensations anymore. In the first few weeks I didn't get hungry. Everyone is different....the best thing I can suggest is to match yourself and how you deal with changes etc to the surgery you're going to get. Do ask the doctor about this. One of the things a doctor will try and do is match you to the most favorable surgery. He can do this best by knowing about you. Hope this helps you and if you have more questions, do ask. We all have them and really there is no silly question or one that is too small or minor to ask. .Katie:)

Hi Humm, haven't come across this combination of a band and plication. I had my plication done Jan 27/11 and so far I've lost just under 40lbs. Starting weight on Jan 10/11 was 211, on surgery day I was 198.01 last Friday I was 172.0..............it is true my weight loss slowed down. My brains says that's a good thing because loosing it slower means it will stay off, my emotions arent as rational, until I remind myself barely 3 months ago I was 211 and bulging out of my size 18(the 16's I could 'peel on') and today I wear a size 12 which are loose, and need a belt and I do have a couple of size 10's too. These sizes are in the same brand as my larger sizes so I know it's not the marketing thing some manufactures do. I can eat anything I want.................BUT....90% of the time I pick the health options and most important I am satisfied with much much smaller poritions. The one thing I don't consume is any kinda carbonated drink as they will stretch out my new tummy size. And I was a serious Pepsi person..........for some reason I just don't want one. Maybe it's time to talk to some surgeons so you can get medical imput to all those questions you have. We all have questions, fears etc..............and information will help so much. Oh I will say I don't have those constant feelings of wanting to eat and I know when I've eaten enough cause I have this sense that I'm full. Sure I've changed a lot of things and I'm happy I have because I feel so much better. Good luck in your journey. Cheers, Katie