FatToPhat

I'm feelin' you too. I'm over 5 years out from surgery and have gained back 40 lbs. over the past 2 years. It seems like it just keeps creeping up on me. But I definitely know why it's happening. I've been allowing those bad habits sneak back in and now I'm struggling to get back on track. I appreciate SomeBigGuy's suggestions, though, and will give those a try! LMR422, how are you doing so far with it?

I had looked into WLS for years but was too scared to do it until I ended up on my back in bed for over a week with severe back and sciatica pain from 3 pinched nerves due to collapsed discs. That did it for me! I got WLS done within 2 months of that incident. I am only down 40 lbs so far but am definitely feeling the difference on my back and knees. I'm wondering if you ended up getting the surgery and how you and your back and knees are doing now?

Mike Dumas, Are you still on here and did you get the surgery? How are you doing?

Watchmeshine8, How are you doing now that it's been a couple of years since this post?

One anastomosis creates less risk of leaks than two and the SIPS procedure has fewer risks of ulcers and hernias than the RNY - per my MD and everything I've read. JDavidGraves, if you are still on this site, how are you doing now over 3 years later?

Meve3681, I haven't been on this site for quite some time but just happened to stumble back onto it today. It was encouraging to read your successful journey over the past couple of years. Congratulations! Unfortunately my plication journey was not as successful, however. Between pre and post op, I did lose about 50 lbs but after approximately 4 months my restriction started to lesson and my will power weakened. Your posts reminded me that it is not really about the surgery, but about maintaining good eating and exercising habits and changing our lifestyle over time. I am still struggling daily with trying to lose weight but am at a more peaceful place about it all. I am more worried about being healthy and it continues to be a daily struggle, but your posts remind me that it is still possible! Much continued luck and success to you! Robin

Sherrie, The plication is a WLS where they do not remove any portion of your stomach, but fold it in upon itself to create a smaller stomach pouch. It is a restrictive surgery and considered fairly safe, however, having had it done years ago with minimal success, I would say it is only good for people with a small amount to lose. Although, like any surgery, it is only successful if we put the work into it! Good luck! Robin

I have also read that there is a higher incidence of reflux and therefore stomach cancer with the MGB.

Four and a half years ago.....lost 50 lbs, gained 30 back. Not a successful surgery for me, obviously.

I too am interested in converting my plication surgery, which I had in 2011. Although I'm looking to convert to a bypass. I lost about 50 lbs over approx. 6+ months and then started gaining back slowly. I've gained about 30 lbs of it back. Anyway, because the plication isn't done as frequently as the other surgeries, I have the same fear that any doctor that tries the conversion, really doesn't have the experience under his or her belt. I hope someone responds that has had a conversion surgery from a plication.

I love it, Sara! Great post! Congratulations on the weight loss!

I can eat pretty much a normal amount of food. There are certain foods, however, I'm not able to eat as much of, like dense meats, hamburgers, etc. and I usually am too full for seconds, which is at least a change from the past! Once my restriction wasn't as strong, I think I got discouraged and started going back to the way I used to eat, unfortunately. I've often thought about going back and getting a band or even a sleeve, but I just hate the idea of going back for another surgery...and my insurance doesn't cover it, either. I'm already out $12,000 out of pocket on the first one. I hate the idea of spending even MORE money! But....I'm also not sure what else I can do at this point, either. Thanks for the info about tightening the sutures. I had forgotten about that. How are you doing with your surgery?

They don't use staples with the plication, but do with the sleeve, is my understanding. They use stitches with the plication.

I did the research, as well, and found that the plication surgery is considered one of the safest of all WLS. The theory on necrosis occurring is if the stitches are too tight there is a higher risk of it happening. Unfortunately for me, I have found that the restriction greatly diminishes after about 4+ months. Currently at over 2 years out, I have minimal restriction and have not been able to lose any more weight (although I'm not trying too hard, I have to admit).

GiGi, I was skimming through old posts and saw that your last post wasn't answered. I'm not sure who you were posting it for, but thought I'd answer it. I had previously been using Myfooddiary.com and have felt that it was the best site for me because of the format and what nutrition components it listed, etc. I know some people have liked SparkPeople.com. however. I quit tracking what I'm eating quite some time ago and now I'm putting the weight back on. I just hate tracking calories, protein, etc, though, this far out from my surgery. I'm going to try to get back on the band wagon and just try to make the right choices every time or at least more often than not! (I can only hope) Or I may have to go back to basics to get back on track. How is your weight loss going?

Yeah, slider snacks are my downfall, too.

To be thin - That is SO awesome! Congratulations!

I do still have a little restriction left. It's enough that I think it is keeping me from gaining too much weight but not enough to help me lose much more. I'm grateful for what I do have, though, because I certainly can't binge like I used to! I've had the plication since March of 2011, so that's a little over a year and a half.

Some people have been very successful with the plication, but I'm finding from my own experience as well as reading about others, that the plication is not for someone with a great deal of weight to lose. The restriction seems to be mostly gone after just a few months and the weight loss slows down or stalls, unless you REALLY work at it. But for someone with less than 100 lbs to lose, I think it's probably a good tool. Good luck and keep us posted!

Good tips for "Do's and Don'ts" at barbecue parties! Thanks!

So true CeeBelize....it is only a tool and our success depends on how we work with that tool!

For the first couple of months after the surgery, I was ravenous! I had hunger pangs so bad they hurt. But the consensus was that it might have been a change in stomach acid secretion, so I took Pepcid which helped a little bit. It wasn't that I wasn't eating enough, I don't think. I've heard of a few other people that happened to, as well. Anyway, it finally went away and now I have "normal" hunger between meals. The problem for me is that I still get QUITE hungry between meals. I don't think my hunger sensations have been reduced at all. So, I struggle with it as those hunger pangs really call to me!

I understand that some doctors will stitch the plication a little tigher than others. It's possible that might be the situation in your case?

Hmmm.....I REALLY don't know what I would do if I had it to do over again. I chose the plication because I didn't want half my stomach gone with the sleeve, plus I was concerned about leaks, which are less likely with the plication. I didn't want to go with the band because I didn't want to deal with fills, plus my aunt almost died from a leak from necrosis around the band. And I didn't want to do the gastric bypass because, as a nurse, I've seen a few people who are dealing with nutritional issues and anemia that are possibly related to it. So! I chose the plication. However, now that I am a year and a half out from surgery and have only lost about 45 pounds and feel most of my restriction is gone (altough I still can't eat as much as I used to), I am not so sure I would choose the plication again, either. I guess if I was FORCED to decide (as if that would happen!), I might choose the sleeve. Good luck with your decision. It has to be a personal one, so please do lots of research and thinking before you decide which one is right for you. Good luck on your journey!

In regards to whether or not to tell others about your surgery or not, I only told my immediate family and one friend. However, I regret telling a couple of those people because now that my weight loss has come to a stand still after only about 45 lbs lost, I feel like they are watching me and judging me a failure because I'm not losing any more weight. My personal recommendation is to tell as few people as possible. But that's just me....