FatToPhat

Yes! Sounds great!

While I agree with Lena that the weight loss can be very slow with the plication and there are many people struggling with that on here, I do not agree that the sleeve is safer. I did quite a bit of research on the plication and sleeve and felt the plication was definitely the safer choice as sleeves have a higher incidence of leaks. Unfortunately, Lena had a horrible experience with complications with the plication, and I thank her for sharing her experience so that people will know that complications can happen with ANY of the weight loss surgeries. And I'm not quite sure what is meant by the sleeve being "approved" and implying the plication is not. The plication is no longer on clinical trials and is being done widespread across the country. Also, there are MANY people on both this website and the Vertical Sleeve site who have had wonderful experiences in Mexico. Although I agree there isn't the opportunity to sue if something goes wrong like you would in the US, which is one of the reasons I chose a US doctor.

If you're a sweet craver, they say that after you've restricted your carbs quite a bit for a few days those cravings go away. I wouldn't know, as I could never get more than a day or 2 on really restricted carbs!

Love it! You go girl! (O.K., now I get the "plixie" comment...cute!)

Oh yes! Old habits are hard to break. I almost wished I COULD have hurled!! Just sitting there hurting for a half hour or more until the pain went away was not a lot of fun either! I still catch myself putting the old serving size on my plate without thinking and then trying to finish it all because of my old behaviour of never wanting to waste any food, especially GOOD food!

Plixies??

I have heard that it is typical to start losing hair between 3 to 9 months post op. I have read that nothing will really stop the loss, but that the Biotin helps with regrowth. The theory is that it is not only from the stress of the surgery, but also the anesthesia, in addition to the change in nutrition. My hair also started coming out a lot more at about 4 months. No bald spots, though, just a lot of hair in the brush, on my pillow and in the shower. And I know I'm getting enough nutrition so I know it is not that. Do not worry. It WILL grow back and stop falling out, but it might take a few more months. I have read that hair starts falling out about 3 months after any stressful time in someone's life. It will get better. Hang in there.

Yeah, the malpractice law was one of the reasons I wanted to have it done in the US. Things are still going well, although this month I didn't lose any weight. I didn't GAIN, either, so that's good. I think it's because I haven't been tracking what I've been eating and, even though I think I'm eating good, it's probably a lot more calories than I think it is!

Hi, yes, I did use Dr. Cottam for my plication surgery. My research indicated that he is one of the first few surgeons that was doing the Plication in the United States and that he has a reputation of being very knowledgeable and experienced in this particular procedure. So much so, that I have heard the use of the Endoflip as being called "The Cottam Technique" He is very funny and has a unique sense of humor. I liked him from the start and felt very safe in his surgical skills, especially with this newer procedure. However, I will say that he did not impress me after the surgery when I asked him the next morning if I had a hiatal hernia that he had to repair. He said he did a lot of surgeries that day and didn't remember. When I joked with him about whether he could even remember my name, he said "Does it matter?" He may have been joking, but it didn't make me feel very special. I also have felt that his office staff are very disorganized and they have not followed up with me at all, even after I contacted them and asked for information, support, etc. to be given via email as I live in another state. If you live in Utah and can go to all the followup apts, they might be o.k., but I feel they have not shown any concern for me since I'm out of state, out of mind.

Thanks for the link! It looks like it has some great recipe ideas.

I have heard nothing but positive things from those that have gone to Mexico.

The last couple of weeks I have not been paying much attention to what I've been eating nor have I been very good at working out. Prior to my surgery this would have been cause for a great deal of stress and very definitely a weight gain of at least 5 lbs or more. But I just realized that instead of majorly overeating and gaining lots of weight and having lots of guilt, etc., I have been fluctuating up and down the same 2-3 lbs, have not felt like I've eaten everything in the house but the kitchen sink and don't have the same level of stress, anxiety, and guilt about it as I used to! I'm just having an "off" couple of weeks and I'm still able to maintain my weight! What a great feeling!

I agree with ChowChows. If your overall health is good and you don't have such extreme comorbidities that would cause you to be at too high of risk for ANY surgery, I think it's definitely not too old! I know of 85 year olds getting hip replacements and coming through them just fine.

FeFe, I am SO glad this is working for you!! It sounds like you are doing great. KUP on how you're doing as you progress. We all love success stories!

And YAYYYY for YOU, too!!

Thanks for the info on how to do this. I actually would like to upload some, but I've taken my picture every month since surgery and just haven't felt like the weight loss has been noticeable enough to post pictures, yet, but I'm hoping soon! I hope others will upload their pictures, too, though.

Hey Grandma! Best of luck to you on your upcoming surgery. Keep up that positive attitude and I'm sure you will be a great success!

That's awesome that you are doing so well this soon after surgery! Congratulations!

That is SO awesome! Great benchmark, as you said. I've been stuck gaining and losing the same 2-3 lbs the last 2 weeks, but I got on the Elyptical today to try to break that stall. Slow losers unite!

Thanks Mednar! I love what you said about it not having been any easier BEFORE!!! How true!!!

Even though I'm down about 40 lbs, most of my clothes still fit, only looser, because they were pretty tight to begin with as I refused to buy more clothes. But I haven't lost enough to fit into some of my smaller clothes that I've saved. So, I decided to buy some more outfits today to perk me up and make me feel better. Retail therapy!! But, it backfired! Those mirrors belong in torture chambers!! I looked horrible in them and couldn't find anything to fit or flatter me! I felt totally defeated and like I hadn't even made any progress. I did manage to find 2 shirts that made me feel better, but they were black and I was trying so hard to get away from just boring black which is what I've been wearing a lot of lately. Anyway, I sure hope this gets better. I would totally love to be a clothes hound someday!

That's totally awesome! What a great feeling!

I'm a strong advocate in wearing seatbelts. I used to work for an injury attorney and I learned early on that seatbelts DO make a difference! But when my weight was at its highest, I just could NOT get the seatbelt in my car buckled! I looked into the cost of a seatbelt extension and I remember it was pretty expensive, but can't remember exactly how much. Anyway, since I've lost 40 lbs, I can finally get the seatbelt buckled again comfortably!!! Yeah, safety first!

Good luck tomorrow, Anne!