FatToPhat

Gastric Plication Surgery or GPS (also called Imbrication or Super Sleeve) is similar to the Sleeve, but, instead of removing 85% of the stomach, the stomach is "folded in" and sutured. There are no staples, so risks of leaks are reduced and the remaining stomach size is supposed to be about the same as the sleeve, if I understand correctly. It is supposedly reversible, but, because it's so new, there is controversy about that. The thinking is that it is probably reversible early on, but the longer one has it, scar tissue may form and it may not be reversible after that. I like it because I'm not sure I can handle taking part of my stomach and just throwing it away, or having the malabsorption with the bypass, or having foreign objects in my body like the band. The drawback is that there aren't long term studies on it because it is so new. Some critics say it also leaves the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, so the risk of being hungry is there. However, I have heard that if the stomach is stretched, as when it is full of food, that stops the ghrelin production anyway.

It depends on the doctor if the amount you have to lose makes a difference on qualifying for the plication or not. I have about 160 lbs to lose and was told that would not interfere with my getting the plication.

Thank you, Dr. Watkins, as always, for your wonderful update and valuable information! LMom1980, I live in Idaho and Dr. Cottam is also closer for me and I'm scheduled for consults with him on the 16th of this month. However, I've also been thinking of having Dr. Watkins do mine, as well, even if it does mean a flight across country. Not only is his less expensive, but he certainly seems VERY knoweledgeable and excited about this new procedure. I will tell you that I have had a little trouble with Dr. Cottam's office when I've called. There seems to be a little bit of disorganization and lack of knowledge by the staff. However, the packet of info they sent me was very thorough and their aftercare program seems excellent. They also, try to have you do all your consults and labs, etc. on the same day for efficiency, especially if you're coming from out of state, like myself. If Dr. Watkins can get Dr. Cottam to give you a reduced rate, please let ME know, too! Otherwise, I'm still vacilating between the two!

Thank you, roller coaster, for your kind words and reminding me that obesity IS a disease and that I should pat myself on the back for not only being able to do what it took to lose that 80 lbs (although 70 of it came back), but in any other of my life's accomplishments, too! It sounds to me like you are a strong person, also, and that we both are just feeling normal thoughts and fears that are all a part of the struggle. Whenever I've wrestled with tough decisions over the years, my mother would always say to me "You do TOO know what to do!" and I would just take a deep breath and listen to what my heart would tell me is the right thing. My surgery isn't scheduled, yet. I'm meeting with the doctor in Salt Lake City on the 16th of this month for all the consults. I'm self pay, so the process is a lot quicker. They said I could probably get the surgery within a couple of weeks after that, as soon as I can work it out with my work schedule. I'm getting the Gastric Plication which is relatively new. That's why I have to go to SLC instead of having it in my own state. No one is doing it here, yet.

I know EXACTLY how you feel! I have not had my surgery yet (Plication), but I have the same fears because I realize I am addicted to food, as well. I have been afraid that I'll "go crazy" inside when I'm not able to eat whatever and as much as I want which is what I've done in the past. What others have said on this site is that your "addiction" to food will get better after the surgery. Yes, the head hunger is still there, but, as you learn new lifestyle skills, it seems to fade. Plus, it sounds like you get satisfied a lot easier on just a small amount of food. And you're feeling so much better, that you don't WANT to go back to the same patterns of eating. In regards to the Weight Watchers issue, I struggle with that every day, too. Couldn't I do it this time if I just try harder? I've lost 80 lbs on my own before, why couldn't I do it again? My answer to that is that I am 46 years old, am prediabetic, have already had a hip replacement from arthritis, have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, hurt all the time, am exhausted just walking across the room, etc, etc. I'm running out of time. The surgery is almost guaranteed to help me lose wieight if I just work with it. Trying it on my own hasn't worked in the past and I have too much to lose to try it again. I'm scared, too, about whether this is the right thing for me. I feel like a failure that I have to "resort to surgery", but I don't care anymore. I want a better life. Don't know if that helps. But I'm right there with you, on that same roller coaster ride!

That's really too bad about how the gallery is set up. And why would they change it? Yeah, I definitely need the before and after pictures for motivation! I feel like a voyeur, but, hey, whatever it takes!

Thanks for the answer to what NSV means! I am definitely also in the "before" stages!

I'm having trouble finding before and after photos of people who've lost weight with surgery - on this site. When I look at the gallery, only some of the posts have before/after. I have to open each one just to find out if they even have both pictures. Is there a better way to find these that I haven't figured out, yet? Also, what does NSV stand for? Thanks!

My Plication surgery isn't scheduled yet but will probably be sometime in March. I'm going for my consults on the 16th and they said, since I'm self pay, I could probably get it scheduled within a couple of weeks after that. I am freaking myself out every day, too! I totally understand how everyone feels. I'm sure this is normal, though. The one thing that has been helping me get through the fear, though, is reading people's posts that are on the other side of surgery. Most of them are so positive and say they are so glad they did this and are having great success. I sure hope I'm one of those, too. But, I'm still at the stage of saying "What in the world am I doing?"

Well, I'm scheduled for my consults on the 16th of this month. They said I could get scheduled for the surgery within a couple of weeks after that, if everything looks ok. I go back and forth EVERY day on whether or not to do this. But! I keep coming back to the same conclusion. That I don't think I can do this without help. And, even if I could lose 50-80 lbs on my own, I would still be obese. Yes, I would be healthier, but I want to be healthy AND be at a more normal weight! Reading everyone's posts on here has really helped a LOT.

Thank you all SO much for responding to my concerns! This is the first time I've actually "reached out" to others regarding this weight loss struggle which I've felt I've dealt with by myself for so long, despite the wonderful listening skills of my amazing husband. Just to have others out there who have travelled this journey along with me and before me and who are there to offer support means more than you know. In addition to that, I DO feel better after reading your responses. I feel like many of my fears are relieved to some extent in that it sounds like the first several months after surgery the cravings and "head hunger" is sometimes diminished, and, if/when they return, they may be easier to control because of months of learning new habits and ways of dealing with my emotions. AND, if I DO succumb to them, the surgery keeps me from overdoing it TOO much, unless I'm going for those wonderful 3,000 calorie Sonic shakes! Just hearing that it's O.K. to go ahead with the surgery and I will be able to "survive" those difficult moments makes me feel so much better. I realized this weekend that I have enjoyed YEARS of wonderful, yummy food and succumbing to the pleasures of eating. I've done that, been there. Now it's time to lose the weight, get healthy and have a different kind of life than the unhealthy, fatigued life I've led for the last 20 years. We only have one life. This is so incredibly scary to decide to go through with this surgery and "suffer" the consequences. I'm trying to change my thinking and realize that it's NOT suffering, it's CHOOSING to have a more fulfilling life. Thank you all for your support and congratulations to all of you who have chosen a healthier path as well!

Newbie here. I have been researching WLS for a while now and am thinking the Plication is the way to go. However, I'm deeply afraid of the emotional/head hunger that I will probably experience afterwards. I have realized that I'm addicted to food, as much as an alcoholic or drug addict is. So, my fear is that when I get that urge to "binge" or reach for the comfort food in times of stress, since I won't be able to do that after the surgery, I'm afraid I'll have a lot of trouble emotionally with that. Right now if I try to resist it, I actually have episodes of anxiety that just get worse until I give in to the temptation. Have others experienced that and how do you get through it once you've had the surgery? Since there is no turning back once the surgery is done, how does one move forward through those difficult emotional times? Thanks for your input!