genepha

Julie6, that's great! Thanks for keeping us updated. Those of us that are researching, I think are very interested to know how weight loss and eating are going for those that have already had surgery. I'm hoping to have surgery in Nov. so I'll be going thru the holidays post-surgery but that's okay. I'll be on a healthier and happier road!

Hi Lisa, I lost about 110 lbs. with the band over the first few years. I had to have complete unfills for both my pregnancies cause I had severe morning sickness. Now I have reflux and esophagus problems I've gained back about 75 lbs but the dr. finally released me to exercise again so I'll be going back to the gym next week. I'm considering Nov. or Dec. for my surgery with either Dr. Rod or Dr. Corvala.

Carol, That's great! Thanks so much for keeping us updated. I am anxious to see how everyone does. I'm considering having my band removed and having plication in November or December with either Dr. Corvala or Dr. Rodriguez. Right now my dr. choice might depend on which days I can have surgery as I've missed like 4 weeks of work having my port replaced and a hernia repair... Grrr!

Hi, Congrats on your surgery date. Who is performing your surgery? Good luck and please keep us updated on how your surgery goes. genepha

Hi Tina, Did you have a plication or sleeve? I'm actually considering both, I'm just not sure which one is for me yet. thanks for any information! genepha

Hi, I believe he's mainly out of Juarez, Mexico but he also performs surgery in Tijuana which is where I'll be having surgery (hopefully!). My surgery is 7K because I have to have the band removed first prior to the plication. I think if it's just plication it's $6,200. You can do a search for him and find his information. I am still considering Dr. Corvala as I have experience with him from fills with my band and I really liked him and his staff. They are more expensive though - I think around 8K. Good luck to you!

Hi, I still have my band but it will most likely have to come out. I am considering the Gastric Sleeve Plication but haven't quite decided which procedure is best for me yet. My band dr. is pushing hard for the RNY but I'm almost positive I don't want to do a bypass. I was considering DS but during research I realized the sleeve is the 1st part of a DS and started looking into being sleeved. I'm still not sure if I want the plication or sleeve. I'm leaning toward the plication but there's not a lot of long-term information. I've had 2 surgeries already with the band, so whatever surgery I have next is probably gonna be my last! Good luck to you in whatever you choose and don't let others decide for you. genepha

Hi Ms Lisa, I think I will go in December. I'm not sure yet. I need to save some $$ first! I had to take off like 6 weeks of work when I had my hernia repair and port replacement. Now, I need the band out and am having plication so I'm trying not to take off too much time from work. Good luck with your surgery ~ I wish I could go in November with you!

Well, I think I've finally chosen Dr. Rodriguez for my Gastric Plication. My band will most likely have to come out and he can do everything at once. I have an appointment with my band dr. here in L.A. to check my esophagus (it's dilated) and if everything looks okay I can go ahead and book my surgery with Dr. Rod. I'll be having it done at the Tijuana facility, most likely in November or December depending on when I can get off of work! yeah!!! Now, I need to find 7K! Thanks to everyone who's already had surgery for sharing your stories. Keep em comin'!! genepha

Hi again! Thank goodness for these boards because I feel like I'm literally starting all over again. I researched WLS 10 years ago, found the Lapband, was able to get it covered by my insurance (after only 5 months of it being FDA approved). I lost about 100 lbs. over the course of 4-5 years. For a variety of reasons including having 2 difficult pregnancies, being on bed rest for 5 months, reflux and a completely unfilled band, I have regained about 70 lbs. In addition, 6 weeks ago I had my port replaced since it had been giving me lots of problems - it was flipped and difficult to access. When I went for my first fill after the surgery the dr. realized that my esophagus is dilated and my stomach is beginning to come up over the band - all bad news. Anyway - he left me unfilled for 8 weeks to see if my band, tummy, etc. will cooperate. In all honestly, I don't care if it does because I've pretty much had it with my band. I loved it for the first 5 or so years, and really appreciated it for the tool that it was. But now I'm so ready to have a procedure where I don't have to have fills, adjustments, PBs, etc. I do not want the RNY mainly because I know a few people who've had it and have pretty much been able to "eat around" it. I am also severely anemic so the malabsorption would be a problem for me. My doctors are trying to talk me into the RNY or the sleeve, which my insurance will pay for. I am definitely leaning towards the Plication. I've spoken w/ Dr. Rod's Belite team and so far, I like what I've heard. I'm also considering Dr. Jaime Ponce de Leon and of course, Dr. Corvala. I have lots of experience w/ Dr. C because he has done lots of my millions (j/k) of band adjustments! Anyway - I'm doing so much research I'm starting to become obsessed... Just wanted to share my story and let you all know I really appreciate your stories and thoughts. If anyone has had surgery with any of the doctors I mentioned, please let me know how your experience was. Thanks! genepha

I'm thinking about Dr. Rod as well. Are you having surgery in TJ? I guess he goes to TJ once a month so that's better for me. Since I'm a revision from a band to Plication it's a little bit more expensive but I think it's worth it.

Just as a comparison, my neighbor had Gastric Bypass about 8 weeks ago and is down 48 pounds. While the plication seems slower, the difference is about 1 lb. per week. That doesn't seem like that big of a difference considering the various surgeries and longer recovery w/ the GB. Most ppl who have plication seem to be around 35-40 pound weight loss at 8 weeks. I am a band to plication conversion (hopefully) so I'm interested in some longer term weight loss. I did pretty good with the band in the beginning, losing about 100 lbs. but have regained about 70 of it

Thanks! I live in Orange County, CA so Tijuana is only 2 hours away. I spoke w/ Dr. Ponce's assistant today and she was very helpful. Since mine is a revision I have to pay a bit more, but it was closer to $6,800. Not too bad, but not sure yet. I like the idea of staying here in the U.S. but I have lots of experience with great medical care in Mexico so that doesn't make me nervous or anxious. Thanks for your help! genepha

My band needs to come out and I'm looking into the GPS. Since my insurance doesn't cover it I'm thinking of going to Tijuana. I have lots of experience with Dr. Corvala but am not sure if I'm going to go there or with Ponce. I have experience with Drs. Martinez and Ortiz as well but don't think they have enough GPS experience. Any thoughts would be appreciated? Thanks!

I just spoke with my doctor here in Calif and he stated that Anthem BC does not cover it. He did state that BC will cover band, bypass and now the VSG (the sleeve).

It's totally normal after surgery to not feel much or any restriction. Restriction doesn't really happen for most people until after a few fills, however, it's important to follow your doctor's diet instructions. After the surgery I believe everything is swollen and healing so it is important to allow your body to recover and heal. Good luck! Jenn

I completely understand your frustration. In all honesty, it took me like 7 or 8 fills to finally have really good restriction. However, I was banded in 2001 and my drs were very, very conservative (still are)! :thumbup: Everytime I would go in for a fill I would hope that it would be the *one*. After a complete unfill for the past year or so (due to bed rest and pregnancy) I am back on a sloooow re-fill schedule. Dr.s have you wait between fills for a reason and like many others have said, fills can take time to settle in. My fills usually work the opposite way, really tight in the beginning and then gradually loosen up. I hope you find restriction soon... hang in there, stick to the bandster rules and exercise and you will be fine! Jenn

When I spoke w/ my dr. about pbing or vomiting he told me that if that happens I should switch to a liquid/mushy diet for the rest of the day. Since my last fill, I have been pretty tight and I notice that I can eat better during the day. I usually have a protein shake in the morning, yogurt mid-morning, a regular meal at lunch (ex: chicken, veggie, etc.) and then a small, easy to digest meal in the early evening. I never eat past 6 p.m. and this has helped a lot with reflux, heartburn and any pb issues. I have noticed the most difficult thing about being tight again after being unfilled for almost 2 years is that I have to really concentrate on chewing and pay close attention to portion and bite size. I just recently got this fill so I am waiting a week or so to see if it loosens up a bit. I don't like being this tight as I am anxious about slippage and reflux. Hope this helps. Jenn

I almost always have the lidocaine. My port is extremely difficult to access and I have to get into many different positions even with flouro. I am usually standing up to have a fill! My port is flipped but at this point the dr. is still able to access it. He told me that next time, if it is as difficult to access as it has been the last 2 times, then I should probably have my port replaced. It doesn't seem to be a difficult procedure so I am considering the replacement. I am happy for those of you that have easy fills but it's not like that for everyone. Jenn

I have had a similar experience with fills. I will lose a quick 5-10 lbs. in the first 2 weeks or so after a fill and then slow down to about 1-2 lbs. a week. I usually get another fill if I find I'm following all the rules, journaling, exercising, etc and still not losing or if I'm noticing I'm a lot hungrier than usual! :thumbup: Jenn

My doctor told me this as well but I was banded in 2001. I believe that the statistics have changed since so many more ppl have been banded since then. I had lost over 100 lbs. before being completely unfilled with 2 pregnancies and am now trying to lose baby and bed rest weight. I agree with what many others have said in that determination, mind-set and exercise are crucial to losing weight. Good luck! Jenn

I also have experienced this when I am filled quite tight. It especially happens if I drink something too quickly or something cold. When I eat I have to make sure I put my fork down between bites and think about how much I chew. It's a process but I seem to be having success! good luck. Jenn

My answer is a bit different because I have been banded for over 7 years and have been completely unfilled twice due to difficult pregnancies (not band related, just horrible morning sickness and other complications). Before my children I had something like 7 or 8 fills before I felt what I considered really good restriction. At fill 3 or 4 I was getting sooo frustrated because my doctor was overly conservative. This was in the very early stages of the band being used in the U.S. so I think the dr.s were more apprehensive about fills. I finally ended up going to Tijuana and seeing more experienced doctors. After 2 more fills with the TJ doctors I finally had good restriction. I was a very slow loser but ended up losing over 100 lbs. I lost about 35 lbs. the first year and another 70 or so the next year and a half. Unfortunately, I was placed on bed rest with both my pregnancies and had been unfilled which led to me to gain about 70 lbs. back :thumbup:. However, I have had 3 fills since having my daughter 9 months ago and have lost about 25 lbs.!! I just had another fill and this one seems to be quite restrictive but it's a little too early to tell yet! My fills usually relax after a week or so. Good luck to you!! Jenn

I also have a lot of difficulties with the doctors finding my port. I always have fills under fluoro at the hospital and it still takes them like 5-10 tries before they get it. It is very frustrating!!! My port is tilted and a revision may be necessary but for now I am filled just right so things are good. The drs and I finally discovered that I need to be standing for them to access my port! The things we go through for a fill!!:rolleyes2:

Thanks for this great challenge! After having a complete unfill for 11 months due to a very difficult pregnancy and being on bed rest for 5 months I need this! I have only had 1 small fill since I had my daughter 5 months ago so this will make it a bit more challenging but I'm up for it! Starting weight: 290 Current weight: 252 Goal weight: 199 or less Need to lose: 53 lbs Thanks for the motivation! Jenn