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Hi everyone! I am currently looking into my 3rd WLS procedure. I was banded in Dec, 2001. Had a few problems with band tubing, port and had a hernia repaired over the years, which required more surgical procedures. I had 2 successful band babies but was on bed rest with our daughter for 5 months so I gained most of my weight back. Overall, I'd lost about 100 pounds with the band over about a 3 year time period before pregnancies & babies. I started looking into revision about 3 years ago and had seriously considered the sleeve but my doctor at the time had some strong reservations about me converting to the sleeve. I can not have the RNY due to anemia issues so I wasn't left with many options. I decided on revising to a banded plication. I was my doctor's very first plication patient. I did quite well in the first 6 months with the plication but slowly realized that my restriction was gone. In addition, I found out my band slipped (again) so I started looking into revising yet again. I switched surgeons and my new doctor seems very confident that I will be able to convert to a sleeve. I had an endoscopy a few weeks ago and my doctor saw that the plication was not done in the best way to maximize weight loss and that my band had slipped. I am awaiting final approval for the sleeve revision surgery and am scheduled for June 24, 2013. I am confident that the sleeve will work for me, if I work for it :-) My concern is an unusual one...I am a teacher but my husband and I also have a business designing and selling vintage style, retro clothing for plus-size men and women. Part of our business involves going to shows and selling our products in person. Because I am plus size, my customers understand why I have a passion for designing clothes for "us". If I am no longer plus-size, I am worried this will negatively effect our business and our clothing line...I prefer a curvy shape and I feel the most comfortable around a size 10-12 so I plan on continuing making and designing clothes since finding plus-size retro style clothing can be quite challenging. Anyway, this is something that is really concerning me...not sure if I should be as worried about it as I am but I guess it is something to consider. Sorry for being long and rambling...Thanks for reading ~ Jenn

So glad to read this. I am also a banded plication revision patient so I'm pleased to see that someone has successfully revised. I'm hoping to be revised to the sleeve this summer. Take care, Jenn

Good luck! Keep us updated.

Congratulations on your surgery date. I am also looking into a revision. I look forward to seeing how others do with their revisions. Good luck! Jenn

Wow! Congrats!!

Good luck!

Thanks!

Congrats on your appeal and good luck with your surgery and recovery!

Good luck!!

Congratulations!! I had 2 WLS (lapband) babies and both were born healthy and at 39 and 37 weeks. Good luck to you and your growing family!

Here is a pic of me in the red jacket jogging the 5K (slowly). I had just passed mile 2.

Hi Kerry, I work out almost every day and have done so since mid-March (about 6 weeks post-op). I do Zumba, Kickboxing, treadmill, elliptical and swimming. I haven't done any overt abdominal exercises but that is mainly because I'm a total baby about my tummy. I also have a band over plication so I just feel like my tummy is more tender than someone who only had the plication. Make sure u ask ur doctor as well because different doctors have different waiting periods. Good luck to you and KUP!

I ran my first 5K today! I am a slow jogger and can usually run/walk 1 mile in about 17 minutes so I was hoping to finish the 5K in under 50 minutes. I actually finished in 52 minutes but that was mainly because my husband and my children saw me on the sidelines and my 4 y.o. son wanted to run the last mile with me. He ran about 200 yards and then decided to stroll the rest of the way! Then the last 1/3 of a mile he wanted me to carry him! So I ended up carrying a 44 pound 4 year old for 1/3 of a mile - so needless to say I'm very happy with my results!! The other thing that I kept thinking of when I was holding my son was that he is almost equivalent to the weight I've lost and it was exhausting carrying around that extra 44 pounds!!! Overall, I had a great day and am super happy that I completed my first 5K. I'm going to start training for another 5K in a few weeks, then a 10K in the Summer followed by the Long Beach, CA 1/2 marathon in October.

Yeah I think going from all liquids to mushy and soft foods tends to bring on stalls. Plus our bodies are still healing from major surgery. If you use the search button and look up 3 week stall, you will find lots of posts about it. It's fairly common to experience stalls throughout the weight loss journey. My concern has never been how fast I lose weight (although I'd like it to be fast!), my concern is that once I lose the weight I want it to stay lost forever!!!

Thanks Diva Hope u r feeling better these days! I went on vacation/work trip to Vegas and when I came back I had lost 3 pounds! I didnt really track my food, water or exercise intake but my new little tummy still did its job!!! I feel like I am living a much more "normal" life now than when I was banded. I hope in a few weeks you will feel this way too! Take care of you!

Good luck! Try Unjury, and Isopure. I drink GNC Lean RTD shakes in Chocolate, Vanilla or Strawberry. I don't like the milky ones but these ones are not too bad and have 170 calories and like 24 grams of protein. I drink 1 in the morning for breakfast since I don't like to eat breakfast. KUP.

Yes. I think there's another doctor that does it in T Oaks or Ventura also. Not sure of their pricing or if they r doing trials now. I drive 2 hours to see him and have been pleased with his abilities, aftercare program and staff. But if u end up in Mexico I think u will b in good hands with Dr. Ortiz.

Fills aren't usually done in hospitals. They were done in the office or next door at a radiology center if needed. Everything that I experienced was neat, clean and "hospital" quality. Too bad ur insurance won't pay because my plication doctor is in Ventura.

I have lots of experience with Drs. Ortiz and Corvala in TJ but not with the plication as they were my fill doctors when I had the band. Dr. Ortiz is well respected and very knowledgeable (and quite handsome!). He has quite a few plication patients but not as many as Corvala - I believe. Hopefully someone who's been to Mexico for plication will answer some of ur questions. Good luck!

Diva, You are doing great!! I calculated your percentage and you've already lost like 28 prcnt of your EWL! That's great!! Because u r considered a lightweight, it may take u a bit more time. Remember it's not really about how fast u lose, but if u can keep it off once it's lost. I'm hoping to lose another 6-7 pounds in the next 3-4 weeks so I will have lost 40 pounds by June! I, like most people want to lose more but I have been so happy with my progress and what and how I've been able to eat. I had many problems eating with the band and I haven't experienced any of those problems with the plication! Good luck to you. Take your PPI and try to get in enough water and exercise daily!

I weighed 250 this morning! I started at 283 about 2 1/2 months ago. Woo Hoo!! I actually decreased the amount I'm working out but I did increase the intensity of my workouts. Because of this I have actually been eating a bit more. I'm in Las Vegas for business so I can't update my ticker as I'm using my phone so it'll have to wait till I return. I wont be officially working out while in Vegas and I'm going to be eating out a couple times a day so I'll see what happens with my weight when I get home. I'm a daily weigher so it's going to be weird for me not to weigh for like 5 days!! I'll be walking a lot and maybe dancing too so that'll have to count for my workout! Take care all!!

I tried lots of different protein drinks and most companies will send you samples for a small fee. Unjury unflavored is great to mix with chicken broth or soups. Unjury also sells a chicken broth that I also liked. Protein drinks are very particular to each person. I tend not to like the milk based ones so I stuck mainly with Isopure (Alpine Punch and Apple Melon were my favorite). I usually add a Stevia or Crystal Light to make them more palatable. Buy some now to try and see if there is one that you like.

I agree about refrigeration. I also added a Stevia to the Apple Melon and Punch and that made it much better!

My advice would be to make sure that you have a variety of broths, soups and protein drinks available to you when you return home. You may want to even take a few with you, just in case. I had surgery here in California so I'm not sure if you need something special for TJ or not. I know I posted a list previously of what to bring with you to the hospital but I'll try to remember it....chapstick, robe, slippers, hair clip, magazines, gas-x. I'll write more if I find my old post. Take care and KUP

Yeah~ Congratulations! KUP