Mountaingal

I had gastric plication, the same type fold your stomach surgery 7 yrs ago. At that time it was done laproscopically. I have maintained my weight loss till fairly recently. I have gained 8-10 pounds but I can't blame the surgery. I have been grazing due to the difficulties of life including a husband with dementia. I am taking back control and losing those pounds . Gaining weight won't solve the things that are making me want to nibble. This has been avery good choice for me.

Firstly thank you so much for words of praise and encouragement. I think you have plication figured out perfectly now. Lots of pictures of the procedure on line if you want to see how they tuck the stomach up during the surgery.
I have no problem with sharing any info that will help anyone. Before surgery I was 255 having lost a little during the liver shrink diet. I am 5ft 71/2" (shrinking from 5'8" LOL). My highest weight was 275 several yrs ago. I am now between 190 and 195 not sure how accurate the scale is. I am now 66yrs old, heading for 67 so I was just past my 64th birthday at the time of surgery.
It is a daily battle for though I can't eat large meals I can certainly nibble between meals if I allow myself to do so. I sometimes think even after surgery eating and food take up far more of our energy and time than they should. That said it is so much nicer to not be carrying around that bag of "pig chow" as I imagined my fat. It got used up bit by bit as my body lost weight using it for fuel LOL.

Happy to chat any time and the best of luck on your journey. You can do this!

Plication does not involve any cutting beyond the laproscopy incisions of which I had four. The stomach is folded into itself and stitched with two rows of stitches, no staples involved. I am very happy with my plication. I weigh 60lbs less than at surgery weight and have maintained that for 2 yrs. This was a fine amount of loss for me as my BMI was not very high. I wish this surgery was more popular as I think many people who will not consider more invasive surgeries would consider it.

I had read about ESG 3 yrs ago but couldn't find so much as a study where I could get it done. I got gastric plication which seems to be very similar in mechanism...the stomach is folded up to lessen its size. Plication has been very well accepted and used in Australia , NZ and some European countries for some yrs now with good results so I don't see why long term ESG results will be any different.

Nice to see some activity among over 50's. Had my surgery at 64 and am now 67. The weight did come off very very slowly but with hard work and continued dedication it came off and is staying off. So nice to get a new lease on life at this age.

Don't know if you have gone ahead and got a band yet. I found your post a little late in the game. I don't know if it is available in South Africa but another option is gastric plication. It is not terrifically popular in the US but in Europe and some other countries it highly rated. They tuck part of your stomach into your stomach (so it take up room) and stitch it so it stays there. You are not as hungry afterwards. It is a simpler and less invasive surgery than bypass or sleeve. There is plication forum here you could go to and there is lots of info on line about the procedure. No erosion etc from the band with this.

Banded 10 years ago in central NY. Happier than ever. Lost 65 lbs out of the 90 lb goal shortly after banding but then stopped losing and hovered there for 5 yrs. Then -- slowly gained 30 lbs by gradually eating bigger portions and too many goodies. Tried several times to get a hold of myself but just couldn't. I really couldn't feel my band much anymore. Finally - went on a medically supervised 800-calorie liquid fast a year ago. Whoa!-- that good ole' band just kick right in there again! I'm not sure I could have done it without it - but all of a sudden - my band said -- HELLO THERE!!!!!! Lost the 30 lb regain and then just kept going till I got to the original goal. I learned a lot losing the 65 lbs after getting the band but I learned a lot more this past year about how to get to 25 BMI and maintain it. Just finished my plastic surgeries ------so far - so good. Whew! What a 10 yr journey!

Hey Hope4momof4 you might not be doing anything wrong. Everyone is different and sometimes comparing ourselves to others is a very big mistake. I was told weight loss with this procedure was slower and lasted longer. I did not lose weight fast but just kept plodding along. Also I was heavier to begin with so it might have come off faster. Hang in there judging this at 4 weeks might be rather premature. I also was self pay so I understand how that plays in ones mind.Hang in there, give it time and and this will work for you. Congratulations on your dedication to exercise!

Firstly thank you so much for words of praise and encouragement. I think you have plication figured out perfectly now. Lots of pictures of the procedure on line if you want to see how they tuck the stomach up during the surgery.
I have no problem with sharing any info that will help anyone. Before surgery I was 255 having lost a little during the liver shrink diet. I am 5ft 71/2" (shrinking from 5'8" LOL). My highest weight was 275 several yrs ago. I am now between 190 and 195 not sure how accurate the scale is. I am now 66yrs old, heading for 67 so I was just past my 64th birthday at the time of surgery.
It is a daily battle for though I can't eat large meals I can certainly nibble between meals if I allow myself to do so. I sometimes think even after surgery eating and food take up far more of our energy and time than they should. That said it is so much nicer to not be carrying around that bag of "pig chow" as I imagined my fat. It got used up bit by bit as my body lost weight using it for fuel LOL.

Happy to chat any time and the best of luck on your journey. You can do this!

Plication does not involve any cutting beyond the laproscopy incisions of which I had four. The stomach is folded into itself and stitched with two rows of stitches, no staples involved. I am very happy with my plication. I weigh 60lbs less than at surgery weight and have maintained that for 2 yrs. This was a fine amount of loss for me as my BMI was not very high. I wish this surgery was more popular as I think many people who will not consider more invasive surgeries would consider it.

I was looking for ESG 3 yrs ago but could not find it anywhere. I had a plication which I don't think can be much different. In both procedures your stomach is made smaller by "folding it on itself". I am happy with my procedure and the scars I did not want don't seem to matter at all now. After all I have read about ESG I do think recovery may be a bit harder than mine was though. Neither plication or ESG are miracle cures but they are miracle tools if we use them right.

So how are you doing Speedmommy? I hope you are happy with your procedure and doing well. I had my WLS at 64. Best thing I ever did for myself. I am not super thin (which I wouldn't want) but am so happy. I feel healthier, have more energy and move with less aches and pains.

I had read about ESG 3 yrs ago but couldn't find so much as a study where I could get it done. I got gastric plication which seems to be very similar in mechanism...the stomach is folded up to lessen its size. Plication has been very well accepted and used in Australia , NZ and some European countries for some yrs now with good results so I don't see why long term ESG results will be any different.

Don't know if you have gone ahead and got a band yet. I found your post a little late in the game. I don't know if it is available in South Africa but another option is gastric plication. It is not terrifically popular in the US but in Europe and some other countries it highly rated. They tuck part of your stomach into your stomach (so it take up room) and stitch it so it stays there. You are not as hungry afterwards. It is a simpler and less invasive surgery than bypass or sleeve. There is plication forum here you could go to and there is lots of info on line about the procedure. No erosion etc from the band with this.

Don't know if you have gone ahead and got a band yet. I found your post a little late in the game. I don't know if it is available in South Africa but another option is gastric plication. It is not terrifically popular in the US but in Europe and some other countries it highly rated. They tuck part of your stomach into your stomach (so it take up room) and stitch it so it stays there. You are not as hungry afterwards. It is a simpler and less invasive surgery than bypass or sleeve. There is plication forum here you could go to and there is lots of info on line about the procedure. No erosion etc from the band with this.

Hi Judy! I'm in the same boat that you're in. I've done it all and I've yo-yo'd forever. I'm hoping that this is the tool to help me. Learning to eat correctly and exercise are key as well all know, but the motivation always fades. I too want to prove that I can keep the weight off for myself. I hope you husband comes around and gives you the support you need!

He has seen me do Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers, lose a significant amount of weight and then put it all back on, plus more. Since the procedure is not covered by my insurance, it means that I have to pay out of pocket and my husband feels it's a waste of money. I really hope this is the solution to my yo-yo weight problems. I want to lose 50 pounds and keep them off. I'm hoping the follow-up from Hopkins helps me learn how to eat, exercise and keep the weight off. I want to prove to myself and my husband that I can do this.

Judy

Initially I was not going to tell anyone, but then my husband ( who is not supporting the ESG procedure) started telling people. So I decided that I'm not embarrassed by my choice to have the ESG procedure. If I'm asked what I'm doing to lose weight, I'll tell the truth, but I'm also not going to spread it around. It's my business and no one else's.

Judy
ESG Procedure Date 9/29

Hi Belle [emoji1384],

Yep, me too! I'm only telling a few select family members. There is nothing easy about any of this! And I don't want to be under the microscope. I'm with ya!!


Kiki
Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty
Procedure day: 9/8/17

Hi ESG group!!

I've decided not to share with anyone but my family. Have any of you chosen the same path? Why and has it been challenging to keep it?
[emoji175]

Met with my surgeon and officially changed my procedure to the sleeve. A huge load off my mind, he was much more open to it than in previous conversations.
Still concerned about how reflux will be post op, but it sure beats worrying about what I'd be worried about with the bypass

Good luck with your procedure. A great decision and it seems like a great procedure. You can get through the liquid diet and it is just part of improving the rest of your life and very worthwhile.

Is this a serious question?
There's no way you can accurately determine your rate of weight loss after a whopping four days post-surgery. Your body underwent trauma and it's normal to hold onto fluids before dropping pounds.
For now, stay off the scale until four weeks post-op. The first month is notorious for stalls, plateaus, and weird changes.
Also, weight loss after bariatric surgery doesn't happen in a predictable, linear pattern. You lose a few pounds, hold onto pounds, and sometimes stall and plateau before you start losing more weight. In other words, you won't post a daily loss. Weight loss starts and stops and resumes.
I lost an average of about 6 pounds per month after weight loss surgery. However, I'm pleased with the overall outcome: I've lost 100 pounds and have been keeping it off so far.
Good luck to you.

Always lots of support here. I think we all find the same things, lack of support and understanding of what the struggle does to your mind and body over the yrs. Hopefully your non supportive support system will come around once they see how much better you feel after your surgery. Good luck, you have made the best decision of your life.

My husband is super supportive. He's been with me and has seen my struggles through the years. He would always lose his 20lbs, and I'd lose nothing. He's seen the fasting, dieting, and then the guilt. He wants this for me. My best friend, my brother, and my grandmother are the only other ones I have. They all have negative/ rude comments. Like thanks, never thought to eat healthy!
My mom died 2 years ago of a stroke at 53. She wasn't nearly as over weight as I am. I fear that I don't have a 60 year old self if I don't do this! I'm only 28, I need and want to be here as long as I can. Thanks for the support! ️