Beccatatqueen

Congrats and welcome to the plication world. I am two weeks post op and love mine. I am glad that I went this route the first time. I wish you all the best and look forward to hearing how you do.
Becca

Amy,
Mine have been fantastic. I go in unannounced once a week to weigh in because I don't have a scale that goes up that high and they always welcome me and then come in and cheer me on including the doc. Now there's a support system. My local doctor doesn't even know I did this yet. I am self pay so I didn't have a letter from the doc. I continue to ask questions especially of them because this is a new surgery and I get such a welcome from them.
Becca

Amy,
This tube was due to I believe a couple different reasons. He first went down to look to make sure that I had no hernia's, polops or any ulcers because, I had such reflux problems. He also used this to fix my sphincter muscle between my esphogus(?) and stomach. Most people with reflux have stretched this out and he fixes this while completing the other procedure. Once he is done with my stomach he then uses this tube that has a camera to make sure everything is smoothe and done correctly before closing everything up.
I know I have seen a list of questions along the way but I don't know if there is a certain forum.
-Ask about what all is included in the price (including blood work, psych eval and sleep test) mine were included in price....specially since you are paying for it out of pocket.
-ask about the reflux and whether or not they are going to fix it while they do the procedure
-ask about the diet before and after
-ask about the risk
-pain medicine for afterwards
-all doctors should have a pre-op forms and post-op of what to expect and do
-feel totally comfortable with your doctor and trust him
-I kept making excuses for my first doctor because I wanted the surgery soooo bad that GOD had to hit me with a bat before I went to Dr. Watkins
-and read this forum from those of us who are going through it.
-Don't be afraid to ask any questions there are no stupid questions
-Ask about how many times you will see the doctor after surgery for check ups
-ask about support groups
-Therapist
-Nutrionist
I know there are more but this is what I have right now.
Becca

Amy,
I am not sure about each individual doctor but mine did not require a catheter. Not to say some don't but mine did not. But even if they do.....they will do it after you are a sleep and you won't even notice it. Just try to focus on the the pot of gold at the end. Mine did place a tube down my throat but again this was done after I was asleep and I didn't even realize it.
Don't feel stupid about any questions or think it's whining. We all have done this or are about to and it is a big deal. So don't worry about the questions.
Becca

Congrats and welcome to the club. We all hope to hear many success stories from you and hope you share your journey with us. Welcome!
Becca

Amy,
I am the same as Joanie......however, I had let my first doctor go after NOT being real happy with her or her staff. I found Dr. Watkin's because a hospital member suggested him and said he was great. I went into their office one day in tears. I was so frustrated by this other doctor and when I walked in this office was a 360 degree turn around. They were so kind in Dr. Watkins office and so helpful. Everything was explained thoroughly. I was able to transfer everything I had done already to them. Which was great.
My suggestion is I believe both Cknorte and I have had two great doctors. You might want to call them both and just talk and ask questions and then you can make your decision on what is the best for you. There is no right or wrong just what is best for each one of us.
I have spoken to Cknorte as well, and she sounds like her doctor was fantastic and had a great experience as did I.
As for physical, I did have one done just because of my size but it was not required. I think they could tell if something was going on by the blood work that is required.
Becca

Amy,
I am glad you sent the Ghrelin Study. There is a lot of should I say tit for tat on this site regarding this hormone. I will say that I trust my doctor. We don't have long term studies for this surgery but we do have about 3 years and we are extremely successful. Now what I know......My doctor has said no carbonated pop one because think of it as a canister under pressure. Over time it will explode...now we won't explode but we could dialate our stomach. They say the part of the stomach that we are left with is harder to stretch but i just don't want to take a chance. Some do and seem to be fine but I wouldn't. I had to pay this out of pocket and I just don't want that chance. My doctor did state that if the pop is flat you have taken the carbonation out of it but again that would be your decision. My doctor while fixing my stomach he fixes everyones reflux problem as well. His feeling is, if he's down there he as my's well fix that problem too. Again, I have a fantastic doctor. You might want to ask your doc about this. I had reflux extremely bad and now NONE! Diary is no problem. I do have fullness longer. It's amazing that when I am hungry I am famished but 4 ounces later and I am stuff beyond belief. It does last a lot longer. I can it at 9am Breakfast, again at 1pm and again at 6pm and be happy. Each only about 4 ounces. I hope this helps. Keep sending all the questions you have. I am more than happy to at least give you my opionion on how I feel.
Becca

Amy,
Hi, I am Becca and I am almost two weeks post-op. I have had the Gastric Plication and I only have great things to say about it. To understand it from a doctors point of view......my doctor, Dr. Watkins posted some comments about the Gastric Plication that I think you will find very interesting. It's I believe, on this site and in this forum.
Now, my point of view. Here is what I can tell you from a non professional view. The pro's......It's reversible, I have all my organs, no foriengn objects in my body, more weight loss with no worries of leakage, erosion, and slipage. The cons.......No long term data but as I have said on more than one occasion this was true for all other weight loss surgeries before plication and you see where we are now. My understanding is that this I believe started in Greece but they have done a lot of these and I should say very successfully in Mexico. You will find a lot of info on the web with a doctor in Mexico performing this procedure.
Now, the hardest part for me, of course, was the two week liquid diet and everyone on this site and other sites will tell you it depends on the doctor you have will depend on what pre-op diet you will get. Yes, you should follow it.....this is for your safety and your liver's safety. So far the two weeks liquid I have lost about 8lbs and my first week after surgery I lost 18lbs.....total of 26 in 3 weeks. I am a much larger person than you and weight loss will vary depending on how good you are and of course the surgery you choose. I am now in my two weeks of mushie stage which is so it gives my stomach a chance to heal. I can eat about 4 ounces at each meal but you do not push any more. If you do it hurts and believe me you will only do it once. It's a fillness like no other. But with that said it's a fillness like no other and you aren't hungry either. What most people have to fix is the mind. Our great doctors can fix the tummy but the mind is on you. There is very few restrictions on food with this procedure and as I tell everyone I am so happy I chose this one but YOU have to find one that fits you best. Read the good the bad and the ugly. Please research your doctor, make sure you can trust them, make sure that they are there to answer ALL questions even the small ones and make sure that you are ready for a change. Amy this is going to be a journey of your life and it will be well worth everything that you had wished for. I have been waiting a long time for this and I am glad I waited because this procedure was meant for me. Good luck to you and let me know if you have any other questions.

Joan,
Dr. Watkins is fantastic! You know immediately when you speak with someone that they care about what they do and want to really help and this is Dr. Watkins and his staff. My surgery went very well. My surgery was at 9:15a and I was home by 1pm. Once I got to the surgery center and they started my IV the doc and anesth both came in and spoke with me and my family at great length and joked around to put me at ease. I am now 4 days post-op and feeling pretty good. The first day, I had a lot of air in the body cavity so I walked around the house and was able to get rid of this within a few hours. Second day went grocery shopping with my mother. Probably walked a little too much. Third day was feeling it a little more but it was due to the day before and I think I did more than I should. Today has been a good day with little to no discomfort. I am worn out due to little calorie intake other than Water. I have no appetite and I don't even think about food. I hope this helps Joan. Are you too going for the GP's? I wish you the best and keep me informed.

For anyone interested in GP's, Dr Watkins was my doctor who performed my surgery today. I hope that any of you are interested or have questions, CWLC is a great place to start. The ladies there are exceptional, sweet and after a bumpy start with another doctor......they swooped (Diana) in an made me feel sooo great. Dr. Watkins is well known and you can research him on the internet. The best thing I love, about him, besides his intelligence regarding weightloss surgery, is the fact that he treated me like a real person. He will answer any question and takes time to listen. There are many great doctors out there, but If you live close to Ohio and want a great doctor, that is focused on helping those of us who struggle with obesity, Doctor Watkins is my top choice. Of course I am bias lol
Good luck to all and my prayers are with you.

I am actually having the Gastric plication tomorrow. It is new and very few doctors are doing this procedure yet. This is what I know about it. My doctor, Dr. Brad Watkins of CWLC in Ohio has started to offer this procedure. He does not agree with Gastric bypass and won't even do this surgery. His focus has been on the Lapband and now the plication.
Although, the cons are that there are not years of statistics, you have to admit there wasn't years of statistics with the band in the beginning and look at it now. The upside to this is that I will have no fills, no erosions, no leaks and no port. As mentioned there is a hormone Ghrelin produced however there are 200 more hormones just like this that we haven't even started to name them. With this procedure just like banding this does allievate some of this issues. We all have to remember that this is a tool and not a quick fix for either procedure. What I do like about it, is that it is reversible just like the band. If for whatever reason you might have to take out the stitches the stomach will go back to it's original size. However, as Doc Watkins has said it's a little more indepth seeing that it isn't exactly like take out the seam in your pants but the stomach will go back to normal.
I think like with all surgerys there is a concern factor however, I know that if I continue to stay on the path I am now, I won't have a future. For me this is the right procedure but everyone must make their own decisions based on what is right for them. I also, trust Dr. Watkins judgement. If he wouldnt do gastric bypass because of the downside to it....he would not do this surgery if he thought there was a downside. They believe that this is considered the happy marriage between the both. I have also read many many people who are unsatisfied with the band because of leaks, erosions and dialation not to mention not losing. There can be a number of reasons for this. I have also read many many great success stories and I believe that we will soon see many great plication stories as well.
I hope no matter what procedure one chooses that they choose one that best fits them. We are all on this path together and we were brought here because of one thing. I don't believe that one is better than another but I do believe that with research you will find the best one that fits you.
Good luck to all.....I will keep you posted. This time tomorrow I will be on my journey to a knew healthier way of living.