lguidry

Thanks for the responses. I only wish there was someone who had gone from plication to sleeve. The other thing is that I don't know which approach is actually better and can be done safely and effectively. My plication was done in Mexico(self pay) however, my insurance has approved my sleeve. Because plication is not a practiced procedure in the US, I'm not sure Dr's here really know and/or have experience with plication revision? I'm also not sure how insurance would respond if I had complications as a result of the previous plication procedure? Would they pay?? Don't know? Any suggestions moving forward would be greatly appreciated.

Had my plication 10/2010 and have regained my weight plus some:(

I originally chose this surgery because it was less invasive & reversible.

Now that I want to revise to Sleeve, I'm being told a couple of things:

1. The revision would require the undoing/removing of the sutures first, then doing the sleeve. That I might not be a candidate for a sleeve because of the previous plication (potential scarring & condition of stomach tissue from the sutures). But that he wouldn't know until he was in there? So I guess it really is not reversible?

2. The plication would remain in tact. The sleeve would be created/done from the inside of the suture line of the plication, then the plication & excess stomach would be removed. Two very different approaches. One removes the plication all together after creating the sleeve and the other removes the sutures before creating the sleeve.

I do not know which procedure is best but it does seem like if the condition of my stomach tissue and the potential for scar tissue as a result of the previous plication is the concern, then the second option would address this concern by removing it all together?

I currently weigh 250 lbs.

I had a GSP in 10/2010 with minimal results.

I am getting a sleeve.

Dr #1 said that he may not be able to do the surgery, it would depend on the condition of my stomach tissue and could possibly require two surgeries and/or NOT getting the sleeve at all. He said that the surgery would require undoing/removing the original plication sutures and if there is a lot of scar tissue, that could cause problems/leaks when doing the sleeve.??

Dr #2 said that he would do a EGD prior to surgery to take a look at the previous surgery line but that he was not concerned about the previous plication? He would leave it in tact, creating the sleeve from the inside of the stomach, removing the previous plication/sleeve with the excess stomach? He further said that as long as he could do the sleeve without having to staple over the plication sutures/scar tissue that he was not concerned about leaks or problems.

Two different doctors, two different approaches..

Ck, that is amazing! Congratulations! I've finallly made it into the 170s (ok 179). :-)

This is sooo inspiring to me!!!!

Yep, same thing happens to me. I was eating about 800 calories/day for quite a while and lost very slowly but since i've been up to 1200/day I've lost about every day. I was totally surprised. I've been following the diet plan without the sleeve and it's working for me. I'm on here because my daughter had the sleeve in July and I got inspired to try the diet myself since I'm not heavy enough to have WLS. I've been struggling with weight practically all my life tho' and it's nice to find out I don't have to starve myself to lose. That's how I found out that I lose better when eating more as long as I eat Protein first. I'm actually going to try to maintain now and am gradually upping my calories to find out at what point I will stop losing. I've been as high as 212 and now I'm 144. It feels great!

Sharon

Congrats on reaching your goal!

Iguidry,

Sounds like you are doing well on your liquids. I followed the surgeons guidelines pretty closely as far as when to progress to soft foods etc. Your body will tell you quickly if you are eating something it isn't ready for yet. In the soft food stage I ate baby food meats and just seasoned them. I was surprised how good they tasted. I also made mashed potatoes. Made a good meal. I felt like I was eating real food again after liquids for two weeks. Focus on your Proteins. I got to where I HATED the Protein drinks. So I've been trying to get my Protein other ways. I'm at 5 1/2 weeks now and can eat most anything. I have found food doesn't taste as good as I remember or expect it to. There are very few things I really like anymore. I guess that helps with limiting the diet! This is a side effect I didn't expect. Anyone else notice this?

Thanks for the update. I will definitely try the baby food meats and mashed potatoes. When did you start eating this 2 or 3 week?

Taxi said many people killed every day. Police in trucks with machine guns fighting the drug dealers. night before I left 2 police killed. They had 2 truck loads of police at the hospital patrolling the night before I left too. All this but I did not feel unsafe. Guess because we think nothing will ever happen to us. Got back safe. I am still having complications though and am really wondering if I did the right thing. Everyone else there who had the operation felt fine.

You know I was looking at using Dr. Rod to and going to Star Medica but after reading the US Travel advisory, I decided that it was just to dangerous for me. I had enough to worry about with my surgery without having to worry about the violence. I really hope you are doing better. Keep me post. Good luck!

Hi

I too was there on sept 29 for plication surgery with Dr Rodreguz. I had lots of complications. I puked blood, for 30 hours had severe gastric reflux and bad stomach aches. There should have been no blood. It was plication surgery.This lasted until the morning I left the hospital. 7 Days post, am still having problems. Still stomach aches and never feeling full. I have no problem drinking 6 or 8 oz of Fluid or protien drink and never feel full. The stomach aches feel like severe hunger pains. They are constant when sitting up but go away almost instantly when i lay down.. has anyone else had these symtoms and can drink like this. I thought 3 oz, you are supposed to be full.

thanks

I got home yesterday, how are you doing? I hope things have got better for you.

If not I would definitely call your doctor and your patient coordinator ASAP.

Congrats on the fantastic WL!!! I'm only 6 days out from my surgery and LOVE hearing reports like this!! I'm trying to figure out my post op diet and it's been a little crazy because everyone's post-op differs as to when you go from Clear liquids, full liquids and soft foods??? I want to have the kind of success that you are having!!! Please share your thoughts and insights of your post-op diet. Obviously you are doing the right things!!

Ck, that is amazing! Congratulations! I've finallly made it into the 170s (ok 179). :-)

Awesome!! Congrats on the WL!! I'm not weighing yet!! I gained weight in the hospital from the IV's so I'm a little intimidated with the scale right now but I'm doing all I know to do it right so my body should cooperate!! I was told that first 3 weeks was up and down because of your body adjusting??? Any post-op advice is appreciated!!

Congratulations, Karrie. Losing 46 pounds in eight weeks is incredible! Keep up the good work.

Congrats on the WL!!! Do you mind sharing your post op diet? I really want to be successful but I'm not sure when to start what?? full liquids? ? What is that? Soft food?? When and what?? Is pureed considered full liquids or soft foods?? My head is spinning!!! Please save me from this madness!!

Well it has been five and a half weeks now and I have lost 21 lbs. Not as quickly as some of you but I'm hanging in there. It is still great for this amount of time. I've been walking but plan to go back to Curves this week. I eat about 800 to 1000 calories per day. Slow and steady!

Congrats on the WL!! I'm only 6 days out and I'm still trying to figure out when, what and how to eat!!

I've been on Clear liquids and I added full liquids yesterday. But in looking at the different post op diets, it's really different?? Liquids/clear?full? soft food?? It's confusing on when to start what?? It's all over the charts!! Anywho, I welcome any suggestions;)

Here's a version of the Soup. I hope you like it!

1 TB Olive Oil

2 chopped onions

5 or 6 slivered garlic cloves

1 bunch broccoli, chopped up

4 medium all purpose potatoes - peeled and cubed

1/8 tsp nutmeg

5 cups chicken stock (i used swanson natural goodness for lower sodium and fat)

1 cup of 1% milk

S&P

red pepper flakes

1 handful of 2% shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Heat Oil, add onions, cook 5 minutes. Add garlic, cook 30 seconds. Add broccoli, potatoes, nutmeg & stock.

Bring to a boil over moderate heat. Simmer gently, covered 20 minutes. In blender (magic bullet) in batches process until pureed. Return puree to pot, stir in milk, S&P, pepper flakes if you'd like. Set over moderate heat for 5 minutes or heated through. (I let mine cool a bit before processing, so I usually have to heat it back up, which takes a little longer) I add a small bit of shredded cheese to my bowl or mug.

One note I made at bottom: make sure broccoli is cooked. I guess my broccoli was undercooked a bit the first time I made it? Not sure. ANyway I hope you like it!

Sounds yummy....definitely going to try:) Thanks!

I personally would take something closer to the Adult Gummy and try to find one that does have Iron. B12 is recommended if you are on a PPI/acid reducer. They have sublingual ones that taste like cherry, you stick it under your tongue, it dissolves and your done.

The big issue is that we are losing so fast, things are running through our bodies and liver, and we aren't taking in large amounts of Vitamin rich foods that taking a good quality Vitamin will help keep you from becoming deficient, or your body having to play catch up. There's more than Iron, Vitamin A, D, B and C that we need. Folic acid, copper, selenium, Riboflavin, Niacin, etc etc are all essential for all of us. Plus, throw in there that most sleeve patients take a PPI (Nexium, Prilosec, Etc.) that can inhibit absorption of some very vital minerals and Vitamins.

Not all Vitamins and minerals are fat soluble, and while it may take me months to even a year to become deficient in a particular vitamin/mineral, I don't want to make my body work any harder. Losing fast is great, but don't forget that it can be very tasking on our bodies, livers, hair and skin.

Just my 2cents.

So noted. Makes perfect sense to me. Thanks!

Yeppers, it happened to me even when I was trying to slow down my weight loss before I hit goal. It continued to happen even when I added in white carbs, and up to 1200 calories a day.

You are definitely an inspiration and I welcome any "post-op" diet recommendations! I'm trying to find my way, I'm still on clear/full liquids (day 6 post-op) trying to figure out how, what and when to eat? How to get my Protein in 50 to 70 grams per day?? Thanks for you posts and congrats on exceeding your target weight loss!!!

I am currently dealing with something I really don't understand. For the past couple weeks I've had problems with a lack of energy as I have posted before. I dramatically increased my Protein intake and began eating more and more food. Basically anytime I could possibly eat something I did so. I have absolutely zero hunger so this has honestly be unpleasant to do so. I've noticed on days that I eat more food I lose weight. Yes I am a daily weigher but seriously, I can lose a pound a day by simply eating more food. I don't understand this. I'm not a Breakfast person, so I drink Slimfast with Soy Milk and a Protein Drink as soon as I can handle it after drinking the 8ozs. lunch is pretty much the same thing. I snack on whatever in between drinks and eat a decent dinner. I may or may not throw in a third Protein drink prior to bedtime but I will wake up the next day 1-2 pounds lost. It's the craziest thing ever. Anyone else have this issue?

I am so glad to hear this. I was wondering how such drastic caloric restriction was going to keep my body from going into "starvation mode"! I'm definitely trying to find my way as I am only 6 days post op(Vertical Sleeve Plication) and I'm trying to figure out how to get all my protein in on a clear/full liquid diet. Good luck and keep posting. It really helps to communicate with people who are walking similar paths and sharing the experiences along the way. I just love this forum. I'm constantly learning from "someone" on this site!!

Hi Mellifrits,

I was curious on how you are doing and how much weight have you lost so far, also how much food do you think you can eat in one sitting?

I am a size 20 now and I do want to loose 100lbs, just still debating:confused1:

and it sucks!! I wish I could just decide on one or the other darn it!!

thanks Lisa

Keep posting..I definitely want to follow you on your journey. My surgery is tomorrow!!

Tomorrow is my big day!! I'm getting Sleeve Plication with Dr. Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center in TJ. I have gone back and forth with Sleeve Plication versus Sleeve Gastrectomy and unless something changes after pre-ops in the morning, I will be getting the plication. I am a little nervous but I've done my research and I feel confident with Dr. Ortiz and his team:)

Well tomorrow's the big day!!! And I have decided on Vertical Sleeve Plication.

I'm excited! I've done my research, have gone back and forth with Sleeve Plication versus Sleeve Gastrectomy and unless something big changes tomorrow after my pre-ops then VSP it will be:) I'll let everyone know how things went as soon as I'm able:) Be Blessed and Good luck to all!

lguidry,

keep us posted...and best of luck.....the first night and the first few days are tough but doable...at least for me me.....

let's keep in touch and compare diets, etc.....

CKNorte,

Will do...my new friend:) And I am so glad I found all of you:)

I'm only 4 days out and am having the same issues. No pain from the incisions except when I vomit which has been often - although so far only once today (it is 10:30 am).

It is gas and acid reflux. Only time and meds will help. Warm tea stayed down this am - about 5-6 sips. I have had to sleep almost sitting up; otherwise the reflux gets much worse. Hubby is out getting my children's tagament now in hopes of keeping that down. I have a real texture, taste thing so anything I tried to breakup and take made me gag. walking doe s help too - you get the hsarp pains of another bubble being broken up. They pump your stomach full of gas during the surgery so they can get a better view of things.

Being only 4 days out, I am hoping I did the right thing. I went for a band and was concerned about slips and erosions. hate surgerys - get really sick form anesthia so didn't want to risk a second surgery. switched to plication at the last minute. Sure hope I didn't act hasty.

oh yeah, if you have glue and not stiches DONT use a heating pad on your stomach but you can rest against one on your back which feels nice.

I'm so glad to have found this group. Was starting to panic.

Debinphoenix,

Who did your surgery? Hope you get to feeling better real soon. My surgery is in the morning:)

I made home made chicken broth/soup. Before surgery....and then froze it.

1 whole chicken

4-5 carrots

4 leeks

2 cloves garlic

chicken bullion/or stock

Water

pepper

Place the whole chicken in a pot (or you can cut it up into pieces and put in pot, skin bones and all)

Chop carrots, leeks, garlic, throw in pot.

Add chicken bullion, pepper and cover with Water. Or you can use swansons chicken broth instead of water.

I like mine pretty salty, but you can add to taste....

Let it cook/simmer for an hour or 2.

Take the chicken out of the pot, be careful, it will be hot and will be falling apart. Put aside and let cool.

If you want and can, you can use a slotted spoon and get some of the veg out of the pot, if not...

Take a fine mesh strainer, and strain the broth. Throw the solids or whatever is left in the strainer away.

You now have a bowl of clear broth. Put in the fridge over night and the next day you will be able to scrape the solidified fat off the top of the container.

Place in smaller sized containers and freeze.

The chicken you set aside. Once cooled, you can shred the meat, and throw out bone/skin.

What I did, is I put the chicken meat in some of the broth, that way I had clear broth with no chicken and clear broth with chicken.

Once I was able to go to full liquids and pureed, I used the broth with the chicken and blended it to make it totally liquid. (came out sort of like cream of chicken)

I also used the clear broth to make canned Soups a little thinner and more watery...I even mixed it with a can of pinto Beans to make a bean broth (helped get pipes moving after surgery)....

Thank you so much for the receipe,...sounds yummy:) Well, tomorrow is the big day and I chose Dr. Ortiz at the Obesity Control Center in TJ. I went back and forth between him and Dr. Corvala, both being highly skilled and proctor's for dr's in the US and their prices were virtually the same. The only difference was the length of stay, I arrived yesterday afternoon at the hotel (which is included in my package), have surgery tomorrow and leave to go home next Saturday. He wants to observe me for a week before he sends me back to the states. This made me feel "safer"? I hope I've made the right decision. I'll keep you posted and please do the same!!! Congrats on your weight loss. Also did they put you on a structured eating plan? if so, let's share and compare. Again...love and appreciate the receipe:)

Most of what to eat and when is decided by your physician. I had Dr. Watkins, and he required one week of liquids preop and 800 calories, but I think for a higher BMI it was two weeks on liquids before the surgery. Liquids are anything you can sip through a straw. So, you could mix Soup in a blender. One thing I liked was to whip up a Protein smoothie with cottage cheese. It took away some of the sweetness and was very good. I think some other doctors want you on just liquids. You also need to be around 60-65 gm of Protein a day and 60 oz of fluids. The first week after my surgery, I was on one week of liquids (sip through a straw type) and two weeks of mushies which is any food that is mushy, i.e. scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, etc.

I don't know that I have any advice for preop surgery other than to follow your doctor's recommendations. Postop diet is a little hard, because mushies go through you pretty fast, as do liquids, so you need to eat a little more often. Keep in mind, you will get hungry, but are easily satisfied on less. I now understand why this is called a tool. You still have to watch what you eat, because you can put a lot of ice cream and potato chips in that little stomach. But it's not the same hunger as before, and it's a lot more manageable and easily satisfied. I think the best part of this is that once I have lost all the weight, It will be easier to keep it off.

Postop, I didn't have any pain or gas, and I think that was thanks to Dr. Watkins. There must be something he does differently, but I'm not sure. I hope that's what you wanted to know. Let me know of any other questions you might have.

So I guess you decided on the plication?

Thanks so much and it is very appreciated. I love this site. Everyone has something of value to share and say:) Yes, I almost certain that I'm going forward with VSP but I have not totally ruled out VSG. I will visit more about the pros/cons with my doctor. And of course I welcome any "sleevers" comments as well. Why again was it that you elected plication over vsg?

Hi Lguidry,

I'm sorry to be late in posting, but I haven't been on here for a few days. I am doing great. I'm down 27 pounds since my preop diet. My surgery was on Aug.6. I think my weight loss has slowed down a little because I came off of one of my blood pressure pills, and it was a diuretic. But just being able to come off my BP meds is great news! I'll be taken off the other one soon, and it's a diuretic as well. I've gone from 210 to 183 in two months, just 33 more to go. I feel good and no more joint pain. Let me know if there are any specific questions you have.

Thanks for posting and Congrats on the weight loss!! Any advise pre and post surgery? What to eat? How to eat? Any suggestions??

Hi, sorry i didn't post anything earlier. It is 4 weeks now.The surgery went very well in TJ. I was very weak after surgery for 2 weeks. I would suggest that you have at least 20g of Protein everyday after surgery. You can get it in the powder form. I have lost 15lbs to date. I think i have hit a stall for the past week and half. I can see i am losing inches though. I still have alot of gas and i am taking nexium for it, hopefully it goes away soon. I find myself feeling hungry after every 2 hours. The doctors said i am mistaking gas for hunger, I think I would know the difference. I get my fluids in when i feel hungry. I have lots of Water and hot green tea. The hot liquids help soothe the stomach and help with the gas. I am eating solids now and i eat everything possible. Remember to chew slowly. When you are hungry you want to eat faster and you can end up overeating. It takes a few minutes for the food to hit the bottom of my stomach if i overeat I end up feeling uncomfortable in the chest area for a little while, not too long. So once you know how much you can eat you will be fine, you wouldn't make the mistake to overeat again.

My only problem is the gas and feeling hunger too soon. Is there anyone out there with this problem. Please share with me.:biggrin0:

Thank you so much for sharing. As you already know, I'm nervous and I hadn't completely made my mind up about getting VSP or VSG?? I really want whatever is going to bring the results I'm looking for SAFELY. I'm going by myself, I'm leaving Saturday and will return the following Saturday. My doctor wants to observe me for a week before he sends me home:) I'm not complaining, at least he's not trying to do "drive thru" surgery. Were you ever considering VSG or were you always going to do VSP?