Plication reviews

[melanieleigh 1]

Can anyone who had the actual plication surgery more than a month ago tell me how you are feeling and how weight loss is going? It would also be a plus if someone who actually had plication in Mexico respond. I know Dr. Watkins is great but I am going to Dr. Abril and Ham in Mexicali and I was looking for people who have actually had that experience to tell their story to me. I have looked through the forum and I see lots for Dr.Watkins, so much so that sometimes I feel it is the Dr. Watkins GPS site...lol. Or the I love Dr. Watkins lovefest site...lol. I am a fan of his as well, I just couldn't come up with the money to use him. HOWEVER, those of you who have been to Mexico and have had plication over a month ago, PLEASE, give me your input....Thanks so much, I leave Jan. 10th, three days after my 40th birthday, for a new start.

[Ihave6kids 29]

Can anyone who had the actual plication surgery more than a month ago tell me how you are feeling and how weight loss is going? It would also be a plus if someone who actually had plication in Mexico respond. I know Dr. Watkins is great but I am going to Dr. Abril and Ham in Mexicali and I was looking for people who have actually had that experience to tell their story to me. I have looked through the forum and I see lots for Dr.Watkins, so much so that sometimes I feel it is the Dr. Watkins GPS site...lol. Or the I love Dr. Watkins lovefest site...lol. I am a fan of his as well, I just couldn't come up with the money to use him. HOWEVER, those of you who have been to Mexico and have had plication over a month ago, PLEASE, give me your input....Thanks so much, I leave Jan. 10th, three days after my 40th birthday, for a new start.

Hi Melanie, I had my plication in July of this year. I've lost 54 lbs so far. with 29 to go. I've had not issues at all. It's all a learning process this new way of eating. Best decision I've made. I had my surgery with Dr. Corvala in Tijuana. Everyhting was great from the pickup at the airport to the before surgery, after surgery, caring during my stay, and back to the airport. I stayed at Hospital Angeles. Clean and very modern. Better than the states, really. It was a great experience and would do it again in a heart beat. There are things you will have to experience to know what we are talking about. For instance, you will have to lose your love of food. You won't be able to pig out any more. If you try, you will get sick. You can still eat anything you want but not the same amounts. Now, I am very cold most of the time but you just wear more clothes and pray for summer to come. Still, worth it, worth it, worth it!!!! YES YES YES!!! I've gone from 233 lbs to 179 and still losing. Was a size 22W and now I'm a 14. Hoping to get to a size 10. I can do things now I couldn't do before. Jog, sit on my husband's lap, wear misses sizes clothes, etc.

My experience was very positive and I am soooooooooooo glad I did it. Dr. Corvala was wonderful. Any other questions I would be happy to answer.

[TijuanaPlication 87]

I also had Dr Lopez Corvala 4 weeks ago. I'd do it all again with him if I had to. Good luck for your op!

[melanieleigh 1]

So good to know thank you very much. The doctor I am using worked with and learned from Dr. Corvala, so I am feeling confident he is a good doc. The only thing that I don't like is that he does not use the endoflip, but I spoke with him for like an hour on the phone and he explained that by following the protocols that Corvala created he feels confident with his results. My weight is 270 with a BMI of 45 soooo I don't think I will lose weight as easily as you. Congratulations on your success. I do love food, I love to cook really good food and feeding my family is so fun and tasty, I am missing it already. I dont know how I will cook for anyone without tasting everything as I go. I am going to join a group here where I live for fat people to learn better habits. Thanks again!

Hi Melanie, I had my plication in July of this year. I've lost 54 lbs so far. with 29 to go. I've had not issues at all. It's all a learning process this new way of eating. Best decision I've made. I had my surgery with Dr. Corvala in Tijuana. Everyhting was great from the pickup at the airport to the before surgery, after surgery, caring during my stay, and back to the airport. I stayed at Hospital Angeles. Clean and very modern. Better than the states, really. It was a great experience and would do it again in a heart beat. There are things you will have to experience to know what we are talking about. For instance, you will have to lose your love of food. You won't be able to pig out any more. If you try, you will get sick. You can still eat anything you want but not the same amounts. Now, I am very cold most of the time but you just wear more clothes and pray for summer to come. Still, worth it, worth it, worth it!!!! YES YES YES!!! I've gone from 233 lbs to 179 and still losing. Was a size 22W and now I'm a 14. Hoping to get to a size 10. I can do things now I couldn't do before. Jog, sit on my husband's lap, wear misses sizes clothes, etc.

My experience was very positive and I am soooooooooooo glad I did it. Dr. Corvala was wonderful. Any other questions I would be happy to answer.

[NotSoLittleMermaid 14]

I am a newby and still in the very restrictive part of the journey, so of course I should be loosing weight. I was very much wondering if I would feel like I miss out since I can't eat a huge plate or two of food ( I don't.) Wondering if I would loose my love of food. (I didn't, still love it, but when full I am completely satisfied which is new.)

.. I LOVE LIFE NOW! I was 190lbs a week before surgery (before pre-op). Now, (about a week and a half after surgery) I am down to 174.4 am SO happy I had this- it is changing my life and giving me and my husband hope! It even encourages me to work out/walk because I know that it will actually DO something and make a difference. Before it felt like I could never work out enough to make a dent in my calorie/deficit ratio..like I could NEVER get ahead with weight loss unless I worked out 2-3 hrs a day which is unrealistic. This is EXACTLY what I hoped it would be..small amounts of good, satisfying food with moderation and no deprivation, with exercise as being help. I do not feel deprived at all. Since I am in the mushie stage, the mainstay of my diet is fat free cottage cheese - a powerhouse of low calories & Protein. Fat free Greek yogurt is another one of my main staples, despite having a dairy intolerance to milk if I have over a cup of milk-I've always been able to have all the cheese, yogurt etc. I want (before surgery) I find anything goes down just fine so far-no problems. I also love a yogurt drink called Keefer from Publix that I can have a few sips if I don't have time to eat and it fills me up for few hrs. Here are few cottage cheese & yogurt recipes I came up with that helped me stay on my pre-op diet (consult your doctor to make sure it is ok) and help me now eat mushy low carb. Lasagna - fat free cottage cheese, spaghetti sauce, small amount of Parmesan cheese.Mexican - fat free cottage cheeses, salsa or nacho cheese.Spicy Yogurt - fat free Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, red pepper (or Toni's seasoning)Rice pudding - fat free cottage cheese, Truvia sweetner, cinnamonTomato Soup w/melted cottage cheese for more Protein

Also love Malt-o-meal with Truvia - smaller granules than oatmeal (grain so only have for post op mushy stage)

No more shallow breathing problems from asthma. My stomach/incisions still hurt when sitting or walking - the ones by my belly button on the right tend to hurt more. My bandages are still on except the top one, it came off and I put some Vitamin E oil and a band-aid over it. I've done a few days of 20 mins, and 2 (30) minutes walking/secessions sometime with small bit of eliptial machine. The next day, my abdomen is sore, but I rarely take pain meds now. Sometimes my shoulder acts up, but it is not a problem. Fluids are going down easier, but I still struggle to get much down, but doing better. I have cheated a little bit with a couple glasses of wine, 1/4 piece of milk soaked cake and a couple very small bowls of ice-cream but I know that I've got to limit it to loose & maintain the weight. As far as hard stuff, I ate some melted cheese and had some Soup soaked croutons, but have not ventured into anything harder. So far so good! There is nothing that bothers me. I am sick of Protein shakes and I seem to have lost my enthusiasm for juice and crystal light, so I mostly drink Water or sometimes coffee or tea. I eat tiny amounts at time - (probably about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or yogurt, and it took forever for me to eat a poached egg.) Sometimes I try to get in the habit of waiting an hr to drink after eating which is supposed to help us feel fuller for longer. Have not vomited at all after surgery. Once or twice I had short lingering pain/nausea after eating and I drank a little liquid and was fine. I am guessing that I haven't pushed the limits of my stomach too hard due to no vomiting and usually I guess I am full when it it hurts a tiny bit for a second or two and then I feel it go down and I am fine. That is probably more than you wanted to know

[melanieleigh 1]

I love your post thank you so much for being so complete

I am a newby and still in the very restrictive part of the journey, so of course I should be loosing weight. I was very much wondering if I would feel like I miss out since I can't eat a huge plate or two of food ( I don't.) Wondering if I would loose my love of food. (I didn't, still love it, but when full I am completely satisfied which is new.)

.. I LOVE LIFE NOW! I was 190lbs a week before surgery (before pre-op). Now, (about a week and a half after surgery) I am down to 174.4 am SO happy I had this- it is changing my life and giving me and my husband hope! It even encourages me to work out/walk because I know that it will actually DO something and make a difference. Before it felt like I could never work out enough to make a dent in my calorie/deficit ratio..like I could NEVER get ahead with weight loss unless I worked out 2-3 hrs a day which is unrealistic. This is EXACTLY what I hoped it would be..small amounts of good, satisfying food with moderation and no deprivation, with exercise as being help. I do not feel deprived at all. Since I am in the mushie stage, the mainstay of my diet is fat free cottage cheese - a powerhouse of low calories & Protein. Fat free Greek yogurt is another one of my main staples, despite having a dairy intolerance to milk if I have over a cup of milk-I've always been able to have all the cheese, yogurt etc. I want (before surgery) I find anything goes down just fine so far-no problems. I also love a yogurt drink called Keefer from Publix that I can have a few sips if I don't have time to eat and it fills me up for few hrs. Here are few cottage cheese & yogurt recipes I came up with that helped me stay on my pre-op diet (consult your doctor to make sure it is ok) and help me now eat mushy low carb. Lasagna - fat free cottage cheese, spaghetti sauce, small amount of Parmesan cheese.Mexican - fat free cottage cheeses, salsa or nacho cheese.Spicy Yogurt - fat free Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, red pepper (or Toni's seasoning)Rice pudding - fat free cottage cheese, Truvia sweetner, cinnamonTomato Soup w/melted cottage cheese for more Protein

Also love Malt-o-meal with Truvia - smaller granules than oatmeal (grain so only have for post op mushy stage)

No more shallow breathing problems from asthma. My stomach/incisions still hurt when sitting or walking - the ones by my belly button on the right tend to hurt more. My bandages are still on except the top one, it came off and I put some Vitamin E oil and a band-aid over it. I've done a few days of 20 mins, and 2 (30) minutes walking/secessions sometime with small bit of eliptial machine. The next day, my abdomen is sore, but I rarely take pain meds now. Sometimes my shoulder acts up, but it is not a problem. Fluids are going down easier, but I still struggle to get much down, but doing better. I have cheated a little bit with a couple glasses of wine, 1/4 piece of milk soaked cake and a couple very small bowls of ice-cream but I know that I've got to limit it to loose & maintain the weight. As far as hard stuff, I ate some melted cheese and had some soup soaked croutons, but have not ventured into anything harder. So far so good! There is nothing that bothers me. I am sick of protein shakes and I seem to have lost my enthusiasm for juice and crystal light, so I mostly drink Water or sometimes coffee or tea. I eat tiny amounts at time - (probably about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or yogurt, and it took forever for me to eat a poached egg.) Sometimes I try to get in the habit of waiting an hr to drink after eating which is supposed to help us feel fuller for longer. Have not vomited at all after surgery. Once or twice I had short lingering pain/nausea after eating and I drank a little liquid and was fine. I am guessing that I haven't pushed the limits of my stomach too hard due to no vomiting and usually I guess I am full when it it hurts a tiny bit for a second or two and then I feel it go down and I am fine. That is probably more than you wanted to know

[Cknorte 7]

I had surgery in July in Mexico with Dr. Corvala.....I actually had surgery the day before Julie....I am down almost 60lbs....I eat everything and do everything...as a matter of fact I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas, tried out new restaurants and (ok not the best choices, but it's Vegas) had a few too many adult bevy's....I am still down 1/2 lb....

I have learned that I need to order what I really want from a menu...yes there will be left overs, and yes, sometimes it is easier and better to order one meal for me and my husband and eat "family" style.....

other than that...it has been great....

Read my blog, go back to July, and you can see what I was doing, eating and feeling...I write about 1 a week now, but will get back into the swing of writing with the new year...

I started at over 300 and am now in the lower 240's!!!! so yes, would I do it again...in a minute....would I go to Mexico...No doubt!

Just think of your stomach at a wayyyyy smaller size....I can eat about 4-6 oz of food, if it is soft and mushy I can eat maybe 8-10oz...but still think about a 1 cup measure, that is 8 oz.....so if you are full (and for the first time in my life I knew what full felt like....).....I have now made it through the Holidays and am down 4 lbs in December...it is a slower month than any other month, but also I indulged in alcohol, Cookies, etc...so all in all it beats my usual 10+lbs gain......

good luck and keep us posted...

[Ihave6kids 29]

Hi Carol, Looks like you're doing really good. I know what you mean about ordering in restaurants. Sometimes I just order from the kids menu because I know I can't eat it all and I don't want to spend the money on a regular meal. I've been ordering what I want and bring the rest home. I've lost 54 lbs. It looks like we're pretty close. You are doing great!!

Julie

I had surgery in July in Mexico with Dr. Corvala.....I actually had surgery the day before Julie....I am down almost 60lbs....I eat everything and do everything...as a matter of fact I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas, tried out new restaurants and (ok not the best choices, but it's Vegas) had a few too many adult bevy's....I am still down 1/2 lb....

I have learned that I need to order what I really want from a menu...yes there will be left overs, and yes, sometimes it is easier and better to order one meal for me and my husband and eat "family" style.....

other than that...it has been great....

Read my blog, go back to July, and you can see what I was doing, eating and feeling...I write about 1 a week now, but will get back into the swing of writing with the new year...

I started at over 300 and am now in the lower 240's!!!! so yes, would I do it again...in a minute....would I go to Mexico...No doubt!

Just think of your stomach at a wayyyyy smaller size....I can eat about 4-6 oz of food, if it is soft and mushy I can eat maybe 8-10oz...but still think about a 1 cup measure, that is 8 oz.....so if you are full (and for the first time in my life I knew what full felt like....).....I have now made it through the Holidays and am down 4 lbs in December...it is a slower month than any other month, but also I indulged in alcohol, Cookies, etc...so all in all it beats my usual 10+lbs gain......

good luck and keep us posted...

[Zanthina 0]

I'm pasting below my post on a thread I just started regarding plication complication.

Hello Everyone,

I want to start off by saying I had the plication surgery with Dr. Corvala in Tijuana in July 2010. From July to mid December 2010 I had no problems. I had a quick recovery and had managed to lose 60 or so pounds. Then, in mid December, a serious complication occurred. I'm pasting below an email I sent to my patient experience manager, Courtney Talmadge, in response to an email from her asking what happened and how I was doing.

"On December 21 I went to my local emergency room (Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, MO) with abdominal pain, pain in my left shoulder when I breathed in, and dry heaving. They did an xray and ct scan and found what they referred to as free air in my abdominal cavity. They also found that the contrast Fluid I drank for the procedure was leaking from my stomach into my abdominal cavity. At that time the attending physician told me I was being transported to the University Hospital in Columbia.

I was transported by ambulance to the University of Missouri Hospital. I was met there by a surgical team from the bariatrics department. I explained the procedure I had received from Dr. Corvala. The surgeons told me that I needed surgery immediately to repair a perforation in my stomach that was allowing air and fluids to pass into my abdominal cavity.

After I woke up from the surgery I was told that the perforation occurred because part of my stomach was not receiving adequate blood flow and perforated as a result. The surgeons explained that, in order to attempt to prevent future occurrence, the surgeons had loosened plication stitching. The surgeons put a tissue patch over the hole to prevent leakage and to allow the hole to heal. They told me and my family that the portion of the stomach where the hole had formed was white in color from being cut off from adequate blood flow for so long and that they had almost decided to resect that part of the stomach rather than repair it. They told me and my family that, in their opinion, it's very possible this will happen to me again in the future because of the damage to my stomach and other areas that hadn't been receiving proper blood flow.

I was in the hospital from 12/21-12/26, spending my Christmas there. It took 4 days to rehydrate my body, because the hole that had formed in my stomach had let all the fluids I drank into my abdominal cavity. I had a tube coming out of my left side abdomen to drain the fluids for the duration of my stay. I had a tube coming up from my stomach and out of my nose to drain any fluids from my stomach for the first 3 days I was there. It was a horrific and traumatic experience for me and my family.

At my follow-up appointment on January 7th I spoke with one of the bariatric surgeons at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, MO about what happened. He explained to me that, due to a technical error that occurred during my plication surgery, the plication stitching had not allowed portions of my stomach to get adequate blood flow. This caused a part of the stomach to start dying and a hole formed. Also on Jan 7 I had another xray with contrast to see if there was any further leakage. The results of this test show no further leakage but that my stomach is very swollen at this time.

I am continuing to be monitored through Missouri Bariatric Services, a University of Missouri Hospital Clinic.

I believe this to be a dire complication. I was told when I came to the ER that, due to the severity of my condition I was about 24 hours from sepsis and death. It is very important that Dr. Corvala, his team, and potential patients know about this possibility. This was not mentioned to me as a possible complication of the plication surgery. In fact, I had asked about the possibility that that folding and stitching could harm the stomach and had also asked about cutting off blood flow to the folded portion of the stomach. I was told plication procedure was done in such a way as to retain the health of the stomach and that blood continues to flow regularly to the folded part of the stomach. I was also told that the plication procedure was much safer because there was no risk of leaks because no portion of the stomach is cut away and there is no staple line. Potential patients thinking of getting the plication procedure should know the possibilities."

It should be noted that I asked my surgeons here in Missouri if there was anything I did that could have caused this complication. They have informed me that this complication was not at all my fault, but due to an error committed by the surgeon (Dr. Corvala) during my plication surgery. If you decide you're interested in the plication procedure and go through Dr. Corvala I would suggest you ask him about my case.

To be perfectly honest, I'm happy with the results of my surgery. My restriction is great, my weight loss has been what I expected. However, as noted above, I almost lost my life. I wanted to share my story because when the surgery was described to me it was being advertised as a safer alternative to other surgeries and that the risk for complication was very low. As noted above, I even asked Dr. Corvala about blood flow to the stomach with the plication surgery and was told that the blood flow would be retained and the stomach tissue would remain healthy. For me, this was not the case. Please feel free to ask questions.

-Alexa Thompson

[jamp 0]

I just had GPS with Dr Watkins on Jan 19, 2011 and was able to go home 6 Hrs after surgery with no complications. I am 4 days Post Op and have some discomfort while trying to drink on the left side of chest more frustrating than painful, I believe this will fade as I learn to slow down and SIP. I feel like a New Person already experiencing somethings I havent in a long time scratching my lower back LOL. I Never thought I would be a Forum Person but I am on here a couple times a day and sure glad for the post as detailed as yours when I am playing Head Games with myself. Cant say THANKS ENOUGH.

I am a newby and still in the very restrictive part of the journey, so of course I should be loosing weight. I was very much wondering if I would feel like I miss out since I can't eat a huge plate or two of food ( I don't.) Wondering if I would loose my love of food. (I didn't, still love it, but when full I am completely satisfied which is new.)

.. I LOVE LIFE NOW! I was 190lbs a week before surgery (before pre-op). Now, (about a week and a half after surgery) I am down to 174.4 am SO happy I had this- it is changing my life and giving me and my husband hope! It even encourages me to work out/walk because I know that it will actually DO something and make a difference. Before it felt like I could never work out enough to make a dent in my calorie/deficit ratio..like I could NEVER get ahead with weight loss unless I worked out 2-3 hrs a day which is unrealistic. This is EXACTLY what I hoped it would be..small amounts of good, satisfying food with moderation and no deprivation, with exercise as being help. I do not feel deprived at all. Since I am in the mushie stage, the mainstay of my diet is fat free cottage cheese - a powerhouse of low calories & Protein. Fat free Greek yogurt is another one of my main staples, despite having a dairy intolerance to milk if I have over a cup of milk-I've always been able to have all the cheese, yogurt etc. I want (before surgery) I find anything goes down just fine so far-no problems. I also love a yogurt drink called Keefer from Publix that I can have a few sips if I don't have time to eat and it fills me up for few hrs. Here are few cottage cheese & yogurt recipes I came up with that helped me stay on my pre-op diet (consult your doctor to make sure it is ok) and help me now eat mushy low carb. Lasagna - fat free cottage cheese, spaghetti sauce, small amount of Parmesan cheese.Mexican - fat free cottage cheeses, salsa or nacho cheese.Spicy Yogurt - fat free Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, red pepper (or Toni's seasoning)Rice pudding - fat free cottage cheese, Truvia sweetner, cinnamonTomato Soup w/melted cottage cheese for more Protein

Also love Malt-o-meal with Truvia - smaller granules than oatmeal (grain so only have for post op mushy stage)

No more shallow breathing problems from asthma. My stomach/incisions still hurt when sitting or walking - the ones by my belly button on the right tend to hurt more. My bandages are still on except the top one, it came off and I put some Vitamin E oil and a band-aid over it. I've done a few days of 20 mins, and 2 (30) minutes walking/secessions sometime with small bit of eliptial machine. The next day, my abdomen is sore, but I rarely take pain meds now. Sometimes my shoulder acts up, but it is not a problem. Fluids are going down easier, but I still struggle to get much down, but doing better. I have cheated a little bit with a couple glasses of wine, 1/4 piece of milk soaked cake and a couple very small bowls of ice-cream but I know that I've got to limit it to loose & maintain the weight. As far as hard stuff, I ate some melted cheese and had some soup soaked croutons, but have not ventured into anything harder. So far so good! There is nothing that bothers me. I am sick of protein shakes and I seem to have lost my enthusiasm for juice and crystal light, so I mostly drink Water or sometimes coffee or tea. I eat tiny amounts at time - (probably about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or yogurt, and it took forever for me to eat a poached egg.) Sometimes I try to get in the habit of waiting an hr to drink after eating which is supposed to help us feel fuller for longer. Have not vomited at all after surgery. Once or twice I had short lingering pain/nausea after eating and I drank a little liquid and was fine. I am guessing that I haven't pushed the limits of my stomach too hard due to no vomiting and usually I guess I am full when it it hurts a tiny bit for a second or two and then I feel it go down and I am fine. That is probably more than you wanted to know

[AChristian 112]

hmmm.....I'm wondering if this happens alot with the plication and Dr. Corovola. The reason I say this is I was just at Los Angles Hospital awaiting a bariaum swaller test with my surgeron Dr. Kelly (I was sleeved). As we were walking down the hall we ran into Dr. Corovola. He pulled my doctor aside and told him he just did a plictaion on a girl and there is a leak!! This was on Jan. 22nd ...so that is two I know of now.