genepha

Hmm I think because the band will be left empty it should be fine. I am currently banded but my band is completely empty and I can (unfortunately) eat just like before I had surgery. I like the idea of having the band as a 'back-up' system, just in case I encounter problems with the plication.I was fairly successful with my band for about 7 years but always experienced lots of problems getting fills. I still don't have a surgery date but hopefully I'll know more next week.

This is a repost from the Band to Sleeve board but it's an update from my appt. with the plciation dr. Hi all~ I was banded in Dec, 2001. My band either has to come out or be repositioned. I have had probably 40+ fills/unfills over the 9 years since being banded. Since I had 2 complete unfills while pregnant, I haven't been able to get adjusted properly. I've been having reflux and esophagus issues since about January. My doctors here in Los Angeles think the band either needs to come out or I need to have a new one placed. In all honesty, I am pretty much done with the band and fills/unfills, etc. I am unable to have a bypass although I probably wouldn't get one if that was my only option. I was considering the sleeve but my band dr. and another dr. I consulted with both have pretty strong reservations about the sleeve. They will do the sleeve if it's what I want but it will be a fight with my insurance company and I'm not completely sure that the sleeve is quite right for me. After tons of research (again) I've decided to have the gastric plication. The dr. that will most likely do the procedure said that I can have my band replaced as well as having the plication. I am nervous and excited as I didn't know this was an option. A lot will depend on what he finds once he is actually performing the surgery but, as of now I will most likely have a new band, repositioned and then the plication all in the same surgery. The reasoning behind keeping the band along with the plication is in case there is a problem with the plication, or I have difficulty with it, I can have my stomach unplicated and still keep the band or if my weightloss is stalling with the plication, it's possible to have a fill to make the plicated stomach smaller. I will keep everyone updated on my progress and if I truly can have a new band along with the plication. Thanks for listening! genepha

Hey Lisa, I was going to have plication thru him but I recently found someone here in Cali that will be doing my band replacement and plication! Good luck to you! Are you having the sleeve or plication done I can't remember? genepha

Kathy, It doesn't sound like you are doing anything "wrong". You have lost 35 pounds in about 2 1/2 months! That's great!!! It seems that most people who've had WLS seem to hit a stall at around month 2. I think your body is just adjusting to all that has happened to it. I was an extremely sloooow loser with the band and it took me about 3 years to lose 110 lbs. but I did lose it. I kept most of that weight off for 9 years so maybe it's better to lose it a bit more slowly to allow your body some time to adjust?! If you are following the rules: eating Protein first, staying hydrated and exercising a bit, I'm sure the weight will come off. take care, genepha

Hi all! I just found out that Dr. Corvala, who was my front runner is going to charge me closer to 10K to remove my band and do the plication. I had been told it would be around $8,500 but with the band removal, it'll be more I can have my band removed here in Cali by my band dr. and my insurance will cover it but then I have to have another surgery later for the plication in TJ...which I really, really don't wanna do. I, of course, will have to self-pay for the plication in Tijuana or with Dr. Watkins. Dr. Rodriguez in Tijuana can also do the plication but I don't think he uses the Endoflip which I really want. Dr. Rod is also quite a bit cheaper than Dr. Corvala or Dr. Ortiz (also in TJ). Finally, Dr. Cottam in SLC also does the plication and my insurance will pay for the band removal but I believe he charges closer to 12K. I hate making medical decisions with money in mind, but that is the reality of my situation. So, not sure what to do, which dr. to choose or where to have my surgery. I have an appt. here in Cali on Nov. 9 with a dr. who is considering doing the plication so I will know more after that. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for letting me vent! genepha

Dr. Watkins, Thanks so much for your response. I appreciate the time you take to answer our questions and help us. I did not know that the band can be left in place (if possible). That seems like a very smart idea as a reliable back up, just in case. There is a doctor here in CA that is just beginning to do the plication so I will be seeing him next week. If it doesn't work out, I am seriously considering going to Chicago. Thanks for the info. genepha

I agree. When I was losing the majority of my weight with the band I was following the bandster rules pretty closely. I cut out soda completely 3 weeks before my band surgery in 2001 and haven't had it since. I lost 110 lbs. with the band mainly because I was able to feel full with a lot less food and because I exercised consistently. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to eat a lot of fruits and veggies with the band. I'm not so worried about losing weight quickly, I'm more concerned with losing weight and keeping it off, something I haven't been able to do with the band.

Hi Marilyn, There is another board on here that is just for plication patients. I am a band patient looking into revision either the sleeve or sleeve plication. You can also see Dr. Watkins' website http://www.cincyweightloss.com/ or Dr. Corvala at Angeles Health in Tijuana. Youtube also has several videos from various doctors. Who is your surgery with? I'm hoping to have either Dr. Corvala or perhaps Dr. Cottam in Salt Lake City, UT perform mine if I decide to do the plication. Good luck to you genepha

Hi Julie, Where did u have your surgery? 43 lbs is fantastic!!! congrats on your weight loss.

Amy, Thanks for all the info. I'd like to use Dr Watkins but I'm in CA and TJ is much more convenient. I was hoping to find a dr. here in Cali that has started doing Plication. I'm still researching and hoping to have my band removed and plication done by December.

Thinking of her. I wish we could get an update...

Karen, I haven't had plication yet either but I am banded and I had a very similar experience. I did pretty good with the band the first 5-6 years but after 2 pregnancies and being filled and unfilled so many times I could never get to the *sweet* spot. I also couldn't eat salads, broccoli (my fav) and had great difficulty with chicken. When I lost most of my weight I was pretty much doing protein shakes since everything else got stuck. Of course, chips and cookies went right down My band needs to come out due to dilation and my drs here in CA want to do a sleeve. I'm not as comfortable with the sleeve as I am with plication but if I do plication, then it's self-pay. I agree about having difficulty trying to find information. I found some great info on Dr Corvala's website and Dr Ariel Ortiz's website. They both have videos and some plication studies. Hope I can get some more info along with you! genepha

Hi Clive, I'm also banded and am considering either the sleeve or gastric plication revision. I am not a bypass candidate because I have severe anemia so the malabsorption would be a huge issue for me. Plication is very new and mostly performed in Mexico so I'm not quite sure yet if I'm 100% comfortable. My dr. here in California likes the plication but won't perform it until more clinical trials are completed (about 2013). Anyway- I hope you find out some good information here. Please keep us updated so we can learn about your decisions. Thanks, genepha

Hi Sheiila! Congrats on making your decision to change your life for the better! I hope your family comes around and I agree that they are probably just worried about you. Please let us know how your surgery goes and welcome! genepha

Wow that's great! I think Dr C has the most experience of Mexican doctors. Still not sure as I have an appt here in CA next month.

I am in So California so the best options for me are really doctors in Tijuana. Although I did email Dr. Watkins office to find out some info. Right now I'm leaning toward Dr. Rodriguez or Dr. Corvala.I've seen Dr. Ortiz in TJ before for fills and like him but I think Dr. Corvala is more experienced in plication. My band definitely needs to come out so I will be decidin within the next few weeks. Please keep your experiences coming!! Thanks!

Very worried...hope she is recovering and healing.

Hi, I have the band and am looking into having the plication. I did well with the band in the beginning but after two difficult pregnancies, my band is giving me problems...I lost about 100 lbs. with the band but it's been unfilled and I've gained back like 70 lbs Hopefully I'll be having my band removed and plication in November. I'm looking at Dr. Jose Rodriguez or Dr. Corvala - both in Tijuana.

Hi! I am still waiting to find out news about my band. I see my dr. here in Los Angeles on Oct. 18. Then I can figure out what I'm going to do next. Right now I'm deciding between Dr. Corvala or Dr. Jose Rodriguez in Tijuana. And I'm trying to save $$ for the procedure Hope your surgery goes well.

Yeah! That's great!! Keep up the good work. You guys are very encouraging to those of us that are researching or hoping to have plication soon. I have an appt. with my Cedars dr. in a couple of weeks and I'll find out for sure if my band needs to come out. Either way, I'm pretty sure I'm done with my band. I'm exhausted after almost 9 years of fills/unfills, etc. Hopefully, I'll be having plication in Nov./Dec. genepha

Thinking of you. Hope she is doing better. Please let us know. Thanks, genepha

lguidry Good luck and please keep us posted on how things go. genepha

Hi Ladies, As most of you know I'm hoping to have surgery in November. Those of you that have had surgery before me, I really appreciate any input and all these little hurdles that you are all going thru. I am banded and I noticed when I was in my weight loss phase I tended to lose weight in spurts. I was a verrrry slow loser with the band but even though I only lost on average 2-5 lbs. per month, I ended up losing 110 lbs over about 3 years. Can't wait to get my band out and have my Plication!! Thanks for sharing. genepha

Did you have a private room or a shared room after your surgery? If you had Plication, how long were in the hospital? I received information from their coordinator and am almost there in making my decision. I'm saving money now in hopes of having plication done in November. Thanks! genepha

Good luck with your surgery. I'm also having lots of problems with my band and think it will need to come out. I'm hoping to have Gastric Plication with Dr. Rod in November. Are you having surgery in Tijuana or Juarez? Please keep us updated. Good luck! genepha