Steve007

Hi everyone! I got back from my plication surgery yesterday. I am a little sore and have a little bit of discomfort but overall I am fine! I redid my bandages this morning and put on the wound care. I am also finishing out my prescription of antibiotics. Honestly the experience was pretty much what I expected. Everyone was very nice to me and people were constantly cleaning. Everyone wore gloves and used anti-bacterial soap when being treated, so I had no worries on germs, etc. The quarters were cramped and there were two patients in each recovery room. I did pay to get a private room at the hotel the next two days and was glad I did. It was only $56.00 a night with a king-size bed! The hospital/clinic has a full time nurse in one of the rooms at the hotel. We would then get shuttled back and forth to get our IV nourishment/medicine, drain tubes taken out, x-ray for leakage, etc.. Everything went well. I even went shopping with a group on Revolucion for gifts for my family! It was safe during the day but you don't go out at night or if you do, stay in a group! Any questions anyone has please feel free to ask! I am excited to be continuing my journey to a happier and healthier me! Woooooooohoooooo! Steve

Hi Everybody! It has been 2 months since my plication surgery and I am feeling somewhat frustrated. I am physically feeling great and have more energy but find I am not losing weight as fast as I want to. I am now eating smaller meals but more of them spread out over time so my stomach is not too full. I am still a stress eater. I have gone down a size in scrub pants and tops. I am getting compliments that I look thinner in my face and stomach. I have given up diet soda. I am drinking Water, green tea and lemonade. I am staying low carb. I am not exercising as much as I would like but I did start walking again. I will start weight training as soon as my incisions heal all the way. Unfortunately my job as an RT has me bending, stretching and pulling too much for the incisions to heal faster. I have come to realize that my plication surgery is not a magic silver bullet where weight loss just magically occurs. Plication surgery is a tool. It is still up to me to eat less, exercise more and make healthier choices. It is up to me to analyze and correct what made me heavy in the first place. I can blame genes, circumstances and the environment but in the end I need to look at me. I need to take responsibility for my weight, make corrective actions and change my thinking. (Gee...why didn't I think of this before!!! I could have saved thousands of dollars and been much happier!!! I blame global warming.) Okay...okay...I will get off my soapbox. I am essentially writing this for me so that it serves as a reminder and motivator. I am still extremely happy I got the surgery done. I just need to do my part better! Take care everyone! Steve

Hi Everyone! It has been 2 mo since surgery and I wanted to give an update on how I am doing. I find I am not at all hungry as I use to be but I am still eating to relieve stress. I have not had diet soda for over 2 mo. I have kept to a low carb diet. I am drinking water. I am however eating more meals just smaller but spread out over time. I have gone down in my scrub sizes and people comment that my face and tummy look smaller but I am not progressing like I want to. I am starting a food journal tomorrow which I have always resisted to do. In my mind when doing a journal, I always felt I was restricting myself which just made me even hungrier. I am walking again at the gym but I have not started any weight training as my incisions have not healed all the way yet. I feel that will definitely help. I am still glad I did it but need to focus on working out, losing weight and eating less. (Gee... I guess it is just that simple!) Take care! Steve

Hello everyone... I am going to have plication surgery Feb 27th, 2013 in Mexico. I have heard and read up on the advantages and disadvantages of each. I leaned towards plication because of keeping your stomach intact and the fact your stomach secretes various hormones. You still get the "full feeling" because of the restriction. My wife had the sleeve done last March because she wanted the "Ghrelin Hormone Producer" removed along with having the restriction of the smaller stomach. She believes that having the stomach folded will eventually lead to blood flow problems or ischemia. I have talked to several surgeons and most agree it does depend on technique and individual genetic factors. Either one of them gives you the tool to help lose weight...but it is still up to you to eat right and exercise. (My wife has lost over 100 lbs and loves it!) I do work as a Respiratory Therapist at a hospital and unfortunately most of the feedback I get is questions about Mexico or the need for the surgery itself. I have no illusions that it would be more convenient in the US but almost everyone I know that has had it done are self pay. Most insurances specifically do not cover any bariatric surgery. It is essentailly the same as an out-patient procedure at a clinic. If you do due diligence you can find foreign Drs that are competent to perform bariatric surgery. The need is evident because it is a reminder and tool to keep one at a healthy weight. Many health care professionals I know are at an unhealthy weight due to stress, emotional eating, late night eating and did I mention stress?!? If anyone else would like to share their experiences with plication versus sleeve and if they would do anything different now, I would love to hear it! Thanks and good luck to everyone! Steve

Bos123 was right on the mark...sleevers still get hunger pains...just not as much! If they didn't, why have WLS at all???? Just take out the ghrelin hormone gland and be done with it! No, you still have to make smart choices and change your eating habits! WLS is simply another tool to help you get down to a better and healthier weight...and then maintain it! Hope this helps! Steve

Hi Tc44055! Most hate plication because they feel you are not making the ultimate committment on weight loss surgery by not having your stomach cut and reduced in size. Some feel that plicators ultimately want to have the surgery reversed once they lose the weight. They also have been told that plicators are hungry all the time because the ghrelin hormone producer is not removed. They ignore the hormone argument and the safety argument of keeping your stomach intact... just folded in on itself..Many want to believe theirs was the "Best" and "Only" way. To each their own. My wife loves her sleeve and I love my plication...thus the reason I named this topic...Plication Versus Sleeve... 6 One Way, 1/2 Dozen The Other!

Hi Dionysus69! Oh I hear you! The scale mocks me! I now just weigh in every Sunday! The only thing I know is that my body is changing because pants and shirts fit better and I get lots of people commenting on my weight. So even though the scale may not always show it, my smart eating choices are paying off! Yeaaaaaaaa! ;-p

Hi Bos123! Great hearing from you and thank you! Yes, I just tell people I have a sleeve because it is not worth it to get all worked up about it. The "sleevers" are more Catholic than the Pope and believe their way is the only "true" or "pure" way! There are several ways up to the mountaintop! I am super happy that everything is going well!

Hi Tc44055 and dionysus69! I am doing great. I am down to 296 lbs. I am down a shirt size and a pant's size. I am still very happy with my choice. I went to IHOP last night and had an omelette and ate only half of it! It was a weird sensation feeling full... I have a lot more energy than before. The only draw back is that my incisions have been slow to heal which unfortunately is my fault as I do too much lifting, pulling and stretching in my job! Congratulations on your so success so far dionysus69! I am so happy for you!

Hi BOS123! I just got back yesterday from my plication surgery in Mexico. I am feeling a little sore and a little discomfort but overall not bad. I never threw up once! Yea! I weighed this morning and I am at 310...even with the swelling. I had to laugh because when you are at surgery you see lots of different characters. In my opinion, the reason you are in Mexico is because your insurance will not cover the surgery and/or it is too expensive in the US. To complain on how bad it is in Mexico and that in the US they would never do this or that, is self defeating and ridiculous. We knew what level of treatment we would get versus the cost involved and need to be okay with that and not whine or bad mouth everything. There is a reason why the cost is 1/2 to 1/4 the cost in the US! Also to tell you how it is such a small world, on my way back in the San Diego Airport, the lady sitting behind me was on the phone talking about her sleeve surgery in Mexico at another clinic also on Wednesday. I chatted with her and her husband who had his done at the same place I did but two years ago. He is 120 lbs down and maintaining that weight. It is getting more and more poular! Glad to hear of your success BOS123 in just 3 short months! Way to go! Steve

Dear Misha, Thanks so much for your thoughts. Even though the ASMBS has not approved it yet does not mean it is not viable. The ASMBS calls it an investigational procedure. The hospitals/clinics here in Phoenix and the ones I contacted in Los Angeles all categorize it as the same type of surgery. The ASMBS in their opinion comments,"...Specifically, the gastric plication does not involve gastric resection, intestinal bypass, or placement of a foreign body, and this could potentially provide a lower risk alternative that will appeal to patients and referring physicians. The operation involves mobilizing the greater curvature of the stomach similar to the dissection for a sleeve gastrectomy and infolding or imbricating the stomach to achieve gastric restriction." The ASMBS will make an official policy announcement when they have more data from American doctors. I did due diligence in my research and saw from the 10 year study of plications both from Iran and South America the low complication rate and percentage weight loss. Eventually when insurance companies get a billing code or number for the gastric plication, everyone will jump on board! Glad to hear of your success and ultimately everything is a tool to get to a healthier weight! Thanks! Steve

Dear BOS123, Thanks for your thoughts! The key is that we will be around in 20 years to be able to compare notes on where we are at on that "full" feeling. Thanks again!

Hello everyone! It is almost here...Wednesday is my surgery day. I fly in Wed morning and will have my surgery sometime in the afternoon. I have lost 9 lbs so far on the liquid diet and have actually been in a good mood... I will blog when I get back. Steve

Hello everyone! Woooooohoooooo!!! Started the liquid diet today. I now know why there are no broth addiction programs or people hiding broth cans from others in the family or drive-thru fast food broth chains... A little nervous about my surgery on Wednesday. Looking forward to having a tool to help me lose weight and eat healthier. Keeping myself busy at work so the time will go quick. I am having surgery with Dr Almanza in Mexico. My wife had the sleeve done there last March and is down over 100 lbs. I prefer the plication instead. Any suggestions or advice for pre-op or post-op surgery greatly appreciated. Thank you! Steve