Betterbytheday

BlahBlah, Do let me know when and where you're having your surgery so I can cheer you on. If you're a coffee drinker and you go down to Mexico, bring liquid aspirin as it was hell getting anything for the headache I had by the third day without my morning coffee. Don't pack a lot as you won't need it, and you'll have to carry it afterwards... That's great about your Betty Page gig, she has lots of devoted fans so I'm sure you'll do well, and once your weight is down, you'll be booked solid. Keep us updated on your progress. BBTD

Dear Blah Blah, Please know that I never said that staples are the worst thing to do, I don't feel that way at all, I am actually encouraging my best girlfriend to get the vertical sleeve with the staples for she has to go through an insurance company and will have to wait years for the plication to be covered. After the initial healing is done there is very little difference in lifestyle between the two. I was not sure about the staples setting off alarms I just knew that I didn't want to take that chance as I couldn't undo it once done. Security is difficult enough without adding to it. That was a choice based on my work. Some people reject things in their body more than others, I had the band and other than the slip, I had absolutely no problems with it while others did. When I saw my flouro after the surgery I seemed to have a pouch at the top of my stomach rather than a straight up and down sleeve that looks like a stovepipe. What I think happened is that my Dr. just stitched the part of my stomach past where my band restricted and left the original pouch there. I can currently eat probably 2-3 oz more than those that were not revision or plications from what I've read on the site. This leads me to believe that my weight loss will be slower than usual, but I'm so new out (a month) I can't really establish a pattern. The comfort level is so much better than the band, you feel full but I haven't had the watery eyes, excess salivating wanting to throw up feeling I had with the band, so for that, I'm grateful. My choices on food are greater, I could eat no meat with the band, but that was because mine had slipped early on. I'm not a typical plication patient as I'm a revision. Perhaps there will be others on the forum that started with fresh stomachs, they would be the ones to really ask about it. Good luck on whatever you decide, BBTD

Thanks for the heads up on the study KabinKitty, please let us know when the results are made public if you find out.

Thanks for the info on the staples, I didn't feel I wanted to risk it even though it may or may not set off the machines (there are great variations in sensitivities), it was a personal choice I made as I knew it couldn't be undone if it did present problems, and I know what has to be done to alleviate the issue at security (presenting documentation, etc) and I was unwilling to risk that if I didn't have to. I wouldn't know about the zippers as our uniform's zippers are plastic and all the buttons have been switched from metal to plastic since the stepped up security. This shouldn't be a deciding factor for the general populace and nor was it THE deciding factor for me, I just felt the plication better suited my needs, and I stated why, that's all. There are many weight loss choices out there, we all have to find the right fit for our lifestyle and situation. Good luck on which ever one you choose.

KK, I can't take the chance that the metal would be detected as all the machines are calibrated differently. I set off he alarms the other day and held up my crew for over 5 minutes (that's lengthy for us when we need to show at the gate) and there was absolutely NOTHING causing it to go off but my bra wire. The machine in my home town is sooo sensitive you can't have anything metal on. More problematic than the machine is the wand, it would go off on me at the belly area I'm sure. For the occasional traveler or someone with some time on their hands this wouldn't present a problem, but our crews all wait for one another and I can't take that chance, then have to explain or show documentation (like those with rods and pins), it's just not something I care to do. Not all TSA personel are sticklers but with my luck, I'd find them. I don't know where the other doctors are (and I think one of them was only here temporarily). but Dr. Cottam has more than enough experience to suit me, good luck on what you decide to do. BBTD

Krystal, I opted for the plication as it didn't require removal of the stomach or staples, the staples could have possibly presented problems for me going through security at airports and I am a flight attendant, so that was definitely a concern. Dr. Cottam is one of only 3 American doctors doing the plication here in the states. If I had known about his pricing at the time of my surgery I would have DEFINITELY gone to him. As for my surgery done down in Mexico by Dr. Corvala, I feel his sutures are not as nice and neat as they could be, they're stitched and I prefer them glued as was done when I had the lapband. I am still on slider type foods and eating less but they are not necessarily light on calories, but I am not feeling the plication I had to be very tight, but the foods I'm eating currently are easily digestible and move through quickly. I will have to wait a bit to see really how much I can eat before feeling full. I'm sorry I haven't been much help to you in this but it's still early for me to see big results, I lost much weight on the liquids but not that I'm able to eat more substantial foods, I've stopped actually losing, which is alright for the time being but I'm hoping the weight loss resumes here soon. Let me know what you actually decide, I'll keep an eye out for your progress. B

Mellifrits, the super sleeve is not exactly the same thing as the Imbrecation or plication, please see Tiffykin's post above.Cavyguy, there are a few plication/imbrecations folks here on the forum but it's such a new procedure there aren't too many. Do a search then you can find them.I think the main difference is that it's reversible in theory but the truth is, I doubt I'll wake up one day and want to be heavy again. I'm sure to reverse it would be problematic due to scar tissue so chances of that happening are minimal.The "hunger" sensor in the stomach is taken out or certainly minimalized with the gastrectomy whereas with the plication it is completely left intact, that may prove to be problematic later on, I will have to see. (I'm only going by what I've read, those of you having had the VSG could tell you more about that)The main selling point of plication is its complication factors, quick healing, no staples, no possibility of leaking, etc. Once you've healed we're all the same here, I would imagine.So there, that's my two cents on the two procedures, let us know how you're doing with whatever you decide.BBTD

Thanks Tiffykins for the clarification as I couldn't figure out if there was excess removal and staples on the super sleeve. And hi to you MyWay and Neena, my surgery's right between the two of yours, May 27. There aren't many here on the forum that have had the plication so I'm glad to see ya'll. Wasn't the hospital in TJ simply gorgeous, and had great protocol too? (ie: each shift the leaving nurse would bring in her replacement and introduce her to you) I'm down quite a few pounds but I'm not surprised as I'm not eating but a bit. BBTD

Lolo's Neena, good luck with your Super Sleeve, I really can't figure out what exactly it is, do they cut the excess stomach and take it out or is it a super tight sleeve with the staples? Please let me know as I've been seeing it on the forum but am still not clear. Having had the lapband previously and tonight at 2 weeks post op I had my first bowl of chili with ground meat, it went down great and although I'm feeling full, with the band I really felt uncomfortable much of the time, the sleeve isn't giving me that feeling so I too, am greatly encouraged. I would bring my own liquid aspirin or tylenol if I were you, that little pill they give under the tongue didn't put a dent in my pressure headache from lack of coffee, good luck to you and keep us posted. BBTD

Phatcurves, congrats for deciding that you're removing yourself from that relationship. It will be uncomfortable but all of us on this website have decided that they want change in their life and more importantly, are taking action to produce that change. Your transformation will be like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon and that time alone during this transformation will allow you to enjoy it on an extremely personal level and not have to deal with outside drama as well as our "inside drama". I know you will find the new you and the new strength you never knew you had which will make you irresistable to your next love. Good luck each step of the way. B

Tiffykins, what an amazing transformation. You look so happy and comfortable in your new size, like it allowed the real you to emerge. You must be proud of yourself for healthily losing the weight, you're an inspiration to those of us just starting out.Congrats.B

From the video that I watched of Dr. Daniel Cottam on Youtube ([nomedia=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpmK8AdJEJU]YouTube- Failed Lap Band to Gastric Imbrication; A New Concept in Bariatric Surgery[/nomedia]) he takes a stitch from below then on from the top and then pulls them together, I think after the first "tuck" is done they do an additional one. You still have a bougee so they don't go too snug. I did see something on a surgery that they go in from the mouth and take little tucks vertically all around the stomach to decrease its size and there's no surgery from outside the body. Many things happening in this field, thank god.