Beccatatqueen

For anyone interested in GP's, Dr Watkins was my doctor who performed my surgery today. I hope that any of you are interested or have questions, CWLC is a great place to start. The ladies there are exceptional, sweet and after a bumpy start with another doctor......they swooped (Diana) in an made me feel sooo great. Dr. Watkins is well known and you can research him on the internet. The best thing I love, about him, besides his intelligence regarding weightloss surgery, is the fact that he treated me like a real person. He will answer any question and takes time to listen. There are many great doctors out there, but If you live close to Ohio and want a great doctor, that is focused on helping those of us who struggle with obesity, Doctor Watkins is my top choice. Of course I am bias lol Good luck to all and my prayers are with you.

I am actually having the Gastric plication tomorrow. It is new and very few doctors are doing this procedure yet. This is what I know about it. My doctor, Dr. Brad Watkins of CWLC in Ohio has started to offer this procedure. He does not agree with Gastric bypass and won't even do this surgery. His focus has been on the Lapband and now the plication. Although, the cons are that there are not years of statistics, you have to admit there wasn't years of statistics with the band in the beginning and look at it now. The upside to this is that I will have no fills, no erosions, no leaks and no port. As mentioned there is a hormone Ghrelin produced however there are 200 more hormones just like this that we haven't even started to name them. With this procedure just like banding this does allievate some of this issues. We all have to remember that this is a tool and not a quick fix for either procedure. What I do like about it, is that it is reversible just like the band. If for whatever reason you might have to take out the stitches the stomach will go back to it's original size. However, as Doc Watkins has said it's a little more indepth seeing that it isn't exactly like take out the seam in your pants but the stomach will go back to normal. I think like with all surgerys there is a concern factor however, I know that if I continue to stay on the path I am now, I won't have a future. For me this is the right procedure but everyone must make their own decisions based on what is right for them. I also, trust Dr. Watkins judgement. If he wouldnt do gastric bypass because of the downside to it....he would not do this surgery if he thought there was a downside. They believe that this is considered the happy marriage between the both. I have also read many many people who are unsatisfied with the band because of leaks, erosions and dialation not to mention not losing. There can be a number of reasons for this. I have also read many many great success stories and I believe that we will soon see many great plication stories as well. I hope no matter what procedure one chooses that they choose one that best fits them. We are all on this path together and we were brought here because of one thing. I don't believe that one is better than another but I do believe that with research you will find the best one that fits you. Good luck to all.....I will keep you posted. This time tomorrow I will be on my journey to a knew healthier way of living.

Although, I am not having the sleeve done, this is the closes website that I can relate to. I am having the GP's done which is very similiar to the sleeve except that it is reversible. I am so ready for this to happen but scared as well. I love reading all the post and hearing others who have had success. I can't wait for that to be me. I have the greatest husband and family who have supported me through this entire process and now I find myself getting ready for the big day. I look at the clothes in my closet and always wonder how long before I can fit into that again. I can honestly say I am set with clothes for at least the first 100lbs.:svengo: So congratulations to everyone, you have all been an inspiration and I hope to be one very very soon.

elcee, The GP's is very similiar to the sleeve. What my doctor does is fold the bottom of your stomach, like gathering fold of material and he sews it together with two seams. The difference is he does not get rid of the unused part of the stomach both so you don't have malnutrition and so it is reversible. The down side is that they only have about 3 years worth of studies on it. The upside is that like the band it is less invasive and reversible. You also don't have to worry about slipage, erosion, or food getting stuck. You may also drink and eat bread. However, you still have the same fullness because you are only left with 20 % of your stomach. They say it is a happy marriage between the gastric and the lapband. Several individuals have gone from the lapband to the sleeve with better results.

This is my 8 or 9 day....at this point I can't remember but, what I do know is that although I am hungry I try to see if the hunger is in my head or in my tummy. I am glad others have responded to your plea. I struggle everyday even though I have wanted this for years. I have added cottage cheese to my daily intake both for Protein and substance however I make sure to keep below my 800 calories and I have lost 7lbs in one week. My surgery is schedule for 7/14 and I am ready or as ready as I think I am. My biggest challenge this week was cooking a huge meal for my step son and his friend with all his favorites plus Cookies for the go and yes I prayed from the grocery store to the end of dinner. PLEASE DON'T LET ME CHEAT!!! I am proud to say I didn't cheat and I actually sat at the table and talked while my family ate. I was either strong or completely crazy but I got through it. Either way we all will get through this part of it as well. Just think how hot we all will look when all is said and done. Keep up the great work WE ALL deserve it!

DAdam, I am having the GP's done 7/14. This is very similiar to the sleeve except it's less invasive and reversible. The reason I chose this over the lapband was for a few different reasons. This is considered the happy marriage between the Gastric bypass and the lapband. Pro's are you can drink while you eat, may have bread (but we all know we need to limit carbs), no slipage, fills, or erosion. Basically the sew up 80% of your stomach again reversible and you are left with 20%. You have the same fullness and you can still vomit if you eat too much. For me this was a better option. You do lose a little more weight with this procedure than lapband. The down side to this procedure is that they only have about 3 years worth of studies. However, I figured that in the beginning of lap band they to did not have the studies. There are some well known doctors in the States that are performing this procedure and have had excellent results. Good luck on your choice!

gogtigirlgo, I am one step closer to surgery. My surgery is scheduled for 7/14. Count down is on.lol Your right everyone's process is a little different. As for firing my doctor, it was the best decision I ever made. It just took some time because I wasn't listening to the signs. My main reason, was I was given a quote for price which I am paying out of pocket for. I have been blessed and my parents have offered to take care of it. However, once I met with the doctor I never saw her again. Everytime I completed what they wanted (over a two month span) there was always one more thing that I had to pay out of pocket for. Nothing was organized and they always had just one more thing for me to do. Thats after they said there would be nothing more. I also went for three appointments and waited over two hours just to find out that they never scheduled them like they said they did. The reason I write all this is just to inform everyone to listen to their heart and go with your gut. My second doctor is wonderful!! From the start everything was included in the price. Including psych, blood work, and sleep study. Unfortunately, I had paid for these all out of pocket but, was able to transfer them all to new doctor. I have yet to find a protein shake that taste good. My suggestion for this is to listen to people online and see what they have to say. I bought Bariatric Advantage (which was not cheap) from the doctor and ended up throwing it out. So make sure that if you are allowed to eat on your pre-op diet that you pull it all from protein and veggies. I ended up just drinking slim fast. Everyone's time frame is different and depending on your doctor depends on the test. However, I decided in the beginning that they were trying every possible way to make sure I was healthy enough and I appreciated that. There is no doubt that this new friend of ours (lapband) is only a tool to get us going and to help but, you are right we must exercise. I am one, that has never been dedicated to working out but, know that it will be a neccesity when all is said and done. So find something that is fun for you. The belly dancing idea sounded great and of course close your drapes in the livingroom while doing this. Just remember, that this pre-op diet is so that it can shrink the liver to make it more easier for the doctor to due the surgery and safer for you. The first 10% of weight loss comes right off the liver. You don't have to lose a lot to make it healthier for you. In other words don't kill yourself on this pre-op diet. Make sure you stay close to this website as well, because, it will help you get through the difficult times while going through this process.

Darlak, You'll do it because you have never wanted something so much for yourself as you want this. I am on my 8th day of liquids and I agree this is difficult. My worst day was my 3rd day. I will tell you it does get easier as the days pass. For me I have added cottage cheese to my daily intake making sure to stay within my 800 calories. This has saved me and I lost 7lbs within a week. My surgery date is 7/14 and I am counting down my days. Stick with it and I promise you will make it.

Hi gogtigirlgo Everyone's process is a little different. This is my second doctor because I ended up firing my first one. lol I like my doc because all he focuses on is Lapband he does nothing else. I to had to go through blood work, psych eval, sleep test, and the seminar. It is a process but definitely worth going through. I am now on my two week pre-diet and again everyone is different depending on the doctor. Don't give up remember that this is a process and one well worth having.

Stay with it. There is no doubt it is difficult. I to am on the liquid diet and have struggled with dehydration. I drink a lot of powerade zero's and that seems to help me. Remember it doesn't last forever and before long you will be back to being yourself again. I am on my 8 day and there are days that I feel like doing nothing but sleeping. Hang in because you have support here.

To beskinny Your right it is hard but we can do this. I will tell you, I asked my doctor the reasoning for the liquid and all he stated was if I had told people to keep it under 800 calories most people would cheat. Well I have given myself cottage cheese and veggies. I stick to my 800 tightly and do not cheat over 800 and I have lost the 7lbs. So if you do choose to have something more solid make sure it's Protein or veggies and whatever you do don't go over the 800 calories. It makes the two weeks better to cope with. Good luck with the EKG. I wouldn't worry about that to much. I have had mine done twice

Hey ya all, I am 7 days into my two week liquid diet. There is no easy way to put it but it sucks. lol The third day was the hardest for me but after a few more you get use to it. It's tolerable because you know you have a goal in mind. What helps me, is getting on here and reading others stories. It's inspiring and it keeps me going. Surgery date is 7/14 and I can't wait to see some changes. The only postive thing I can add about the liquid diet is that I lost 7lbs my first week. lol Good luck to all. We deserve to find that inner skinny person in all of us.

To btrieger, Talk about rude! I thought this site was for support? Everyone handles things differently and your rudeness does not help. Being on a liquid diet is completely different than eating with the lap band. The process is an emotional ride. Giving support and being honest with someone is different than being rude.

Hang in there. This is my second day and it is tough. For me it's hard because I am still cooking for the rest of the family. I think everyone in the house should be on this. lol We can do this! I keep asking myself, "Am I hungry or is it in my head?"

I am actually having this procedure done on July 14th. My understanding by my doctor is that this is the new thing although not used a lot in US. It has pro's and con's like the lap band. You do lose weight a little faster but not as much as gastric bypass. The pros are you don't have a device put in, the chance of food getting stuck and little faster weight loss and it's cheaper. You still could have dilation of the stomach and if you overeat you could still vomit. The other down fall is the long term statistics but the way I see it, in the beginning they didn't have long term statics on lap band either.