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Hi Everyone: Official 1 month post plication weigh in results are...."drum roll please..." 20 lbs 6 ozs!!! This week I was down 4 lbs 6 ozs. It hasn't been the easiest as I've been sick for 3 weeks with kidney stones, and kidney infection this past week resulting in 2 hospital stays, but I think I am finally over that hurdle! (Nothing at all to do with my surgery!) I am now feeling really good, and eating & drinking normally. I am able to comfortably eat about 3/4 cup of food. I still want to drink with my meals, but that is an old habit I am trying to resist. To all of you researching the gastric sleeve plication procedure...don't hesitate for a minute! I am thrilled so far with my results. What other procedure can you say that you can eat pretty much anything you desire, as long as you stop when you feel full? You are healed in less than a month, and the results speak for themselves. No other diet in the world can help you shed 5 lbs per week without starving yourself. We are NOT starving, and we eat when we feel hungry. Looking forward to everyones results this week....Let's go girls!!! Penny

Thank you Dr. Watkins for explaining this so well! I had quite a bit of pain in the left shoulder after my gastric sleeve plication surgery, and it was explained away as "probably due to my IV line". Now we all know what is really happening. For me, my shoulder pain outweighed anything else from the procedure. Penny

Hi All: Carol I just ordered the dried Peanut Butter powder you recommended. I am such a peanut butter fanatic, can't wait to try it! I am back to work tomorrow. Got an extra week off due to the kidney stone, but still a bit lethargic. I am hoping I make it thru the day. At least I have a sit down job. I have another complication I wanted to address. The incision on my belly, near the belly button appears to have dropped a stitch, so now I have a hole about a half inch across. It is really kinda gross, and I know it's gonna have to heal from the inside out. I wasn't using any kind of bandage as I thought it was healing fine. Guess the clothing rubbed it. The tape they had used fell off about a week after I had surgery. I have doused it with peroxide, and am now using a flexible bandage. There was some foaming, but I am still on Cipro antibiotic anyways. I know Carol you had antennae issues. Did you ever get a response from Dr. Corvala's office? I have yet to hear back from emails I sent last week. Guess once they get your money the follow up is non existent! Penny

Hi Everyone: This was week 2 weigh in, and dropped 6lbs 2 ozs! A total of 14 lbs 4 ozs since surgery July 23rd!!! I too am only getting on the scale on Fridays, which was my surgery day. I feel like I've accomplished something that way. I know the weight loss will most likely taper off, but it would have taken a month and a half pre surgery to lose that much. CK, I know I am a week behind you, but I have already been eating foods that are on my 3 week, and after list. Yummm, I was craving mac and cheese this week so I caved and ate some. It went down very well! I think I am like you in getting about 800-900 calories in a day now. I am not feeling deprived, yet amazed at how little it takes to fill me up. Hubby took me to Bonefish Grill tonight, and I ordered an entree of swordfish. Ate half, and brought the rest home. Their portions are not known for being large anyways, but for me to bring home half was exciting. Yummy leftovers for this week! Mari, I completely agree with CK....water was hard for me to swallow. I am just getting to the point where I can manage it alright. I also need it cold, and with Crystal light. Just be patient, but try to get in at least some Water. You definitely don't want to risk dehydration. I also had better luck with hot liquids such as tea. Try that! Penny

Glad to hear you are on the mend, and doing well. Yes, I too had a really hard time with water intake. I am not sure how normal it is, but try to get in as much as you can. I added some Crystal Light to mine as that is the only way I could tolerate water. It felt like rocks going down at first. I am now 2 weeks post op, and I find myself thirsty and reaching for a bottle of water. It will pass, along with all the other hardships............. 2 weeks, and down 14 lbs, so it is all worth it in the end!! Penny

Just needed to share with people who understand! Second week post op for gastric sleeve plication surgery, and I dropped 6 lbs 2 ozs! Last week was 8 lbs 2 ozs. All this with no exercise to speak of as I was sick with a kidney stone. Total of 14lbs 4 ozs lighter, and I feel it! That would have taken me a month and a half pre surgery.............I am a happy camper today. Penny

Hi CK: I am taking Protonix not Nexium. Not sure how big Nexium is, but the pill I take is relatively small to start with. I am no longer crushing it. I break my Cipro in half, and take it as I'm on that antibiotic for a week. I started crushing, and it tasted horrible. No problems when it comes to swallowing either of them. Yes, I also have the antennas you are referring to. I emailed Dr. Grusko when she sent her follow up, but no reply. I am hoping someone responds to me. I haven't ventured in to spaghetti sauce territory yet. Haven't felt for it yet. I used to be a big Italian fan! I still haven't ventured to far away from soft foods as of yet, and I'm not even craving a pizza...LOL Although my 2 daughters are coming to visit tomorrow, and my hubby wants to take them out for pizza of all things. I will find something to make due with. My biggest craving so far has been for salad, and I am afraid to even try yet. Has anyone attempted salad? Penny

Hi KB and Julie: No, I didn't have a follow up doctor for when I got back. Like you I plan to visit my regular PCP when I have lost some pounds! Yes, about 25 years ago I had a small stone which passed on its own, and you are so right....they are NOT fun! I don't really think about that far down the road, and worry myself unnecessarily. There's enough people doing that already for us if you read all the negative posts about the plication surgery! I have to laugh sometimes, because it wasn't that long ago that the gastric sleeve was a "new" procedure. Most insurance companies still don't cover it. I think I would rather take my chances that if something were to happen, it could be reversed. It would be far worse knowing most of my stomach had been cut away. Then what is the option? I know that I like being able to eat even in small amounts, and not have the ill effects that are associated with the sleeve. So far I am doing really well with food intake. I'm still leaning towards the soft foods, but I think I am a week or so behind you both. I have tried a turkey burger cooked soft, and that went down although a bit rough! I really, really had a craving for meat when I did that though. I felt my body was telling me something. Dr. Corvala said listen to your body, and I have been. Everyone is differant! The hardest thing for me is getting in enough Water. I have difficulty swallowing it, and have tried adding Crystal light. What are you both doing to get your liquids in? Penny

Mari: Hang in there, and best of luck! You will be SOOOO happy you had it done! I too just recently had surgery with Dr. Corvala in Tijuana Mexico on 07/23/10. I also had the gastric sleeve plication. I have nothing but good things to say about the hospital there, and the treatment I received. My weight was 231 lbs with a BMI if 39 pre surgery. I have only weighed in once so far, and lost 8 lbs 2 ozs. Next weigh in will be this Friday! So far the recovery has gone well. I did have a kidney stone complication after returning home, but according to the doctors I saw it in no way had ANYTHING to do with my surgery. I feel a little set back because of that as I was admitted as an inpatient here for 2 days so they could blast the stone. Very Painful....the surgery was way easier, and I have to say I would take that hospital in Mexico over the one I was in here in Florida any day of the week! I am eating soft, mushy food currently with no problems. I think we should all keep in touch as we are all pioneers in this new procedure! Having others to talk with really helps....Penny

NO, this is not the super sleeve! This is called total vertical gastric plication, or gastric sleeve plication it basically entails folding the stomach, and using non disolvable sutures to create a smaller stomach that holds between 3-5 ozs post surgery. I have read that it will stretch a bit as well as time progresses so that you might be able to eat 1 cup of food about 8 months down the road. Hope that helped...Penny

I just came back from gastric sleeve plication surgery on 07/23/10 in Mexico with Dr. Lopez Corvala. My BMI was 39 when I went for surgery, and weight was 231lbs. I did NOT have to do a pre op diet, or any type of classes. I did choose to attend a webinar on this procedure that totally convinced me I was making the right choice for me. It went into details of the procedure, and how it is done. The self pay price was $8,000 and included 2 days in Hospital Angeles which was beautiful, and very quiet! Of course air fare is additional, and I flew to San Diego from Fort Lauderdale, FL. I have only weighed once since the procedure, and at that time I had lost 8 lbs 2 ozs. Next weigh in is Friday! I can say that I had no problems with the surgery post op. I am also now eating mushy, soft food and having no difficulties at all. This is a slightly differant procedure than the VSG, but much less invasive. Just wanted to give you a differant perspective in case you haven't heard about this procedure. It is fairly new, and no staples or cutting of the stomach. For me, it was the best decision, as I have very little hunger, and feel full on less than 4 ozs of food. Penny

CK: Ok, I feel better about the one I am using. Mine is by Body Fortress, and it has 52 grams whey Protein, 4 carbs, and 3 sugar per serving. I will probably use this up until it is gone. I have been cutting the serving in half as I read your body can only utilize about 10 grams of protein at a time no matter how much you take in. I had it for Breakfast this morning. I also have been using up product I got from Quick Weight Loss centers here that are high protein, low cal. It's funny cause I just did a cheescake pudding mix that I had. It has 12 gms protein, and under 100 cals. Tasted pretty good, but I will try it your way as well. Made a quick, filling snack until hubby gets home, and I do dinner. I am trying things other than Soup right now. Kinda souped out! So far, no problems with what I've tried, but it falls into soft food categories. Just wanted some mac & cheese, and 4 ozs filled me up, and tasted wonderful! I have had no sweet cravings....that is a really good thing. I find somethings to be overly sweet to me now. Has that happened to you? I find I have cravings for protein like chicken, or fish......who would have guessed? Can't wait til I can have salads again. I miss the crunch a bit. Thanks for your help. Penny

Good Luck to both Joanie, and Mari! Are you both going to Tijuana, Mexico with Dr. Corvala? I had my husband with me, and am grateful he was there in a strange country with me. I really admire those of you who chose to do it alone! I can honestly say I didn't have very much pain at all post surgery, but I am finding out I think I have a high threshold for pain. take the pain meds they offer, and you will be comfortable. I highly recommend that you stay in the hospital the entire time, and not opt to go to the hotel if that is what you planned to do after discharge. They gave me the option to stay one more night, and I made the wrong choice. The hotel didn't have me in their system, and they don't really cater to the kind of diet you will be eating after surgery. Esmerelda was also my coordinator in Tijuana, and she was very helpful. CKNorte, I'm glad to hear the energy comes back......Granted I had a sickness upon return, but thankfully I am off 1 more week to recover. I just feel so sluggish, so am really making the effort to get all my protein in. Let me know if you have any tips! Thanks all......Penny

Hi Everyone: I am thrilled I found something devoted to the gastric sleeve plication surgery. I just had this done on 07/23/10 with Dr. Lopez Corvala of Mexico. So far 8 days post op, and had a minor setback in that I came back only to be "attacked" by a large kidney stone! Just got out of a hospital last night here in Florida that in NO WAY compared to my treatment in Mexico! Just to aleve peoples concerns...the kidney stone has been growing for a long time, and just decided to make itself known, it had nothing to do with my surgery according to several physicians I spoke with. They were all intrigued with my new gastric prodecure. LOL So, now that that is behind me hopefully, I can concentrate on losing weight, and feeling healthy! I got on the scale this morning for the first time since surgery, and am down 8lbs 2 ozs! Yeah me!! I will figure out how to get a weight loss ticker, but for now I started at 231 lbs pre surgery. My goal is 145 lbs somewhere down the road. I have eaten a little solid food in the way of baked chicken chewed very well, but am mostly sticking to mushy, soft foods for now. I feel full with about 4 ozs, and don't have a problem yet feeling too much hunger. Hope that remains this way. Thanks for listening, and looking forward to sharing our journeys! Penny:thumbup1: