Dr. Ariel Ortiz at the OCC

[SoCalMomOfFour 36]

Thinking about booking with Dr Ortiz in April for Plication.... What has everyone's research led them to believe about pros and cons with sleeve.... Ortiz said he would choose plication if it was a family member...? Hard to decide. All comments welcome .

Thanks

Admittedly I have done very little research on the plication... but my understanding is that the beauty of the sleeve is that the fundus of the stomach is removed, and that is the part that releases ghrelin - the hunger stimulating hormone - which is documented to be out of whack on obese people. I don't think it is removed with plication, so I was concerned about still being a hungry hungry hippo post surgery!

[Am1e 48]

I also did very little research on plication. The reason I chose not to is because I live in a fairly small town in Texas. I was afraid it was too new a procedure for my local surgeons to know about. They don't offer it and if I had an emergency post op and couldn't get back to Dr Ortiz, I was worried they would not know what to do. Also my regular dr does all my health needs and I didn't know if he would know enough about it either. But on the plus side of the coin, a girl I was picked up with at the airport had plication the same day I had sleeve revision, and she was released to go home a few days before me and she said she had no pain. But my pain was also minimal. I just took liquid Tylenol and it was enough.

[HoosierGirl 780]

When researching, the idea of the plication was appealing. I ultimately chose the sleeve for the following reasons:

1. The sleeve is permanent. I didn't want something temporary that could cause issues in the future. Also didn't want to have to have to self pay for a revision surgery if needed it in the future. After all my research on weight loss surgery, I didn't want to have multiple surgeries in case the temporary first surgery failed.

2. By removing the part of the stomach where the hunger hormone is produced, I was hoping to reduce my crazy appetite.

3. The plication is a newer procedure and I wanted to have something with a little more of a track record. Plus, this isn't a common surgery in the US. So if there was a complication that needed urgent attention, I wasn't sure help would be readily available.

 

Good luck in your research. Being an educated patient will pay you big dividends!

[rhoste 21]

Thanks to all for the comments so far! I really appreciate the input. I am planning on taking these points to Dr. Martinez and getting the Dr.s perspective. My biggest fear is it not working .... Why? Because I am a failed lap band and am going for a revision and want this to be my last surgery.

 

I found my short chat with Dr O to be a little rushed but he basically said he would choose plication over sleeve for his own family member which says a lot.

 

I will be posting my decision here, as I am starting to feel like plication might have too many "what ifs" attached vs the sleeve being more of a sure thing.

 

Rhonda

[gastricsleever 259]

So...this past week I have not weighed myself. My scale at home was on the fritz so I tossed it 3 wks ago and decided to only weigh myself once a week at my moms house. I haven't weighed myself since last Monday. I broke down and bought a scale today bc I hate not knowing. I will be 4 weeks post op and I just weighed myself... I have GaINED a pound!! How??? This week was the best week I've had since surgery as far as getting in all my Protein, plus I've been walking 3-4 miles a day! I've not hit 8 cups of Water yet but I've gotten in 5-7 a day. I'm trying not to freak out but quite honestly, in feeling very defeated and already that little voice in the back of my head is saying "see, I told u it wouldn't work." It's one thing not to lose and to be in a stall...but how can I gain?!

[Kindle 8,667]

It happens... 3 weeks ago I was 184. The following week I was 187. Last week I was 185. This was all while I was sick from my diarrhea meds and barely getting 500 calories/day. Definitely not meeting Protein or Fluid requirements. But in those 3 weeks my size 18 pants went from snug to loose. Hydration status can play a big role, too. I gained 11 pounds in 1 day after receiving IV fluids for dehydration. The battery in my scale went dead even before surgery and I won't replace it. Weighing once/week at work keeps me from obsessing. I weigh in tomorrow so I'll see if I'm out of my stall/gain. Good luck. This will work. Just stick to the plan and have faith.

[back2barb78 890]

Covatila, it happens all the time and you're like WTF?? You'll have times when you weigh and your the same for a while or you've even gained (especially if your menstrual- I don't weigh myself for a few days once that starts) then randomly you're down a few lbs. The men don't seem to have that issue as much as we do. Anyway, you'll be fine- just wait and see. Just watch the change over the months. It seems like forever in the beginning, but goes by so fast once you start feeling like yourself again.

On a side note- word from the wise. Don't try to kill two birds with one stone- I was eating in the car on the way home from work and got car sick. Needless to say I had laundry to do when I got home

[HoosierGirl 780]

Here is all I will say...over the 11.5 months it took me to lose 95 lbs there were months I lost nothing. Like 6 weeks where I followed the diet and was dedicated to exercise and lost nothing or even gained.

The reality is that on average I lost a little over 8 lbs per month. When I think of it that way, it is sort of depressing. Others lose 100 lbs in 6 months or 25 in a month. But I never did. Don't' get sucked into that mental trap. Don't think about where you are, just keep your head down and stay on your diet. Get some exercise. The number on the scale today is not a measure of your success so far. Don't let the scale get you off your game or get into your head.

What I finally came to understand is that this is MY journey. Being consistent got me to 141. It doesn't matter what you lose in a week or what someone else lost. This will work for you as long as you MAKE SURE it works for you. If you follow the diet and exercise plan, you will lose weight. Your daily choices will string together weeks and months of success. And that is what it takes. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

And the piece of advice I will give you when you are stuck and still a few pounds from goal....try the 5:2 diet.

You've got this. Kudos to you for sticking with it even when you cannot measure the results on the scale yet. Remember this is a faith walk some days. You have to believe even in the absence of evidence. This will work and you are making it work!!!

Whew! That was my best pep talk!

[gastricsleever 259]

You guys are amazing! Thank you SO much! You are so encouraging! I really appreciate it! I feel bad for posting all my negative thoughts and feelings but I don't know anyone else who's gone through this journey and you are always so helpful!

[SoCalMomOfFour 36]

I leave for OCC in 23 days! Holy cow this is really going to happen! Yikes! I need to find my initial emails and check over all of the things I need to do before I go! Getting nervous!

[slvrsax 301]

I leave for OCC in 23 days! Holy cow this is really going to happen! Yikes! I need to find my initial emails and check over all of the things I need to do before I go! Getting nervous!

Best of luck to you SoCalMom!  Turn on international roaming on your cell phone plan before you go.  The coverage at OCC is spotty at best.  It is better in the suites than it was in the lobby.  We forgot to turn on our roaming and found ourselves calling our phone provider when we landed in San Diego.< /p>

 

You will do great! 

[Kindle 8,667]

Covatila, just wanted to let you know the month long stall is over! Feeling better, so Doubled my fluids and calories over the last week and lost 3 pounds for a total of 2 pounds down in the last month. Yeah, it's slow, but is still LOSING and I'll take it!

[gastricsleever 259]

Covatila, just wanted to let you know the month long stall is over! Feeling better, so Doubled my fluids and calories over the last week and lost 3 pounds for a total of 2 pounds down in the last month. Yeah, it's slow, but is still LOSING and I'll take it!

That's great, thanks for the update! And who cares if it's slow as long as you are losing! I actually got in a full 64 ounces of Water yesterday and 60 grams of protein! Was very proud of myself! The gym definitely helped because I was SO thirsty on the treadmill!! Drank 16oz while on treadmill for an hour, then another 8oz on the drive home! Hoping to break the stall this week but who knows....with more exercise I might just build muscle and not lose anything.

[rhoste 21]

Hello again OCC Sleevers!

 

I have NOT been able to speak to drs again, but through the grapevine it appears that the sleeve is the recommendation for lap band revisions.

 

I am looking at a surgery date of either Monday of April 14 or 21.... Anyone from here having surgery those days?

 

Also, this is a huge group of posts... Anyone remember which ones contain all the best pre-op info or where is the best place to get it?

 

OCC sends a bit if limited info on the pre diet, but I know the forums are where the details are

 

Thanks for support and replies to this post

 

Rhonda

[Kindle 8,667]

Have you booked your surgery date with OCC? They sent me a huge packet of info immediately when I booked with detailed preop instruction and checklist. If you have booked but not received info, let me know and I can forward my info packet (it was actually several emails including a health survey, preop diet details, payment instruction, travel arrangements and correspondence from their cardiopulmonary specialist in regards to use of your spirometer).