ktb2904

Welcome to the Plicater's.......I had my plication done Jan 27th, 2011 at OCC with Dr Ortiz. And with the exception of being out of it on surgery day, my challenges have been pretty usual. Initially you feel a lot of gas, because they sort of inflate you tummy area with gas to give them a clear vision for your surgery. All that gas has to come out, so it comes as burping or rooty-tooting. It can be presistant in the first 10-14 days and sporatic after that. The good news here is you have a legit reason for letting a few go right...............lol..........Everyone I've spoke to has gone through this. The other thing is each one of us have had lots if not most of the same feeling pre-op as you are and will experience, so just let them feelings hang out, we'll hold your hand through it all. I'm pretty sure I speak for everyone else whos had this surgery...we're here for you, to give you as much support as you need/want. And no question is too odd or seem silly to ask.......so ask away. You'll be joining us on the loser's bench very soon. Cheers, Katie

Hey O.

I just got the protein powder for Costco to make shakes to try and up my protein on days where it's not making the grade. It's called Preimer, it's the Costco brand and they told me if it doesn't work for me for any reason, to bring it back and they would refund it. Got a Costco close by?? Counting down the days to your first soft food meal, any idea what you're likely to want???? Wonder often how you are making out. K:)

I was just wondering how you were doing. Glad to hear the nasty post surgery has passed. My gas situation has mostly passed, although I still seem to do some rooty-tooting............seems like more than pre surgery. I know there are a few ways I can acquire that bad gas. First if I eat and not wait the full 30 minutes before I drinnk something. Or if I eat too fast...........or to much. I eat my meals out of a 4oz ramkin container..............if I eat a bite or two more, then I get a pressure feeling under my breast bone, a sort of a lump in my throat and feel nausea. So I try really hard not to do any of these things. Wasnt successful tonight......waited too long to have dinner........so was super hungray aqnd not paying attention when I was eating and ate another 2 oz..............leaving me with the pressure under breast bone...etc.............on a learning curve I guess. I also did feel hungry right after surgery.............but suggest you pick one day of the week and that becomes your weigh in day. I know many weigh daily, but for me I think I would drive myself round the bend to be worrying about the scale every single day. I follow the plan outlined to me by OCC and weigh weekly. So far I'm not disappointed. Jan 10th......211lbs....surgery day...198.1..........last Friday...184.8 so what's that 25+ pounds so far. I'm pretty sure my weigh loss has now slowed down fromt he quick weigh loss right after surgery. Let me know how you're getting along. K:)

Finally I am back to the land of the living! I had plication done on Tuesday February 15th with Dr. Ortiz at OCC. To start, the facility was very nice and the staff was absolutely wonderful. Some of the nurses there have had the surgery so it felt good to know that they knew exactly what I was going through. I got in early on Tuesday morning to the airport and went straight from the airport to OCC. They did all my pre op tests and surgery on the same day. I met so many from these boards there, it was awesome!

After the surgery I had some pretty tremendous gas pains. They told me to walk and walk I did all through the night. I threw up a couple of times the first night but was discharged on Wednesday to the hotel. I stayed at the Lucerne and I highly recommend it. Very very nice, with very nice people, especially if you tip them! Wednesday night was pitiful, I threw up on the hour every hour, could not keep down my pain meds, the gas pressure felt close to a heart attack and I was ready to head right back into that center and have them undo every last stitch! My husband called the center on Thursday and they told me to come back in. While waiting to be seen in the waiting room, I saw many others who had had the surgery on the same day or after me and they were doing wonderfully. I think my situation was honestly the exception and not the rule. They did a barium test and they said everything looked great, just a reaction perhaps to the anesthesia. By Thursday night I was vomit free and had a good nights sleep and by Friday morning I felt like a new woman! We flew home Friday night and I have been great since. I am still on the liquid diet and for the most part I do not have a desire to eat unless I prepare a meal for my family or have to watch others eat.

I have not weighed myself yet! I'm afraid! My mother suggested I weight so as to avoid being discouraged. I am still soooo bloated from being pumped up with gas and the swelling so I am going to wait it out this week and weigh in maybe next Monday, if I can stand it that long. I know many of you wanted me to fill you in so I hope this helps. Please, please, please let me know if there is anything I didn't mention that you would like to know!!!

Love, love, love these boards. It really feel like a family and I am so thankful for all the kind words! Smooches!!!

Good luck Olivia. I think you will be happy. I am excited for you.

I am supposed to have an endoscopy in about 6 months just to make sure everything is OK. I am having less gas also unless I gulp too fast. Feeling pretty good now. I think I have more energy. I noticed right after surgery for the next 48 hours I always felt like I had to pee and when I went it was like dribbles. Now my bladder is back to normal. I am 5 days post ops and I still need Tylenol for the incision areas. Sometimes I have a hard time deciding if I am hungry or if it is stomach cramps. Dr. Martinez said that cramps happen for the first while since the stomach is not used to its new form.

I have a lot of energy when I am by the end of they day I am ready to sleep. I think I sleep deeper now though. Hope everyone is doing well.

Sharon

Hi S. Good to hear you're doing well. On occassion I still get the 'cramps' and it seems to happen after I've eaten and obviously eaten too fast. I wass listening to a You Tube where a gal said her advise was to eat tiny tiny bits, chew really well(of course) and then wait abotu 2 minutes between bites so the new tummy gets full and not the area just at the entrance to the stomach. Sounded like good information, so I'm giving it a try. The wait between feels odd..........has anyone found a solution to keeping food hot while you're taking you time eating?? I'm finding about half way through my meal, my food is cold and mic'ing it doesn't improve the flavor or texture.

That;'s right, that's why Cleveland is doing clinic trials. I don't have a lot of information about the surgeon doing plication in Montreal Canada. i do know in Brazil gastric plication has been there for over 10 years. There is information on the gastricplication.org site. I do agree with Olivia in that which ever surgery we each pick, we tend to see it as the best option out there. Research, research and more research, plus some discussions with surgeons will answer your questions more than anyone else can. Ask a lot of questions of the surgeon, if they are any good, they will be able to tell you the pros and cons of each type of WLS.

What a great day to have a birthday, lots of great people have that day! Did I mention we shared the same great day.....lol.... My plication was done on Jan 27th at OCC. Ok to answer a few queries...why the Gas-X strips...well, during the surgery, your adbomen area is inflated with gas so the surgeon can have good vison of the area, and that gas has to come out. So ya end up with approx. 7-10 days with burping and rooty-tooting you way through the entire day. They do give you prescription meds for the gas but the Gas-X can help a lot. So does walking, which the clinic will encouage you do to asap, the more the better. The Magic Bullet is great especially for those protein shakes we all need to drink. You can make your own protein shake too. I use a bit of ice, 2 tablespoons of juice, water, one scope of no flavour protein powder(cause I have yet to find a protein shake that doesn't put my gag reflex into high gear) and say a bit of banana......a few push downs on the Magic Bullet and you got yourself a smoothie with protein. It also works in the cream soup phase. Lots of time cream soups have a bit of chunks, like say cream of potatom, or say cream soups from Whole Foods. Using the Bullet smooths those all out. Since gulping drinks, or using a straw adds to the gas situation, you'd want to avoid those too. I use a plastic baby spoon so I don't try and eat too fast or put too much in my mouth at one time....again...gas.....for me it can come in the form of pressure under my breast bone. It passes with a burp, but why not try not to ge it than fight it off. I took a thermos with me. We stayed at the Marriot in Tj, and their chicken broth in the evening is awesome, but the morning fair looked like cloudy dish water with chicken fat floating on top. Having that thermos meant I could heat it up with hot water, and have it filled up with broth at night and it kept me till the next evening with the good broth was available. I learned on the trip back that you can take a thermos of hot soup or a drinkable yogart(if you're on to that then) through security. I got wheel chair assistance to ehlp both get to the gate and clear security. It was one of the San Diego wheel chair assistance who told me I could take it through security and on board. I just had to tell them I had just had WLS and this was all I could consume, and no problem clearing security. I also took Lipton cup a soup, just in case. I didn't use it cause I had my thermos, but the two gals who had their surgery on the same day sure enjoyed them.

Those are a few things for you to add to your list. Katie

Hello Everyone!

I will be having my surgery on 4/29/11 in celebration of my 32nd birthday! (yay me) I have been all over this forum and have seen a bunch of info goodies hidden everywhere. As this forum is not as popular as the band forum(yet!) I thought we could create a post for tips and tricks before and after surgery so people can be informed and prepare for this amazing journey. Also we should come up with a cool name I mean the lap band group call themselves the bandsters, what can we call ourselves? The pleats? The Plicators (sounds intimidating)? Anywho back to the original post....what about posting responses to this post as such:

1.) Dont include original message in reply

2.) What to Bring: Gas-X Strips - Explanation or tid-bit why.

3.) What to buy: Bullet Blender - Explanation or tid-bit why.

4.) Tips or tricks to reduce discomfort or awsome observations.

Can't wait to add to the list! I can't wait to be a PLICATOR cause I am a weight DOMINATOR!

P.S. just ignore my excessive corniness, my husband does.

Have you have your phone consult with your surgeon yet? These are all good queries for him. I think from what I've read, the need for fills or unfills are very much different with everyone. Maybe it's time to put some of your questions to a surgeon. In my research, I did only find one place in the States that were in clinical trials with gastric plication, and that was in Cleveland where I am told the cost of surgery is very high, 22 grand plus, to be part of their trials. I have heard since my surgery of a place in Montreal Canada that are doing plications. There is a web page you ight want to check out gastricplication.org K:)

Thanks for the input. We are about 60 minutes to a FillUSA Center, but I have read good and bad about having fills there. Not opposed to going to see OCC once a year, but more than that would probably be too costly.

My BMI is 35. I have looked, but can't seem to find a guideline for which bariatric surgery is best for differnt BMIs. Of course not too many in states doing GSP so can't find a lot of info.

SD

You're so right Lindsay, for some the band works great. I think the driving force behind my choice was I don't live where fills are easily done without going to Seattle. Not a long drive(3hrs), and I also travel out of the country a lot, this way no real follow up. So far I have found my old desire for eating lots is not around, and I am satisfied on much less, it was the tool I needed. May also be because my BMI was at 34, I wonder if plication works better with lower BMI's, no sure but the thought just came to me. Lindsay, you have been an inspiration to me, awesome job!

I love my band.

And opposed, I've read a lot of people 'disappointed' with the lack of restriction with the Plication and the slow results factor seems to really come into play ...

A lot of frustration is talked about on this forum with those who have had the plication.

I have full control over how much restriction I have.

Can be unfilled if needed.

Getting fills can be a pain, if you haven't sourced it out ... but I've had incredible results.

That means Chronic Fatique Syndrome, sometimes comes when one has chronic back pain......car accident in 2001, that's when my weight went totally out of control, up till then it was a struggle. So when my energy is up like right now, I am sooo happy...and need to watch I don't deplete it as can happen. Don't you leave shortly for your turn at OCC?

I too have some pain in ym stomach when I swallow. It goes away when I burp. But I am only 4 days post op. Has much changed for those of you who had the surgery a month or more ago? Do you feel pretty normal or do you still have aches or pains when you eat? Did it change when you went to solids?

My plication was Jan 27th at OCC. Here's what I've learned, to see clearly during surgery at lot of gas is put in mid abdomen that gas has to come out somewhere, usually in burping or rooty-tooting. Also if I drink to fast or too much in one sip, I get a pressure under my breast bone which only time or a burp relieves. I do remember having what I would call 'stitches' (as sharp pain) in my lower left or right side, again more gas. The muscle will repair itself fairly quickly, and those sharp 'stitch' gas pains do resolve themselves. I will say I feel totally like I haven't had surgery until I consume something, then I notice the volume I can consume is much much smaller. If I go even a tiny bit over small servings, it means gas. So it means for me to be eating mindfully, something brand new for me. I just started soft solids, salmon was delis, and because I started with about 2oz only, no gas at all. YIPPEE!

Hi, I had gastric plication on Jan 27th at OCC. I started out thinking a band was the way to go, until I did a bunch of research on various forums, reviews on the net. These were the things I based my choice on.....first no foreign objects in my body, no fills/unfills to deal with, no worry about slippage like with a band, or ports flipping, and a plication can be reversed. Here was the last thing, no slimming, or having something get stuck. I also noticed more and more that lapbanders were getting revisions done to a VS............Now 2.5 weeks out, I know I made the right decision........I feel so 'normal', no trouble getting things down and the size of my new stomach makes sure I don't over eat. I know at this early stage I am so aware of what choices I make, and I'm not hungry all the time. Don't know if this helps, but if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Each one of us has gone through where you are. K:)

At OCC they did a barium on the last day there, so you could see you're new and smaller stomach. I still don't feel like I had a surgery, with one huge exception, I can only take in small volumes at a time. So I set a timer on my watch so I have something ever 4 hours while I'm awake and I have water going all the time, sipping only, as any gulping leads to gas. Oh the gas, at 2.5 weeks out, only time I notice gas is if I consume anything too fast. I have also noticed I have a ton more energy too. for me that's a huge bonus as CFS can wear on ya. Cheers, K:)

Hi Katie!

How much weight have you lost?

HI, Let's see.....weight on Jan 12 at my doctor's was 208.5.....pre surgery weigh in at clinic right before surgery was 198.6....this moring I was 184.0....I had a huge weight loss in the last 72 hours because I've had a stomach flu bug. Pre flu weight was 192 point something (sorry I can't remember exactly, records at at home and due to flood I am not home right now...major yucky!). So total just over 24 lbs. I will say that I was never one to weight myself except when forced to at my doctor's office. I went more on how my clothes fit or didn't fit. The finally straw for me was when I had to buy yet a larger size jeans, the third increase in size in 10 months. I will say that the weigh loss in numbers is still not as important as how I feel in my own skin and in my clothes. I purchased my first home scale just before my surgery.

How do you feel with your gastric plication restriction?

Hi, I had my plication surgeon on Jan 27, so just 2 weeks out. It's not so much restriction, it just takes very little for me to feel full. For example...1/2 cup creamy soup and I am satisfied with a sense of being full. I also eat about every 3-4 hours which is exactly how we 'should' be eating. Of course I have already planned my first solid meal.

Poached salmon, mashed carrots and turnips(my fav veggie combo) and an even smaller amount of mashed potatoes. As far as I can tell soft foods means food that doesn't require a lot of chewing like beef or pork or chicken, that comes a bit later. I will say I wasn't expecting restriction as say one would expect from a lap band(I never had one, that is based on what I have had heard others with a lap band talk about). What I wanted was another tool to downsize the portions of food I would eat, and not be left feeling hungry. And so far that's exactly what has happened. I also know right now my goal is to let my stomach heal, and not eat things that will stretch out my new stomach size. I do rememeber being told any damage I do to my stomach in the first 6 months wouldn't be seen right a way. It would show up 12-18 months down the road. So I am very concious of this when I start to think about menu planning from next week on. Hope this answers your query. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer or you can email me at ktbaillargeon@gmail.com Cheers, Katie

Hi KTB! What was your pre surgery diet? I am scheduled for plication on the 16th and just started the 9 day plan.

Hi, My pre surgery considered of 2 protein shakes and one lean cuisense a day plus green salad (green salad with tomotoes and mushroom only) with balsiminc vingar or veggie soups. I will say I have craved of all things a huge green salad with fat free creamy dressing. Now, craving a greeen salad was not something I ever craved in the past, go figure. I think the pre surgery was way more difficult than I am finding the post surgery. Mostly because I really do not find myself hungry as I use to be all the time before the surgery. Now 1/2 cup of cream soup and I'm satisfied. My current challenge is getting the required 30 grams of protein in a shake. I have yet to find a protein shake that I don't just gag on and throw up. They all seem to taste yucky to me. I can tolerate Slim Fast Royal Chocolate which means drinking 2 of them a day. Thats a lot of volume for me right now. I've also just spent last 2 days very sick with a flu bug, and if anyone is wondering if the fly symptons are not the flu but from surgery, they are not, my boyfriend has the same flu bug, same symptons. Quick way to drop 10 pounds but not the way I want to loose weight. I would prefer a slow gradual weight loss, that way my skin will have time to adjust and I can lessen the sagging skin issues. I know I will have some, and I plan to have a bit of plastic surgery in about a year. Anyone has any questoins, feel free to ask or email me at ktbaillargeon@gmail.com

Good Luck with your surgery and God Bless you. Keep in touch Hugs

Surgery all done.....what a great experience. The OCC clinic is the cleanest hospital setting I've ever been in. Everyone is so professional, and interested only in your best care. I've had lots of IVs over the years, and they have always been nasty and left bruises, but not this time. OCC's surgical nurse is wonderful, and how she managed to put my IV in painlessly and I had no bruising, amazing, simply amazing. On day of surgery I was sort of out of it, by the next day on discharge, myself, my partner, and two other couples(us gals had Plication surgery) went exploring to see if TJ Walmart is the same there...yup, it's the same, just in Spanish. Heads up, you must have Pesos or your credit card to shop, as US$ are not taken. There are a few things I took with me that help a lot. A plastic baby spoon, no way one can gulp(and get stomach cramps), a thermos, made sure I had broth available all the time. We stayed at the Marriot, a wonderful place, their chicken broth is amazing, BUT, only at night.............the morning broth resembles dish water, so I would have the thermos filled at night and it kept me going until the good broth was available the next evening. I also took GasX strips with me. Not sure how anyone does, but all three of us had lots of gas. We burbed and rooty-tooted out way through the whole time. I also found out that you can take a full thermos of broth through security at the airport. Just tell them you have had WLS and that this is all you can consume. Also, I used the airline's wheel chair service, made getting through security and to the gate super easy. Hope this helps someone. I noticed this morning I'm down 5 pounds since surgery and 16lbs since starting pre surgery diet. OCC is awesome, recommend it to everyone.

I am having Gastric Plication in Montreal. looking for some friendly souls to help answer some questions

Here are a few things I took with me that helped a lot. I plastic baby spoon, no way to eat your broth too fast with this; a thermos so I could have broth in my room at all times. Warm liquid eases the nerves in my new stomach. A cheap electric tooth brush, my teeth grew fuzzies like I had never had before and a quick brush helped so much. I flew to Tj for my surgery, was fasting that day but found licking ice cubes solved the dry mouth. I took my thermos and a drinkable yogart on the plane. Just tell security this is all you can eat, and must consume these every few hours. Just tell them you just had WLS, was no problem at all taking them through security. I also ask for a wheel chair assistance, much easier to get from A to B, that service is there for people like us. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer.

Hi Doris,

Has this surgery been approved in Canada, I thought it wasn't and only in the trial experiemental stage in the States, primarily Cleveland. I decided to do to Dr Ortiz as he seems to have the most experience with this and other WLS, plus the costs in TJ Mexico is about a third of say what the clinic in Cleveland changes. Do you know how long he has been doing Plications? Or under which Doctor he protored, as in who did he learn from and how many Plications has he actually done??? These were the questions I asked every doctor I talked to..............there is a doctor here in Vancouver who had his WLS done by Dr Ortiz and that went a long way to helping me decide which doctor to go to. Where I'm going it's a full private hospital including a Special Care Unit(like our Intensive Care units) No transport, you are cared for right there in a private hospital. Have you seen their web page...............the clinic is as good as it looks. And I will keep you up to date on my surgery and post surgery experiences................you can email me at ktbaillargeon@gmail.com just put in the subject line...from Doris in Montreal. Talk to ya soon Katie:)

Surgery is with Dr Ortiz, in TJ Mexico.......do tell how did you find out about a doctor in Canada doing this type of surgery and what kinda process did you have to go through hoops to get it done? Katie:)

sorry forgot to ask where you are having your surgery. Doris QC.

Hi, I'm having my plication surgery this Thursday so after it's done I can fill you on my experience. I didn't realize their was a doctor in Canada who was doing this type of surgery, is it part of a surgical trial study?

Welcome Fred,

Yes the Plication surgery is not FDA approved YET. In Cleveland there are doctor's there who are doing the Gastric Plication surgery. As I understand it, they have been doing their trial studies well past two years. You can get your get your surgery done there, but the cost are substantially more expensive. I started out thinking a lap band was the way for me to go. Then after much research, I decided I preferred not to have to worry about on going fills/un-filled. As successful as many have been with their lap band, there are also a what seem to me to be a large group who ended up having their band removed and having a Gastric Sleeve. I also considered that option too. After several informative discussion with Dr Ortiz, I realized Gastric Plication gave the weight loss of a Sleeve while leaving my stomach intact. And yes I am still excited, and nervous, and wish I could get my surgery tomorrow. I see it as a tool to help me loose and more importantly maintain my weight loss. Aren't we usually really good at loosing that weight............me too.........it's the keeping it off where my struggle lies. I see this surgery as a tool towards my long term success. This forum has been so helpful. And I will post updates after my surgery, I think it's the very least I can do to give back to all those who have taken their time to post their experiences, their helpful hints, and mostly their support. So keep your posting coming Fred. Will be thinking of your surgery date.

Hi Shari,

Thank you so much for sharing your story, has helped me so much. Congrats for sticking to the post op plan. My Plication is set for January 28, 2011. I will be checking for any follow up you may post. Truly san inspiration. I posted here as I wasn't sure I found all your posts under the Plication forum.

Now that a bit of time has passed since you're last post(least the last one I could find)...how are you doing now? And how is your sister doing too?

Cheers, Katie

Hi Lara,

Now that I've completed everything.....Survey faxed off, surgery date booked, and paid deposit..........I know for sure I want this tool to help me, now I just wish I could just get it done. Between Christmas followed my a previously arranged trip, I'll need to wait until end of January, and all I want to do is get it done, now that I've decided. Can you tell me does someone contact me in a few days now that I've faxed off my Health Survey? And do I start the pre op diet now or wait till the 9 days before surgery, or does someone from the clinic contact me with more information?

Hi Lara,

I will definately stay in touch. I don't know anyone personally how has had any type of weight loss surgery. And so far the few friends I've mentioned it too, well, they were not all that 'hip' on my choice. I got the classic 'well, just use will power, or you've lost it before, just do it again'. Hard to get them so understand, yup I have lost weight in the past using any number of weight loss plans. I've also gained that weight all back and more. For a lot time I just beat myself up over this. Now I know I am doing this for me. Not only will I loose the weight, I expect I will also improve my health too. So this forum may at times feel like my life line to people who DO understand. So thanks for the welcome. My surgery is offically booked for January 28, 2011.....flight booked, deposit made......not to lay my life out in the Health Survey.

Hi Lara,

I will definately stay in touch. I don't know anyone personally how has had any type of weight loss surgery. And so far the few friends I've mentioned it too, well, they were not all that 'hip' on my choice. I got the classic 'well, just use will power, or you've lost it before, just do it again'. Hard to get them so understand, yup I have lost weight in the past using any number of weight loss plans. I've also gained that weight all back and more. For a lot time I just beat myself up over this. Now I know I am doing this for me. Not only will I loose the weight, I expect I will also improve my health too. So this forum may at times feel like my life line to people who DO understand. So thanks for the welcome. My surgery is offically booked for January 28, 2011.....flight booked, deposit made......not to lay my life out in the Health Survey.