MY PRE-OP IS AUG 7TH AT PNH...VSG?'S

Morning Sonya,

The ladies before me have given you good feedback for sure! I hear your concerns and they are valid. I pursued WLS for a LONG time. It took me a while to really believe in the decisions I was making. I purposely chose Lap RNY 29th Jan 2003 because I don't want something temporary nor do I want something that may slip and cause other issues. Personally Lap Band was NOT available to me in 2003. I'm 5 1/2 years post op now and there would never be another choice other than Lap RNY. I understand your fears about being a single mom. I am a single momma of 2 beautiful girls. At the time, I had my oldest who had just turned 2. I knew that if I wanted to have ANY kind of life WITH her I had to get mine back. In any event, you can read my profile. My story is there. I encourage you to read mine and others.

All best in your decision making!

Hey kat,

Thanks for reply...I have my pre-op tomorrow and luckily,
surprisenly(?) its been a four month wait for me..if all goes well...I'm alittle nervous because I have been bleeding for 6 weeks..this has n.e.v.e.r happened to me b4 now al of a sudden my body want to act up on me..So of course my doc has me on iron pills...plus I've already started taking biotin, multi vitamin, and b-12dots..(all from walmart)..anyways...Doc says my hemoglobin(?) should be 12 and its at 6. N.o.t good at all..I am not sure if this makes me anemic..but that is one thing that could qualify me for vsg..

As I said b4 I'm am sooooooo afraid of rny..But theres a great chance that I might have no other choice because I too want something more permanant than the lap band..Tomorrow is my pre-op and I dont want to go in there all freaked out..confused and unsure just to have the docs tell me I am not ready...Lord willing.. I'll pass the blood test..with my iron all outa wack..

In your reading or people sharing have you discovered that the vsg isn't as succesful or permanant as the rny?

So are you telling me that you have not had a.n.y problems with or since you surgery? I will defntely read your profile and continue reading others. (this site rocks!)

Thanks for reading..
~SONJA
 

Hi Sonja I did have the vsg on june 4th and am down 42 so i am happy. I was anemic and i had a nissen fundoplication in the same area as the bypass. with scar tissue it was easier to do the vsg. no dumping is a plus. If I had to do it again, i would have the vsg. yopu dont have nearly the amount of issues that rny patients have as they dont mess with your intestines. good luck either way u go. they are great at PNH. There is a support group meeting on thursday at 7 which i will be attending. if you want to talk about it there i would live to meet u. Lisa

Hi Smom,

I am so happy for u ..u go girl...if u read my post respondig to kat..u will see that Im having iron issues right now due to bleeding for 6 weeks..(dnt know why yet have an appt on the 12th)...my doc said my hemogolbin(?) should be 12 and it is at 6..I dont know if this makes me anemic..do you know what ones blood count would have to be to be considered anemic?

I too want the vsg because of my fears of the side effects of rny..but I certainly dont want to miss my chance on losing this weight. I heard that the banana pouch over time really doesnt stretch bcause that part of the stomach just doesnt stretch like the part removed.. have you heard anything such as this?

What floor is the support meeting on again?

~SONJA

Hi Sonja, The support group meeting is in the cafeteria, on the first floor I think.  My hemoglobin was also extremely low.  Did they fix your bleeding problem?  My hemoglobin was around a 5 I believe when they told me I was anemic.  Anemia is when your red blood count is low.  You are anemic, if they didnt already tell you that.  Last time they checked my blood it was up to 9, presurgery.  I was on iron pills for about 5 months prior to surgery.  It helps and is gentle so your tummy should tolerate it pretty well.  I wanted the RNY going in.  I was told that he would try, but he may do the sleeve.  I got the sleeve obviously.  All the surgeries are really good, the sleeve is fairly new, because of the lack of long term studies.  You are going to do really great no matter what they decide to do.  Look at all the success stories here.  I hope to meet you tomorrow night!  Lisa

HI...I WONT BE ALE TO MAKE IT T THE SUPPORT MEETING..I HAVE TO WORK...MAYBE NXT TIME...

NO I STILL DONT KNOW WHY IM BLEEDING (6WKS THUS FAR). I HAVE AN APPT ON THE 12TH. SHE DIDNT TELL ME I WAS ANEMIC PERSE BUT SHE P'SCRIB ME ME TREE MONTHS OF IRON PILLS. IVE ONLY BEEN TAKIN THEM FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS,,,U THINK I AM STILL ANEMIC? MAYBE I WILL QUALIFY FOR THE SLEEVE...ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE SLEEVE? AND HAVE U HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THE BNANA POUCH NOT BEING ABLE TO STRETCH OUT (LONG TERM) BECAUSE THAT PART OF THE STOMACH DONT STRETCH MUCH ANYWAYS? I GUESS RESULTING IN LOW WEIGHT REGAIN IF ANY...

SONJA

I am sorry you cant make it
The iron takes a while to get into your system and make a difference in your hemoglobin.  It is an absorbsion thing.  I am very satified with my sleeve.  My weight loss is going well, my only problem is breaking old habits. 
I am almost positive that PNH does not ordinarily offer the gastric sleeve as an option.  It is an as needed procedure.  Please do not think that the RNY is more risky and not as good, it is more than likely quite the opposite, there is so much research and studies done to prove how effective it is. 
You will need to get the bleed located and taken care of.  Did Dr. Chasinet have any idea what might be causing it?  Are your monthlies normal?  I was told that is usually the culprit for low hemoglobin with women.
I had to have an endoscopy and colonoscopy only to find out all is good there.  Come to think of it, I still don't know what is was. 
Yes I have also heard that the section left of the stomach doesnt stretch as much.  Have you looked at the VSG forum?  They are really helpful and informative. 
I am also tall 5'10" with evenly distributed weight.  My highest was 290, so I am right there with you.  WLS is a great thing, but please take it very seriously.  It changes your life.
Good luck with whichever procedure they do.  Take care and let me know if you have any questions.  Lisa

I had my surgery on May 19 with Dr Mann at PNH.  My surgery went well.  I am down 50 pounds as of today, so exciting.  I had RNY the doctors only gave me the choice of the lap band or RNY.  I had all the faith in the drs. at PNH.

How did you appointment go? What did the MD say?