Please read-really down...I appreciate any help.
One thing people forget or neglect to realize on these message boards is that every type of surgery works. How long and how well depends on the person receiving it. Lots of people are down on the VBG, but I see just as many people getting revisions with the other types of surgeries too. My doctor says that weightloss surgery doesn't fail the person; the person fails to live their entire life for the surgery. It's not a magic fix or miracle. It is a change of life, and it must be worked at every single day. Read my post on this forum about accountability. Don't discredit any surgery because of another person's experience. It's all how you work it. Good luck in your journey!
Is the VBG like the Vertical Gastrectomy (aka the VSG)? If so, then it could be the answer to your desire to diop between 120 and 130 pounds and KEEP IT OFF. I had a VSG in March 07... now going on almost 2.75 years out. I lost the first 100 pounds in the first six months by adhering to a severely restrictive diet. I got sick because at 6'5", I could no longer maintain strength or muscle mass on 800 cal/day and was hsopitalized. The next 50 pounds came off only slightly slower than the first 100. I still didn't feel good, even though I boosted my caloric intake to 1500 cal a day.
I have since taken up SCUBA diving and each 1 hour dive burns between 800 and 1000 calories. I try to dive once a week and the ret of the time, I am trying to regain the three pounds I lose every time I dive. At 6'5" tall, weight under 200 lbs makes me look ultra-thin and slightly malnourished.
My wife and I came to the conclusion that the hi-protein meal replacements would now become meal supplements, so every day before or after lunch, I drink about 20 ounces of a fruit smoothie loaded up with 50 grams of whey protein. My weight continues to fluctuate between 197 and 202 and I have felt healthy and happy for the past six months now.
From what I have read and reviewed, the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (or stomach stapling as it used to be called) can do amazing things for patient's with Chrohn's Disease, just like it does for those affected by diabetes type II. While it may not actually cure someone, it sure helps alleviate many of the nasty side affects of the disease and makes it esier to manage. I'm off insulin for almost two years now, rely on one oral medication (Metformin), diet and exercise to maintain my weekly blood sugars (average between 98 and 120). My A1G hemoglobin was 5.4, well below the normal range; my triglycerides and bad cholesterol are low and my good cholesterol is very good. My doctor may cut my Lipitor intake to half of the dose I am currently taking.
I am amazed at the types of exercise I never thought would be possible and even though I still have excess skin, it's still pretty elastic, so in lieu of throwing more money at surgeons, I decided that if I lived half my life as a fat person and didn't use plastics then, I will live the rest of my life as a skinny persona and slowly let the skin be reabsorbed into my body. I've heard patients say that the excess skin won't go away by itself. Maybe not for multiple folds, but my "gut" which is really excess skin and not fat HAS begun to shrink as has the extra skin on the inside of my thighs. If the surgeon says it won't recede on its own without paying them thousands of dollars to be "beautiful," try this: If you accepted yourself before, do it again now. The beauty I have lies within me and always has. I can think of many more and better uses for the money plastic surgery will cost, plus I will benefit me instead of some doctor.
I, too, was dying at my weight (between 355 and 400 pounds) and chose the most restrictive surgery available. It most likely saved my life, gave me another 20 years or so and in spite of early warning by my surgeon, I can pretty damn well eat ANYTHING I want to, albeit in very small amounts. Since surgery, my stomach as increased in size to about 4.5 to 5 ounces.
Whatever way you choose, learn to live with your decision and trust in God that you made the right one. I terribly miss pasta, but when I look in the mirror, I see staring back at me fully 1/3 of whom I used to be. My clothes look so mich nicer on me, I have reganed my sense of humor and I like whom I am now. Wouldn't trade me in for a new model anymore.
The most difficult time after the surgery is living on 800 calories a day on a clear liquid diet. Luckily Isopure make premixed bottles of protein in several different fruit flavors. Get the kind with zero carbs and drink it slowly over crushed ice after adding two to three Splenda. It fulfills part of your minimum of 64 ounces of clear liquid, it helps grow the tiny pouch into a slightly bigger one and in one year's time, if you stay stirctly on your diet, people of whom you've known for years either will barely recognize you or breeze past you without a second look.
It's nice that I finally took control of my life once again and actually look forward to my golden in lieu of forlorn years ahead.
Good luck,
Poghmahone_215.
I have since taken up SCUBA diving and each 1 hour dive burns between 800 and 1000 calories. I try to dive once a week and the ret of the time, I am trying to regain the three pounds I lose every time I dive. At 6'5" tall, weight under 200 lbs makes me look ultra-thin and slightly malnourished.
My wife and I came to the conclusion that the hi-protein meal replacements would now become meal supplements, so every day before or after lunch, I drink about 20 ounces of a fruit smoothie loaded up with 50 grams of whey protein. My weight continues to fluctuate between 197 and 202 and I have felt healthy and happy for the past six months now.
From what I have read and reviewed, the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (or stomach stapling as it used to be called) can do amazing things for patient's with Chrohn's Disease, just like it does for those affected by diabetes type II. While it may not actually cure someone, it sure helps alleviate many of the nasty side affects of the disease and makes it esier to manage. I'm off insulin for almost two years now, rely on one oral medication (Metformin), diet and exercise to maintain my weekly blood sugars (average between 98 and 120). My A1G hemoglobin was 5.4, well below the normal range; my triglycerides and bad cholesterol are low and my good cholesterol is very good. My doctor may cut my Lipitor intake to half of the dose I am currently taking.
I am amazed at the types of exercise I never thought would be possible and even though I still have excess skin, it's still pretty elastic, so in lieu of throwing more money at surgeons, I decided that if I lived half my life as a fat person and didn't use plastics then, I will live the rest of my life as a skinny persona and slowly let the skin be reabsorbed into my body. I've heard patients say that the excess skin won't go away by itself. Maybe not for multiple folds, but my "gut" which is really excess skin and not fat HAS begun to shrink as has the extra skin on the inside of my thighs. If the surgeon says it won't recede on its own without paying them thousands of dollars to be "beautiful," try this: If you accepted yourself before, do it again now. The beauty I have lies within me and always has. I can think of many more and better uses for the money plastic surgery will cost, plus I will benefit me instead of some doctor.
I, too, was dying at my weight (between 355 and 400 pounds) and chose the most restrictive surgery available. It most likely saved my life, gave me another 20 years or so and in spite of early warning by my surgeon, I can pretty damn well eat ANYTHING I want to, albeit in very small amounts. Since surgery, my stomach as increased in size to about 4.5 to 5 ounces.
Whatever way you choose, learn to live with your decision and trust in God that you made the right one. I terribly miss pasta, but when I look in the mirror, I see staring back at me fully 1/3 of whom I used to be. My clothes look so mich nicer on me, I have reganed my sense of humor and I like whom I am now. Wouldn't trade me in for a new model anymore.
The most difficult time after the surgery is living on 800 calories a day on a clear liquid diet. Luckily Isopure make premixed bottles of protein in several different fruit flavors. Get the kind with zero carbs and drink it slowly over crushed ice after adding two to three Splenda. It fulfills part of your minimum of 64 ounces of clear liquid, it helps grow the tiny pouch into a slightly bigger one and in one year's time, if you stay stirctly on your diet, people of whom you've known for years either will barely recognize you or breeze past you without a second look.
It's nice that I finally took control of my life once again and actually look forward to my golden in lieu of forlorn years ahead.
Good luck,
Poghmahone_215.
WOW WOW WOW!!! Well, the VBG is the Verticle Banded Gastroplasty. It has a really bad rap but mostly because it is such an old surgery that all people hear about the failing band and sutures. My Dr did say that a lot of people need bands replaced in 8-10 yrs. Well, I can hande that.
I will succeed! I just need my insurance to approve me now. I am confident in me, and in my Dr.
Congrats to you and good luck in your future!
Cat
I will succeed! I just need my insurance to approve me now. I am confident in me, and in my Dr.
Congrats to you and good luck in your future!
Cat
I just had the VSG on 11/5/09......I've haven't had any complications. lost 9 pounds before I left the hospital. I'm never hungry and look forward to my journey. Don't give up, stay positive! And realize that it's your decision and it can work for you. Personally I didn't want the RNY, just didn't want to re-route my system.....but that's me. It's worked for many people.
I pray you receive word soon.
I pray you receive word soon.
Hi
I had open VBG in 2001. I have lost and KEPT OFF 149 pounds. I have had no complications and have had no band erosions. I also have an auto immune disease.
Many people say VBG always fails or if you lose weight you will always gain it back. NOT TRUE. I am proof that VBG does work if your surgery is done correctly and if you comply with your surgeons instructions as best you can. Some regain is normal but the key to long term success is once you see regain, go back to the basics and start as if you were a new post-op.
Good luck to you.
Gwen
I had open VBG in 2001. I have lost and KEPT OFF 149 pounds. I have had no complications and have had no band erosions. I also have an auto immune disease.
Many people say VBG always fails or if you lose weight you will always gain it back. NOT TRUE. I am proof that VBG does work if your surgery is done correctly and if you comply with your surgeons instructions as best you can. Some regain is normal but the key to long term success is once you see regain, go back to the basics and start as if you were a new post-op.
Good luck to you.
Gwen
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