not sure on vbg...please help

hi all, i have a date set (8-17-05) for the vbg procedure but after hearing so many horror stories about it and gaining my weight back in five years im not sure i want to have it done, but i am more afraid of having the rny procedure. Something about rearranging my intestines just don't cut it for me. can anyone tell me if theres a new vbg procedure done without using staples cause i dont need anything getting through or growing back together (you know the fistulas) to reconnect the stomach. please help before its to late for me to turn back, i have a lot of coworkers who it has helped but now im confused; none of them has made it to 5yrs or more.

I would suggest you research the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Go to google.com and type it in on search. There's lots of good info on it. Yahoo groups have just started a group on this also, go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sleevegastrectomy/ .The VSG is the stomach part of the duodenal switch, but there's no messing with your intestines, and no foreign objects are placed.Hope this helps! Good luck in what ever you decide!......Rhonda

Hi...I had the VBG on 5/24/2005. I have no regrets, am learning to eat differently, have lost 38 pounds and would do it again in a heartbeat. It took almost two years and many tests and visits to different doctors for the final decision to be made on which would be the best surgery for me. Because of my age, numerous medical problems, the final decisiion was made because the surgery process would be less stressful on my body and if down the road it could be undone if the need should arise. The best advise is to research, research and research some more. Talk openly with your doctors, visit some support groups and meet with others who have gone through weight loss surgeries and remember that whatever you decide....it is a change of life decision and only you can make that decision and there is a committment involved with that decision. It is not only having the surgery, but learning to eat properly, exercising regularly and making sure that these are your decisions and no one elses. Good Luck!!!

hey maliboo! had surgery 2/15/05 and would not go back for the world. down 60 lbs. it is slower than rny but alot safer. my surgeon has done both surgeries in the past and prefers the vbg. he says his rny patient's gained alot their weight back after 5yrs.

I had VBG on 10.28.03 -- I have lost 130# so far. Here is what I know about this surgery this far out.... In the beginning I lost weight automatically because the stomach is so much smaller you just can't get food into it. Now I have to make a consious effort to track my calories to be sure I am not getting to many in. In the end for me this surgery has helped me to make a lifestyle change. I now make better food choices and get exercise daily. This is now my lifestyle. My old self-defeating lifestyle was not exercising, eating whatever I wanted... whenever I wanted and not dealing with my problems and letting them control my life. If I didn't make these changes I would probably slowly gain weight back. I was ready to have a different life. I was ready to make different choices. I have reconstructed my life to provide me success. That is why this continues to work for me. Will this work for everyone? Probably not. I honestly think that internal changes are necessary as well. At almost 2 years out I am still very satisfied with this surgery. Sharon 340 starting weight 210 todays weight goal weight of 170-190 then I will look into plastic surgery (My plan is to be at my goal weight by mid-January.)

Sounds like you're asking about the lap-band which is the newest generation of restrictive-only/banding WLS procedures. No cutting/stapling, no rearranging. As the band is adjustable, it can be custom-fitted via fills/adjustments for the individual patient. Nancy 394/270/180