Basic VBG info needed please
Hi all,
I have a new WLS info site called The Road To Thin.
It is getting many hits, and I am getting many emails from grateful folks who are researching surgery.
Right now I have info on RNY, DS and lapband.
I'd like to add info on VBG.
Can you please post here -- or email me -- the essential differences between other surgeries and VBG... what the surgery is... and what "rules" are different (for instance, if absorption is different, lactose intolerance, etc.)
Thanks for any and all info you can provide.
You are helping others who are researching surgeries and/or who need reminding of what the "rules" and vitamin/etc needs are post-op.
Maria
268/219/???
www.TheRoadToThin.com
[email protected]
Hi Maria,
I had the VBG 13 months ago. I am down 125 pounds so far
. The VBG is quite different from other surgeries and can be somewhat accurately desribed as stomach stapling. It is restrictive in nature only. There is no malabsorption because the intestines are not rerouted in any way. It is also somehwat similar to the Lap band in some ways except we have staples and a silastic ring that cannot be adjusted. The pouch that is created during surgery is the same size as the RNY pouch in most cases.
I do take daily multivitamins, but I do not have to worry about B12 deficiencies. Anemia can be a concern but with a balanced diet it is easier to avoid than it is for RNYers or DSers. I do have to get bloodwork every 3 months to check all my levels as a precaution since obviously the restrictive component of surgery can cause deficiencies.
My surgeon explained that with the VBG the weightloss during the first 12 months is very similar to that of his RNY patients, but over time we do have to be more careful with our diet and exercise. In esence our success or failure is more in our hands over the long term. I have found exercise is the key. When i work out I continue to lose and when i don't its stops.
Another difference is that we can eat sugar without the dumping syndrome that can affect RNY patients. This is a problem for me because I have a sweet tooth, but the RNY was not an option for me because I have a short small intestine making the RNY dangerous for me due to the increased risk of a life threatening leak after surgery.
Some VBG patients have trouble in the long run because of the ability to eat sugar without consequence and the fact that dense proteins like beef and chicken and for me even fish are very difficult to eat. I find that sometimes I revert to eating something less than nutritious because it goes down easier. Diet and calorie intake are key to success in the long term and like i said before...exercise! There are many VBG patients who have long term success, but unfortunately the percentages are lower than some of the other WLS options.
So that is my personal take on the VBG. Please feel free to email me directly if you have any specific questions: [email protected] And thank you for including the VBG information on your site!
Hugs,
Sara
. The VBG is quite different from other surgeries and can be somewhat accurately desribed as stomach stapling. It is restrictive in nature only. There is no malabsorption because the intestines are not rerouted in any way. It is also somehwat similar to the Lap band in some ways except we have staples and a silastic ring that cannot be adjusted. The pouch that is created during surgery is the same size as the RNY pouch in most cases.
I do take daily multivitamins, but I do not have to worry about B12 deficiencies. Anemia can be a concern but with a balanced diet it is easier to avoid than it is for RNYers or DSers. I do have to get bloodwork every 3 months to check all my levels as a precaution since obviously the restrictive component of surgery can cause deficiencies.
My surgeon explained that with the VBG the weightloss during the first 12 months is very similar to that of his RNY patients, but over time we do have to be more careful with our diet and exercise. In esence our success or failure is more in our hands over the long term. I have found exercise is the key. When i work out I continue to lose and when i don't its stops.
Another difference is that we can eat sugar without the dumping syndrome that can affect RNY patients. This is a problem for me because I have a sweet tooth, but the RNY was not an option for me because I have a short small intestine making the RNY dangerous for me due to the increased risk of a life threatening leak after surgery.
Some VBG patients have trouble in the long run because of the ability to eat sugar without consequence and the fact that dense proteins like beef and chicken and for me even fish are very difficult to eat. I find that sometimes I revert to eating something less than nutritious because it goes down easier. Diet and calorie intake are key to success in the long term and like i said before...exercise! There are many VBG patients who have long term success, but unfortunately the percentages are lower than some of the other WLS options.
So that is my personal take on the VBG. Please feel free to email me directly if you have any specific questions: [email protected] And thank you for including the VBG information on your site!
Hugs,
Sara Most Active
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