I HAD VBG Back IN 1987...Lessons Learned

For those of you who are considering VBG or who have recently underwent this procedure, maybe my story will be helpful. I had VBG in 1987 and went from 261lbs. down to 113lbs. (I am 5'2) I lost the 1st 100 lbs. in twelve months and dropped the rest within another 11 mths. I had no aftercare... there wasn't any back then I could utilize and I had no complications other than some hair loss. At the time I wasn't too worried about the hair loss because I was told it would grow back but it never did. Anyways, I had thick hair so I could live with that. Unfortunately over the years I would start eating things that I couldn't digest and get used to throwing up. (Not to the degree of becoming bulimic but my stomach started to stretch out again.) By a few yrs. after surgery I was able to eat alot of stuff and not get any pain and I basically would start gaining and losing 20 to 30lbs. In 1995 I met my husband and became pregnant. At that time I weighed about 145lbs. and during a complicated pregnancy was on bed rest for several mths. and upon giving birth 1 mth. premature I had eaten my way up to 207lbs. Fast forward to 2006, I now weigh 255lbs. and can pretty well eat everything I want and keep it down except some meat and french fries. I've decided to have WLS again and went to see a surgeon *****commended the LAP BAND (except because of my previous stapling I will have to have open surgery. All these yrs. I have felt like a failure but according to him (and he also used to do VBG yrs. ago when he was just starting) most VBG's fail after the first 2 or 3 yrs. He said they find that the staples start to spread apart and that's why we start overeating again. The only people he knows of who kept weight off with this surgery were those who had complications and were never able to keep food down. Myself, I don't know, but I do know that when your dealing with food addiction there is no quick fix. This time round I will be vigilant in getting aftercare and having a support system and I will learn to cope in other ways with stress and depression than using food. After looking at the revision board it seems all of these WLS are techniques to achieve rapid high weight loss but none of them are a miracle cure by itself.

I'm sorry you have to do it again, its good to hear feed back. I hope to have WLS and though I want the band if Dr. Singh recommends bypass I will go by him. I've been trying to avoid the things I might not be able to eat later, but haven't been lucky enough to fight the temptations. No more social drinking though. That is something I will get used to living without.

Dawn I guess what I was trying to get across the most was that no matter what WLS a person has, my experience was that the weight loss part was the easiest. The hard part was truly changing my poor eating habits. When I was at my slimmest and looked great I was still not exercising or eating healthy. I had no support groups or messageboards or books and my surgeon ended up losing his license for several yrs. for sexual misconduct. Plus I was so successful at losing the weight I had too much false pride to seek help when I started struggling with overeating again. I wish you all the best and as long as you are honest with yourself on this journey and have a support system I think you'll do great!! SassyGal

I had a VBG in 2003. I lost 90 lbs, but within the first 6 months it came undone. I've gained back 50 lbs, and I was devestated. I'm in the process of getting a revision to the RNY. I can honestly say without a doubt that I followed the rules to the letter, but it still came undone. Since then I've talked to many people who've come undone. I know the revision is risky, but then so is being this overweight. Good luck.

Hi Becky When you say it came undone, what exactly do you mean? In my case the staples didn't stay tightly stitched and that made my stomach start to stretch out. I know how you feel about feeling devastated at regaining 50 lbs. but at least your still down 40lbs. Also your being proactive about getting a revision and I think thats great! I'm scheduled to have my revision on April 18th and will be having the LapBand. Good luck with whatever WLS revision you decide on and keep in touch, I'd love to know how you make out! SassyGal

When I say, "it came undone," I meant my staples came loose. The band is still in tact, but the staples pulled apart, and now I can eat as much as I ever did before. I'm waiting on insurance approval now for the revision. Please pray for me that they approve it so I can start losing again!

i too had a vbg done in 1993 and I have a lg staple undone. Have tried to get insurane to approve a revision but the say not med nessary.

I am in the same boat as you. I just went back to my surgeon this week. He wants me to do the RNY,but I want the lap band. Do you have any suggestions?

Laura, Did your surgeon say why he feels you should have RNY instead of the Lap Band? Donna A.

Donna, He basically told me that you have to follow the same rules with the lap band as you do with VBG. He doesn't want me to have another failed surgrey. Does this sound right?