Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Revision From VBG To Lap-Band Almost Three Years Ago Now
Hi Rustyred,
I'm not sure technically how the revision is done but my surgeon had no trouble and I have the old band still too. The important thing is to find a surgeon who is experienced in doing revisions to review your case to see if it is possible for you. Every revision case is different and if I were you I would go for a couple of consults with different surgeons to get their feedback. My doctor was able to do my revision and place the band where it would normally go. You mention that you have a hernia also, do you mean a hiatus hernia? Not sure how that would impact your case. Also a band may not be the best revision for you so really do your research well.
Sorry you've had so many issues, fortunately the only thing I experienced was weight regain a few years out from my VBG. If you ever want to chat feel free to pm me your phone number and I would be happy to phone you (I have a long distance plan for Canada & U.S.) to share my band journey.
I'm not sure technically how the revision is done but my surgeon had no trouble and I have the old band still too. The important thing is to find a surgeon who is experienced in doing revisions to review your case to see if it is possible for you. Every revision case is different and if I were you I would go for a couple of consults with different surgeons to get their feedback. My doctor was able to do my revision and place the band where it would normally go. You mention that you have a hernia also, do you mean a hiatus hernia? Not sure how that would impact your case. Also a band may not be the best revision for you so really do your research well.
Sorry you've had so many issues, fortunately the only thing I experienced was weight regain a few years out from my VBG. If you ever want to chat feel free to pm me your phone number and I would be happy to phone you (I have a long distance plan for Canada & U.S.) to share my band journey.
Topic: RE: Revision Surgery...???
Hi Dawn Finally I have found someone who knows about Dr Capallas VGB. I am a victim from 2001. And here I am in the same boat. My Dr says no to the DS. I am going through approval now and he is trying to decide what to do but is leaning towards a lap band. I have read a post from luvmyband and everything she said is true. What a disaster this has been. Please lets keep each other posted as to our DR"s decsion. Rusty
Topic: RE: Revision From VBG To Lap-Band Almost Three Years Ago Now
Hi I went through the same procedure in 2001.Like you there was no follow up, no dietary consult and yes the flintstone vitamins. I started out at 260 and lost 80 pounds. Felt like crap lost my hair and the emotional stuff was horrible. I have now put back on so much weight I can't stand it, and have a BMI of 35. So I'm getting back up there and decided to consult with a new Bariatric Dr. He suggested the Stomaphx but my insurance say's no.
Anyway let me tell you some things I have been going through. Since the very beginning I'v had intestine problems such as bouts of dihareia and gas. I now have a hernia due to the throwing up episodes. I have a thick file from my gastro dr for all the scopings I've had and I was recently treated for one of the worse H-pyhlori infections she has ever seen. So 3000 mg of antibiotics a day for 2 weeks it has cleared up.Oh and not to mention the upper GI series I have had to deal with. And now after all that I'm gainning weight.Bummer!!!
I was in this site and saw your post and I would like some more info on the lap band on top of your VGB. I guess i don't understand how they can do it. I did ask my Dr about it and he said he wouldn't recommend it. I was hoping you could explain how it is done. The VGB I have has a band aroud the top of the pouch. Testa have shown that there is a lot of scar tissue around the band. So where do they put the lap band. I know my pouch is really stretched. I would love some feed back . I would really appreciate hearing from you. rusty
Anyway let me tell you some things I have been going through. Since the very beginning I'v had intestine problems such as bouts of dihareia and gas. I now have a hernia due to the throwing up episodes. I have a thick file from my gastro dr for all the scopings I've had and I was recently treated for one of the worse H-pyhlori infections she has ever seen. So 3000 mg of antibiotics a day for 2 weeks it has cleared up.Oh and not to mention the upper GI series I have had to deal with. And now after all that I'm gainning weight.Bummer!!!
I was in this site and saw your post and I would like some more info on the lap band on top of your VGB. I guess i don't understand how they can do it. I did ask my Dr about it and he said he wouldn't recommend it. I was hoping you could explain how it is done. The VGB I have has a band aroud the top of the pouch. Testa have shown that there is a lot of scar tissue around the band. So where do they put the lap band. I know my pouch is really stretched. I would love some feed back . I would really appreciate hearing from you. rusty
Topic: RE: Massive Weight Gain--This makes no sense!!!!
I had the same surgery as you in August, 1999. The night before surgery I was 385 pounds. The lowest I got to was 190 pounds in August , 2003. I recently was as high as 308. The reason for our weight gain is that, as least for me, the pouch doesn't control foods like cookies, cheesecake, potato chips, etc. True, I can only eat one egg and a piece of toast, but I can eat a whole package of Oreos. My doctor explained to me that our bodies are 98.6 degrees and what happens to cheesecake or ice cream in that temperature, it melts and goes right through the pounch unlike a tuna sandwich or toast.
I recently started watching my foods and my calorie intake and lost 21 pounds in the past month. You are eating less than 1200 calories which is not enough. If you don't eat enough calories your body goes into starvation mode and your metabolism slows down. Expecially if you are exercising, you need to have enough carbohydrate and fat calories for energy to burn and protein calories to repair.
I hope this little tidbit helps. If you want to send me an e-mail, my e-mail address is [email protected]. Take care and good luck, Lorraine
I recently started watching my foods and my calorie intake and lost 21 pounds in the past month. You are eating less than 1200 calories which is not enough. If you don't eat enough calories your body goes into starvation mode and your metabolism slows down. Expecially if you are exercising, you need to have enough carbohydrate and fat calories for energy to burn and protein calories to repair.
I hope this little tidbit helps. If you want to send me an e-mail, my e-mail address is [email protected]. Take care and good luck, Lorraine
Topic: RE: Can I get a revision to a lap-band????
Hi,
I have heard of someone getting the Gastric sleeve and in the same procedure having the band put on as well. So, I am sure you would be able to get the Lapband put on after you have had the Sleeve done for awhile. I would just make sure you discuss it with your doctor of course.
I'm having the opposite done. I'm going from the Lapband to the Gastric Sleeve.
Good luck to you!
Chrissy
Topic: Can I get a revision to a lap-band????
I had a SRVG (Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty) its basically the stomach stapling, its ofcourse not the fill-able one. For the ones that havent heard of an SRVG its basically the VBG I believe, but the ring is Silastic.
Anyways.. can someone pelase let me know if i would be able to have a revision to the lap-band.
I had a SRVG (Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty) its basically the stomach stapling, its ofcourse not the fill-able one. For the ones that havent heard of an SRVG its basically the VBG I believe, but the ring is Silastic.
Anyways.. can someone pelase let me know if i would be able to have a revision to the lap-band.
Topic: Can I start losing weight again???????
Hi everyone.. I havent been on here in years. I am almost 5 yrs post op. i had the SRVG(Silastic Ring Vertical Gastroplasty) and i went in @410 and I lost right at 80 lbs and then after I lost thta I started having nothing but problems. I have had to have my stoma (the ring where my food goes through) dialated several times due to me throwing up so much and causing so much scar tissue. so this passed year i had a baby and now i am finally able to eat more. I have stopped losing weight. What can I do to try and boost my metabloism again?? I dont eat enough during the day at all. I drink water like crazy though, so my water intake wont be a problem. What is a good protein shake I can start drinking??? What about the Atkins one with no carbs??? Juat any advise would be greatly appreciated!!!!
Thanks so much!
Thanks so much!
Topic: RE: Massive Weight Gain--This makes no sense!!!!
Thank you for your reply. I had the Vertical Band Gastroplasty (VBG) described above, not the Vertical Gastric Bypasss (VGB). All my food is getting absorbed in the same manner it was prior to surgery. I do take multivitamins and I have done the lemon and pure maple syrup thing. I have a food diary that I keep track of my intake. I will keep track for 2 months or so then stop. I write down butter cals, everyhting, even creamer I put in my coffee, if I have a werthers, I write it. I consume on average 1000 cals or so. I do drink alcohol occasionally and that will put me to 1500cals. But a rum and diet coke now and then should not be putting weight on me. I have also had my thyriod checked and it is fine.
I have read that my Base metabolic rate is 1300, give or take, I should be burning these calories in my sleep, but I am obviously not; And I exercise.
I have come to the conclusion that my body has adapted to a certain amount of calories for so long and any little bit that I go over that it stores.
When I first had surgery I could eat 200-300 cals. It was like that for a year or so. Then over the next few years I could eat 500-800 cals. Now I'm to 1000 and packing on the pounds. So what is an extreme diet for someone else is pigging out for me. I dont think I can go back to eating 500 calories, I have tried. And I'm not having anymore surgery. But I will not give up to get this weight off. I don't know what to do but there has to be somebody that knows what is going on. What I need to do to fix this. I am at a loss!
As far as cravings and hunger....I get hungery a few times a day.. there are days I'm more hungery than others but not abnormally so.
|
Gastric Restrictive Procedure – Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG)
Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) is a purely restrictive procedure. In this procedure the upper stomach near the esophagus is stapled vertically for about 2-1/2 inches (6 cm) to create a smaller stomach pouch. The outlet from the pouch is restricted by a band or ring that slows the emptying of the food and thus creates the feeling of fullness. |
Thank you for your reply. I had the Vertical Band Gastroplasty (VBG) described above, not the Vertical Gastric Bypasss (VGB). All my food is getting absorbed in the same manner it was prior to surgery. I do take multivitamins and I have done the lemon and pure maple syrup thing. I have a food diary that I keep track of my intake. I will keep track for 2 months or so then stop. I write down butter cals, everyhting, even creamer I put in my coffee, if I have a werthers, I write it. I consume on average 1000 cals or so. I do drink alcohol occasionally and that will put me to 1500cals. But a rum and diet coke now and then should not be putting weight on me. I have also had my thyriod checked and it is fine.
I have read that my Base metabolic rate is 1300, give or take, I should be burning these calories in my sleep, but I am obviously not; And I exercise.
I have come to the conclusion that my body has adapted to a certain amount of calories for so long and any little bit that I go over that it stores.
When I first had surgery I could eat 200-300 cals. It was like that for a year or so. Then over the next few years I could eat 500-800 cals. Now I'm to 1000 and packing on the pounds. So what is an extreme diet for someone else is pigging out for me. I dont think I can go back to eating 500 calories, I have tried. And I'm not having anymore surgery. But I will not give up to get this weight off. I don't know what to do but there has to be somebody that knows what is going on. What I need to do to fix this. I am at a loss!
As far as cravings and hunger....I get hungery a few times a day.. there are days I'm more hungery than others but not abnormally so.
Topic: RE: Massive Weight Gain--This makes no sense!!!!
Hi Sunnshine,
I want to share my story because I am not saying that you have any of the same trouble I have, but thinking about the different aspects and see if any may apply.
Me
surgery April 21, 2003
weight 390 #
Lowest weight 210
lowest on June 12, 2005
highest gain 250
highest on July 5, 2008
current weight 225
VBG was brand new in 03 not even mentioned on this web site at that time so 1st I want to be sure that you had same procedure:
procedure:
vertical pouch approx 2-3 oz
permanent band above pouch
Y shaped bypass, bypassing several feet of Sm intestines
after getting to my lowest weight I became hungry all the time. My research led me to believe that even though I had lost almost 200# I still had the same amount of fat cells they had just shrunk (this is true), It has not been proven that depleted fat cells have an effect on the body and since I am a sales rep and not a scientist I can't prove this but my Dr's all think it is plausible I know what is going on.
After 2 years I started feeling hungry all the time although I could still only eat 5oz I started eating every 20 min . I did not realize how much more I was eating because I was eating the same things but I always ate. I also began to drink alcohol (kills weight loss). I believe anyone who loses a large amount of weight has a physiological reaction where fat cells have a memory and want to be full. When they are not 2 things happen, the body starts to store remaining fat cells making weight loss harder, and fat cells send a message to your brain saying I am starving to death and prompting me to eat all the time.
In my case when I first started seeing my Dr I told him I was not eating any more than I had been, because I had not changed what I was eating, and I only ate when I was hungry. I think too in my case it was that I have conditioned myself to make excuses about my eating because I knew I was not eating out of boredom, or emotions but because I was physically hungry and I didn't want to think I had gone back to just eating all the time like I did at 400#.
I saw my Dr and this is what I have changed.
Dr found I had a thyroid problem I didn't have before, now taking thyroid pills.
Dr increased the amount of vitamins I was taking because lots of vitamins just like fats and sugar are absorbed in the detached part of the stomach and intestines, this makes it hard to get enough.
Dr suggested the way to combat my physiological symptoms was to keep my blood sugar up and eat food that fill my pouch like bread and pasta.
Generally if you are on a diet you would avoid these things but if you have medically altered your body you have different physical requirements as long as you get all your protein, vitamins, and keep up your blood sugar most other food will bypass and not effect your body.
My suggestions:
1. See your doctor or a naturopath, if you really are eating less than 1 calorie per 10 pounds of weight and are not loosing weight you have other health problems. Consider this too if you have had a bypass you are not even absorbing all the calories that you eat.
2. Keep your blood sugar up; what I do is drink lots of 100% juice, due to dumping I get sick if i eat more than 16 grams of sugar but oj has 26 grams in 1 serving and does not make me sick. I also find that tomato and veg table juice makes me feel full without the effects of food. I drink liquids all day long every day so I mixed unsweetened tea with 1/2 and 1/2 juice, to keep my blood sugar up all day. To keep your bm regular because juice will give you the runs you may want to use an anti diarihal the first few days. You may want to start on a weekend because the natural effect is healthy. I also use lemon juice and a Tablespoon of real maple syrup. Lemon juice cleans you out, reduces your body's acidity level and real maple syrup will not give you dumping or effect your blood sugar negatively.
3. try to convince Oprah and Dr's that a remedy for the physiological effects needs to be found.
Good Luck
Leann
Hi Sunnshine,I want to share my story because I am not saying that you have any of the same trouble I have, but thinking about the different aspects and see if any may apply.
Me
surgery April 21, 2003
weight 390 #
Lowest weight 210
lowest on June 12, 2005
highest gain 250
highest on July 5, 2008
current weight 225
VBG was brand new in 03 not even mentioned on this web site at that time so 1st I want to be sure that you had same procedure:
procedure:
vertical pouch approx 2-3 oz
permanent band above pouch
Y shaped bypass, bypassing several feet of Sm intestines
after getting to my lowest weight I became hungry all the time. My research led me to believe that even though I had lost almost 200# I still had the same amount of fat cells they had just shrunk (this is true), It has not been proven that depleted fat cells have an effect on the body and since I am a sales rep and not a scientist I can't prove this but my Dr's all think it is plausible I know what is going on.
After 2 years I started feeling hungry all the time although I could still only eat 5oz I started eating every 20 min . I did not realize how much more I was eating because I was eating the same things but I always ate. I also began to drink alcohol (kills weight loss). I believe anyone who loses a large amount of weight has a physiological reaction where fat cells have a memory and want to be full. When they are not 2 things happen, the body starts to store remaining fat cells making weight loss harder, and fat cells send a message to your brain saying I am starving to death and prompting me to eat all the time.
In my case when I first started seeing my Dr I told him I was not eating any more than I had been, because I had not changed what I was eating, and I only ate when I was hungry. I think too in my case it was that I have conditioned myself to make excuses about my eating because I knew I was not eating out of boredom, or emotions but because I was physically hungry and I didn't want to think I had gone back to just eating all the time like I did at 400#.
I saw my Dr and this is what I have changed.
Dr found I had a thyroid problem I didn't have before, now taking thyroid pills.
Dr increased the amount of vitamins I was taking because lots of vitamins just like fats and sugar are absorbed in the detached part of the stomach and intestines, this makes it hard to get enough.
Dr suggested the way to combat my physiological symptoms was to keep my blood sugar up and eat food that fill my pouch like bread and pasta.
Generally if you are on a diet you would avoid these things but if you have medically altered your body you have different physical requirements as long as you get all your protein, vitamins, and keep up your blood sugar most other food will bypass and not effect your body.
My suggestions:
1. See your doctor or a naturopath, if you really are eating less than 1 calorie per 10 pounds of weight and are not loosing weight you have other health problems. Consider this too if you have had a bypass you are not even absorbing all the calories that you eat.
2. Keep your blood sugar up; what I do is drink lots of 100% juice, due to dumping I get sick if i eat more than 16 grams of sugar but oj has 26 grams in 1 serving and does not make me sick. I also find that tomato and veg table juice makes me feel full without the effects of food. I drink liquids all day long every day so I mixed unsweetened tea with 1/2 and 1/2 juice, to keep my blood sugar up all day. To keep your bm regular because juice will give you the runs you may want to use an anti diarihal the first few days. You may want to start on a weekend because the natural effect is healthy. I also use lemon juice and a Tablespoon of real maple syrup. Lemon juice cleans you out, reduces your body's acidity level and real maple syrup will not give you dumping or effect your blood sugar negatively.
3. try to convince Oprah and Dr's that a remedy for the physiological effects needs to be found.
Good Luck
Leann
Topic: RE: Need help with deciding on Dr. in Mexico
Guillermo Alvarez, Endobariatric is the best. I had surgery on the 27th. No naseua, no reflex and feel great. Just can't sleep for some reason.
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