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Topic: RE: VBG HAS BEEN A 21 YEAR NIGHTMARE
I also had my surgery done several years ago, at the University of Iowa. My surgeon retired a few years ago. While I did lose a small amount of weight initially, I never really lost nearly what I had hoped to, and was still a good 150 pounds over my ideal weight. Over the next few years, I gained back what little I lost. The problem is, I still eat extremely little. It takes me a great deal of time to eat a small amount of food, and most of what I should eat to lose weight my stomach can't digest.
Just yesterday, my doctor upset me greatly by giving me a hard time about my weight. I'm so tired of people, doctors included, telling me that I just need to try harder or try a different diet, or exercise more, and everything will be fine. I wouldn't have had the surgery if that would have worked, and even now that I've had the surgery it doesn't work.
I wish I could have the surgery un-done, but right now that's just not possible. If ever.
DustyLady
Just yesterday, my doctor upset me greatly by giving me a hard time about my weight. I'm so tired of people, doctors included, telling me that I just need to try harder or try a different diet, or exercise more, and everything will be fine. I wouldn't have had the surgery if that would have worked, and even now that I've had the surgery it doesn't work.
I wish I could have the surgery un-done, but right now that's just not possible. If ever.
DustyLady
Topic: RE: Revision Surgery...???
Hi. Just saw your post. Have you consulted with Dr. Greenbaum in New Jersey? He is a wonderful revision surgeon and has gotten people with horrible insides repaired and even into a working, wonderful DS? (He trained with my surgeon, Rabkin, and I have head incredible stories about him from some of his patients).
Ask on the DS and revision forums if you have not already.
Here's his info, from www.dsfacts.com:
David Greenbaum, MD, FACS
Email: [email protected]
Nicolle
Ask on the DS and revision forums if you have not already.
Here's his info, from www.dsfacts.com:
David Greenbaum, MD, FACS
Email: [email protected]
Surgical Specialists of New Jersey, LLCBest of luck to you!
Rancocas Division
1000 Salem Rd., Suite A
Willingboro, NJ 08046
Phone: 609-877-1737
Email: [email protected]
Nicolle
I had the kick-butt duodenal switch (DS)!
HW: 344 lbs CW: 150 lbs
Type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea GONE!
Topic: RE: I need claification please
Gastroplasty is about 500 or so staples (none of the stomach is cut away) and my doctor put a plastic ring around the top of it to restrict amount of food that passes through. Mine was done 4 years ago-no problems-have gained about 20lbs back-my own fault-lack of exercise, etc. As with any weight loss surgery, please read, read, read about what you may want to do. Good luck.
Topic: Revision Surgery...???
Hey everybody. =) I had my surgeon's appointment today and I guess it went okay. Apparently the surgeon I went to(Dr.Nusbaum) has had 2 dozen patients revised from Dr. Capella's surgery. So he has experience with the way Dr. Capella operated, He said that Dr. Capella definetly has a special way of doing the VBG and that it is almost a 50% failure rate. So he said he has to see what the EGD Scope comes back as. But he said he'd like to be able to revise it into a RNY but doen't know if that's possible being the way Dr. Capella operated, He said the best option was the Realize Band. Has anyone ever had a revision to this? If so please let me know more about it. I have spent all my time researching the DS. Any as my surgeon said today I am not eligible for the DS. He said it would be a disaster, and it wasn't a good idea. Nutritonally speaking. I'm just kind of confused. If anybody could help me or shine some light on the BAND, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.
Topic: RE: VBG HAS BEEN A 21 YEAR NIGHTMARE
I had my VBG in 1983 and lost 240 lbs. I always had problems eating beef (except hamburger) and grapes. I stopped exercising a few years after the weight loss and eventually gained all my weight back. I developed reflux and couldn't eat for 2 or 3 hours before going to bed and also couldn't eat spicy foods in the evening. Eventually I decided to have a revision to RNY and I'm happy that I did. My reflux has disappeared. I lost 33 lbs. before surgery and 132 lbs. since surgery. I've still got about 45 lbs. to lose and hope to get to my goal by my second surgiversary.
I know that I've got to keep exercising and watching my diet the rest of my life and am determined not to gain my weight back again. I'm feeling so much better now that I've lost half of me.
I know that I've got to keep exercising and watching my diet the rest of my life and am determined not to gain my weight back again. I'm feeling so much better now that I've lost half of me.
Topic: RE: VBG and Pcos
I have PCOS and had WLS in 2002.
It did affect my PCOS. I didn't have to take metformin b4 the WLS, but now I do. I also had 2 m/c after WLS.
If I had it to do over again, I would have had gastric bypass, not VBG.
It did affect my PCOS. I didn't have to take metformin b4 the WLS, but now I do. I also had 2 m/c after WLS.
If I had it to do over again, I would have had gastric bypass, not VBG.
Topic: I need claification please
TRICARE Standard pays for 100% of surgery, hospital and surgeon. My BCBS pays nothing.
TRICARE says they pay for by-pass, not an option for me, and gastroplasty.
My question is, is the gastroplasty where the stomach is stappled or partially removed?
TRICARE says they pay for by-pass, not an option for me, and gastroplasty.
My question is, is the gastroplasty where the stomach is stappled or partially removed?
Topic: RE: VBG revision
Hi!
I had a VBG in 1988 at age 20. I was 5'10" and weighed over 250lbs. and it was the best thing I ever did. I watched 75lbs. melt off my body in 6 months then plateaued. I did Jenny Craig and lost 20 more lbs. I didn't exercise at all. Of course, as per usual with VBG, certain foods and large pills would get "stuck" from time to time and I'd have to purge.
By 1994 I was back up to about 180lbs., then started walking 2 miles a day and drinking fruit smoothies and by late 1995 was down to 140lbs. I was also in an emotionally abusive relationship and didn't eat much for a few years. At one point in early 1998, I actually got down to 121lbs. which I LOVED but even I recognized it was "too thin" and unsustainable.
I then gained back to a healthy 140lbs. where I stayed without effort, and could eat anything I wanted. Until 2006. With no change in diet or activity level, I suddenly gained 25lbs. and nothing I did enabled me to lose them.
I am now 41 years old and have gained 50lbs since December (it is now 7/09) and am at a shocking and depressing 210lbs. despite cutting down portions, cutting out fried stuff, and exercising. Food no longer seems to get stuck and it's freaking me out. I take two daily "horse pills," a vitamin and an amino acid complex, that would have had me stuck for days in the past, and now they slide right through.
I am concerned that my band has broken down and don't know what to do about it. I have been unemployed and uninsured since September 2007 so I can't afford to consult a bariatric surgeon. Has anyone else had experience with band breakdown and/or stubborn weight gain that, even with herculean effort, refuses to budge?
I appreciate any information anyone has to share, especially if there are any surgeons online who might be able to advise. Thanks so much and good health to all!
I had a VBG in 1988 at age 20. I was 5'10" and weighed over 250lbs. and it was the best thing I ever did. I watched 75lbs. melt off my body in 6 months then plateaued. I did Jenny Craig and lost 20 more lbs. I didn't exercise at all. Of course, as per usual with VBG, certain foods and large pills would get "stuck" from time to time and I'd have to purge.
By 1994 I was back up to about 180lbs., then started walking 2 miles a day and drinking fruit smoothies and by late 1995 was down to 140lbs. I was also in an emotionally abusive relationship and didn't eat much for a few years. At one point in early 1998, I actually got down to 121lbs. which I LOVED but even I recognized it was "too thin" and unsustainable.
I then gained back to a healthy 140lbs. where I stayed without effort, and could eat anything I wanted. Until 2006. With no change in diet or activity level, I suddenly gained 25lbs. and nothing I did enabled me to lose them.
I am now 41 years old and have gained 50lbs since December (it is now 7/09) and am at a shocking and depressing 210lbs. despite cutting down portions, cutting out fried stuff, and exercising. Food no longer seems to get stuck and it's freaking me out. I take two daily "horse pills," a vitamin and an amino acid complex, that would have had me stuck for days in the past, and now they slide right through.
I am concerned that my band has broken down and don't know what to do about it. I have been unemployed and uninsured since September 2007 so I can't afford to consult a bariatric surgeon. Has anyone else had experience with band breakdown and/or stubborn weight gain that, even with herculean effort, refuses to budge?
I appreciate any information anyone has to share, especially if there are any surgeons online who might be able to advise. Thanks so much and good health to all!
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