I had a VBG in 2001.  Ended up with "MASSIVE" GERD and for health reasons made the decision to revise to RNY.  As it turned out, once in, the surgeon found the band had erodes into my stomach and the other 1/2 of my stomach was attached to my pancreas.   As a result 2/3 of my stomach had to be removed and not just separated as a normal RNY.  

I am telling you this, not to sway you to the RNY or any other surgery, but to inform you of what is out there.  The tool worked for me for a long time.  I did develop problems about 2-3 years ago and because of that my eating changed resulting in the weight gain.

Whatever, you and your surgeon decide is best for you, it is a tool and you and only you can work to make sure the tool is successful for you. Your question as to what kind of food/exercise, here is what I remember:

I ate according to the plan I was given at my pre-op appt (day before my surgery).  Mostly, chicken/fish and veggies.  Eggs were in there too.  Very little carbs. Exercise.....I remember walking a lot. Eventually I did move to aerobic/jazzersize. 


For the record, even though my surgery went bad, I don't regret doing it.  I will share whatever I remember, please feel free to e-mail if you want.

Shrinkingpeach is correct in her explanation. I have the VBG. The pouch created is about the size of a large egg. Same with the Lap-band. The VBG doesn't allow for the opening from the pouch to the large stomach to be adjusted. It's just the same all the time.  I decided on the VBG with the help from my doctor. I wasn't a big sweets eater. I was just a big eater. I never knew what full was, but I new what stuffed was!  The VBG and Lap band address the problem of not feeling full, while still allowing the person to get all of the nutritional values of the foods eaten. I didn't need the bypass for what it allows, so we decided on the VBG (the Lap-band wasn't paid for by insurance for me either).  It's almost 6 years since surgery and I am incredibly happy about my decision! I maintain my weight pretty easily. What I do like to tell people thinking about WLS is that every surgery type works. How well and how long it works depends solely on the patient. It isn't a quick fix. It is a lifetime of lifestyle change!

I too had the VBG in 1998.  And like the above post I had minimal success.  I lost maybe 60 lbs over the first year. I was given very little information before the surgery and even less on how to make it work for me.  I am in the process of getting a revision to an RNY, that is the only one available for me through my provincial health care.  I have been looking at research articles about the success rate of all the surgeries and have found that VBG is the lowest.  They dont really do it that much because of that. 

I get stuck on  almost everything I eat and have to throw it up.  there is blood in the vomit and it is very painful.  I have broken blood vessels in my eyes.  I have tried to make this surgery work, but there is a limit one can do with a surgery that is inferrior. 

Make sure you research all your options and choose the one that is the best.  If I knew then what I know now, I would not of had this surgery.  I am still fat and I have many complications. 

best of luck.
sandi

I had a VBG in 1999.  There was very little nutritional information given to me prior to surgery and no information regarding support groups or anything.  To say the least it has been less than successful.  I did lose from 370 to about 300, but that was all the dr. expected me to lose.  I have yo-yo-ed with Weigh****chers for the past 4 years and lost 45 lbs, but put it back on within 6 months of stopping.

A friend of mine had a Gastric Bypass and the results were so much different, so I started looking in to a surgeon that specialized in bariatrics. I found Dr. Todd Wilson at the University of Texas-Minimally Invasive Surgeons of Texas (UT-MIST).  He and on other dr. specialize in revisions. He set me up with a nutritionist that I could really relate to and understand.  He also did a gastro-something, a camera down my throat to my stomach, and looked at my VGB.  He said it didn't look any different than expected and that a revision to gastric bypass was possible.  I went to a psychologist that specializes in bariatrics and revisions and learned a great deal from her. He also ordered a doppler of my legs when i mentioned them occasionally swelling, to make sure there were no clots. I also attended the Texas Assoc. of Bariatric Surgeons Weight Loss Summit in January and heard some great speakers on everything from nutrition to exercise to plastic surgery.  There were also some great vendors that I got invaluable information about  vitamin supplements especially for bariatric patients.

Anyway, since October 5, 2009 I have lost 25 lbs by just being more aware of what to eat and have registered for a Food Addiction Group that starts in April.  I was called on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 and told my surgery was approved.  I have a surgery date of 3-8-2010 and I feel more prepared than i ever did before.  I know I will have after-care support and expectations from the dr. that I didn't have before. 

My suggestion is that you get the best information you can about what to do afterwards BEFORE you go in and set up after-care support though your dr. and from support groups.  I live 60 miles from my dr. and a city that has any of this, but I have made the committment and feel better educated this time around.  Dr. Wilson did tell me that a VGB was probably not the best choice for me at the weight I was because the statistics show that VGB patients lose about 35-45% of their extra weight compared to a bypass that shows about 65-75%.  I know that some do exceptionally well with a VGB, especially with lots of education and support. Please do this before your surgery.  You will be so much more successful if you do.

I wish you the best of luck.  You seem to have already made great strides in preparing.  Good luck and God bless.

Yeah! I am happy to hear that you are almost ready to go home and that you are doing great. Where did you have your surgery done?