Trying to decide

The Ghrelin/depression connection is interesting information, something I hadn't heard before.  This would be a significant consideration for those who were already dealing with mental issues.  Of course, obesity can be a significant contributor to depression, so perhaps getting the obesity under control would be enough to counter-balance the decreased Ghrelin.   Just thinking outloud.

Glad you brought up the dumping.  In support group Monday night, it was mentioned that some Sleeve patients do end up with dumping.  I don't remember if it was addressed if their dumping syndrome was not as severe as RNY or if it was on a spectrum and different for each individual.  I suspect the latter.  I wonder what the mechanism is behind Sleeve dumping.

Yes, mind hunger and emotional eating are a bear.   I think we all as WLS people fight those monsters.

I believe researching EVERYTHING you can get your hands on as it relates to essentially mutilating your body as with all forms of WLS is key.  They are pros cons good and bad you just have to be willing to sit down and do the exhaustive research.  I wanted to know EVERYTHING I could about Gastrectomies so I took my research away from the bariatric world and entered the world of stomach cancer and ulcer patient research.

Dumping is more a spectrum as it relates to the quickness in which the stomach empties it's contents into the intestines.  People who rapid stomach emptying (there is a term but it escapes me right now) and haven't had WLS also experience dumping.  I dumped initially after surgery on to much fat and sugar.  I also had reactive hypoglycemia in those first 2 years after surgery when eating to many processed carbs, now not so much.

Those mind monsters are here for the duration in many of us.  I'm currently in battle with mine right now...

Ms Shell

I have heard many sleeve pts say that they have "mild dumping."  I have experienced it myself to a degree.  I actually think that in my case it just deters me from eating sweet fatty things.  A milkshake would make me miserable.   Anything that I would dump on is not something I should be eating anyway.  I can eat a small amout of sweets just fine, but never what would be considered a full portion.

I think it may have something to do with the more direct path to the pyloric valve because of the way the stomach is shaped.  Liquid, sweet, creamy goes right through and into the intestines faster than in a regular shaped stomach.

Ghrelin is still an issue with me, I think.  It's cloudy because you still have head hunger.  Sometimes I just CRAVE something sweet or something savory, but I can usually put myself in check by saying that I still feel full enough from eating earlier.   I can't say that I have had gnawing hunger since the surgery and I do at times forget to eat if I am busy.  What I do notice with the sleeve as opposed to the band is that I actually get a feeling of being full (and quite often stuffed) from a small amount of food. Depending on the food that is anything between 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food. I usually have that as my protein (most of the time it is chicken breast).  To me this is what I always wanted to feel with the band but never did.  With the band I just got a tight feeling but not a full feeling.   Also, if you have a problem and don't chew correctly the "stuck" episode is less than a minute rather than being hours  and the feeling of being stuck is way weaker than that of the band.  With the band getting stuck was panic inducing especially with the slime.  So far that hasn't happened with the VSG.    

I have no problems with people posting their success with the band and I think it is just as important for them to post that they are happy with it as it is for those of us who have had problems to post about our experiences.  The only time I take issue with it is when one particular poster on here lumps all band issues as the patients inability to follow band protocol.... that is complete BS.

How you describe your "stuck" episodes are how the majority of mine are now.   Whether that's a function of how loose my band is, my eating habits, the particular food I'm eating..it's hard to say.

I don't think I've been stuck for hours (although the first few probably seemed that long..LOL) and after I realized I wasn't having a heart attack ::grin::, they've not been panic inducing.  :)

Your experience with the sleeve sounds good and I'm very glad you've got a WLS that's working for you now.  

Yep, I agree, absolutes when it comes to people are rather insensitive.  The only absolute I recognize is absolute zero.  

This has been an interesting conversation, thanks to all who've been rational and calm.  I enjoy learning about others experiences.

Ghrelin is also produced in other parts of our bodies so I don't think you will have to worry that you will never be able to produce it again.

Ghrelin is also produced in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, where it stimulates the secretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland.^[2] Receptors for ghrelin are expressed by neurons in the arcuate nucleus and the lateral hypothalamus. The ghrelin receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor, formerly known as the GHS receptor (growth hormone secretagogue receptor). Ghrelin receptor has also been identified as being expressed in vagal afferent cell bodies as well as the vagal afferent endings throughout the gastro-intestinal tract ^[3]

Interesting, but still doesn't change my "heebie-jeebies" about throwing away part of the stomach.

This is just a personal idiosyncracy of mine.. and hopefully my band will keep on working and I won't be faced with dealing with getting a sleeve.. but if I should face that possibility, some of the information I've gained from this thread will be helpful.   It will still bother me though.. I know me.  :/

No problem, but in cases like that where one might feel the "heebie-jeebies" about throwing away part of the stomach." there is a procedure called the gastric sleeve plication. I don't know the sucess rates but here is one doctors explanation of how it's done.

It can be reversed if needed.



WRAP or Weight Reduction Assistance Procedure is a term our clinic uses to allow patients to easily refer to a minimally invasive surgical technique generally referred to as a gastroplasty, in which the stomach is folded in on itself and held in place with suture.

Similar surgical techniques have been referred to by different names, including:

• Gastric Plication Surgery (“GPS")
• Gastric Imbrication
• Greater Curve Plication
• Total Gastric Folds
• Laparoscopic Total Gastric Vertical Plication
• Greater Curve Inversion Surgery

I don't recommend the plication.  It's turning out to have a poor success rate.  I only ever lost 17.5lbs and at nearly 7 months out I'm starting to regain.  I'm not the only one experiencing this.  I really don't have much restriction at all.
 

On June 23, 2011 at 4:05 PM Pacific Time, Lisaizme wrote: Interesting, but still doesn't change my "heebie-jeebies" about throwing away part of the stomach. This is just a personal idiosyncracy of mine.. and hopefully my band will keep on working and I won't be faced with dealing with getting a sleeve.. but if I should face that possibility, some of the information I've gained from this thread will be helpful.   It will still bother me though.. I know me.  :/ No problem, but in cases like that where one might feel the "heebie-jeebies" about throwing away part of the stomach." there is a procedure called the gastric sleeve plication. I don't know the sucess rates but here is one doctors explanation of how it's done. It can be reversed if needed. WRAP or Weight Reduction Assistance Procedure is a term our clinic uses to allow patients to easily refer to a minimally invasive surgical technique generally referred to as a gastroplasty, in which the stomach is folded in on itself and held in place with suture. Similar surgical techniques have been referred to by different names, including: Gastric Plication Surgery (“GPS") Gastric Imbrication Greater Curve Plication Total Gastric Folds Laparoscopic Total Gastric Vertical Plication Greater Curve Inversion Surgery
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I've heard that the results of the plication have been poor. Can you tell me why ?