Anyone have the VSG procedure

I am still searching for an alternative to keep my guts from being rerouted.  The Vertical Sleeve Gast. may be the surgery I'm looking for!  My surgeons do it, but there are no long term studies for it.  In the past it has been the first step of a two step procedure but they began seeing significant weight loss with the procedure.  Also, if it doesn't go, you can convert it to a RNY, wouldn't that be a Biotch!?  Anyway, just wondering if anyone has had this done. Here's my doctor's line telling about it:  http://www.obesesurgery.com/Sleeve.htm

I know I'm gonna open a can of worms here but whats the fear with RNY. The rerouting the guts for me have been a major blessing. I know its not the only approach and I 'm not trying to dis anyone or their choice of WLS. But I can say that this open RNY WLS has improved my life many fold in 6 months. I know we respond differently and have our own hurdles and barriers, and some of us have had some complications, my self included, be gee, the good out weights the bumps byy leaps and bounds.  We have nothing to fear but fear itself and our own confidence of sticking with the program or fudging ourselves into personal failure. So again, I ask, what is the fear of RNY? It will take you out of your comfrt zone where food addiction has had us trapped for so long and that is scary, but do you want out of that cyce/routine/lifestyle.  You can have it but you have to choose to change your life. I'd like to help you Bob and it sounds like, to me, you are saying you want to change but not too much all at once and maybe getting the standard pre-surgery cold feet.  But that cold-feet thing usually happens like the week before the scheduled surgery.  So this is hapening a bit pre-maturely for you.  I'm wondering if there isn't something else going on that is impacting the thought processes in your life? Joe [email protected]

Joe, I have never felt comfortable with the RNY process, I know for most of you it's been a life saving tool. I want to reduce my food intake, the VSG is not reversible.  There is no malabsortion,  little chance for  blockage, little chance of internal hernias and kinked intestines.  I will still have a functioning stomach.  I am anemic and have been on iron supplements for sometime, doctors have told me that over time I might have a problem with iron - so why risk it.  The plefora (sic)  valve remains in place and the new stomach, depending on the surgeon, is between 1-5 oz. large.  3/4 of the stomach is cut off. It's just another obesity reducing tool and I feel better about the logistics of it in the long run.   But it is still in the air - when I talk with the doctors they may suggest something else and I always do what my doctors feel is best! 

Bob, For me the VSG was the only choice.  I wanted to reduce my food intake forever.  The VSG can not be reversed.  I have had zero complications.  You still have a full functioning stomach, no bypass, no malabsorbtion, no possible blockages, etc, etc.  My best friend had the RNY 4 days after my surgery.  He also has lost half the weight that I have.  He is constantly hungry and never gets that full feeling you get with the VSG.  He was hospitilized one week after surgery for bleeding.  His blood is extremely low on iron due to malabsorption.  He now goes to the hospital monthly for iron infusions?!  Too many problems in my book.  The VSG is the platinum for WLS.  Bottom line any WLS is better than continuing to gain weight and be miserable. Good Luck, Kent

Can't disagree with anything you've said exfept I had no hunger issues after RNY.  Sorry your friend did. But bottom line is bottom line and I gotta agree with Kent, any WLS is better than continuing to gain weight and be miserable. 

I'm still cheering for you any way you go there Bob. 

 Well said Kent.

 I, like Joe, had RNY and am rarely ever hungry. When I do get hungry, it only takes about a cup of food to satisfy me. All my bloodwork is normal, I don't even have to supplement iron, not everyone has to. No matter which WLS you have, your success will be directly related to how well you follow the rules post-op. Example: A nurse in the hospital where I had my RNY done, had the VSG a year before. She lost some weight and then re-gained most of it back. One night while I was walking laps, she was eating a hamburger and fries, along with a soft drink. It was not too surprising that she failed to reach her goal weight. There are successes and failures with all procedures. Bob, this is your own decision to make. Do follow your doctor's advice. Remember that you will have to live with your decision for the rest of your life. You will have to follow the rules of that procedure. No matter the surgery, if you follow the rules of that procedure, then you're going to do well. If you do the opposite, then the opposite will happen. One thing I found out post-op, is that the difficulty you are having making the decision to have surgery, or not, is caused by the food addiction itself.  Ronnie

I had the VSG 10 weeks ago today.  I studied all of the alternatives for months and consulted with multiple physicians before deciding the vsg was for me.  I have almost no hunger, am down 38 pounds and have high expectations for success.  I too was concerned about taking supplements for the remainder of my life and the real concern about protein and vitamin problems associated with the more extensive surgery.  With the vsg, I can eat about a cup of anything at a time.  One thing to examine is the amount you must loose as you may need more help than the vsg provides.  Be sure and consider the hunger that some have with lap-bands post op-- with vsg that is not a problem.  I urge you to consult with a trusted physician who knows your medical history .

Hi Bob - I had the VSG surgery at Laproscopic Associates in San Francisco in Oct 2006.  I'm a 43 year old male and had a BMI of 40.1 at the time of surgery and was a self-pay case since I didn't want to fight with the insurance over barely having a BMI that would qualify (I had no co-morbities).  I've lost 80 lbs as of my 6 month anniversary leaving me with 20-30 left to lose.  I chose the VSG in part because it is less invasive than some of the other surgeries.  In my case I was in the hospital overnight and have had no complications in the subsequent 6 months. I'm not advocating  the VSG over the other kinds of surgeries for everyone,  selecting the best one for you is for you and your doctors to determine.   I felt that I could live with the much smaller stomach but I didn't want to have the surgeon bypass my intestines unless I absolutely had to.  Less cutting meant less possible complications and I was all about minimizing risk when making my decision. Having the option to convert the VSG to a more aggressive surgery in the future was a bonus for me.  When I initially went to the surgeon for my consultation, I was dead set on having the LAP-Band procedure because it doesn't involve "cutting anything out" and is reversible.  After spending a lot of time with the surgeon and researching on-line, I went with the VSG.   One major area that broght the VSG to the front over the LAP-Band was the fact that the VSG helps reduce the ghrellen hormone which is associated with appetite.  Ghrellen is produced in the stomach so with the removal of much of the stomach you get the benefit of reduced appetite along with the physical reduction in the capability of eating any quantities of food. I may not be explaining that very well. Good additional info at the links below that might help you compare.  JP General VSG info: http://www.lapsf.com/vertical-gastrectomy-weight-loss-surgery.php Great chart comparing the VSG with other choices. http://www.lapsf.com/weight-loss-surgeries.html

Hey Bob, you need to do what you feel most comfortable with, this is your body.  I have to tell you, internal hernias can happen to anyone who've  lost a massive amount of weight, and external hernias can happen to anyone who have had abdominal surgeries.    You might want to check out the VSG forum on OH, it is pretty active, and I'm sure you can find lots of people there to give you the 411 on their experiences.  Scott

BOB like you I am still pre-op and looking at the options. I am now 95% positive the VSG is the right choice. My only concern with the RNY is malabsorbtion issues. these seem to be a non issue. check out VSGFAQ.com and th VSG forum, look for MERCYQ she has a ton of research stuff and a few studies that may help with you decision.