Hi guys need your help

i am see Dr. Myers from Mansfield , Ohio and Riverside Hospital Columbus, Ohio. MY Dr. has suggested the SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY for me. I am about 500 lbs. with diabetis, sleep apnea, bad knees and legs, among other problems. I could not find much on this procedure on the internet and have not heard you guys talk about it. i was wondering if anyone has had it done or know of someone, i would like to find more about it and things. I hope you can help. It would be greatly appreciated. Scott

Scott, Here's a forum on your procedure: http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/  I'm sure someone can hook you up in there! Jeff

I am 18 weeks post op after a VSG.  I started at 280 lbs and am down 53 lbs, with daily exercise.  I considered various operations and consulted with several surgeons as well as my long time dr. before selecting the VSG.  Do a google search and watch the procedure on the Web-- try the Australian sites.  I am 51 and was going to have to start metfromin and that was the fact that made the decision easy.  I was a self pay and I have no regrets.  I rejected the lap-band because of the hunger problems some face and the complications experienced by many.  I also did not want an operation which would force me to take supplements for life or worry about vitamins daily.  With the sleeve I can eat anything, just as long it is about a cup.  It is 3:15 pm as I type this-- I have had ham for breakfast, 1/2 of a shrimp po-boy ( I am in Louisiana) and a small non fat yogurt minutes ago.  I am trying to have protein with every meal and have dramatically reduced my carb consumption.  While my diet is still not what I consider balanced as it is difficult to have room for vegs. my blood work shows this VSG is working.  For more info go to Forums and open the VSG page.  While I can not know if this is for you considering your condition and weight, I have been very pleased.

Hey Scott, There’s a few Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy guys here. Do check out the VSG Forum- http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/ And the VSG Message Board- http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/VSG/a,messageboard/board_i d,5463/ There are a number of VSG folks on another Board I post to- just google "Quixoticwls" from the 'Quix' forum--

The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) -is a purely restrictive form of bariatric surgery that removes approximately 85% of the stomach, leaving a tubular or "sleeve shaped" stomach with a volume capacity of approximately 60 to 150 cc. Unlike a Gastric Bypass, the pyloric valve and the nerves to the stomach remain intact and the stomach function is preserved. The vertical sleeve gastrectomy is not reversible. Advantages- --The new stomach retains full function and there are fewer restrictions on the foods which patients can consume after surgery, even though the quantity of food eaten will be considerably reduced. This is seen by many patients who choose VSG as one of the advantages of the vertical gastrectomy, as is the fact that the removal of the majority of the stomach also results in the effective elimination of hormones (such as ghrelin) produced by the stomach which stimulate hunger. --The VSG does not involve Any bypass of the intestinal tract and patients do not therefore have the possible complications of vitamin deficiency and protein deficiency. It also makes it a suitable form of surgery for patients who are already suffering from anemia, Crohn's disease and a variety of other conditions that would place them at high risk for surgery involving intestinal bypass. –No dumping syndrome because the pylorus is preserved. --Minimizes the chance of an ulcer occurring. --Very effective as a first stage procedure for high BMI patients (BMI>55 kg/m²). --Limited results appear promising as a single stage procedure for low BMI patients (BMI 35-45 kg/m²). --Can be done laparoscopically in patients weighing over 500 pounds. Risks- --Even when performed Laproscopically, this procedure includes the same risks that come with any invasive procedure, i.e., stroke, heart attack, infection, blood clots, pneumonia or even death, along with those added risks for patients that are morbidly obese. --Because the procedure often is performed by stapling of the stomach patients do run the risk of leakage and of other complications directly related to stapling. In addition, as with any surgery, patients run the risk of additional complications such as post-operative bleeding, and bowel obstruction. The risk of encountering any of these complications is however extremely small and varies from about 0.5 and 1%. Having said this, the risk of death from this form of surgery at about 0.25% is extremely small. --Perhaps the main disadvantage of the vertical sleeve gastrectomy is that it does not always produce the weight loss which people would wish for. This is indeed true of any form of weight loss surgery, but is perhaps most noted in bariatric procedures which are purely restrictive. As a general rule the vertical sleeve gastrectomy is most often recommended to individuals who are either extremely overweight or whose medical condition would rule out other forms of weight loss surgery. In the case of the former the vertical sleeve gastrectomy would normally form the first of a two-part plan of weight loss, with further bariatric surgery being performed once the patient's weight has fallen sufficiently to allow for other forms of weight loss surgery to come in to play.  ------------------------------------------------------------ Hope all that  helps some... Best Wishes- Dx

The VSG is the only WLS option for me. I am trying to get the insurance to pay for it which is the biggest issue now. Check out the VSG forum linked above also check out VSGFAQ.com another great resource.

This is not a "my surgery is better then your surgery" post, but  why is your doctor recommending the VSG, esp since you ahve type 2 diabetes (i'm assuming thats the case) and are 500 lbs with severe joint issues?  How are you going to make a restriction only surgery work, which required both diet and exercise?  Ok this is just my opinion and a heated one at that, but I was 500 lbs before surgery (thank God i didn't have diabetes yet, although it did run in my family), and I had severe joint issues, that prevented me, and still prevent me to this day from doing all the physcial activity that I'd like to do.   Certainly reserach the VSG...since that is what this doctor recommended, but also research your other options, esp the RNY and the DS.   The RNY has about an 83 percent "cure" rate and the DS has a 98 percent cure rate when it comes to putting diabetes (type 2) in remission.   In Europe right now they perform the intestinal switch of the DS to "cure" diabetes because it is so effective in doing so.   The VSG is a newer surgery, there is no long term studies to show it's effectiveness on Super Morbidly obese people, and to recommend it as a stand alone is kind of "odd" in my opinion.  AGAIN THIS IS MY OPNION YMMV...... but do some research into other surgical options.....and it never hurts to get a 2nd opinion.  Scott

I had the VSG last October.  So far so good for me - I'm down about 80 lbs to date. My reasons for choosing VSG were three-fold 1) the VSG doesn't involve malabsorbtion of food - it's strictly a restrictive surgery 2) no "dumping" and 3) short hospital stay.   Those were just my personal reasons for the choice. I had originally considered the LAP Band but my surgeon suggested that the VSG was probably better for me.  I was about 320 lbs when I had surgery and have had almost no issues since except for some heartburn (which I had before as well) and I've been taking Prevacid which cured the heartburn. Description of VSG: http://www.lapsf.com/vertical-gastrectomy-weight-loss-surgery.php There is a reasonably good chart of the various procedures located here too: http://www.lapsf.com/weight-loss-surgeries.html JP

Scottie, one of the advantages of the VSG is it can be done, and often is, as 1st step to the DS. Particularly in the SMO. they do the VSG then 9-18 months later do the second have making making it a full DS. Its apparently much safer fo higher risk BMIs to do it this way.