VSG people?

I'm wondering if any of us North Dakota people have had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy? I know that it's a fairly new thing for the Bismarck area, so I guess I would just like to know if everyone here has experience with just the lap band or bypass, or if anyone has actually had the VSG. This is the procedure I will be having, hopefully soon, and would appreciate hearing from anyone from the area who's had this done. Thanks! G

I had it done. It is so great you will love it. If you have any questions ask away.

Finally. someone from somewhere that's semi-local. I have plenty o' questions for ya. So here goes.... When did you have the surgery? Where did you have it done? (It wasn't somewhere down in Mexico, was it? I've read some scary stories about that!) How have your results been, and what was your recovery like? How long til you were back on your feet and doing normal stuff? How do you keep from sabotaging yourself? Keeping away from all our German-Norwegian cuisine is going to be a killer, I fear. I had a fleishkeuchle last week. It was delicious, but I said goodbye to it and I think I'll be okay. I've been reading up on the VSG board elsewhere on this site, and they all have such good information so I think I'm pretty much up to speed on the procedure and what I can expect. I'm happy to have as many first-hand info that I can get. Thanks! Gretchen

I had it done 2-1-08. It was done in Mexico by Dr. Joya. The hospital was great better than any hospital in Fargo. Where did you read these so called scary stories? If you have been on the sleeve board you will see 100's of us that have had it done in Mexico. I have lost over 60lbs so far. My recovery was great  2 days in the hospital then I went back to the resort there. I felt like I didn't even have any surgery. I could sleep on my stomach without much pain. I had a hour and half massage that was great.  I walked all over and went shopping. By the third day when I left there I felt great. Every morning the doctor would stop by and check on me to see if everything was ok. Now the best part of having the sleeve is that you can eat anything you want. There is no dumping like with the lap band or RNY no extra vitamins you need to take. The hard part was the two weeks preop diet with nothing but liquids but I kept saying to my self that in a month I can once again eat those great tasting foods again. I wasn't a junk food eater so I don't miss that.

Yes I was offended cause you can read those same stories about hospitals here in the USA too.  Anyway... wow that would be great if you could get in on that study and have it done for free. I know that the two doctors at Merit Care are learning about it now also. I really do believe that in less then two years that the sleeve will be the number one weight loss surgery in the USA.

Good Luck and if you have any questions ask away.

I really can't apologize enough for that. I always tend to inadvertently make an a$$ of myself at some point when I post on a message board--which is why I tend to stay off the boards and just "lurk". (Hopefully I've gotten that out of the way now.) but yes, you are right--you can have a bad experience no matter where you go, it all depends on the professionalism of the staff, the cleanliness of the facility, all kinds of factors. And that's for any surgery, not just a WLS. So again, I am an insensitive turd and I really did not mean to offend. I have to agree with you, too, re: your prediction that the sleeve will become the hottest WLS in a couple years. I haven't even had it yet, but dang... it just makes so much sense. It just seems like such a simple, straightforward thing. Nothing gets re-routed, you don't have to keep going in to get things "adjusted", and it basically just doesn't seem to be all that complicated. I really was very surprised when I found out the small number of these surgeries that have actually been done in Bismarck. I would have thought that people would be beating the door down for this. And when you figure that this costs about the same as an average-condition used car.... what's 14K if you're looking at a potential future of back surgery, knee surgery, heart surgery, etc? Especially if you're un-insured. Of course with anything like this, there's always the chance to sabotage yourself. But as far as my own experience goes, when something is actually working, you're going to be more apt to stick to it. Back when Phen Fen was the big hot thing for WL, oh, that was so fantastic to see results! And I kept up with it, it was so easy because there WAS a return. But since it came out how bad the stuff was, there just really hasn't been anything out there that gets results like that, barring surgery. And really, how motivated can a person be when you diet and diet and diet and exercise til you just can't stand it anymore... and what, you maybe drop 5 pounds at best, but you're still needing to lose another 95....? I really do think that once word gets out, this will at least be as popular as the other surgeries. Anyway, the question I have this time around.... one of the big things that turned me on to this was the claim that by removing the part of the stomach that produces ghrelin, (sp.?) cravings and hunger are significantly reduced. Has that been the case with you? How do you cope with the "head" hungries? You know, when you want to eat in social situations or just because you know how delicious that pork chop is going to be? Or does that diminish too? Thanks again for your help--and for not flaming me for my dumb comment! :)

Hi everything is good between us.  Hopefully others will read it and not cut down a place in the future.   Now to your questions....

cravings and hunger are significantly reduced. Has that been the case with you?

Yes it has I really have to tell myself that it is time to eat something sometimes. I do get that head hunger now and then mostly at night when I am relaxing doing nothing. When I get the old head hunger I snack on carrots or celery that seems to take care of it. No junk food for me. 

You know, when you want to eat in social situations or just because you know how delicious that pork chop is going to be? Or does that diminish too?

At social situations are no different.  You can eat that pork chop or steak or whatever you like. You just eat the meat first and pick a bit at the rest of the food. I have also found out that if I don't drink anything 1 hour before I eat and wait 1 hour after I eat to drink anything I do not get that hunger feeling as fast.

So I am wondering how new it is in Bismarck? Ive done some research and am very interested in this procedure..Im not gung ho on the lap band and dont like all the risks of RNY.

I have BCBS of Nd and was told that they will not cover VSG..so I am now more than likely going to have RNY.