VBG Sucess ????

I am in the process of figuring out which surgery will be best for me. I have looked at Lap Band mainly. That seems to be what most people are choosing. I have received lots of info on Lap Band. Now that  know my insurance does cover VBG. I need some insight into this world. Does it work as well as everything else. Is there anyone here who can give me there honest opinion on having VBG.
Thanks
Von

VBG is not adjustable like the lap band surgery. I had mine done in 1993. I still have days that I can't eat anything, especially after I had a stuck food episode and my stomach is swollen.
I read that VBG is reversable in an emergency, but not as easily as lap band, and can cause more issues than a lap band because they mess with the stomach itself. Some of the reversals I've heard were frightening.
The upside is that there is no "PORT" to fill and no adjustments that have to be made to continue weight loss. It appears that Lap Banding is the more preferred way the surgeons like to go these days. (or bypass surgery.)  
I lost about 70 pounds. from what I've read, that is about what is expected to be lost. My weight is fairly stable, but can fluxuate.
Good luck in your choices!

HI, I had the VBG back in 1998.  I am not happy with it.  I was 288 when I had it (I am about 300lbs now)   and I only lost 40ish lbs.  I really had no follow up care.  I was told to not eat chicken skin and celery.  I am seeking a revision.  Like the above poster said about getting stuck on foods, it is horrible.  Your stoma is about 1 cm and if you don't chew EXTREMELY well or eat dry meats you will get stuck.  Sometimes it goes through on its own or you will have to vomit to get out .  I have vomited so much over the years that when I vomit now,  there is blood in it.  I am scheduled for a scope to see whats going on.

I would really research the heck out of these surgeries.  Look at the long term results for expected amounts of excess weight loss (ewl)  and look at the revision forum.  See what people are revising from and to.  I am revising to the RNY, but that is what my province (BC) will do, BUT if I were to self pay, I would do the DS in a heart beat.

good luck :)

sandi

Hey Sandi, out of curiosity, why would you do the DS as opposed to the other surgeries?

Hey Ron - are you sure it is VBG not VSG?   VBG is not routinely done anymore, however VSG is up-and-coming with the insurance companies.

My reasons for wanting the DS are many. 

First, I have already had a VBG and hated it.  It is strictly restrictive and it didn't work for me, they don't really do it anymore because of the failure rate and the complications like getting stuck and vomittig.    I don't want the band because I have so much weight to lose and I do see success with the band but not a lot for people with a lot of weight to lose, I do see a lot of banders going for revision/different surgery.

I don't mind the RNY, but it is a combination of restriction and malabsorption.  From what I have read/heard  there isn't a lot of malabsorption happening to cause a lot of weight loss.  Most of the weight loss is caused by the tiny pouch.  Because I have had problems with my "pouch"  with foods   gettig stuck (I do chew a lot) I don't want that again for myself.   Also, I have read that revisions tend to lose slower with an RNY, I know it's not all about speed of loss, but in a way it is for me.  If I don't see it coming off fairly quickly, I will see that as a failure, and I have already had a failure with the VBG.

With the DS, you get a smaller stomach, but it's not tiny.  And you get a lot of malabsorption.  Most of the weight loss comes from that.  And I do see lots of people going for revisions from the RNY to a distal RNY or a DS.  And with me having a revision, I want it to be the last surgery that I will ever have to have.  I don't really see anyone having a revision with a DS.

But I live in a province in Canada that doesn't have the DS, and I can only have the RNY or the VSG.  but since I have the VBG the VSG is out of the question.    Anyway.... I am rambling...But this is just my opinion  made up from my experiences.  I will have the RnY because I have no other choice (no money to self pay).

I will soon find out if I get the RNY in the States, ( I applied for out of country coverage to have it in Seattle Washington.)  You can apply to have OOC if you have a bmi of 50 or more and comorbidities.  So we will see, maybe tomorrow.  Wish me luck, otherwise I will have to wait up to 5 years for the RNY here in BC.  Ugg!

Anyway, have a great day.
Sandi :)

I had VBG in 1984. Starting weight was 255 and lost about 90 lbs.

I have never been able to beef, or veggies. However in 2006, it got to the point that I was throwing up every thing that I was eating. Turns out that I could not tolerate anything that had fiber in it, it blocked the opening into the pouch.

Just had RNY because of GERD, which has caused Barrett's Esophagus, which is a precancerous condition, which could lead to esophageal cancer.

I have never been able to get as much protein down as I have since I had surgery. RNY was the best decision for me.

Glad to read your story. I had vbg/fobi pouch by dr fobi in 1985.. I went from 400 lbs to 240.. then shot back to 300..down to 240, etc.. stablized at 295. Because food still got stuck and I had vomiting, I thought it was still intact. I had an upper gi and there is no evidence of stapling. I am scheduled for revision to rny 5/12...  hope this lasts longer than the vbg did.

I had pretty much the same experience. I had a revision done on the 26th  of April by Dr. Tishler in Hartford CT. I feel GREAT. Word needs to get out to stay away from the VBG. It is a poor surgical choice. My doc explained to me why  bascially the VBG was stopped in the mid 90's. Good luck to you.  Tammey

I had a VGB in 2003 and lost 133 pounds.  I ended up getting pregnant and gained back a lot of the weight.  I deal with vomiting often and there are so many foods that I can't eat.  I consider this weight loss procedure a failure.  I had no follow-up aftercare for my surgeon stopped doing this procedure.....makes one wonder why??   I am in the process of having a revision done this summer.  I would not recommend the VGB.