Thinking about the VBG Surgery

Greetings - I had the VBG in March and have been extremely happy with the results and the process.  I know the stats are stacked against me but I did not want any malabsorbsion.  I am terrible at taking pills and did not want to sign up for supplements.  Did not like the mechanics and the fills with the band. 
It is not common but there are Dr that do it and do it well.  A 5 year study by my Dr at his office showed an average 58% excess weight loss for VBG compared to 63% for RNY - pretty good if you ask me. 
The sleeve was my other option but my surgeon did not have good experience with this surgery and my insurance did not cover it.  As everyone on here will say, it is up to you to research what is best for you, including stats from your surgeon.  Please contact me or add me if you are interested in more info.

I have decided to have Dr Chua do VBG,also. Is there anything that I need to know about this type of surgery vs RNY?  I sometimes get anemia, so I was very concerned about the RNY and getting malabsorbtion problems. Like you I noticed the  percentage was very small between the two surgeries.

hi,

there is not one surgery that is "fit all"  we all pick the surgery that we "want" based on a number of factors...

how long the surgeon has been doing the surgery type
how much follow up post surgery (lapband is significant)
prior bmi
if it will be covered by insurance and if not will you self pay
some complex medical issues prohibit malabsorption procedures like RNY or DS

these are only a few but the most important ones

it is interesting, the journals that i have read state that the VBS is vertually obsolete, that is not saying anything about the surgery at all, just what i have read.  WLS really is a personal choice on so many levels, the best surgery is the best one for you and your surgeon's experience with that surgery type also, hoping you do well with any surgery you pick.

 Hi i had the VBG last month, I lost 40lbs. It is difficult for me because I have trouble eating and drinking. The real issue seems to be that I have always eaten too fast. Now I have to slow down. Also there are things I will never be ale to eat that I really enjoy. Like some raw veggies. I do not regret the surgury and it seems to be working. I would tell anyone considering this that they need to explore all options available and only have surgury as a last effort. The life long changes are no easier than properly dieting to begin with, and in my opinion much harder in reality. That said it does seem to work just fine...at least so far with me. I chose this procedure because it best fit me. Go with what est fits you and your goals. Also be sure that this is what you need. I spent years struggling to lose weight even in active duty army infantry i was failing. Now i am sick to my stomache a lot and vomit on the occasion that I break the rules that I know I need to follow. But I will succede and so will you. Never give up, and fight the good fight!   

You'll still be hungry. I had VBG done in '03. Lost 78 lbs., could loose a hundred more. I must admit, I don't use the "tool" or follow the "rules" like I should. If I could do that I wouldn't have this problem in the first place. You won't be able to eat a lot at one setting. You'll find out the hard way if you do. Most of the time, you'll still be hungry. Not starving but a little more hungry.

There are definately restrictions on what you can eat. They seem to be a little different for everybody. No red meat seems to be consistent though. The #1 rule for me is CHEW YOUR FOOD!! If you don't, you'll be sorry. I don't have the problems like most - the hurling. I will get things "stuck" if I'm not carefull, but I painfully wait it out. It will get un-stuck anywhere from 10- 45mins. I would rather wait it utt than hurl. Ewww.

I am still happy that I had the surgery. I won't ever be a size 5 like the ones that have the gastric bypass. They tend to have a lot of problems. Really, I don't know how they survive.



Good luck with your decision.

I had a VBG about 10 weeks ago now, and I wouldn't change anything. I think this was the best choice for me. I was originally thinking about the LabBand and changed my mind due to a flyer in my doctors office that says insurance may not cover band adjustments. I am not ever hungry like I used to be, but I do still get hungry sometimes, just not starving (even if I haven't eaten all day). I now think completely different about food! I used to think about food all the time! Now, I eat to live not live to eat! This statement means so much more to me now!

Hello I had the VBG 4/16/10 and I don't regret it at all. Everyone must make the best choice for them. I chose it because I couldn't be bothered with fills with the Lap Band and as for the Gastric Bypass I didn't want my intestines touched. No surgery is the end all be all. We all have had moments of weakness, but the best part is that you learn from your mistakes. After surgery there won't be a problem of you overeating or eating to fast unless you like the feeling of being sick. Now if you like that sort of thing then by all means try and overeat, but eventually you will tire and do what you are supposed to do. There alot of people who are against the VBG and had I read those stories I probably would'v chickened out. Your experience is your own and you must do it for you. No two patients are alike and neither are surgeons. Get as much info as possible. I wish you luck!

 I had my VBG 7 years ago.. lost 135lbs and have kept it off.  and I still eat about 3 to 4 ounces of food at a time and if I over eat I puke..and let me just say I puke a lot so you litterally will have a hard time over eating..and not only do you puke you hurt when you over eat.

You should check out my blog mystilettos.wordpress.com I share some of my vbg life in it.

Good Luck
M

Thank you All!!! for your wonderful feedback and post's..I am getting mine done in 3 days...Sept 20th I go in....I am actually excited! I was teetering on the fence again when I went for my Endoscopy yesterday, the nurse's Husband had it done and all positive things she told me, helped me sway back....I'm ready.....