? 4 VSG Graduates..........

Hello All, And thank you for reading this I am pre -op and have ?'sss.  Would you chose the same surgery again?   Glad you did it?   How is the 'head hunger?'   How hard has it been to keep wt. off?  How much and what type of excercise?  How important do you feel support is - particularlly from folks living in the same house as you?  Still eating mostly protein?   What % of your 'overweight' amount did you loose?  Average monthly amount first year?   After that? I am so anxious for surgery and my mind is driving me crazy with ??????'s.  Have been eating less etc in prep for surgery.  'Official' prep does not begin until 2 wks b-4 surgery. Thank You again for any info, insight you chose to share! Best Wishes on the rest of your journey! Q

Well, let's see if I can answer your questions....... Yes, I would do the RNY again, it's worked great for me thus far. yes, I would re-do it again in a heart beat but hope I never have to:-) Head hunger is tough but I find ways to distract myself and soon it's forgotten.  I also make sure that it's truly HEAD hunger and not mild dehydration or real hunger.  I still log everything I eat/drink.

I feel that support is very important to a point.......the rest of it you have to find within yourself.  You gotta know why you're doing the surgery and for who?  If not yourself then you're doing it for the wrong reason, IMO.  Belief in a higher power really helps me feel supported too.

Yup, still eating mostly protein.

I have lost about 80% of my weight.  I have 35 lbs to go to meet my personal goal.

I lost approximately 15 lbs a month the first 8-9 months, then it slowed to abot ten.  Lately it's been more about 5 lbs though. 

Prep before hand is good, journalling thru your feelings so you can go back and read them to see your pattern afterwards is priceless though:-)  It's helped me tremendously.  good luck to you:-)

 

Carol j

Hi Carol, Thank You so much for taking the time to answer my ??????'s. The part about support at home and journaling feelings were particularly helpful.  HIGHER POWER - GOD, oh yes - the ONLY way to go  ~ Sounds like you have done GREAT!!!! Trust all is well with you and yours......... Thanks again, Q

Most welcome:-)   I just had a partial tummy tuck/breast reduction done last Monday so am at home recovering........my saggy skin was causing my fibromyalgia pain to flare up big time.  I wish that I could have waited until I hit my goal weight but I'm only 35 lbs from it so it's okay.  I think plastic surgery is a very important part of the "finishing up" of this event in our lives.  Most of us, our skin has lost it's ability to contract around the muscles when we lose that fat layer.  So that's something to keep in mind down the road too:-) Carol j

Yes, definately would choose the same surgery again, a million times again. I'm very, very glad I did it although in the tough beginning, I had my doubt. Head hunger, is still the same as pre-op..just can't eat as much now. For me, the weight has stayed off until recently. I am able to eat more now that I am 4 and 1/2 years post-op so I'm noticing a slight weight gain, but not too bad. I have been really bad on exercise too, but plan on jump starting that again because when I was exercising, I was losing steadily. Now I'm stuck at 16 and it keeps going up. I've gained 10 lbs in the last few months. I would never have been able to do this without support...but I didn't really have much support from family. Mostly my friends here and at work. I eat enough protein daily...I put protein first, but I am not eating those nasty protein bars and drinking shakes anymore. I get my protein from chicken and fish and shrimp, lentils, etc I started out at 376 and I want to lose about 20 more to get to 150. Everyone losese differently. But I lost 100 the first 5 months and then about 15lbs after that each month. Some weeks or months wouldn't lose anything When I reached 2 years post op, I stopped losing.

Thank You so much for your comments! Wow what a journey you have had - - - great job!! Really appreciate hearing from 'grads' ,  nice hearing from those of you who have some 'time under your belt'!!  No pun intended ;-)). Take Care, Q

Q, looks like you are asking about the VSG procedure.  Might want to go to the forum for VSG, there are alot of old-timeres there that can give you more info.

I'm only a month out, so I can't answer all your questions, but so far I'd not change anything.  I really don't feel hungry, which makes it difficult to eat from time to time, but I get most of my protien in by foods so dont' need the protein supplements as much.

I've lost 29 lbs this first 4 weeks.   Good luck to you!