Question:
I have no sense of fullness

I had VSG in October of 2001. It is a 2 oz. stapled pouch. I have lost only 31 pounds. My doctor keeps reminding me to eat only one oz. protein and 1 oz. carb.(or other). I have tried, but I experience no fullness at all until I eat much more than that (in excess of a cup or more). Even my salad is supposed to fit in the 2 oz. I have started exercising and can now do more than 3 miles at a time on the recumbant bike. There has been no weight loss since Dec. 27. I cannot get my body into ketosis like the doctor wants me to. I feel hungry almost all the time. it is so hard to just get the 2 oz. when I feel no fullness at all with anything I eat of that amount. I wish I had not had this type of surgery, becasue I feel it just sets you up for failure. There is no transection just stapling. My doctor explained that since I had a damaged esophagas, I may not ever experience a full feeling. I could deal with the head hunger much better if I could feel full from a meal. I guess I was just naive to think that this surgery could help. I brought up my suspicion of a disrupted staple line, but he seems to want to wait to see if that is the case. Thanks for any words of encouragement.I just needed to get it out.    — Teri P. (posted on February 5, 2002)

February 5, 2002
Teri, I agree that you seem to be able to eat much more food than you should and that along with not losing weight certainly raises suspicions of a staple line disruption. I've not had this problem but from what others who have had it have said, their symptoms were similiar to what you are describing. I'm not sure why your surgeon won't do a simple test to find out for sure if your pouch is intact. Seems to me, he'd want to know and I'm SURE you do. Good Luck!
   — [Anonymous]

February 5, 2002
I'm sorry that you are experiencing this. I don't know much about your procedure, but from what I have read on this board it sounds like a break down in the staple line. You shouldn't be able to eat that amount at one time. And what he said about the esophogus and not feeling full. One should not have anything to do with the other. It is in your stomach that creates a full feeling. I would be really persistent about investigating the cause of the ceased weight loss. In this case, you are really going to have to take control, because your surgeon is not. Good luck to you. I hope that you get it resolved soon!
   — Cheri M.