Question:
Anyone have any experience with the gastric sleeve?

I am in the 6th month of month of medically supervised weight loss required by my insurance with a loss of 71 pounds. My surgeon told me that due to scar tissue from a traumatic c section in 1989 that he might not be able to do the Rouxe en y proceedure but rather a newer surgery called a sleeve (?) he says is a better proceedure but not approved by insuarnces yet...anyone know anything about or have had this proceedure....if so I would like some info.    — bridgetann1961 (posted on January 24, 2008)

January 24, 2008
Bridget, The Sleeve Gastrectomy, also known as Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy is proving to be a truly wonderful surgical option for a LOT of patients! My surgeon has been offering this procedure for several years now, and has some very happy patients with the Sleeve. You should check out the VSG support forum here on OH. There is also a Yahoo Group for Sleeve Gastrectomy found at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sleevegastrectomy/ where quite a few folks HAVE actually had insurance cover their surgery. At my house we have two DS post-ops and one sleeve post-op - we're all very happy with our surgeries! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

January 24, 2008
Bridget. I ahve a question? If you lost 71LBS on your own why would the insurance company approve your for bariatric surgery when you have jsut proven you can do it on your own and why would you want to have the surgery if you can do it on your own? I dont understand it.
   — Joanc

January 24, 2008
Bridget, 1st off let me say congrats on your 71lb weight loss that is great. I am so happy for you. Your doing a great job! I myself am a little over three months out from having the sleeve. It was the best choice I have ever made in my life. I would be willing to answer any questions you have. Feel free to send me a private message if you would like. I'm not sure as to what questions you may have. If you go to the Forums on here you will find an area just for the sleeve and you will find a lot of help and some wonderful people. Some insurances will cover the sleeve, mine paid for all of mine. So you would almost have to call and ask your insurance if they would because they all tend to differ. Here is a site that will help you out a lot http://www.vsgfaq.com/ I hope that helps you out some. As I said feel free to contact me if you would like I will try and answer some of your questions. As far as to the one comment below about "if you can do it on your own why would you want to do the surgery anyway." Well, that question really offended me. Everyone is different and everyone has a different story as to why they want or need to have a surgery. Some people need to have the surgery to have a tool to help them though out the rest of their lives. I cant even begin to tell you how many yo yo diets I did and I would lose sometimes 100lbs but then over time it would come back and bring some extra friends with it. So everyone is different. I don't know why but that just struck a nerve with me.
   — TattooGirl1982

January 24, 2008
Hey, Bridget, you & I are in the same boat. My surgeon just submitted his request and documentation to my insurance company (BCBS MA) for the sleeve - we'll have to see because many insurance companies still consider it investigational. Actually, it was my PCP that suggested it rather than the Lap-Band I was originally preparing for. I can't have the RNY because I have calcium oxalate kidney stones and I also have a lot of abdominal scar tissue, and we're not convinced about the Lap-Band bacause I have MANY allergies including an ongoing reaction to sutures from a thumb joint replacement 8/28 and I'm afraid I'd react to the Band. The sleeve has benefits over the Lap-Band: it eliminates the part of the stomach that secretes ghrelin, and there's no foreign body in you; and, unlike the RNY, the GI system (inner curve of the stomach, pylorus, and intestine) is essentially intact and there are no potential complications such as vitamin deficiencies, ulcers, and intestinal obstructions. Let's keep our fingers crossed for each other! That said, I also have to agree with Tattoo Girl1982 regarding Joan's comments. People pursuing WLS typically have a weight loss pattern that includes multiple (and usually successful) diets that only result in regaining the weight plus some. It's not that we can't lose the weight (I've lost 32 lbs in 4 months); it's that we can't keep it off. And there are now scientific studies demonstrating a real physiological (NOT psychlogical) reason for this. And the preweight loss aides in shrinking the liver to make the surgeon's job easier, gives a us a weight loss kick-start and adjustment to the post op diet, and demonstrates to insurance companies that we are motivated and committed to the process. Good luck, let me know how your process is going, and please free feel to e-mail me at [email protected] if you need to talk, have questions, or just want to chat.
   — obeseforever

January 24, 2008
Hi, I am three months out from the VSG. I looooove it, for all the reasons already stated. My insurance would have paid for RNY or the Lapband, but after many months of research I decided the Sleeve was best for me, so I came out of retirement for a year to pay for it myself. It is wonderful. If you want to talk send me a personal message. I will be glad to answer any of your questions. Good luck, Pat
   — pjennjr

January 24, 2008
I had the VBG with sleeve on 12/18/07. I feel great, lost 37lbs. Dr. Hazem Elariny did my procedure, he even video taped it for me. I have BCBS Carefirst they covered it. If you like, I can fax you the information packet I received. You can email me at [email protected] and let me know.
   — AutumnRain

January 24, 2008
I had the vsg done may 4 07, I ended up loosing weight about three to five lbs a week for a while and then nothing at about 5 months and now its 8 months and nothing I have stuck to the protein first in each meal with several small meals a day as in about 6 for a while it feels like all you do is eat or worry about what you will have to eat...I realize now that I should have had a different procedure such as the band or something else because with this procedure after 9 months to a year you stop loosing and this is what is said by the Dr's...SO PLEASE CHOOSE CAREFULLY I also had to pay cash for my procedure which was 11g I am still trying and have added another mile to the 2 miles daily I walk already and will also be adding a class or two to my workouts. As I said best of luck to you and choose wisely choose wisely!
   — mimi5863

February 13, 2008
I know I am late answering. The sleeve is the first part of the DS. So, that being said, if you see you do not lose enough with the sleeve, you can possibly go on later to get the rest of the DS and then you are bound to surely lose weight.
   — KRWaters