Question:
Will I still be ravenous after VGB?

I know that there are 100's of different opinions about VBG within this site's membership alone, but my question comes with the resolve that VBG is the proceedure for which I am best suited. That being said, my biggest problem is that when I get hungry it goes from, "Hmm...I might be getting hungery" to "Get out of my way or I'll eat you, too" in no time! From everything I have seen and read, after WLS, my hunger should eventually adapt to the size of my stomach. I would like to hear from Post-Ops regarding their experience. Does your hunger begin to subside? Do you ever actually feel sated? I am especially interested in those who chose VGB but would welcome response from all members of the WLS communtiy. Thank you.    — Karen P. (posted on January 4, 2003)

January 4, 2003
I had the VBG on 11/22/02, it was not planned I was sopose to have the RNY,but due to abnormal anatomy he preformed the VBG. After almost a year of preparing myself for the RNY I am just following the Dietary intake like I had the RNY. I have a horrible fear that I will not succed so I am stricked with my intake, I will not fail. I have no cravings at all. I have lost the sense of hunger, and the feeling of being full, The doctor said it will come back in time.That is my own personal experience. At my 6 week check up I lost 41 pounds, He said I am doing extremely well for having the VBG and said just keep up what I am doing. Good Luck
   — Teresa G.

January 4, 2003
my own experience - 4 months out from lap rny is this... the best freedom I got was the release from that ravenous hunger. I was hungry (physically not head hunger...I mean the stomach cramping weak feelings) all the time... 30 min after i would eat 2-3 plates of food... that was my main problem. I get hungry now, but its normal and very slight compared to before. I can get busy and forget to eat...the best gift of all... being able to forget im hungry...
   — Mary G.

January 4, 2003
Hi Karen, I was going to have the Rny, but after finding out there is a 18 months wait for surgery after waiting 8 months for a consult, I was not willing to wait over 2 years, and I have an appointment for Jan 23rd which I booked in Dec, big difference. I two was nervous about whether this could work for me or not, and then I started looking on the web for on line support for VBG. I love this site, but alot of ppl here have had or having the Rny and it is mostly rny based. I found a great little group on yahoo who are all about VBG. they answer questions there are post and pre ops and they have answered every question and concern I have had and I think this could work for me, where as before when not knowing about it I didn't. here is where the group is........ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vbg/ good luck
   — Michelle M.

January 5, 2003
Well my surgeon says and I believe him the VBG 5 year failure rate is 80%. I believe that number because our support group is FULL of VBGers who are MO, getting revised to the RNY. Anyone who is onsidering the VBG shoul,d look into the lap band, Easier surgery and adjustable. VBG makes it hard to eat good food while junk like chips and milkskakes go down eas with No malabsoprbtion most fail. But some do fine, but all need to know the risks.
   — bob-haller

January 5, 2003
hi i po VBG (10/26/01) i have lost 120 lbs and no i do not get ravnousely hungry.... what you desribed was me to a tee before the surgery...but now i may feel a bit peckish but never starving....i sugest the VBG group aaslo it has a lot of info on this surgery. I had my tummy tuck and hernia repair on the 13 of nov...i am at goal weight ...i lost the 120 lbs in the first 9 months and was pretty stable forfrom july 2001 on ....so u can lose just as quiclky... bekka
   — bekka K.

January 5, 2003
I do not get ravenously hungry at all anymore, and after just a few ounces am full, full, full! I was the type that would practicaly chew on my desk if I couldnt get food before surgery! My Dr has me eating 6 times a day with a max of 800 calories a day. I have never made it to 800 (usually 600-700) just because there is no more room for more food! And to Bob, the failure rate that you mentioned is just another statistic, designed to scare, that people like to throw around. It may be correct, it may not but for every person it is different and to those that choose to abuse their "tool" of course it won't work. It wouldn't work for an RNY either if you don't dump like many don't. Remember there is a failure rate for RNY too. Karen was looking for help and advice, not to be blasted for the choice she has made. And chips and milkshakes do not go down easy, thank you very much.
   — salymsmommy

January 5, 2003
hi i had the vbg 11/4/02 i get hungry becus i will have forgoten to eat for a long time. it nice that when we are hungry just a littel will fit it. and we learn to lisen to our body better. and bob why do you slam all the vbg'ers my surgon who dose all types say it all rates are even out at 2 yrs. all type of surgery dose have failure rates . sory bob thats how you come across every time you post to vbg'ers. i know you heart was in the right place
   — Delores (DeeDee) Torgerson

May 20, 2003
7 years ago i had a vertical banded gastroplasty... and ive gained all but 25 lbs of it back, and im going in for a revision (hopefully if approved) to a Gastric Bypass. If i would have known then that the little pouch at the top leaking food slowly into your stomach would make you RAVINOUSLY hungry... i would have never had that one. I have been told that the Gastric bypass helps to reduce the amount of a chemical that makes you hungy.. and also, since your STOMACH actually is full.. and there isn't anything below SCREAMING hunger..it is more sucessful. Also, a person has to take the malabsorption factor in.. it helps also. I would never have another VBG EVER. The Gastric Bypass has almost the same risks and is just plain better.
   — Dawn P.