Question:
Can any of you all recommend a doctor in NC who does VBG that did your surgery?

Also, I would like to know what type of laxatives patients are given before gastroplasties, and VBG, etc? Are enemas given or is that a thing of the past? I don't want to have an enema, just want to take something by mouth. I just want to know what happens right before surgery.    — Kate F. (posted on March 18, 2000)

March 18, 2000
I almost forgot. No pre-op enema or laxative with Dr. Rutledge's procedure. Also no catheter, no NG tube, no JP drains. Just NPO at midnight the night before surgery.
   — jjames-thomas

March 18, 2000
Someone just answered a question that I had posed last year about complications and failures, and when I went back to re-read the other old answers, I found this. I know Ray just posted that most surgeons have abandoned VBG because they don't work, and I'm going to add this response from my old question - it addresses the VBG specifically. "I had VBG nearly 2 years ago. I began losing weight immediately because I was only allowed to have liquids and then soft solids for 6 weeks. I quickly lost 50 pounds and have gained back only about 10 lbs. I needed to lose about 120 lbs however. The the very day I saw my doctor and was told I could eat solid foods (I had difficulty for months though), the weight loss stopped ! My insurance company would not approve the surgery and I paid out-of-pocket $15,000 in Texas ... needless to say I am second-guessing my decision to have done this to myself. I believe that I could have lost 50 lbs on any liquid protein diet and saved myself $15,000. Maybe the RNY would have worked better for me but my doctor never even mentioned this to me and I trusted him. A year ago, I had to have my gall bladder removed and my VBG caused a number of complications. In addition to the removal, there were gallstones stuck in a tube of some sort and the doctors went through a lot of grief trying to get the endoscopy tube through the silastic ring in my stomach... they wanted to open me up again completely but thank god didn't have to! I spent several extra days in the hospital because of this. I have not totally regretted my decision but I certainly found that it was not the answer to my prayers. I eat very little now, have extreme gas pains and vomit several times a week. It is embarrassing to eat dinner with people and have to excuse yourself to the bathroom three times during a meal. I still cannot swallow pills without vomiting them up. I have to take children's liquid tylenol, etc. Believe me, most liquid antibiotics taste awful too. I guess I wouldn't mind it all so much if I had lost all the weight I was led to believe I would. But ... 50 lbs is 50 lbs! - Anonymous" Hope this addresses Ray's statement about why most surgeons don't do the VBG.
   — Kim H.

June 29, 2000
Dr. Wachsmuth in Charlotte NC does the VBG, and only the VBG. Her office number is 704 364-8100
   — Carol Ann M.