TijuanaPlication

Are you taking an antacid? That seems to help some people, as excess acid can be very like hunger.

Congrats, that's amazing!

BTW as you're a revision Donna, you may lose more slowly. Hip on VST is a band to sleeve revision and he was losing slowly. This post here gives some clarification as to why revisions lose more slowly http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/4375541/Unproven-hypothesis-about-why-2-part-DSs-are-less-effective/ The summary of the post is that it's because you've already had some weight loss and your metabolism has compensated by slowing down. Donna, please don't feel I'm trying to rain on your parade, I just want you to have as much info as possible before you proceed. I wish you all the best with everything and keep us posted!

Hi Donna, I'm 7 months out. I only ever lost 17.5lbs (I started at 189). I never lost the hunger and to be honest this hasn't felt any easier than a diet. Sarah over on the VST was the same as me, see her last post on that forum here http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/11938-not-enough-restriction/page__p__103315#entry103315 The esophageal cancer that chowchows raised was a big thing on my mind, plus being scared of getting a leak. Leak risk with a virgin VSG is 1% and that quadruples if you're revising from a band due to scar tissue/erosion. A few people have band over plication, which if your band isn't causing you discomfort may be an option for you. Genepha on VST has that. Last I heard she hadn't had any fills. Re the cancer thing, we have the same problem that RNYers have, ie a blind stomach that can't be scoped, which is important if you get something like stomach cancer as they won't be able to look at the folded in part with an endoscope. I believe that the part of the stomach they remove in VSG is the part that's prone to cancer, so you have to weigh your risks on this one. Depending on how heavy you are, the good thing about the VSG is that you can revise to getting the full Duodenal Switch if you don't lose enough (I guess that might still be an option with the GPS but I wouldn't count on it). The following stats may interest you: "overall weight loss was considered satisfactory in 78.6% of the patients who underwent gastric plication and in 97.5% of those who underwent sleeve. http://www.skrekas.net/surg_hemstatistics.htm"

I had a pain that lasted about 6 weeks and someone over on VST suggested it might be referred pain from my incisions (it wasn't right by any of them). That made sense to me. My pain was intermittent and eventually totally subsided. I hope yours goes for good soon too.

He looked at my stitches and said it was OK for me to remove my steri strips (I was 10 days out).

I doubt you've stretched it yet. I think you'd have to be eating to the point of vomiting on a regular basis. Carbs are slider foods for a lot of people and you're correct about the density, so stick to the protein as much as you can!

Have you had your surgery yet? If not when is it?

BTW I lost 17.5lbs, but if I hadn't got the plication I'm sure I'd sit there thinking 'if I had GPS...' and 'it may fail some, but I'm a "lightweight" and if I can lose over 40lbs on my own how much could I lose with WLS'. So at least it's stopping thinking 'if only'. I think that people really need to be brave and go for the most effective WLS that's available to them and not think that they'll be the person to beat the stats - that's both in the short and long term (you have to remember that it's always easy to regain once you're no longer feeling restriction).

That's a tough one. The only other option I might've got was VSG, but I was really on the borderline of BMI 30 for getting plication so I doubt my surgeon would've done it (he wanted to band me as it was). The duodenal switch (DS) really is a very effective procedure for those that qualify, but you have to be BMI 35 with 2 co-morbidities or BMI 40. I do have DS envy as it's the only WLS where you don't spend the rest of your life on a low cal diet (you just have to try and keep your carbs low and get in lots of vitamin pills).

Hi Kim, I very much doubt you've busted a stitch, as I'm sure it'd really hurt an awful lot. I've not had much restriction or weight loss from one month out and I've not pushed things to the point of being sick even once since surgery. Sadly this seems to be true of many of us I'm afraid.

I slept on my back for the first 4 nights in a recliner/hospital bed with the knees and upper body up in a recliner-like position. From my 5th night I went back to sleeping on my front, no pain at all. I did experience that weird sideways on pain/discomfort. I've not tried for months as I didn't like the feeling. I'm sure you'll be able to sleep on your stomach soon. Good luck!

Hi Kevin, are you taking an antacid? I've not suffered any reflux at all but I did get prescribed Nexium for the first 4 weeks so that could be why, plus I never suffered it pre-op, so that may explain it too. Hope you sort your reflux soon. TJP

Don't tell them what surgery you're having. It's none of their business. I just said that I was having surgery and that was it. I've not told anyone what the surgery was.

I didn't tell my doc until after and he was of the opinion it should be possible to control weight without WLS!

Yep, divide it by the number of portions, or if you just cooked for one then you're done. Sparkpeople.com has a nutrition tracker and you can save favorite meals to it so you don't have to re-enter everything each time.

Hi chowchows, neither GPS, VSG nor the band change your metabolism. They're restrictive only. RNY gastric bypass does for the first 2 years, but after that the intestinal villi get more efficient and you end up absorbing all the calories you consume (you do however continue to malabsorb nutrients and have to continue with supplements). Think of poor Carnie Wilson for an example of this (onetime Playboy model and back over 200lbs last I saw of her and I don't think she's too much over 5"). The only the surgery that changes your metabolism long term is the duodenal switch. They bypass more of the intestine and you continue to malabsorb 80% of the fat consumed, 50% of the protein and some complex carbs (you absorb 100% of white flour and sugar from the get go). With us it's just good old calories out v calories in I'm afraid.

Congrats. I hope you have a quick recovery and I look forward to hearing from you afterwards.

Thanks, I'll try and remember to be on the lookout for that one.

BTW I also tried Omeprazole for a few weeks, an antacid and it made no difference to my hunger.

More or less the same for me too. Except I'd probably say I only really got good restriction the first month.

Congratulations Raine!

The good thing about VSG is that you can revise to the Duodenal Switch if necessary (or you can just go with DS straight of the bat - it depends on how heavy you are, but if you're eligible for RNY then you're eligible for DS). You may find this thread of interest http://www.obesityhe...ers-and-the-DS/ The preceding link talks about DS helping people with prader-willi (wikipedia describe 1 symptom of p-w as being "extreme and insatiable appetite". Dietwise DS is easiest to comply with, but you have to be VERY diligent taking your Vitamins and getting 100grams of Protein. BTW RNY is a lot less successful than DS and revising from RNY is difficult - see here for details http://www.obesityhe...-DS-you-should/ With RNY you get things like dumping (check it out on Youtube - people look like they're dying when they dump) plus you can't take Non Steroidal Anti Inflamatory Drugs and you never know if you're going to need them in the future. Good luck with whatever you go with and research, research, research. As the saying goes 'think twice, cut once'. TJP

Wow a 50lb loss is great and in 6 weeks!? I'm sure the steroids aren't helping your weight and given you've lost so much weight in such little time I'm not surprised that you've stalled. Quit weighing until you've been off the steroids for a while and have been well enough to exercise for say a week. You've done amazingly and you just need to give yourself a break until your better.

Wow, that's such an amazing difference. You look great Karen!