I just got my insurance approval! It's now for real. I am still scared about losing 85% of my stomach. I'm not scared of the surgery or how I will feel. But, I am scared that I might somehow need that 85% at some point... what happens if I get stomach cancer or some other issue where I need that missing tissue? Did anyone else have this fear? I tried to research it online, but I couldn't find any data on this. I know the main risk is a leak, but since the incidence of this is pretty low, it doesn't worry me. Am I crazy to worry about this?!

I just got my insurance approval! It's now for real. I am still scared about losing 85% of my stomach. I'm not scared of the surgery or how I will feel. But, I am scared that I might somehow need that 85% at some point... what happens if I get stomach cancer or some other issue where I need that missing tissue? Did anyone else have this fear? I tried to research it online, but I couldn't find any data on this. I know the main risk is a leak, but since the incidence of this is pretty low, it doesn't worry me. Am I crazy to worry about this?!

I dont think your crazy. IM scheduale for gastric plication on November 8. I actually was thinking about changing over to the sleeve. I just cant find very many people that have had this surgery. The data is pretty new. But they sew your stomach instead of stapling it. You can actually reverse this procedure if you want to. I guess they have only been doing it for the last 5 years. They really dont have any more data then that. Dr. Ortiz has only been doing this surgery since the first of the year with great results. It sounds almost to good to be true. My own mother had all the same questions that you have, ytour not crazy!

I did not have that fear because having all that extra stomach did me no favors. It made me want to stuff myself beyond it's capacity.

Besides, I had a boyfriend die from stomach cancer. When they discovered the cancer, they did not just remove part of his stomach.

They removed his entire stomach. I have read the chances of getting stomach cancer with the amount of stomach that we have left

is very rare.

I did not have that fear because having all that extra stomach did me no favors. It made me want to stuff myself beyond it's capacity.

Besides, I had a boyfriend die from stomach cancer. When they discovered the cancer, they did not just remove part of his stomach.

They removed his entire stomach. I have read the chances of getting stomach cancer with the amount of stomach that we have left

is very rare.

OregonDaisy,

Thank you so much for clarifying this for me. It makes a lot of sense, and it's really reassuring. I know there are options like Plication (pliation?), but I don't want to something that's so untested. I'd rather do the sleeve gastrectomy, which has a longer history.

You're very welcome. I know Dr. Aceves does not recommend the Plication because he feels it would be much easier to have

the remaining stomach stretch out with this procedure . I totally trust his opinion.

I guess the risks of having stomach cancer and dying of it are way less than the risk of having diabetes, heart disease etc and dying of a stroke or something if we continue to be fat and continue putting on weight

I guess the risks of having stomach cancer and dying of it are way less than the risk of having diabetes, heart disease etc and dying of a stroke or something if we continue to be fat and continue putting on weight

Great point, Chilo! I think I am just a little panicky because this is forever, and I don't want to get into something I haven't thought all the way through. But, that's such a great point. I am so scared of diabetes that runs in my family, and all the other issues that can come from carrying around all this extra weight.

I remember, that my surgeon told me, that is is possible to build a new stomach from other tissues in the body...

A smaller risk of stomach cancer - thats great

When I was going through my pre-op stuff for my revision, I had to see an oncologist because of a clotting disorder. He actually told me I was decreasing my risks of cancer significantly by having VSG. He had studies from Europe, and told me it's one of the best thing I could do for my future health. We talked about medication needs in the future, my concern about having a small amount of stomach tissue, and he told me that VSG was the best option for people that need certain medications due to no malabsorption and no pouch to be damaged.

I have a pretty twisted mindset of "cut to heal" meaning that if surgery can fix it, I'll go under the knife without hesitation. I was ready to lose my stomach, and figured that losing my stomach tissue was better than staying fat and risking co-morbidities and a lifetime of meds to treat numerous conditions related to being fat.

NOPE! People with stomach cancer have had their entire stomachs removed and gone on to live normal, healthy lives. The chances are soooooo small of that happening, compared to all the other health problems that WERE already happening.

I was glad to have that evil, traitorous thing out of me!

I guess the risks of having stomach cancer and dying of it are way less than the risk of having diabetes, heart disease etc and dying of a stroke or something if we continue to be fat and continue putting on weight

Totally agreed Chilo!!!

While is un-nerving to actually CHOOSE to remove part of an organ from our bodies, I am totally amazed at our ability to HEAL and FUNCTION without organs, or parts of them. In doing my research I found a very ANTI-SURGERY site that had horrible stories of death and horrible pictures, etc. There was a photo of a stomach after VSG, and yeah, it was un-nerving to see. But I agree that the risks of being morbidly obese outweigh the chance that I might someday need that 85% back...

As a 10 year old kid, I had part of my front tooth chipped off accidentally. I wore a "cap" for about 12 years and then at my parents urging, in college I got a crown. I did NOT do my research and picked a horrible dentist who did a sloppy job (front teeth crowns need a TON of critical work and care to look right.) I didn't even know what a crown meant (they ground my perfectly normal, albeit chipped tooth, to a stub and the stuck the crown over it.) I wore that horrible crown for another 14 years. I fought and fought and fought with my current dentist about re-doing it. She wanted to remove part of my gum tissue AND redo the crown. I was terrified that I might "need" that gum tissue later (I have tons of it, but my mom had to have tissue moved from the top of her mouth to her gum line...not in the front...in the back...receeding gumline). Anyway, after 5 years of going back and forth, I finally caved and let her do it. She did an AMAZING job. To this day I cannot believe I had such a horrible front tooth for so long and that I fought her so long on the re-do. I love my smile today, but it took the RIGHT dentist, using the RIGHT tools, and taking her time (she sent me to a lab for color matching, etc.)

Sorry for the long-winded story, but I guess what I'm saying is when you do your research, and are confident with your surgeon choice, then it can be easier to let go of the fear and the what-ifs.

Stomach cancer is not very widespread in North America, it's more of an issue in Eastern Europe and Japan (where they actually screen on a regular basis - we don't). Helicobacter pylori, which is associated with poor hygiene, is the biggest risk factor. You can always ask for a urea breath test to be done to get screened for that and it's easily treatable.

I just figure that everyday, people lose some part of their body and go on to live full and health lives. so many people require amputations, removal of organs and tissue, sadly a disease may overcome someone and they may lose any part of their body. and for the most part people learn to adapt. there's so much technology out in the world that we are able to sustain and live our lives without certain parts of our bodies when the time comes for it.

i don't feel doctors and researchers would invest such time and effort into something that they know could cause harm down the road with something as removing the majority of the stomach. while it is a wow factor to think about, i think that is what fears others when they hear someone is removing most of their stomach. it is a foreign concept to think about. but these days people are having their gallbladders removed often, and when you think of someone donating a kidney , they can fully function on just one kidney.

so i think that fear is in most people, but when they come out of surgery and live complete and healthier lives they come to realize that they actually can do w/o most of their stomach

Wow, thank you so much, everyone! I can't tell you how reassuring your responses were!