Something was to happen, but you only have 15 % of what u should have? Anyone else worry about this? I suppose its just the permanance of the procedure that scares me. How did you get over these fears?

Well, one way to think about it is that you'll have less tissue where something could go wrong! Kind of like skin cancer being the most common cancer out there - you just have so much damn skin, once you get to a certain age, something is pretty much guaranteed to go wrong in one of those millions of cells. You are also likely going to be hypervigilant about any GI symptoms because you have a sleeve, so if you do develop an ulcer or something like that, you are probably much more likely to get checked for a mild stomachache than a non-sleeved person! And if you are worried about stomach cancer, it's quite rare, and one of the symptoms is early satiety (due to tumor obstruction) - but for a non-sleeved person, this symptom would be a very late one, whereas a sleever would notice it very quickly because are stomachs are so much smaller, so it's easier to notice if you suddenly can't eat as much. The main risk for stomach cancer is long-standing H. pylori infection; when they do pathology on your stomach tissue post-op, they will check for it. And if you ever get stomachaches, they can do an easy breath test for H. pylori. H. pylori is also quite easily treated, with a round of PPI and antibiotics for 3 weeks, I believe.

This seems to be something that is pretty far out to be worried about, after all the risk of getting ANY NUMBER of diseases while remaining obese with an entire stomach is just about 100%. Most of us were headed down a pretty self destructive path and the sleeve is just one tool we can use to take an off ramp and hopefully head towards healthy living. Besides there are actually quite a few people that live WITHOUT a stomach at all.

http://cancer.about.com/b/2006/06/19/family-at-risk-for-stomach-cancer-has-stomach-removal-surgery.htm

Don't worry about it.

They way I see it is that if I don't have the surgery, I am certain to have many, many problems in the near future. I will be lucky to be alive in 20 years. So, I figure it's a chance I have to take and if something goes wrong down the road, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I think it's better to take the chance at a better, healthier life than continue down the road of a certain early death. There are many things that COULD happen but it's that way with anyone really, not just sleeers! Try not to think about all the"what if's?" and think about all the "I can's" in your future.

The way i think about it is that the other option is to have high blood pressure, diabetes, joint problems....ect...

If it makes you feel better, my 84 year old grandmother had most of her stomach removed over 30 years ago due to an ulcer (that's how they treated it back then) and she is alive and kicking....but cranky!!!

There is people walking around with other peoples organs in them, screws, plates and many more. A smaller stomach is not going to be a problem. I am not a doctor but I know there is worse out there.

In 5 weeks, I have lost 35 pounds and probably added years onto my life!

people live without body parts everyday. technology is amazing. i'm not worried.

people live without body parts everyday. technology is amazing. i'm not worried.

Something was to happen, but you only have 15 % of what u should have? Anyone else worry about this? I suppose its just the permanance of the procedure that scares me. How did you get over these fears?

That was my only fear of vsg but as the Dr. said..how is that big old stomach helping you? I was going downhill and nothing else had worked, and at 53 I was tired of trying and failing. I think I read where they can make a stomach out of other tissue, don't know if this is true or not but I do know I have no regrets.

Thanks everyone, certainly put it into perspective for me! This website is my bible at the moment.

Hey, I know how you feel- I feel the same way- just the thought of it being that way forever scares me- its really silly actually- I broke my ankle a few years back and now have a plate and 8 screws in it - I was in my early 20s and I remember thinking at first (which would even make me sick to my stomach) about that all being on my ankle for however many years- and they stick out and I can feel them- nothing like the stomach thing- but you forget over time that it is even that way- so to think about this surgery- I know right now and probably the first few years it will be soo very different- but after a while it will be like my ankle and it will just be my way of life.

I think we've all done the 'what if....' scenario... and I still have some concerns with my future in regards to people accepting how little I can eat etc when I am old...... BUT I know I'd be yoyoing to my grave if I'd not had the surgery.

The risks from being overweight far outweigh the risks from having a teeny tiny tummy..... if we all had crystal balls then maybe we'd not be overweight in the 1st place, but sometimes you need to put your fears to one side and do a plus and minus list on the outcome of the op.

I've not regretted mine for one moment...even through the post ops thoughts of what have I actually done to myself, regret wasn't linked into that..... just disbelief!

Good luck

I think we've all done the 'what if....' scenario... and I still have some concerns with my future in regards to people accepting how little I can eat etc when I am old...... BUT I know I'd be yoyoing to my grave if I'd not had the surgery.

The risks from being overweight far outweigh the risks from having a teeny tiny tummy..... if we all had crystal balls then maybe we'd not be overweight in the 1st place, but sometimes you need to put your fears to one side and do a plus and minus list on the outcome of the op.

I've not regretted mine for one moment...even through the post ops thoughts of what have I actually done to myself, regret wasn't linked into that..... just disbelief!

Good luck

I am about to schedule surgery, and admit I have had these fears. I worry not about not having much of a stomach--just the risks of cutting a major organ which absorbs nutrients out of the body. Do the nutrients get absorbed in the small intestine? And, are you still hungry all the time? When you go out or eat with friends, do you just really stick out or can you get part way through an appetizer at least or some soup? How about drinking--I don't drink much at all, but enjoy a glass of wine a few evenings a week and the occasional beer in the summer. One thing which is true--if I had known in my 20s how irreversible the extreme weight gain would ultimately be, I might have prevented it. But, I didn't. Coulda, woulda, shoulda isn't going to get me golden years with my dear husband and a chance to be Gammie to yet unborn grandchildren. Whatever the downsides are, I accept them, but just want to be realistic and very, very careful about what procedure and which surgeon. Thanks everyone. Don't know what I would do without this group.

I am about to schedule surgery, and admit I have had these fears. I worry not about not having much of a stomach--just the risks of cutting a major organ which absorbs nutrients out of the body. Do the nutrients get absorbed in the small intestine? And, are you still hungry all the time? When you go out or eat with friends, do you just really stick out or can you get part way through an appetizer at least or some soup? How about drinking--I don't drink much at all, but enjoy a glass of wine a few evenings a week and the occasional beer in the summer. One thing which is true--if I had known in my 20s how irreversible the extreme weight gain would ultimately be, I might have prevented it. But, I didn't. Coulda, woulda, shoulda isn't going to get me golden years with my dear husband and a chance to be Gammie to yet unborn grandchildren. Whatever the downsides are, I accept them, but just want to be realistic and very, very careful about what procedure and which surgeon. Thanks everyone. Don't know what I would do without this group.

The stomach is for the breakdown of food into smaller particles. It is the small intestine that absorbs what your body uses. Vit B12 is absorbed in the stomach which will happen just in smaller amounts. As the stomach contains Intrinsic factor used for utilization of Vit B12. You will have to make sure that you take Vit B12 to maintain the levels or a shot once in awhile to increase your levels. So you should not worry about decreasing the absorption of nutrients in the stomach as absorption does not occur there. Hope this info helps you to make an informed decision.