I'm now almost 4 months out from having a LapBand to VG conversion and I would like to summarize my experience.

Positives

1. "Caught food", Sliming, etc is almost a non issue. I have had it happen ONCE off of overcooked eggs, and one other time off of chicken was not chewed up well enough, both times I tried to drink Water afterword. This is in contrast to the same issue that would happen several times per week, sometimes several times per day with the band.

I can now eat chicken (even white meat!) , pork, beef, bread, raw vegetables, citrus, etc, (All of these would get caught with my band during proper restriction) without worying where the nearest bathroom is. I do stay away from overcooked eggs (mostly scrambled) though.

2. Back pain is completely gone! My surgeon concurs with my belief that either the port or band was setting off a few nerves which would cause referral pain to my back.

3. Very little hunger. What hunger does exist is taken care of nearly IMMEDIATELY after eating.

4. Alcohol makes me DRUNK very fast and with very little of it, but I hardly drink anyway.

5. NO food RESTRICTIONS (after a while). The first 10 weeks I had some pretty undesirable dumping effects from fats and sugars, even from basic Protein shakes. Most of these effects have disappeared.

I still dump from very high sugar content foods (maybe more than 25grams of sugar), but this can vary. For instance, I have eaten a Drumstick brand sundae cone and haven't dumped, even though it contains quite a bit of sugar. I can also eat approximately 4 oreos without dumping, yet if I were to immediately "chase" it with liquid, thus "washing it through", I would most likely dump, at least if it were early in the day. For some reason, dumping is worse in the morning.

Dumping seems to occur in about 10% of VG patients, and is assumed to go away. I suspect it will disappear completely within a year.

On a related note, I get tired of many artificially processed type foods such as oreos, snack foods, etc. For some reason, my senses of taste have changed and have become extremely turned off by artificial flavorings. Many such products will make me queesy, but they will not make me dump.

Also, if I eat and then "Wash through" the food, I am not hungry again like I was with the LapBand. As far as I can tell, it is next to impossible to "Wash through" any solid protein source or fruit/vegetable... I have yet to do it, the water simply goes through around the food.

6. I CAN BURP!!! No more "stuck air" that has to take the long way out. I have virtually no gas now, unless of course, I eat a gassy food like bell peppers.

Negatives:

1. Acid reflux. I ABSOLUTELY MUST take a proton pump inhibitor daily, otherwise I will have moderate heartburn. This effect is supposed to fade over 6-12 months as the pouch stretches, but I have had little to no stretching as of yet, and am becoming annoyed with this side effect.

2. Initial dumping. As I stated earlier, this effect is mostly gone, but it can sneak up if I eat junky/processed/fast food. Or items with alot of sugar and then "chase them down" with water or such. Dumping seems to occur in about 10% of VG patients, and is assumed to go away. I suspect it will disappear completely within a year.

3. It can be difficult to drink fluids. One must CONSTANTLY remember to drink enough Fluid, BEFORE eating, otherwise you may subject yourself to dumping induced by washthrough, or worse, the water may come back up.

4. You may be fatigued for up to the first year after surgery, this comes from the severe caloric restriction and weight loss. My first 10 weeks were hellishly draining. I no longer have energy problems as long as I get my 150grams of whey protein per day and FORCE myself to eat enough each day.

OVERALL

I am totally satisfied. I am currently at 223, the slimmest I've ever been and am still losing weight. Mind you, the lowest weight I ever attained via LapBand was 238, and that was with a constant "I'm starving" sensation. That physical sensation is now gone.

While it was VERY easy to "out eat" the band, it is fairly difficult to outeat my VG, sure it may be possible with carb laden foods that compress down to nothing when chewed, but overall, the physical desire eat, AKA hunger pangs, have simply been removed.

Related to this last point, I should reiterate the fact that I must FORCE MYSELF to eat enough protein to keep up with my active lifestyle (surgeon is recommending 150g-250g per day total). When I say FORCE myself to eat, I don't really know how to explainit, other than the fact that once I consume a certain amount of calories, I no longer have the desire to eat. I could fill up my calories with relatively empty carbohydrates which will leave me tired the next day, or I can eat all of my protein first and then consume carbohydrates if I feel like it.

In other words, I could physically eat more at the end of the day, but after a certain quantity of calories, I simply cannot mentally stomach another bite of food. For lack of a better explanantion, it's almost as if the "eat food" circuit in my brain shuts off at this point.

Your post was very informative. Congratulations. I am in the process of trying to get approved for laproscopic gastric bypass. My biggest block is my insurance. They paid for the band but turned me down for the re-band. I've since decided to go with the gastic anyway due to some information classes. I'm praying the insurance will approve me. It's so frustrating. My daughter is getting married in Oct. I want to loose weight before that and I can't. I'm so weak! I'm trying to stay positive. Did your insurance give you a hard time? :help:

My insurance didn't cover either procedure.

I missed this post first time around, thanks for the information. Stay in touch!

Just an update.

Currently 208.

For the first time since 7th grade I can wear LARGE Shirts (Without an X in front of the size!). My size 36 jeans are almost too big, which is also the sam esize that I wore in 7th grade.

Endurance and energy levels are way up. A 6 mile hike feels the same as a 2 mile hike used to feel before I had surgery.

Hopefully I'll be running within the next year.

Hey Anthony!! Congratulations. We'd love to see pictures. Are there some on your website?!?! If so, remind me of what that address is. I haven't been there in awhile.

203 now. My medical goal is 200. My personal goal is 180, or 200+ with 12% body fat.

Pictures coming soon!

Can't WAIT to see pics, Anthony. I'm so happy for you!

Hey Anthony.. Im still keeping tabs on you, Bro. Glad you are doing well! Any hunger? This is my biggest issue with my band - I stay hungry!

Thanks for checking in. Ive got my eye on you!

Any hunger? This is my biggest issue with my band - I stay hungry!

No physical hunger still.

my question is this. what happens if after you reach your goal weight with the band and then it has to be removed? if you have already had wls and been successful, does that automatically make you a candidate for another wls. or will you have to gain tons of weight and have a high bmi again?

Just browsing for lapband information, experiences and ran across the talk about the vertical gastrectomy. Does anyone know of a surgeon who performs this procedure closer to Texas than either the east or west coast? Thanks.

my question is this. what happens if after you reach your goal weight with the band and then it has to be removed? if you have already had wls and been successful, does that automatically make you a candidate for another wls. or will you have to gain tons of weight and have a high bmi again?

Time to create a new thread.

Just browsing for lapband information, experiences and ran across the talk about the vertical gastrectomy. Does anyone know of a surgeon who performs this procedure closer to Texas than either the east or west coast? Thanks.

Time to create a new thread.

Drs. Huacuz and Romero have experience with this procedure, and an excellent reputation. I think they charge about $8500. They're located in Tijuana. I had a lapband which had to be removed due to erosion, so I'm looking closely at the VG.

My surgeon group is now performing the Vertical Gastrectomy as well. If I ever have to convert, this procedure may be an option for me because I like the idea of no intestinal rerouting. I think that the sugery comparison chart would be useful for those trying to decide between available surgeries.