Guilt Over "damaging" A Perfectly Good Body Part...

[lucky8mb1 167]

I'm not having second thoughts or anything, but I do have this weird guilt over lopping off the majority of a healthy, functioning organ. I know it's not doing me any favors right now with my weight, but it's still just weird for me.

Did anyone have feelings like this during the pre-op period?

[Malyss 31]

I get what you're saying. It did seem a little odd to radically change a properly functioning organ. It seemed scary at first especially when some of the complications to the surgery can be so dire. It definitely seemed a bit odd, but I am about 8 months out from my surgery and I am glad that I did it. The capacity of my old stomach was just too big. The downsizing has helped dramatically.

[Eat That Frog 53]

I am post-op and from time to time that thought runs through my head...especially when I am having a hard time with my food. Still, I know it was the best thing that I could do for myself and have no regrets.

[MarKing15 28]

I've done more damage to my body before this surgery then this surgery ever will.

[COsleeveDude 273]

I'm not having second thoughts or anything, but I do have this weird guilt over lopping off the majority of a healthy, functioning organ. I know it's not doing me any favors right now with my weight, but it's still just weird for me.

Did anyone have feelings like this during the pre-op period?

I don't think some of our stomachs are functioning properly. If the stomach produces too much ghrelin, as it does in some of us, then that is not healthy or fully functioning.

It is interesting that other hormonal/endocrine disorders would be treated as such, but somehow ghrelin is relegated to a secondary issue when it comes to health and obesity. I believe the surgical option of removing the part of the stomach that produces the majority of the offending hormone is akin to treating a hormonal malfunction.

Research supports this position, at least to some extent: http://www.ncbi.nlm....um&ordinalpos=1:

Sleeve gastrectomy as sole and definitive bariatric procedure: 5-year results for weight loss and ghrelin.

Bohdjalian A, Langer FB, Shakeri-Leidenmühler S, Gfrerer L, Ludvik B, Zacherl J, Prager G.

Source

Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Due to excellent efficacy for weight loss in the short-term follow-up, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has gained enormous popularity as bariatric procedure, not only as first step in high-risk or super-obese patients but mainly as a sole and definitive operation in morbidly obese. In contrast to a large number of short and intermediate-term results, no series of SG with a follow-up of 5 years or more has been published so far.

METHODS:

We report on the weight loss results of our first consecutive 26 patients with a complete follow-up of 5 years. Furthermore in a subgroup of 12 patients, plasma ghrelin levels were measured preoperatively, and up to 5 years following SG.

RESULTS:

Weight loss defined as mean percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was found as 57.5 +/- 4.5, 60.3 +/- 5.0, 60.0 +/- 5.7, 58.4 +/- 5.4, and 55.0 +/- 6.8 (not converted, n = 21) for the first 5 years. Weight regain of more than 10 kg from nadir was observed in five (19.2%) of the 26 patients. Four of the patients (15.4%) were converted to gastric bypass due to severe reflux (n = 1, 3.8%) and weight loss failure (n = 3, 11.5%). A total of eight patients (30.8%) were at chronic need for proton pump inhibitor medication due to severe reflux. Plasma ghrelin levels were reduced from 593 +/- 52 to 219 +/- 23 pg/ml 12 months postoperatively, with a slightly, non-significant increase toward the 5-years values of mean 257 +/- 23 pg/ml.

CONCLUSIONS:

At 5-year follow-up, a mean EWL of 55.0 +/- 6.8% was achieved, indicating that SG leads to stable weight loss. Beside significant weight regain, severe reflux might necessitate conversion to gastric bypass or duodenal switch. After an immediate reduction postoperatively, plasma ghrelin levels remained low for the first 5 years postoperatively.

[Chicago1962 125]

After my surgery I asked what happened to my tummy? Where did it go? What were they doing to it? etc. I didn't want it in a jar or anything - but it was wierd to think they could just take a part of me and never let me know what happened to it. I get what you are saying. Your tummy has served its function. You can let it go now. Other parts of your body will be healthier without it - so it's worth it...

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I get what you are saying - but my stomach was not working perfectly fine. It was a bottomless pit and always and I mean always hungry.

That paper on the 5 year results is interesting. I had read before about all the "long term" issues with acid reflux before but this sure does drive that point home. It was a very small sample, but pretty astounding that nearly half had severe enough reflux that they needed to remain on PPIs, and some even revised to RNY to solve the reflux.

I had read elsewhere that the issues with the acid go back up again around 3 years out, so even people who seem to be doing fine might have it rear it's ugly head...