Sarah

I was told today at my appointment that the VSG removes the Ghrelin production in your stomach. Then she followed that up with that it only lasts for about a year and a half, because your body and brain figure out how to make it again without that part of your stomach. What's the truth in this? What have you guys heard or personally experienced?

So I had my first appointment with the surgeon today, and he told me that he doesn't recommend the surgery for me because I'm too light (my BMI was 32.8) Well, I just came back from backpacking for 5 weeks in Australia and Japan, walking 6+ hours a day, not eating very much at all because my brother and I didn't have much money, not to mention it was absolutely sweltering in Japan. So I lost about 10lbs, which put me out of the 35.0 BMI range. I don't have any co-morbidity's except for Type 1 Diabetes (my cholesterol is jusssssst slightly high). And the PA told me that Type 1 may not be considered a co-morbidity. Which kind of shocked me, I deal with all the same things Type 2s do. Anyway, I was kind of sad he didn't take my recent trip into consideration. There is no way I can keep up that kind of schedule at home, its not reasonable. He asked me to continue seeing the nutritionist and follow her plan. Yeah, sure, put me on a restricted calorie diet that will leave me feeling frustrated and hungry all day while I don't lose weight. He said that he might reconsider if the nutritionist falls through and doesn't work, in 3-4 months. Ugh. My biggest problem is that part of me feels good about the recent loss, and I feel like I want to try again to lose weight. Without being defeatist, I know this isn't going to work because this is going to be try #102 as I'm sure you guys can sympathize with. I'm frustrated all around. I even cried in the car when I was alone, I felt so foolish but this was something I was really looking forward to. Now I'm just feeling like I'm in limbo, just have to trudge through the system, only in 3 or 4 months to possibly be denied again even with a BMI of 35 because my Type 1 diabetes may not be considered a co-morbidity for my insurance to cover it. I'm not so disillusioned to believe that the surgery was going to solve all my problems but I'm just feeling like I'm going to be fat and miserable forever now

great post. thanks for sharing. it makes me feel hopeful that i could feel similar to you one day!

Thank you for your kind response. My endocrinologist is great and really tolerant of me and my struggles. The one I had previous threatened to throw me out of the medical practice before he would offer any encouragement or guidance! My a1c is a 9, which means my average blood glucose is about 200. Which, is high, yes, but not totally insane. It should be a 7 or less. I read some journal articles about Type 1s and WLS, and there was a 3-4 point drop in a1c! I would cry and cry with happiness having better diabetic control then I would about reaching a size 12 or any other weight loss goal. My endocrinologist supports my decision for WLS and says it might be the jump start I need to better health and better control. He has a few patients who have had WLS and he said he didn't see much change in weight because of insulin use. Which, unfortunately, is part of the package. I just am freaked out about the whole thing I guess. If I weren't Type 1, I don't think I'd consider surgery. But if I can get a real handle on obesity AND my diabetes, I guess I shouldn't over-think everything too much and make the right choice. Anything to help me control this horrible horrible disease is probably the smartest choice. And your point about my Username! I try to not take myself too seriously and see it more as a fact than a put-down! :biggrin0:

Hello All! I'm not much of a poster (at all, really) but I have been reading here and OH every day for a few weeks now. I love all the information I've gathered from you guys! I'm 5'9" and 230ish pounds. I'm juuuuust under 35 BMI. (My surgeon said they'll round up- haha) I'm also Type 1 Diabetic for 6 years now. I was diagnosed later than most Type 1s, at 20. Here's my deal. Should I go through with the surgery? Recently I had bloodwork drawn and my cholesterol and triglycerides are enviable by even a fit trim person. (They were higher before, and I sort of half-assed tried to bring them down) I've been dieting and exercising forever on and off and I struggle losing any weight at all because I have to use insulin. It peels off sooooooo slowwwwwwwwllly (.25 a week or every 2) and of course instantly comes back as soon as I stray even just a single meal. I've been overweight my whole life. I know surgery is a personal choice. But I'm struggling now with second thoughts for some reason. I may not die of being fat (at least not my heart haha) but my diabetes is really really poorly controlled. I know that having a tiny stomach pouch would help tremendously and help lower my a1c to an acceptable level. Right now, it's sky high. AH! I just feel like it's not worth "all the trouble." I know a high a1c and uncontrolled diabetes will kill me. And then all the thoughts of mourning my "old fat self" and being terrified of what being "thin" might mean. I suppose I'm just venting because I know you guys struggled with second thoughts and no one in my house would really "GET" it if I brought this up! Thanks for listening:blush:

it may not be that impossible if you have a LOT of weight to lose...

congratulations! great to hear everything went well. keep us updated on how you're doing :001_cool:

you guys have definitely made me feel worlds better already. thank you!

Stacy, you didn't have a foley inserted? Or did they just take it out right away?

For some reason the idea of waking up after sedation is really scaring me more than anything else. Vomiting/Nausea are my number one concerns. How were all of your experiences after waking up from anesthesia??

he means that before surgery, his sh*t stank, but now it's so smelly after surgery it makes him gag! i think it might be because liquid stools tend to be smellier. i agree with a poster above me, i think it will change after you eat more solid foods! get a gas mask in the meantime! :thumbup: