Crazy Vsg Questions

[azquilter92 82]

when i started this journey i wieghed at my heaviest (that I know of ) at 353lbs and i am 5ft 1. To have this surgery you do have have a lot of steps to follow thru on.Its not like you wake up one morning and say i want this surgery and a doctor says okay lets do it tomorrow! doesnt work that way,they want to be sure that you are mentally ready for this challenge.But i have never regretted one minute of it. i was always tired,my joints hurt, had no energy. and to tell the truth the pounds have come off rather easily..I am at no restrictions in what i can have to eat,but i always try to make sure i get the right amount of protien and liquids everyday.almost an obsession.I really dont want my hair to fall out,i was sleeved on March 20th and have noticied very little Hair loss. I make sure i take all my supplements everyday.Would I do it again ABSOLUTELY! wish i had done it sooner

[Chimera 644]

What really made up my husband's and my mind about the surgery was the statistics outlined by my surgeon during the information seminar. Pretty close to that dismal figure - if you have 100+ lbs. to lose the long term success rate is something like 1%.

Bariatric surgery is the only proven way to get it off and keep it off.

I had a long time to prep and like many other folks here - I started to eliminate things from my diet in the year prior to my surgery, I quit smoking a year and a half ago, gave up white flour, Pasta, rice - processed carbs for the most part - no sugar, I wanted to make the post surgical transistion as easy as possible. My husband sailed through his surgery and mine was like getting hit by a Mac truck (possibly becasue I was a smnoker for so long I may have reduced my ability to heal well or rapidly is what I think).

I see the connection between addiction and food for me, it will always be a challenge, but what a wonderous tool we now have to help us get healthier.

This is a great book that you might take a look at - it is written by a bariatric counselor and goes over many of the emotional, physical, societal issues bariatric patients experience. I keep it in our bathroom haha.

The Emotional First + Aid Kit: A Practical Guide to Life After Bariatric Surgery

http://www.amazon.com/The-Emotional-First-Aid-Kit/dp/0976852659

and another one - one of the best I have read about our food industry, carbs,sugar etc.

The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite

http://www.amazon.com/End-Overeating-Insatiable-American-Appetite/dp/B004NSVE32/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342745209&sr=1-1&keywords=the+end+of+overeating

[StrangelyNormal 182]

Is this where you had surgery? I am having mine there on the 31st.

Nope but my best friend had hers there and I was with her. She had an excellent experience

[aznurse4u 17]

when i started this journey i wieghed at my heaviest (that I know of ) at 353lbs and i am 5ft 1. To have this surgery you do have have a lot of steps to follow thru on.Its not like you wake up one morning and say i want this surgery and a doctor says okay lets do it tomorrow! doesnt work that way' date='they want to be sure that you are mentally ready for this challenge.But i have never regretted one minute of it. i was always tired,my joints hurt, had no energy. and to tell the truth the pounds have come off rather easily..I am at no restrictions in what i can have to eat,but i always try to make sure i get the right amount of protien and liquids everyday.almost an obsession.I really dont want my hair to fall out,i was sleeved on March 20th and have noticied very little Hair loss. I make sure i take all my supplements everyday.Would I do it again ABSOLUTELY! wish i had done it sooner[/quote']

How much have you lost?

[Katie713 423]

What a great dialogue this thread stimulated!

A myriad of things come to mind when I think about my ongoing weight loss journey. Tonight I am going to the Hollywood Bowl for a summer concert under the stars, to see Smokey Robinson. I am looking forward to the music of course, and hanging out with my girlfriends - but I am also looking forward to being able to walk that hill without feeling like I am going to pass out. Last year, I went to the same concert with some friends, and I used to huff and puff up the little hill that takes you into the venue site - I would always ask to stop at the restrooms at the mid-way point, even if I didn't have to use the restroom - I just needed to catch my breath! I would then get a few paper towels and moisten them to be able to cool myself off by the time we would get to our box seats. You know how it is or used to be, when you would stop walking - the heat in your body would just build up...and sweating was soon to follow. I can easily walk for miles now and I am nearly 75 pounds lighter than last summer...this is a milestone in my journey - oh how I used to wish I didn't have to go through the shame of being so overweight and out of shape! Well this is my little victory walk tonight! That's a NSV (non scale victory)!

I was also thinking about the mechanics of the post-op hormonal changes that take place, one the decrease of the hormone ghrelin, but also what I think may be a change in our natural reward centers revolving around the eating process and the release of dopamine and serotonin - our natural feel good chemicals, many of which are released during the eating process. The process of eating pre-op without limitation offerred us more than the reward of just getting full, the "feel good" hormones were soon to follow, and that reward kept us coming back over and over. Feeling bad, lonely, frustrated....bring on the food. Feeling joyful, elated, excited...bring on the food. What I have noticed without the food binge opportunity, is that my reward isn't the same, whether it is because we are comsuming so much less, or whether the balance of hormones has changed, it is different. I think this is why so many say that eating is more of a chore than a pleasure. Also, once you experience a negative side effect of eating something you cannot tolerate, it sends the body a powerful aversion to that behavior which is held in our memory bank. This stuff is all probably instinctive, to prevent humans from consuming things that were toxic. But, hey...it works!

The other side of this is that "feel good" hormones are coming from different strategies for me now. Feeling like I have a "can do" attitude makes me soar. Feeling good in my clothes is a secret little joy. Having control over my eating makes me proud of myself.

I still enjoy cooking and I still enjoy food - I mean we need it to survive...but I don't turn to it first to make me HAPPY anymore. I get out more, I can do more physically, and I just keep feeling better and better about this decision I made !

Good luck DeterminedGirl !!

[Ola Tess 21]

I think these are great questions. But for most of us here we have most likely tried every diet there is and sometimes Were successful. We just cant keep it off. This surgery is a tool to be used with diet exercise and lifestyle change. One big reason I think people say it helps post op is because they are not hungry. Yes you did have your stomach physically made smaller But there was also a hormonal change that occured. I'm pre op now. My insurance was very strict. 12 month wait list and 6 mo of dietary , behavioral health , exercise class and support groups. Finally after 15 mo I will be sleeved in oct. Happy for the great support I will get but sooooo ready!! Good luck in your journey! As for now I'm not nervous just ready to take it on !

[sr910 55]

Cheri, I think she meant without surgery as an eye opener for the OP. I have heard something like 5% of overweight people who lose it on there own will be able to maintain that loss.

Yes, the statistic is that 95% of dieters will re-gain their lost weight in 1-5 years. And once your weight gets to the obese category, you have an even smaller rate of success for keeping lost weight off.

[Izuri 428]

Thanks, Izuri!! This makes sense. I gotta be honest: the idea of somehow learning a new relationship with food after surgery is pretty daunting. I'm used to a pretty co-dependent, impulsive, no-hold-barred relationship. Like something healthy and independent? Sounds like magic.

I think part of the reason I worry about this SO much is that, like a lot of people, I've lost zillions of pounds--and re-gained every one of them. I'm really GREAT at losing, but really, really lousy at maintaining.

I posted today wondering whether the size of the sleeve matters. Seems it doesn't. Hmmm. Destiny happens by choice; not by chance. Thanks again!!!!

I think that part of the sleeve process really FORCES you to reexamine your relationship with food. There is a long period of time where you physically cannot eat food except for full liquids,then puree, then soft food. I am only still scraping the surface of it, since I'm barely a week out, but this is what I have gathered so far from my experience:

- Head hunger is what fuels my obesity. I never realized how much it comes into play in my life. I mean, I knew I ate a lot because my brain wanted to vs my body, but having the capacity (due to lack of physical hunger) to actually see how often my brain wants to eat is really eye opening.

- Counseling is something that I will absolutely need to gain a new relationship with food. I am in the process of looking for a good counselor at this point who has experience with bariatric patients. I don't think that a long term change in my relationship with food is something that I can, or should do on my own. I have been battling this my whole life, to deny that I still will need help even with the tool of the sleeve gastrectomy, would still leave the option of failure in the future open. I want to close that door.

- Though it helps restrict, the sleeve is just a tool like any weight loss tool. It does give us a head up on that we cannot physically eat nearly as much as we used to, but it is not a 100% cure all. You need to be willing to do the mental work behind it, or weight can be regained, as with any weight loss procedure. One of the huge pluses of the sleeve is that it gives you a time out from food. I'm serious, it feels like I am sitting in a corner right now forced to be on a time out from food (Ok - well it doesn't feel like a BAD time out since I'm doing well and feel great) and that I'm expected to work out my problems with food while I have this long grace period that I will not be hungry. I think it's really an opportunity that needs to be taken advantage of to gain long term success.

Every day I am more and more grateful for my sleeve. I do think that size matters to a degree when you're talking about the cut of the sleeve. I have heard others who still have been hungry after surgery. I am not sure if this happens from a loose sleeve or what? Either way, if you go to an experienced surgeon, they will know the correct size for your body to have a successful outcome. Also, you do not want your sleeve too small, because that can cause too much restriction.

Just some things I have thought over in the past couple of days that seemed relevant to your post =) I hope you are doing well!

[gustavo52974 369]

So why do the surgery at all? Were any of you tempted to think that, if you just did everything else on the list, and cut out the surgery, you would eventually get the same results?

Look at it this way: if you could lose all the weight and keep it off without the surgery, you probably would have done so already.

[Parker's Dad 50]

Your questions are totally not crazy at all.

The mental thing happens for some people and not for others. Being mentally prepared is THE most important part of making the decision for surgery. During my pre-op liquid diet I worked hard on mentally preparing myself. And some switch in my head clicked and it wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. And after surgery, well... you can't eat as much, especially at first. There is "buyer's remorse" in the beginning, which I'm just now starting to work through myself. The mental part is a process I think that happens as you make the decision to do the surgery. Once you start losing weight after, and seeing these amazing results from your work it motivates you like nothing else to make the right choices. But, thats not everyone. Some people still struggle mentally and grieve the food they can't have for a while, or possible ever again.

I admit, during my pre-op liquid diet, I almost changed my mind. Not out of fear, but because I was being successful and wondered if I could do it without surgery. Then I reminded myself, that I had tried, and tried, and tired some more and always lost and gained and gained. There was a reason I looked at sleeve surgery to begin with!

With the sleeve, you will lose about 50-60% of your excess weight without doing much but, your new eating plan. If you work for it, within a year you can see yourself losing 80 - 100% of your excess weight. I'm just now at week 3 post op. And I personally, have had excellent results so far, however it hasn't been easy. The first week or so is really, really hard. But, when you read on this forum that each day gets easier, thats the honest truth. Each day does get easier.

I hope you find the answers you're looking for, and can make an informed, dedicated decision. Remember to take all the time in the world, ask all the silly questions you can think of, and lurk on this forum a lot.

This is a really good post and I wanted to use it to help make a point if you don't mind.... You said something in the beginning that is very very important. That mental click. I am not sleeved at this time but something just "clicked" one day and it's been pretty easy. I don't know what it was and can't put a finger on exactly what caused it but it was just there. Hard to explain, you just have to feel it and you know it....

To the OP,

As I said, I am not sleeved as of yet but I cam gonna throw out a couple things for you. If you really want it, take it and you have to know that it's the right way for YOU.

Do your research. Look at Drs. How much weight do you need to lose?? Do you know your food habits and can you change them before hand as in soda, carbs, pure junk etc.... Cut all the crap. Drink your Water and take Vitamins. As far as exercise goes, some people do and some don't. That is up to you and your ability but the more you can do the better off you will be. The more changes you can make early on will undoubtedly make it easier later, and that is why I am really working on those things now. Fortunately, I had that mental "click" that has made it much easier for me. Never had it before just to be honest and after talking to others and having my own little mental pow wow I realize that I can not do it by myself and this is the best solution.

Just gotta get your mind right...

[lyndynojo 140]

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can lose the weight on my own. I know that I can start on a very low calorie diet and become a gym rat and eventually lose the weight. How do I know? Because I have done it many times.

However, I also know, without doubt, that I will also eventually gain each and every pound back and they are likely to bring their nasty little friends. How do I know this? Because I have done it many times.

I know the same behaviors and eating patterns will result in weight loss with or without the sleeve. What I am looking for is something permanent that I can keep with me that will help me keep weight off. I do not feel like I have failed but rather like I have taken control.

This is exactly me!! The main reason I had the surgery was to maintain my weight loss and it has worked like a charm. The year before my surgery I went on a Protein Shake diet and lost 40 lbs then went off at Thanksgiving and by June I had gained almost all of it back. I had surgery in June and in Jan. began trying to just maintain my loss. Since Jan. I have eaten anything I want just in much smaller portions and I have not exercised one single time ( I know, I know) and I've not gained a pound back. I want to be able to eat like everyone else just normal portion sizes and maintain a normal weight and the surgery has done exactly that for me. Everyone is entitled to their own lifestyle and opinions, but if I wanted to and could give up sweets, fried foods and the like for the rest of my life I wouldn't have needed surgery. But that is my own experience.

[amykins 202]

I just want to say how much this thread has helped me in my decision-making process. I really appreciate how many people took the time to write honest responses to the OP. This would be a great sticky for anyone researching VSG. I don't know determinedgirl but I'm glad she asked her questions and I really appreciate the thoughtful responses. I too will print this thread and keep it for reference as I go through my journey. Thank you!

[bakawaka 59]

I have a relative who had the lap and a few years ago. Today that relative drinks milkshakes daily. I know personally four people who had the bypass. Two regained back all of their weight into two years because they went back to old eating habits. The other two maintain their weight loss through exercise and careful attention to their diet. I do not personally k ow anyone who has had the VSG. I will have the VSG in November of this year. I am highly aware of the risk to regain weight. Even today, months before the procedure, I am paying close attention to how I eat. I do know that the risk of regaining is there. This forum is helping me to understand better the types of changes to make with the VSG.