Losing 85% of your stomach 4ever

[christy38 17]

Hey I'm wondering how anyone feels about losing so much stomach. What if someday SOON doctors come out with another surgery and its much better then VSG where they won't have to remove 85 % of your stomach? I'm scared of feeling like OMG I could've waited , why didn't they say something about it? Why ? Why? Why? I'm just wondering because medicine is always advancing and coming. Out with new things and I wouldn't want to regret MY VSG . Thanks

[Geminidrive 389]

The fact is they will come up with a better surgery, like you mentioned medicine is always evolving. For me I don't worry about it, I'm living in the now so I took the best option for me. If you are worried, perhaps you should take a step back and wait a while before making this life changing decision.

[*Dean* 1,594]

I don't think you'd think anything was 'better' as long as you're sucessful.

Lap Band is older than VSG. But I'd assume if someone has got to goal with a band they don't really care.

RNY is decades old. If someone had a by-pass a few decades ago and are still at goal, I don't think they'd care that they don't have a VSG.

Who knows, it might be 15 years until there's a 'better' proceedure - how long are you prepared to wait?

Good luck

Deano

[SerendipityHappens 1,594]

This is "the one" I turned my nose up at lap band and at RNY... This is the surgery that makes sense to me. In 20 years I hope they come up with a better surgery than this, but I'm done waiting. And I'm totally ok with losing 85 percent of my stomach.

[funinthesun00 157]

I feel like at this point VSG isn't brand new anymore. I think they started doing them (although not very regularly) about 8 years ago now. As far as I can tell, there is nothing that comes up down the road that worries me. It seems that regain is a possibility in every surgery and something we will all have to watch.

If they did come up with something better, would you want to be one of the first to have it done? I sure wouldn't. Also, after they came out with that one, an even better one could come along. You could be waiting forever. I was considering the lapband 5-6 years ago because my comfort level wasn't there. My comfort level is there for VSG. If it isn't with you, though, maybe you should wait? For me, this is the surgery that makes the most sense and seems to have the fewest issues. I am going for it!

[karenb4729 309]

I gotta be honest, I don't miss that 85% of my stomach at all and certainly wouldn't want it back. It wouldn't matter if there was a newer better surgery tomorrow, today I am happy and 100lbs less than I was a year ago.

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

Hey I'm wondering how anyone feels about losing so much stomach. What if someday SOON doctors come out with another surgery and its much better then VSG where they won't have to remove 85 % of your stomach? I'm scared of feeling like OMG I could've waited , why didn't they say something about it? Why ? Why? Why? I'm just wondering because medicine is always advancing and coming. Out with new things and I wouldn't want to regret MY VSG . Thanks

I felt the same way 7 or 8 years ago when I first contemplated weight loss surgery. I wasn't willing to do RNY, then something "better" came along.. Lap Band, and I wasn't willing to deal with the fills etc. When I read about the sleeve, I was hooked, and FINALLY stopped waiting for the next best thing. I chose to start living better NOW. Gemini is right.. as technology improves, so will the options.

You can only make the best decision for you, it is a personal choice. Trust your research, ask questions and move forward when you are sure.

Best of luck!!

[Aubrey600 1]

JerseyGirl, I am impressed with your weight loss so far, that is awesome. Congratulations! I am in the beginning process and have my first appointment Monday. My weight is close to your beginning weight and I hope I lose as much as you did so far.

[Doreykn 113]

I know I couldn't wait...my health was more important than "WHAT MEDICINE MIGHT" come up with in the future. My dr was getting ready to put me on insulin! Here it is 14 months later & I'm off the meds! Glad I didn't think of "what if" !!!

[Ballermom 803]

I m already in a 9 month, i mean 6 month Sleeve program. i didn't want the RNY and the Lap Band wasn't for me. but when i heard of the sleeve i wanted in. I cant wait for a new Surgery to be discovered.

1. My back can't wait

2. My knees cant wait

3. I can't wait to be the Skinny B in the room.

4. I'm over do for Skinny Sexin.

Wish I'd started the VS G program sooner. I had a real Love Affair with food. And I'm going thru a food Divorce that caint wait. Not waiting too I'm too Sick to get that new procedure. It's my realty.

This may not be yours.

Good luck

You have to decide for your self!

[Sadlers1999 169]

The way it was explained to me, the bypass is the gold standard still IF you have diabetes and/or if you need to lose more than 200 pounds. Yes. There are more absorption issues with this procedure, but it is recommended for a certain segment.

The sleeve seems more widespread in use. People who have had lapbands get sleeve revisions. People who want bypass but are in a precarious place Healthwise may get the sleeve first and bypass second to help get the 100s of pounds off. And, then there are the majority of people who get sleeves who may be low BMI with a comorbidity or BMI of 40 or higher but ranging from 100-200 lbs in "overweightness."

There is already another procedure in this country. I don't remember what it is called, but my doctor had a picture of it in his office. It's considered "experimental," which means at this point, no insurance will cover it. But, it looks like they fold your stomach in on itself somehow...making a smaller pouch without cutting anything out.

[Sadlers1999 169]

And, as others have pointed out, you don't miss your missing stomach. In fact, it stretches out again. Not back to original size, but enough that if you are not careful, you can gain weight again.

[ATX Girl 24]

There is already another procedure in this country. I don't remember what it is called, but my doctor had a picture of it in his office. It's considered "experimental," which means at this point, no insurance will cover it. But, it looks like they fold your stomach in on itself somehow...making a smaller pouch without cutting anything out.

That sounds like gastric plication, or the "stomach-sparing sleeve". So far, the results haven't been quite as good and you don't have the reduction in ghrelin production.

[CowgirlJane 14,260]

If I was young and not very overweight I would try everything before any surgery. I don't mean commercial programs, I mean finding serious treatment for obesity. By the time I figured out what that even meant, I was just too far advanced in my obesity disease for it to work.

I was 47, weighed over 300# and while yes I was FREAKED out.... I came to see it that I had too big of a stomach, it didn't work right and I needed something drastic to save my life. I got over the freak out factor by acknowledging that I did NOT have a "perfectly fine" stomach. Mine was always hungry and drove me to eat more then I needed or even wanted.

The sleeve, for me - Best.decision.ever!!!!

Formerly obese, now a having fun as a "normal" woman!

[vsginnj 415]

Honestly , I will gladly give the remaining 15% if it means I stay the course!