Weight loss surgery on Public Radio this morning

[Engteacher 158]

I heard a news story on NPR this morning that I thought I would pass along. Here's the link:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2015/01/19/377731653/when-bariatric-surgerys-benefits-wane-this-procedure-can-help

It's about a new procedure that can help when the body has adjusted to weight loss surgery and patients start to gain the weight back.

[lovedXJesus 27]

This was really interesting. It makes sense that it would work. I am not too sure that many insurance companies would cover it at this point though :/

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Jeez, that's discouraging.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Interesting. So they're basically re-tightening the sleeve? I hope I don't need to do that. My plan is to maintain a healthy routine of healthy eating and exercise.

[ProjectMe 909]

Fran's words, " I thought I was cured" & "I thought I could eat anything" stood out to me. It's nice that they have a safe research proven method for making the stomach smaller again...but at some point we have to take responsibility for what we put in our mouths and how much we put in our mouths. Thank you for sharing!

Edited January 19, 2015 by ProjectMe

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Agreed I know n my heart of hearts I will always have to work to keep off any weight I lose.

[Engteacher 158]

My guess is that this procedure tightens the pouch on a RNY, since the patient is 10 years post surgery. Has VSG been around that long?

[Stevehud 1,790]

yeah just don't read the comments more than half of them are ignorant and inflammatory, and I know inflammatory!

But this lady obviously never had the psych counseling that I can see now as a requirement. If I approached this as a cure and as soon as I could ran to McDonalds Heck of course id gain the weight back.

[MisforMimi 760]

Well

I bet the comments are crazy. There is so much hate, ignorance and jealousy (from fat and skinny alike). There are some very vocal problem-focused folks that have failed their surgeries out there on YouTube. The struggle is real and until the surgeries start taking place in our heads many will always struggle....I'm afraid.

[Stevehud 1,790]

"The struggle is real and until the surgeries start taking place in our heads many will always struggle....I'm afraid. "

I love that.....Surgeries in our heads, it is a very apt thing to say.

[ProjectMe 909]

My guess is that this procedure tightens the pouch on a RNY, since the patient is 10 years post surgery. Has VSG been around that long?

VSG began decades ago as a procedure to remove part of the stomach because of cancer. Procedures, patient weight loss, and research evolved into the VSG surgery we know today.

[MisforMimi 760]

VSG began decades ago as a procedure to remove part of the stomach because of cancer. Procedures, patient weight loss, and research evolved into the VSG surgery we know today.

I've known that piece about it being for years as treatment for stomach, but is this what causes the of the lack of long term data in comparison to the bypass? Most folks that were treated with vsg had died in 5-10 due to other complications?

[samuelsmom 670]

@@VSGAnn2014

I actually found this article very encouraging. Just think, this lady had tremendous success. Chances are, considering her pre-op weight and age, she would not be alive today if she had not had surgery. And she kept the vast majority of it off for a long time. And then, after a relatively modest weight gain she took action! I view this like a car or appliance-- sometimes things need a little tightening!

[pratthobbies 8]

Interesting article, and I'm glad research is continuing. But "I thought I was cured" brought me up short. Cured? That's not what we're dealing with here. You have to say goodbye to the days of eating as much of anything as you wanted, trading that for the fact that you will have more of your life left to you and feel better during the time you have left.

I have friends who have been successful with the bypass. I'm doing great with it myself so far. But I have one friend who has gained most of his weight back, because he couldn't give up alcoholic drinks. That's not a failure of the surgery. It's not a cure, it's a tool. We have to learn to use tools.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

@@pratthobbies - Yes that "I thought I was cured..." part is what got me as well. I know some come into this worrying that they will never "eat normal" again. I didn't want to eat like I did before. I wanted the ability to eat smaller portions and be satisfied. I wanted to no longer eat my emotions. I wanted the change to a new normal.