Give me 10 truths about VSG

I am finish my last month of required diet. I have to choose between RNY or VSG. I have read RNY is better for diabetes, but I am not sure about that whole process. I know no one who has had or will admit to having wls to ask questions to , so you guys are the lucky ones! I have comorbidity and have limited mobility due to injury. 

1) Does everyone get reflux? I have no history of it.

2) Do you get dumping with VSG?

3) I have read that some people cannot eat  months after surgery or they will vomit.

4)Hair loss? Even if I eat all my required protein will I lose my hair? Does it grow back?

5)Did your mobility improve?

6)How long before your co-morbidities went into remission?

7)After surgery you can only eat or drink a little at a time. If a protein shake has 11 oz how long did it take you to drink it? Hours?

8)Any complications?

9) What pre-op testing was required?

10) Any regrets? either having WLS or the type you chose?

1. Had reflux before still have it.  Take Nexium , don't lay down after eating, don't eat or drink at some time. I'm good.  I have a small hiatal hernia but no repair at this time
2. had dumping once after a lot of carbs as I tend to keep the carbs down
3. i can only eat small amounts but haven't vomited since first few months.  Hurts when eat too much because the stretch is gone from your stomach. Still can't eat salad 
4. I had hair loss about 9  months in . Yes growing back. Didn't seem to matter how much protein I took in
5. Mobility is fabulous.  I get tired but not winded like. Did before.  Had a bad back before still have bad back now, but nothing like before. Went to Vegas and did over 30,000 steps per day with no problems
6. i am off my bp meds and only take vitamins and Nexium.  Dr said resolved at my year check up but came off mess about 6 months in
7. liquids aren't really an issue but I try to still drink small amounts and spread it out. Dense protein really fills me up and keeps me full. I still try to do at least one protein shake a day.
8. no
9. labs
10. not doing it sooner.  Glad I did the sleeve, kept my pyloric valve and my guts stayed where they are supposed to be just smaller stomach

you  have to do what's best for you.  The weight-loss will resolve a lot of your comorbidities  anyway.  I didn't want to malabsorption I need my body to  use every little piece of food I can put in it .  I stick to low-carb organic or natural .  If I can only have a small amount is got to be good 

ALL OF THIS!

What an interesting post!, use the search feature in the upper right hand corner, its the magnifying glass, some of your questions has been asked b4 & you can read a lot of answers to your questions. With that said here it goes.

1 Everyone is an all or nothing term, I'm sure in your research things like reflux isn't termed in such a way that everyone does or does not get it. Same thing here.

2 Dumping is generally with a small percentage of people who get the rny, not the VSG. Some people may react negatively to too many carbs in 1 sitting but it usually isn't dumping.

3 People who can't eat months after surgery usually has some kind of additional medical problem, vsg is not the lap band. The problem could be related to surgery or it might have nothing to do with the surgery. Everyone is different & staying on top of your health will be a priority. Anyone who can't eat usually will seek medical help b4 it gets into months of not eating.

4 Hair loss can happen to anyone no matter how much protein you eat. You lose & regrow hair now, any reason to believe this won't happen after surgery?

5 Yes my mobility improved, not having so much weight to lug around is extremely helpful.

6 My diabetes did go into remission, but it wasn't the surgery alone that did it. I had to change what I was eating & do some lifestyle changes i.e exercise too

7 Again everyone varies in how long it takes to drink a protein shake. Stay hydrated

8 No complications, but that's just me

9 Pre op testing varies by your insurance, call them & ask what's required, if you're a self pay, requirements are what your surgeon requires, call him & ask

10 No regrets, knowing what I know now I'd still choose VSG. Just make sure you tackle the mental issues as well as the physical ones. One doesn't get to the point of needing wls based on just eating too much, there are other factors involved, not just physical ones.

Surgery 9/7/16 - so my answers are relatively new and hopefully those with more experience and longer times out, also respond:

1) Does everyone get reflux? I have no history of it. - No reflux here, in fact, at my one month post-op, my dr. took me off Pantaloc (their automatic prescription to avoid reflux).

 

2) Do you get dumping with VSG?  I thought I had it in the hospital with the jello they gave me, but have not experienced it since.  I have definitely felt uncomfortable though, when eating too fast or too much. It's difficult to get the hang of this new way of eating. 

 

3) I have read that some people cannot eat  months after surgery or they will vomit.  - While this may be true for some, I have not vomited since surgery, unless you count the immediately after surgery in the recovery room (which always happens to me after anesthetic). 

 

4)Hair loss? Even if I eat all my required protein will I lose my hair? Does it grow back?  I have some, but the average person loses 60-100 hairs per day, maybe we're just more aware of it because we know it's a possibility. I use Nioxin shampoo/conditioner, I'm not sure if it helps, but I was willing to spend the money for it to help.  This group has assured me that no one is running around bald years after surgery because of the surgery.  Focus on your protein and know it will grow back.  My hairdresser assures me at this point, I do not have excessive loss. 

 

5)Did your mobility improve?  Including pre-surgery loss, I've lost over 70 lbs.  For sure, mobility is better, my ankles don't hurt when I walk down the stairs in the morning.  

 

6)How long before your co-morbidities went into remission?  I was pre-diabetic/PCOS and stopped taking Metformin in the hospital.  I've not had bloodwork since. I've also noticed my blood pressure was down at the 1 month dr. appt. But truthfully,  I didn't have anything serious in the co-morbidity land.  

 

7)After surgery you can only eat or drink a little at a time. If a protein shake has 11 oz how long did it take you to drink it? Hours?  Liquids go down faster than solids. Focus on protein. I can drink a protein shake in 15-30 min. (or faster if I'm in a hurry, but I don't recommend that).  I treat protein shakes like food and don't drink water/liquids for 30 min. before or after having my shake.

8)Any complications? Luckily, I had none. Just getting the mindset to work for you every day. 

 

9) What pre-op testing was required? I had a bone scan to be repeated a year after surgery, blood work, a breathing test (asthmatic), ECG and a meeting with the anesthesiologist, some peole require a scope and a sleep apnea test. 

10) Any regrets? either having WLS or the type you chose?  No, I went in planning on the RNY, but knowing I have scar tissue and mesh from 2 previous hernia operations, there was the possibility of having the sleeve. So, I was a little upset that I ended up sleeved, as it doesn't have as good of stats as RNY, but it is what it is and I'm putting it to work for me. 

 

Best of luck with your surgery!! 

 

I'm 5'4 and will be starting at 216 with a goal of 130. 76 lbs in 3 months - congratulations!

I'm just waiting for a surgery date. Hope it will be in December!

Thank you the information - I'm excited yet nervous.

 

1) According to studies, approximately 20-25% of patients develop GERD post-op.  It's highly manageable, for the most part.  You can also have GERD while overweight and have zero symptoms, too.  An EGD is one of the ways to know for sure.  I did not have GERD pre-op but developed it post-op.  After a lot of annoyances, we figured out I have bile reflux which is managed by cutting out lactose and grains as much as possible.

2) I just answered a post regarding this elsewhere.  The answer: sometimes, rarely.  It can happen with any gastrectomy - not just the VSG.  Also, not everyone with the RNY has dumping

3) It's estimated that there over 150,000 WLS procedures performed yearly.  I mention this because only a minority of patients vomit and cannot eat afterwards.  If people cannot eat at all it typically indicates a serious issue that requires medical intervention.   It's probably a very small percentage of total procedures.

4) Any major surgery may cause hair loss due to telogen effluvium, a phenomenon where the stress done to the body causes the hair to be shocked into its last growth phase.  If this occurs, no dietary changes help.

5) Mobility improves with weight loss, so yes.  If you need joint or knee replacements, then no.  It depends on the reason for mobility loss.  In my case, my mobility drastically increased.

6) My diabetes resolved in two days with the sleeve.  I am however highly compliant with no carbs.

7) I drank 15 ounces an hour the week I had surgery after a few days.  You're constantly sipping.  It's very easy to drink with the sleeve--or at least, it was for me.  Anti nausea meds and PPIs help.

8) I had no complications.  Complications can occur on the surgeon's end or ours.  Eating correctly guarantees ours are low--finding a competent and experienced surgeon guarantees theirs are low.

9) Psych, pulmonary, cardiac, sleep study, EKG, many blood tests.  This varies by insurance and office.

10) My only two regrets: that my bowel wasn't healthy enough for the DS at the time, (my surgery BMI was 78 and it's the best for BMI 50+) and that I waited until I was in my late 30's.  I only wish I had done it in my 20s.

Here is the truth as I know it, it's all here on OH. Read back a few years of posts and it's very clear.

The VSG is NOT a standardized procedure and all sleeves are NOT created equal. 

Capacity and techniques vary greatly. A proper VSG is a system that starts at the throat and ends after food passes the pyloric valve. 

It is best to get individual surgeons data and statistics to your above questions because results are all over the place with this non-standardized procedure.

Hope this helps !

frisco

Let me preface this with........I am 20 months post VSG surgery & have lost 116 lbs. I have a fantastic tool, but it still takes a lot of work, planning & commitment. I am still 5-7 lbs from my goal & have also been learning to maintain my weight as well. In answer to your questions.......
1) Does everyone get reflux? I can only answer for myself & I did have some heartburn at first (most of the time this was symptomatic of not being hydrated) Now it's only on occassion.
2) Do you get dumping with VSG? No. That's something that's more common with RNY.
3) I have read that some people cannot eat months after surgery or they will vomit. Never vomited after eating in either puree or solid food stages (again something more associated with RNY dumping). At first, there were some foods that made me uncomfortable, such as chicken breast, chopped meat or beef if it wasn't braised.
4)Hair loss? Even if I eat all my required protein will I lose my hair? Does it grow back? Yes & this is common with loosing weight fast or any stress that your body is put through. It does come back.
5)Did your mobility improve? OMG, YES! I use to be exhausted just going to one store to shop. Now, I find myself going out for hours at a time.
6)How long before your co-morbidities went into remission? It's different for everyone & it also depends on your doctor. Immediately after surgery, my doctor took me off blood pressure & diabetes meds. I'm still taking a statin, but my last cholesterol count was 149.
7)After surgery you can only eat or drink a little at a time. If a protein shake has 11 oz how long did it take you to drink it? Hours? Sip, sip, sip will be your mantra & I never thought about how long it would take to consume anything.
8)Any complications? I had a gout flare-up after surgery & bouts diarrhea/constipation for the longest time (I take a daily dose of Miralax which helps). I also didn't feel "right" for almost a month after surgery.
9) What pre-op testing was required? Stress test, & endoscopy (to check out stomach interior)
10) Any regrets? either having WLS or the type you chose? NEVER! I only wish I was able to do it earlier in my life.

Hi there

I also went down the WLS route because of limited mobility due to injury and comorbidities, the limited mobility was especially hard because for most people it is about WL pure and simple and knowing you can't kick up the exercise is frustrating. My surgeon recommended the VSG because I wanted the option with least impact on nutritional absorption and recovery for my body (with the injury and medications came a compromised immune system so that was a big fear for me). I went into this with WL/looking better being a great side effect but the hope of reducing compression on my injury, decreasing pain and increasing mobility top of my list. With that said, and only 7 weeks out, here is my experience so far of VSG.

There are some other great contributors to your thread and i hope it all helps. Whatever your decision, I wish you the best and a healthy future ahead :)

 

1) Does everyone get reflux? I have no history of it. I had no history of reflux but have experienced it since surgery mainly at night. I take the PPI every day and now sleep semi upright with a tri-pillow. I researched and if you take any night time muscle relaxants or sleeping meds these can relax the oesephagal valve and enable reflux to occur. I have to take certain meds at night so if you do then discuss this with your surgeon as it does increase the chances of reflux. I have found not eating 3 hours before bed and avoiding certain foods (tomato is nasty acidic!) can help and over time it has seemed to ease. 

2) Do you get dumping with VSG? Yes, both times for me was taking too much liquids in too quickly that were either high fat or powdered vitamins. I really cannot stress enough the importance of eating/drinking mindully,  taking a teaspoonful every approx 5 mins, chewing thoroughly, and stopping at 30 mins no matter what. Slowing down helps you register what your body is telling you, this is challenging habit to relearn for us food lovers (in my case face stuffer)

3) I have read that some people cannot eat  months after surgery or they will vomit. This has not been my experience luckily,  although as above you have to follow your surgeons eating instructions exactly and take it real slow and easy.

4)Hair loss? Even if I eat all my required protein will I lose my hair? Does it grow back? I can already see my hair thinning, but I went into this with the expectation that it is a major operation and your body is bound to go thru changes as it "re-programs". It should grow back and isn't a major for me.

5)Did your mobility improve? My physical therapist and other health professionals believe there has been a change already in my ability to move / flexion. The biggest thing to remember is it comes down to us to put the work in. I have days where I struggle to walk or am in chronic pain. On these days I may do simple calisthenics or stretching exercises, even when I'm in high pain/exhausted I remember any movement is better than no movement. I also used to rely on my partner to go anywhere because of my instability/movement issues so even the walking part of recovery was a mountain to climb if they were at work. Rather than be stuck at home feeling frustrated I hired a treadmill where I can hold the rails, walk (even if it's a ridiculously slow pace) and stop/start when and if I am up to it. In the beginning i managed maybe a minute of trying to walk now i can do 3 to 4 mins and if i add it all up over a day it feels great. If you can commit to some kind of movement / activity as the weight comes off I believe there is no way your mobility won't benefit. This has been my biggest motivator! 

6)How long before your co-morbidities went into remission? Still a work in progress

7)After surgery you can only eat or drink a little at a time. If a protein shake has 11 oz how long did it take you to drink it? Hours? Everyone is different, drinking anything was so hard my first week. Yes I would say it would take over an hour to drink a cup of something but you just gotta sip, sip, sip. It gets easier. 

8)Any complications? I am one of the unlucky ones that got a wound infection. It can happen, but it's not that common. Just stay alert, ensure you keep good hygiene and wound management practices and don't be afraid to insist your surgeon or dr does something asap. I didn't get a fever but I did feel awful and have signs of infection. Antibiotics seem to have sorted it and I'm now rebuilding my system with probiotics and kefir. 

9) What pre-op testing was required? I paid privately for mine so not sure if this will be the same.  Because of my history I went through all other avenues (2 ortho surgeons, nerve conduction studies, pain specialists, etc etc) before going down this route. All of that info had to be made available to my surgeon, as well as psychiatric and psychological testing. 

10) Any regrets? either having WLS or the type you chose? Expect "buyers remorse", it comes and goes, when you are having a good day you feel empowered and happy with your choice. If you are unlucky enough to have complications then you may likely have days of "wtf did I just do to myself?!" I have had both but would I say I regret it. NOPE. I can only speak for VSG but every day I notice some small improvement in my mobility, or I feel better in myself as I have halted the ongoing weight gain/powerlessness cycle. I am so proud of myself for giving this option a chance. I hope one day or returning to part time work. It is by no means an easy option. It will challenge you. It requires discipline. But I am worth it - and so are you. 

Keep us updated with what you decide and again,  best wishes