Elena22

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I said in a previous blog that I would later disclose whether I regretted VSG surgery or not.  Well I now have my answer.  For me, and this is just for me personally, the VSG has been a big mistake as opposed to RNY or DS.  My original choice was the DS, but my insurance would not pay for it, so I settled for my second choice which was the VSG. My insurance said that they would pay for RNY but I wasn't interested in that option for myself.  I feared dumping, and the pouch, and I didn't like the idea of a "blind stomach." However the VSG is a restrictive procedure only and my body NEEDS malabsorption.  I have been diligent about following the program of the VSG as recommended by my WLS clinic, however I haven't lost a pound since July 2012.  I have even resorted back to fad "dieting" to keep the weight off.  Right now I am in the process of trying to see if I can get revised to the DS.  I have a new insurance company and job.  Swing critters for me that all goes well. 

Thanks, for reading.

Hello! First of all let me just say that I have terribled missed all of you that I had gotten to know last year and I have no one to blame but myself. lol.

Well I have not updated since I was at the 3 month out mark, and it's high time.  I've been losing weight and out and about enjoying the new life.  I went through some stuggles and had a few health set backs though. Totally non surgery related issues had me hospitalized in October of last year. But I was still losing weight and still happy. I lost my job during this time though and so I was dealing with alot of personal issues.  In january I was newly employed and down 90 lbs! I was ecstatic.  Although I have always wanted the DS, I thought "hey as long as I'm losing weight with the VSG, I'm doing ok."  Then this month, in march, with the pressures of the new job, and new schedule, I gained 10 of those lbs back that I had lost. I couldn't even feel happy on my surgiversary b/c I was so disappointed with myself for having gained those lbs back.

However, OH family, I realize the error of my ways.  Yes I was struck with sheer horror and utter dismay at gaining those lbs back, but I know that they came back b/c now that my sleeve doesn't have have the super tight restsriction that it once did, I've slipped into some old habits, and foremost, I realized that I had abandoned my OH family. My home where I found others who could relate to my situation, and help and give me the kick in the rear that I need from time to time.  Please, Oh family, welcome me back home. I've missed you all very much.

Right now I am at a crossroads of a decision.  Will I be able to "go back to basics" and get the scale moving down again with my VSG, or should I face facts that "for me" this is as far as the sleeve is going to take me and move forward with phase 2 of the DS?

I would love your feedback, I'm here, back home, posting, reading, lurking, all of the above, once again.

Thank you all for reading.

Well yesterday June 8th, was my 3 month surgiversary.  How do I feel about it? I still have mixed emotions.  I was scheduled to have the DS on March 8th and due to last minute surprises by my insurance company, I was denied and I accepted my second choice of the VSG.  As of this morning I am down 46 pounds, which is awesome.  But I do still long for the rapid weight loss of the DS, and the certainty that I would be able to maintain the weight loss 10 years down the road.  The positive thing is that my vitamin regimine is much less and my labs look great! I am off of my diabetes meds, and I feel wonderful.  I would have liked to have lost 50 lbs by yesterday, but just shy 4 lbs of my first goal weight ain't bad.  However, now that I am at the 3 month mark, I know that I'm headed for the inevitable 3 month stall.  I know this b/c I've been at the same weight for a couple of weeks now, and I'm doing lots of exercise and the scale still isn't moving.  I just hope that I won't stall for too long, and it will move again very soon.  I've decided to give the VSG a full year, and if I'm not reasonably close to goal, I will self pay for the full DS.  In my last blog post I wrote that I'd reveal if I felt regret over choosing the VSG and not fighting harder for the DS, and right now, as of today, I don't regret my decision at all.  The fact that I don't have to take medicines anymore is well worth the VSG.  I do still think the DS has the best overall statistics for weight loss and maintaining that weight loss; just FYI for any lurkers out there reading and researching.  So just make sure that whatever decision you make, you can live with it.  And honestly, even though I really wanted the DS, I can definately live with the VSG happily.  I guess you could liken how I feel to a time when I really needed a car.  Although I wanted a top of the line lexus, a good running camry was available to me at the time.  The lexus has overall better customer rating, however is of course more exspensive maintenance.  So the Camary, while slightly less desired, is still very much appreciated and getting the job done, and I was happy with it.  Thanks for reading!

... add salt and tequila and say bottoms up! lol. It's been a wild and crazy turn of events since when I first signed up for OH, and planned to have my Duodenal Switch.  Due to complications with my insurance, (namely my insur comp. denying me 3 days before surgery) I was unable to have the DS when scheduled.  I had a lot of things in my life already put into place that couldn't be altered professionally, personally, etc.  Anyway, it was my decision to accept another surgery with the hope that I would lose everything I needed to with my choice or plan to do a revision to the DS if I don't reach success.  Do I still believe that the DS was the best surgery choice "for me"? Yes I do.  Being 150 lbs overweight I knew that the DS would deliver results.  However, it was not available to me at the time that I was prepared to have WLS. So, I decided on the VSG.  Honestly, I was on the fence between the VSG and DS during my research phase of the choosing a WLS procedure; so I don't feel as if I've "settled" for the surgery that I chose, it just wasn't my first choice.  That being what it is, I now have a VSG and I'm trying to use this tool to the best of my ability.  I have to live with the decision that I've made.  Do I regret it? Well, a later post will reveal that, simply b/c I don't know the answer to that yet.  I do plan to give the VSG a chance to do it's thing and see how successful I am with it.  I'm glad to the DSers and the VSGers that I continue to learn from each and everyday.  Well, these are just some thoughts that perhaps others that are lurking may want to consider.  I am down 30 lbs. but the scale hasn't moved in two weeks so I am a bit nervous that the surgery isn't going to work for me.  Others have said give it time, the scale will move again, and I'm trying to be hopeful of that.  However it is frustrating being in the stall.  I will update in another month, and see where I am on this journey. Thanks for reading.

For years now, whenever I get really nervous, my stomach always gets this nervous feeling and I don't really have an appetite for eating. The latter part is great as far as weight loss is concerned but the stomach churning is the pits.  Well I've had a nervous stomach for two days now and just now I was trying to pinpoint where is my anxiety coming from.  Today I figured it out.  I'm already starting to angst over WLS.  I really do have to find a way to channel this anxiety or else I'm going to implode before my surgery date March 8, 2011. Anyone else with pre surgery jitters?

Hi my name is Elena and I'm scheduled to have the duodenal switch surgery March 8, 2011.  I've enjoyed reading everyone's tips, experiences, and advice.  Please feel free to offer me any advice, tips or suggestions that I'll need prior to and after surgery. Thanks. Nice to meet everyone.
Elena.