Question:
Have your hunger and cravings decreased significantly after having SRVG?

I am debating whether to have silastic ring vertical gastroplasty or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Many post-op bypass patients report that their hunger and cravings went away after the surgery, even for those whose surgeries were more than two years ago. Is the same long-term diminished hunger and cravings true for people who had the silastic ring vertical gastroplasty?    — jules R. (posted on July 16, 2003)

July 16, 2003
I had the SRVG/VBG surgery 3/18/03. To date I have lost 70 pounds and am NEVER hungry. There are many times that I have to make my self eat because I am not hungry or because I forgot to eat! I am very happy with the choice of *MY* surgery and would do it again in a heartbeat. Any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]. Good luck!!
   — Michelle M.

July 17, 2003
I hope to not invite the wrath over the "my surgery is better than your surgery" debate. I've seen it too many times over the years and always get nervous when I answer this question but I feel compelled to answer anyway. I had the SRVBG in 1997, lost down to 187 pounds in about a year and quit losing. Stayed in a range of 187 to 195 for another year. Then noticed that my weight was creeping up and it seemed like I was getting hungry a lot. In Dec of 99 I finally went in to see what was up. They scoped me and discovered that my ring was missing. In May 2000 I was revised to proximal RNY and my weight now is approximately 170. A lot of background to say I've had both surgeries. Now, to answer your question. With my SRVBG I got full very quickly and I loved it but I had many cravings, later found myself reaching for crunchy things that would go through easier and oftentimes found myself FULL but not SATISFIED. I found myself waiting anxiously for my pouch to empty a little so I could have another bite. With my RNY I immediately noticed a difference. When I'm FULL I am also SATISFIED and I lose all interest in food during that time. I am not the sweets freak I was before and I don't snack for the heck of it. There are many evenings when I don't feel like eating at all so I don't. The very thought of food is nauseating to me when I'm full now so there is no way I'm going to sit there waiting to take another bite. I hope this perspective helps. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions. Kellye Dupuis
   — Kellye C.