Hello all. Here is my problem. I had the VBG surgery back in the 1980s.

I lost about 110 pounds. I never got skinny, however, I was able to live with being much thinner than I was pre-surgery.

Over these past 20 plus years, I had gained about 30 pounds back, which I was not thrilled with, but not too bad considering what I've read online about many others gaining all their weight back.

Also, over all these 20 plus years, if I ate too much, I would have to throw up. It was something I was used to doing.

Back in June last year (2008), I was not able to keep anything down including water. I went to my gastroenteroligist feeling like I had something stuck in the pouch area of my stomach. I had an endoscopy which revealed that the area of the banding where the food from the small pouch flows into the larger stomach area had swollen shut. My doctor used a balloon and did a dilatation to stretch it so I could eat and drink.

Before I even realized it, I was able to eat whole sub sandwiches or hamburgers and the like that I had not been able to eat in over 20 years. Within 2 months I had gained 50 pounds before I knew what happened! Then over the next few months I gained another 20 pounds. I continuously felt like I was starving and ate large amounts of food.

I went back to my doctor for a follow-up appt. after gaining the 50 pounds. I asked the doctor what happened that I have been able to eat like I was able to PRE-surgery and he said that my stomach would go back down, so I would not be able to eat so much.

Well, here it is, 7 months after the endoscopy and I can still eat a lot.

Has anyone else here had a similar experience? If so, how long did it take for your stomach to go back down to the proper size PRE-stretching by dilatation?

Post Date: 1/7/09 6:43 am
I'm so silly , posted this to the main board

Drove down to Eagle Pass Monday. Took about six hours. I stoped alot and looked at things.
Checked into the Holliday Inn Express. Nice motel.

Drove to Wally world, Lots of people. I'm from a small town and not used to the people. I was tired from the drive, stayed at the motel. Didn't eat past 11.30 per docs orders.
Got up got every thing put away and went do wait for Rosie the driver, she was there early. On the way across the border she showed me some historical interests. Prety cool. I really didn't see any industry to support the community but she told me there are utilitity plans, auto plants and I forgot the others.

Got to the hospital met Dr. A and his associates. Lots of nice people. We went over my medical history in Dr A's office. Went to the hospital did blood work, chest x rays. Took temp and blood pressure. A little while later they brought in the happy juce. That is the last i remember. Woke up in my room, Felt tired but ok.

Did pee a bunch yesterday, the first time I got up, a little dizzy. But after that ok. Dr A came buy that evening said it was Ok if I walked the halls, but I wanted to rest. He also said I looked quite good for just having surgery. < I bet he says that to all the girls

 nurses came in alot to check on my and change my IV. This morning I felt frisky walked the hall for the first time and am on the computer.

Will see y'all later!

VSG is definitely not the same as the old stapling surgery.  For one thing, most of the stomach is removed. The VSG creates a permanently smaller stomach.  I suppose it is theoretically possible for someone to eat so much that they blow out the staple line, but it would have to be really soon after the surgery, because after that the cut ends of the stomach grow together, which, I assume didn't happen with the older surgeries because they were supposed to be "reversable" --  but not like yours was reversed!  :)  And, from personal experience, any urge to eat too much is counteracted by extreme discomfort. 

Check around on this site and read about the various kinds of surgeries available today.  VSG is one option, so is the duodenal switch, the lap band and the old stand-by, gastric bypass (RNY).  See what sounds good to you.  When I read about the VSG, I knew immediately it was the right choice for me.

Don't be discouraged about the lifetime limit on your surgery.  Do you have the same insurance company now that you had  in 1982?  "Lifetime" might mean for as long as you are with that company.  :) That's how my insurance company defines it. Of course, they are always looking for a way to avoid paying, but I would check that out before concluding that insurance won't cover you.  And talk to a different surgeon's office.  Whoever you spoke to sounds very negative. 

Good luck. You will find a lot of people here who's lives have been transformed.  I'm hoping for hte best for you.


 

Expired Post

I had Stomach Stapling in Feb 1992. I do not know which surgery it is called now... I'm sorry. It went very well for I'd say for 11-12 years! Then Bam! I started gaining weight in late 2003... So five years of gaining weight for me now!!!
       I just found out in Sept 2008 that my staple line came open and my band also opened very wide! But I still am happy. Because I weighed near 40 lbs. I now weigh between 241-244.
       My Doctor said she is surprised I gained so little weight. She said I should have put on much more weight. I gained about 40 pounds back. I guess that was suppose to make me feel better. I am only 5'2".  Most folks did gain almost all the weight back and sometimes even more, from the VGB I had, and when I had it. I am looking into a revision. I Don't know what kind can be done. Would I do it again?? In a heart beat!!! I am still not sorry I had WLS!!! I think I would be dead by now, had I not had it back then. I was just gaining more weight every year.  Alizka