Family support? Who doesn't have it?

 YOU AREN'T ALONE...its very common...do a search! 

its so much worse when negative speak comes from loved ones...almost as hurtful as when we speak it to ourselves.  Alas..VSG affects everyone close .....not only you! All kinds of fear, worry, resentment, jealousy, insecurities...come out...in EVERYONE close.  STAY THE COURSE!!
                                                       

One thing they said hit a coard. What ARE the long term effects? This surgery isn't old enough to really know what they are. I know my quality of life isn't what it could be TODAY. I've had psoriasis for over 40 years. I've been on some drugs for that which were pulled off the market because of long term side effects which were discovered after people were on them for years. Only God knows what is in store for me tomorrow. Ahhhh!

Actually, gastrectomies have been around for 100 years.  They were first done to remove stomach cancer from people (by removing all or part of the stomach).  So there's a lot of data that says you can be very healthy and live a long, fulfilling life with a VSG.

As for the long-term weight loss stats, that will be up to you and how closely you monitor your eating and exercise post-op, just like it is for all the weight loss surgeries.  The better habits you develop in the first 6-12 months, the better you will do long term!

plenty of info on long term partial gastrectomy complications......very similar to VSG...where part of the stomach only is removed. 1st one done in 1880 sumthin no lie! VSGs have been done since 2000! yeah its the new kid on the block as far as weight loss goes but...there's lots of info on IT already!!

Me I took my search to long term partial gastrectomy...yeah I was just as worried as yer family TOO!!

Virtually ALL of our long term complications come from POOR VITAMIN & MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION! due to less intrinsic factor, less HCL produced .......long term.. having no stores from infrequent vitamin/min supps ...Vits/Mins REQUIRED post VSG because of the small amounts of nutrients we get to keep our body healthy....due to the small amounts of food we eat...inc. the TYPES of food we chronically eat thereafter. The disease process....takes a great deal of time to manifest.....as in obesity, type II, cancer, thyroid on n on...
A human body can indeed live off of meat/protein only......for a limited time ..ahem Atkins dieting, post VSG diets.....without adverse effects to health.......but long term...it can't ...you WILL get sick.

Long term partial gastrectomies complications 10- 40 years post that affect us too

Osteo problems...osteomalacia, osteopenia - caused by poor calcium and Vitamin D3- (cholecalciferol) supplementation, asymptomatic overuse of PPIs & high protein diets (phosphorus) long term leeching calcium from bones

Anemia- caused by poor iron supplementation ..important especially in menses aged gals. Can get so bad in long term ..that even iron infusions don't take.

Neurological- pernicious anemia - caused by poor Vitamin B12 supplementation

BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH- achlorhydria/hypochlorhydria ...A HUGE ONE affecting us VSGrs after surgery even. Caused by gastrectomy- less HLC (hydrochloric acid) due to less parietal cells that produce it in the stomach when they remove our fundus & antrum....then place us on IV antibiotics in hospital stripping away all microflora good n bad in large intestine. HCL is our bodies defense to destroy bad bugs that get in us everyday... from contaimants in water, meats, produce. Less HCL...more bad bugs get in. Can only get good bugs in you from probiotics, fermented foods.
the good bugs keep the bad bugs at bay!

Throw in chronic use of PPIs....that reduce HCL even further from bein produced...and WHAMMY bacterial overgrowth! candida, c. diff, food poisioning (stomach flus) , skin breakdowns, problems (skin a part of our immune system), gi problems: constipation dhr

CANCER- stomach and small intestine (duodenum) ... caused by smoking with an altered stomach, also caused by chronic use of PPIs

ULCER- stomach and small intestine...caused by bacterial overgrowth namely h. pylori, chronic use of PPIs inhibiting HCL from being produced, smoking w/ altered stomach

also with chronic use of PPIs inceased risk of fracture (leeches calcium from bones)


Please check into this yourself!!
Since 70% of our immune system is in our large intestine...its those probiotics/good bugs and vitamins/mineral supplementation that keep us HEALTHY long term living with an altered stomach

If ya have questions about probiotics... I can type up another novel for ya ,-)

Post here about long term complications, do a search...enter "VSG" and whatever your question is up in the search bar. but enter VSG first..will narrow down your search.

Knowledge is POWER Terri...it soothes those savage beasts called "Fear, Worry, Anxiety, and Nervous!! Share what you learn with family....so it calms their beasts too! I AM WOMAN...here me ROOOOOAAAAAAARRR!!!

VSG is savin lives!! in more ways than the physical! mind + body=1

Thank you for this, it was very informative. I am almost 6 months out and wasn't aware of this. But, it looks like you can narrow alot of this down with constant vitamins - AND I was never given a PPI (and don't need it after surgery - THANK GOD) so that even more lessons my chances of these issues! Thanks again!

Ms. Poker Face is absolutely right as you get out of this whole procedure what you put into it.  If you read the post that are from veterans that are 2+ years post surgery and have been successful have included monitoring what they eat, count calories and include exercise daily.  As my surgeon told my wife and I, this is just the start of a new life and the surgery is just a tool to loose weight and keep it off.  Surgery alone will not keep it off; we all have to change our previous destructive lifestyles to succeed in the future.  Good luck. 

I have been blessed with a very supportive family.  I'm sorry that yours are not giving you what you want and need right now.

It sounds like they are scared - ignorance=fear.  I suggest you see if you can get an appointment with an educator at your surgeons office to help ease their fears.  I brought my then 20 y.o. daughter along to many of my appointments.  My excuse was to help me remember everything, but it was really to help prepare her for what was happening - I'm a single mom, her dad has never been involved in her life, and she needed to know that I was going to be ok.  It was the best thing I could have ever done!  The surgeons offce was great in easing all her fears and concerns!

I am sorry you are faced with this situation. I too had no support at home but made the decision to move forward after fully researching the complications. I understood exactly what I was signing up for and was self pay. My husband stood me up at the hospital and wasn't there when I woke up from surgery and never showed my entire stay. It lit a fire under me to push hard and I reached goal in a little over 6 months. Just because you don't have support at home doesn't mean you can't be successful in your journey. My only advice would be to stay strong and lead by example which will hopefully transform their way of thinking/feeling in the long run. If you need any support I am here!

I can chime in on the cooking part..... I know this sounds crazy but after the surgery I have never enjoyed cooking more!  I don't know why but before I tolerated it and now I love it.  I don't crave things like I used to so maybe it is easier for me??  Now I get more satisfaction out of making creative and visually appealing things for my family.  So you might find this after and enjoy cooking with your family even more!?

Well, after much discussion, my husband has agreed to come to my doctor appointment Monday. I gave him free reign and he plans to ask a ton of questions. HIs big fear is my going through this surgery and reverting back to old habits. I am a candy junkie. He wants to understand HOW I am going to lose/change that. I feel so deflated right now. I'll go to the appointment and listen to their exchange, then I'll think on it, research some more, pray a bit and make my decision. Thank you for all of your help, kind words and support.

Anyone having long term stats, please share.

Terri