I'm a Bummed out newbie!

Hi,
 I'm 37 year old female at 315 lbs.(5ft x5in.) and I was really hoping for the DS surgery but today Dr. Voelinger told me he didn't feel comfortable doing that procedure on me because I was diagnosed one time as having IBS by my primary doctor. Dr. V  made me get a endoscopy and colonoscopy and my gastro doc said he didn't see anything that should prevent me from getting DS and he didn't think I had IBS (my only symptoms have been bloating but even that's not so bad anymore since I started taking prevacid for GERD .) He said I have only two choices and that's the lapband or the VSG and in after a year if I didn't have the weight loss results I desired then he when consider doing a convert to the DS.
There's no way I'll get my insurance company to cover another surgery plus my BMI by next year most certainly will not qualify for the DS then(has to be above 50 bmi).
I'm really bummed about this. I would rather get it all done at the same time and be done with it.
He told me with VSG surgery the weight will not come off as fast as any of the other surgeries and that there is a chance my stomach could stretch back out in a year's time.

Sorry for the rant. Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else and what was the outcome. Would you recommend VSG?
Thanks for any and all input!
-Dana

Boy two in one day...this is the two for one day for DS to VSGs...

Just kidding. I am sure you are disheartened by the situation.

I am trying like hell to stretch my stomach but it just won't budge.LOL and I have one of the bigger ones...of course I am only 5 months out so I will let you know in 7 months...

If you take some time to read hte posts you will see many people who have done so well with the VSG it is almost unbelievable. There are too many to even begin naming names.

The VSG has given me hope and I know eventually I will be a normal BMI. I hope you will take some time and read the posts on this forum. You might not be so disheartened anymore.

-Beth

 I thought the sleeve was the first part of DS?

Heya Dana, I'm Kimmi and I haven't yet had my VSG.  That's this coming Monday.  I do understand part of where you are coming from.  I was all set to have the bypass and the doctor discovered really bad anemia, and for that reason alone decided that it would not be the best course for me.  I was reallllllllllllllly disappointed.  But I started researching it, which is how I came to find this site, and the more I learned about VSG the more I liked it.  And now, I'm happy that's the one I'm having.  I've read success after success story on here.  And people losing at a pretty darn fast rate too.  I know it's disappointing right now, but your surgeon has to do what is best for you.  And remember there is always a reason for everything.  You'll be in my thoughts and prayers!  God Bless!!!

First off, I love my VSG.  It has worked very well for me and my lifestyle.  I surpassed my goal and have been maintaining fairly effortlessly for 6 months.  I love my 'new' life!

Have you considered getting a second opinion?  If you've done your research and you're really set on the DS  I would personally want to see what another doc has to say.  If the next one says the same thing then you know for sure that the DS is not a good choice for you.  If not, then maybe you can get what you want.

If it ends up that the DS is not an option, I would definitely go with the VSG over the lapband.  We see revisions over here all of the time.  I think the lapband is a good surgery but seemingly not a permanent solution for a fair number of people.  I wanted to do this once, and am glad for the choice I made.

Weight loss with VSG is comparable to RNY, I don't know how it compares to DS.  The part of the stomach that is removed is the stretchy part so while it may stretch a little bit, it really cannot stretch a lot, since what remains is the hard, muscular portion of the stomach. 

Most everyone on this board is happy with their VSG, with a few exceptions.  It's a relatively simple surgery with fewer complications and a lot fewer issues long term than malabsorptive procedures.  That was one reason why I chose VSG - I didn't want to trade one issue (obesity) for another (nutritional deficiency).  I know how I am about taking pills and I didn't want to set myself up for a failure I couldn't afford with 3 kids who need their Mama. 

Good luck!   

We love the sleeve and it the best.. we are glad your here. 

I always tell people to think long term. What will you have to live with for the rest of your life? As far as your Dr telling you the Sleeve will stretch, that is unlikely. The part os the stomach left in you is not the most elastic part. It may stretch some, but not much. The sleeve is less likely to stretch than bypass or band, and with many less long term complications.

That being said, if you have your heart set on a DS and he won't do it, then see another Dr. Most have their own criteria for the different surgeries.

You should read the many, many success stories on this forum. Look at the weight losses. It is VERY doable with the sleeve.

 There are a lot of folks on this board who have dropped that weight FAST!!  As far as the docs not recommending the DS, you can go get another opinion, or look at all the things they are telling you.  If you were to have the DS and be miserable and sick because of it, then what good has that done you.  I've seen patients skinny as a rail, but completely miserable because they felt like dog do all of the time bacause of some weird malabsorbtive thing they had going on.  Not always brought on by their bypass surgery, but their surgery was exacerbating the situation.  

Please take some time to read the posts on this board about the VSG.  I already know it was the one for me before I got here, but these people really cemented the deal for me.  

Ultimately you have to do what's right for you, but you do not want to live your life in a GI nightmare.  Seen it. Don't want.  


Again, sorry your so bummed.  I know how dissapointed I would have felt, too.  But everything happens for a reason.  Take this opportunity to do some research and really weigh out the pros and cons. 

Best of luck, and best regards -----Sandy

Hi Dana

Welcome to another SC girl.  I had VSG almost 2 months ago.  I have lost about 32 lbs since my pre-op appt. 

I started out wanting the lap band but as soon as I started researching the VSG I knew it was a better choice for me and I do have IBS.

Since the DS can be done as a 2 stage procedure, why not ask your dr if the can go head with the first stage which is the VSG and complete it later if you feel you still want the mal-absorption part.  You may be pleasantly surprised and decide you are happy with the sleeve.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck and hope you keep us updated.


Rita

I love my sleeve. I had the band 1st , it was faulty and had to be removed, but I like the sleeve MUCH better anyway.

as far as your ins goes going from the VSG to DS ins should cover because it is considered a revision from the 1st surgery.