Guest guest Posted August 16, 2001 Report Share Posted August 16, 2001 Just my 2 cents worth, but. . . I had the VBG back in 1993. Afterwards I was not allowed to eat any solid foods for the first 2 months. What I was allowed was 2 oz (they gave me a nice glass cup with their logo on it that measured 1oz and 2 oz) of a protein drink every 4 hours. I was also allowed to drink water at the 2oz level every hour. When I graduated to semi-solid foods I was allowed to " eat " 2 oz every 4 hours and add the protein drink for a total of 4 oz. Never got beyond the 2 oz mark. Gradually I was able to add scrambled hamburger, some salad greens, etc. Let me tell you, I was miserable. I was losing the weight, but I was being punished because I could not go to lunch with anyone because I couldn't eat the food. I couldn't eat regular food because if I did and I didn't chew it into mush, it would make me puke. I puked a lot!! Then I found out that ice cream went down really well. Then cake, then cookies and candy. I ate candy. . .mostly hard candy all of the time. I was allowed to drink more volumn of water, and added diet soda to my list of liquids. I drank a 12 pack a day! I drank tons of coffee. I was a caffine nut. Why did I drink so much caffine? Because it dulled the hunger pains. I was never really satisfied. I was always hungry, but if I ate, I puked. Then one day I finally puked so much the band became lose. I felt it go. Then I could eat again. Well, yes, I gained the weight back. I never " learned " how to eat. I did keep off almost 30 lbs from the VBG weight loss. I still puked a lot and did learn to eat slowly. . .well, I grazed all day. Then I learned about the BPD/DS. The only other surgery I had heard about was the RNY and when I went to UCLA, the doctor turned me down flat saying it was not medically necessary. He was not the one regaining the weight, he was not the one with the horrible stomach cramps, he was not the one hurling constantly. He was not the one with the hiatial hernia. I finally got insurance that would cover the BPD/DS. I found a surgeon who would do the surgery and take the insurance I was carrying. I met with Dr. Anthone at USC and told him UCLA turned me down flat and I was desperate. That band was somewhere inside of me. . .I didn't know if it was floating around or what. I knew that during the upper GI the barium did not fill the upper left hand quadrant of my stomach no matter what position they laid me in. . .and I was almost upside down on that table. That I had the VBG, and it failed, and I was on my way back up to past 250! I needed help and could he? He did. Long story short, 8 1/2 hours of surgery and I was officially switched. Now, I lost the weight, I feel great, still have 20 lobs to go. But, the main thing is. . .I feel totally satisfied when I eat. I know what full is. I am not unhappy that I cannot eat more. My body tells me when I have had enough. I never got that with the VBG. I'd personally be afraid to have the RNY knowing that they were taking the functioning stomach away and giving me a little pouch that drops food into the intestines. My stomach may only be the size of a hot dog, but it works by filling and emptying on it's own. The intestines have been moved around, but if I ever got too skinny LOL, they can be rearranged. With RNY, your stomach can NEVER be put back into working order. You may never be able to eat real food again. I couldn't do that. I was punished all my life being fat. I was punished when I ate when I had that VBG. Now, I'm just normal and don't get punished for eating. I read the post on the OSSG revision site, and those people are hurting, wt gain, second and third surgeries, liquids all the time, no real food. Enough said. Blessed Be Cat Woman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2001 Report Share Posted August 16, 2001 Cat Woman, I love to see your posts and follow your story. I had that damnable VGB in 1994, and had much the same experience as you with what went down well. Chips and dip, ice cream, chocolate etc. I never had an " event " where I felt the change in capacity, it just gradually got easier and easier to eat more. In doing my research, I contacted the University of Colorado looking for WLS specialists. They sent me back information stating that they no longer did the VGB because of its satistically bad outcomes (well duh!) Also, they listed the average weight loss MAINTENANCE of RNY at 65% of excess weight lost and maintained at 5 years out. It just wasnt good enough for me. The very last thing I wanted was another failed WLS. I had the DS on 6/21/01. Dr Hess said my stomach was abnormally large, and that the staples were pretty much gone. My stomach had stretched to a huge capacity to compensate for the stapling. I'm down 42lbs and feeling good.Recovery from this is much easier than the VGB. Arent we smart? Meli > Just my 2 cents worth, but. . . > > I had the VBG back in 1993. Afterwards I was not allowed to eat any solid > foods for the first 2 months. What I was allowed was 2 oz (they gave me a > nice glass cup with their logo on it that measured 1oz and 2 oz) of a protein > drink every 4 hours. I was also allowed to drink water at the 2oz level > every hour. > > When I graduated to semi-solid foods I was allowed to " eat " 2 oz every 4 > hours and add the protein drink for a total of 4 oz. Never got beyond the 2 > oz mark. Gradually I was able to add scrambled hamburger, some salad greens, > etc. > > Let me tell you, I was miserable. I was losing the weight, but I was being > punished because I could not go to lunch with anyone because I couldn't eat > the food. I couldn't eat regular food because if I did and I didn't chew it > into mush, it would make me puke. I puked a lot!! > > Then I found out that ice cream went down really well. Then cake, then > cookies and candy. I ate candy. . .mostly hard candy all of the time. I was > allowed to drink more volumn of water, and added diet soda to my list of > liquids. I drank a 12 pack a day! I drank tons of coffee. I was a caffine > nut. > > Why did I drink so much caffine? Because it dulled the hunger pains. I was > never really satisfied. I was always hungry, but if I ate, I puked. > > Then one day I finally puked so much the band became lose. I felt it go. > > Then I could eat again. Well, yes, I gained the weight back. I never > " learned " how to eat. I did keep off almost 30 lbs from the VBG weight loss. > I still puked a lot and did learn to eat slowly. . .well, I grazed all day. > > Then I learned about the BPD/DS. The only other surgery I had heard about > was the RNY and when I went to UCLA, the doctor turned me down flat saying it > was not medically necessary. He was not the one regaining the weight, he was > not the one with the horrible stomach cramps, he was not the one hurling > constantly. He was not the one with the hiatial hernia. > > I finally got insurance that would cover the BPD/DS. I found a surgeon who > would do the surgery and take the insurance I was carrying. I met with Dr. > Anthone at USC and told him UCLA turned me down flat and I was desperate. > That band was somewhere inside of me. . .I didn't know if it was floating > around or what. I knew that during the upper GI the barium did not fill the > upper left hand quadrant of my stomach no matter what position they laid me > in. . .and I was almost upside down on that table. That I had the VBG, and > it failed, and I was on my way back up to past 250! I needed help and could > he? > > He did. Long story short, 8 1/2 hours of surgery and I was officially > switched. > > Now, I lost the weight, I feel great, still have 20 lobs to go. > > But, the main thing is. . .I feel totally satisfied when I eat. I know what > full is. I am not unhappy that I cannot eat more. My body tells me when I > have had enough. I never got that with the VBG. I'd personally be afraid to > have the RNY knowing that they were taking the functioning stomach away and > giving me a little pouch that drops food into the intestines. > > My stomach may only be the size of a hot dog, but it works by filling and > emptying on it's own. The intestines have been moved around, but if I ever > got too skinny LOL, they can be rearranged. With RNY, your stomach can NEVER > be put back into working order. You may never be able to eat real food > again. I couldn't do that. I was punished all my life being fat. I was > punished when I ate when I had that VBG. Now, I'm just normal and don't get > punished for eating. > > I read the post on the OSSG revision site, and those people are hurting, wt > gain, second and third surgeries, liquids all the time, no real food. > > Enough said. > > Blessed Be > > Cat Woman > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.