New to Soulcysters - Considering VSG

Mrs.Phillips · 03-19-2009, 12:24 PM

Hi All - I found this forum last night and I'm so excited. I can't wait to get to my 10 posts so I can see your photos and links. I am 31 years old and was dx with PCO at 13. I have a 3 yr old son by IVF. My biggest PCO related problem right now is my weight and facial hair. Both are out of control and I am desperate. I have been cosidering VSG aka the Sleeve. Have any of you had this done? I wil probabily go to Nashville for the surgery and will be self pay. I am 5'5" and 250lbs, but my insurance wil not cover any wls. I was disapointed to hear that PCO symptoms especially the facial hair do not resolve with weightloss, but I still think it's something I need to do for my health. I'm looking forward to leaning more.

Erin

goddess819 · 03-19-2009, 04:37 PM

Hi Erin! Welcome to SC & welcome to the WLS forum! I had the RNY but do know 3 people who've had the VSG (one of them here on SC...her name is Karli). Is there a reason why you've picked this particular surgery over any of the others (the DS, RNY or band)? As far as the PCOS symptoms...all of mine (except for the facial hair) did go away with my weight loss of 114lb. I'm 5'3 and my top weight was 254 when I had my RNY. I got to 140 and then got pregnant at 16 months post op with my older daughter who's now 2.5, then at 3.5 years post op I got pregnant again with my 2nd daughter who's now 3 months old. I'm now sitting at 164 but I'm determined to get the rest of the weight off.

Anyway did you check out the WLS FAQ at the top of the page? If you have questions...feel free to ask and I'll be more than happy to help answer them. Hopefully some of the other Divas will pop in and say hi.

GL!

Mrs.Phillips · 03-19-2009, 11:32 PM

Hi! Thanks for the welcome. I'm looking at the GSV because it seems to be safer than Gastric Bypass and still very effective. I undestand that it hasn't been around as long as RNY. I don't want Lapband because I don't want to worry about fills or slipping. I'm still open to advice. I'd love to hear what others have to say.

goddess819 · 03-20-2009, 06:23 AM

That was my reasoning too for not wanting the band...it was just too much maintenance for me. Just cut me and get it over with. I'm happy with my RNY decision. I'm sugar sensitive which is a blessing in disquise and I can no longer tolerate milk (but have no problem with cheeses or yogurts) to more than 2oz at a time but I love my RNY. Anyway Karli is doing very well with her VSG as well as my other friend (although unfortunately both did have a leak which led to additional surgery & ICU stays) and my 3rd friend whos had the VSG is VERY newly post op and had surgery on Monday but so far is doing well as can be expected.

If you have questions about the RNY I'd be happy to help answer them...I'm used to questions as I've been speaking as a RNY post op for my surgeon as his informational seminars for the past 4 years.

Mrs.Phillips · 03-21-2009, 12:00 AM

Wow, both had leaks? Is that common for VSG? I thought the risk was about 1% I had originally wanted RNY but the more I read about the sleeve the more I liked it. Maybe i should reconsider?

goddess819 · 03-21-2009, 03:00 AM

Yes and no. A leak can happen with any surgery which involves cutting of the stomach/intestines. Due to the way the stomach is cut with the VSG there is a larger incision to suture which results in a larger risk for leak.

With the VSG you are cut like this:

See the long incision? That's what makes the risk for a leak higher.

With the RNY that I had, there is less incision area that needs to be sutured...the RNY looks like this:

So far as I know my 3rd friend who had the VSG does not have a leak and she's 4 days post op now.

Move2Lose · 03-25-2009, 12:19 AM

I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early 20's (now 38) and I am having a VSG to deal with my weight once and for all. I am 5'1" and 232lbs with co-morbidities. I am not expecting to be 'skinny' but I feel that although I may not reach goal with the VSG, if I was to go with the DS or RNY I might loose too much to be healthy (If I was heavier I would most likely go with one of those surgeries though).

I have chosen the sleeve over RNY or DS as the weight loss is similar, without the complications/malabsorption component. But - I always have the option to revise to a DS later down the track if necessary.

Any weight loss surgery is simply a tool - without a major lifestyle change the weight will eventually come back, but the VSG suits my lifestyle more that the others - I ruled the lapband out straight away - too high maintenance and too high risk of malfunction or other problems.

I hope I can have my surgery next month, fingers crossed.

Mrs.Phillips · 03-25-2009, 12:04 PM

Move2Lose - I'm right there with you on the reasons for choosing the sleeve. I know no matter what I'm going to have to do the work. The sleeve just apeals more to me. Every now and then I wonder if I should just go for RNY, but I keep coming back to the sleeve. Are you on the OH site too?

SunnyInSeattle1 · 03-25-2009, 12:58 PM

Welcome movetolose and Mrs.Phillips. Im Sunny. I had RNY a little over 5 months ago. I was 378 on surgery day. So needlesstosay I had alot more weight to lose then you guys. I will say, I will do it again. Kristy knows what she is talking about. OH is great too. I am on OH too. Good luck to both of you.

goddess819 · 03-25-2009, 02:29 PM

Move2loose - Congrats on deciding to have surgery to regain health. It's not an easy decision to make. You are right about the option to revise to the DS later, and it might. According to my surgeon the 5 year success rate for the VSG is around 30% and many patients do end up going back in for the DS portion of the surgery. I wish you the best of luck with your procedure and I'm glad that you found one that fits your weight loss needs. I'm also glad that you know that it's not a cure...but just a tool. What appts do you have left before your surgery is scheduled? Anyway if you like there is a WLS buddy group on the Diet & Exercise Buddies forum called WLS Divas. It's open to anyone who'd like to join a buddy group and is either going to have WLS or has had WLS.