If its what you think will help you reaach your goals then yes... you should do it. VSG can be a wonderful tool to help us, but please consider all the options out there. such as lapband. I know some Dr's require a certian amount to lose before they will consider you for the sleeve.

good luck to you no matter what you choose

Having gone through a lap band that didn't work, I wouldn't recommend a lap band. I found I'm one of millions that had to have it converted to VSG. If I had it to do all over again, I don't know if I would do it. I like the fact that most of the weight is off. I went from 314 to a current 201 at 5'8" (size 28 to size 14).

What I have to do now to maintain is the same as what I should have been doing before, eating healthy, eating less, and exercising. The big difference is that I lost a lot of muscle, and have the hanging skin, especially on the arms. Maybe I would have had that no matter what, and maybe I wouldn't have as much.

I agree with lee91356. It really should only be done if there are medical problems, not the scale numbers are wrong. Think about it, this is surgery. Every time you go under the knife you take a chance of dying. If the result is the same in the end, you have to eat healthy, eat smaller portions, and exercise, do you really want to take the chance of surgery?

I don't think it is crazy for wanting to get healthy. However, while I was going thru the medical supervised diet pre-op Vgs I was following a 1500 calorie on MFP and showed a continual loss and found it so much easier than ever before. I had wondered if I should still go thru with the surgery, but knowing me and my dieting history I knew I needed to do it.

If you are serious about this you may want to check to see if your hospital has a website you can browse. What are their requirements? BMI, co-morbiditys... Do they have an informational session you can attend to ask more questions? Mine has one each month and then the support groups monthly once you have decided to have and after you have your surgery. Yes it is a long process but I think some research up front may save you some time to figure out whether or not you are even a candidate.

I don't think you are crazy at all!!!!! I have struggled with weight all of my life. I finally decided to undergo VSG and had my surger 1/23/13. I am 5'4", starting weight 226, surgery weight 214, current weight 209. I have told only a select few that I had this done because their are so many negative (uniformed) people out there when it comes to WLS. VSG is only a tool for me and I still have to do a TON of hard work. The first few days have been hard but yesterday was a great day. I am starting to love my sleeve. I think it is just the tool I need to finally get a hold of my weight.

Good luck with your decision!

Don't confuse the surgeons requirements to have VSG with INSURANCE requirements. Because VSG is not malabsorptive, many surgeons will do it even if you have a lower BMI.

Of course, it's still SURGERY, and there are potential complications and you have to weigh the risks and benefits.

Nope not crazy at all! I started at 219 and had mine on 1/29/13 with Dr Thomas Borland. He's located in Louisiana and I paid $9800 flat out of pocket. I'm 5 days post op and have lost 10 lbs already - Best decision I ever made.

Hello all!

I'm 5'6" and currently 216 lbs (started at 231). I've struggled with weight fluctuations since I was 11. Some years I was super heavy - others years I was really skinny. Now that I've had my first child (well..3.5 years ago) and have hypothyroidism - I find it nearly impossible to lose weight. I've only lost 16 pounds in the last 5 months. I log my calories and I usually exercise 5-6 times per week. I've quit soda and cut way back on bread, pasta, etc. My goal weight is about 135 lbs (which is a healthy BMI for my height).

Am I crazy for wanting the VSG when I only have 81 lbs to lose?!

I posted a topic similiar to this on the regular forum recently and got lots of negative feedback. People don't seem to like anyone considering surgery. Anyone who can provide information would be very much appreciated! Please be nice.

talk only to those that have had VSG - ask do any of us regret it? VERY VERY few I think, and i don't think i have met anyone...go check out Obesity Help's forums - much larger community of VSG'ers.

I will be honest...have i lost all my weight? NOOOO ....but that is on me .....do i want my stomach back? I don't miss it one bit

I'm another person who doesn't regret her VSG one bit. I'm also not quite to goal, but about 19 lbs away - I'm 18 months out from surgery and feel like I eat like a "normal" person now (appropriate portion sizes). The VSG was an awesome tool to help me drop the majority of my weight, but as I discovered during the holidays, you can absolutely eat (and drink) around the sleeve if you really want to. Like some of the others said, you might want to explore various options with your weight loss center (mine also had a non-surgical option), but at the same time if you have weighed all the pros and cons and think VSG is the best option for you, then go for it!!

Great thread and many great points. I had VSG 5 weeks ago today. I'm 52 and considered a "lightweight" in the WLS world at a starting weight of "only" 220 pounds. I can't stress enough that the decision to have or not have surgery is a very individual one. I struggled with this decsion and opted to have it for the following reasons:

1. A 4 decade history of marginal (20-25#) weight loss with regaining it every time.
2. Heavy ALWAYS - from childhood on. I should weigh 140 at the most and have no recollection of EVER weighing that! Probably for 5 minutes in Junior High!
3. A family history of stroke and heart disease.
Most importantly...
4. Multiple health concerns aside from the numbers on the scale, including High BP for the past 30 years, borderline cholesteral and sleep apnea.

At 5'3" I carried my 220 pounds evenly... I wore a size 14-16 and looked OK - my profile pic was about 215.... Vanity alone would have never driven me to this procedure. My metabolic issues did. Let me tell you, the result has been nothing short of miraculous! In ONE WEEK I was off 2/3 of my meds, and today I am off ALL meds!. I've only lost 29 pounds so far (10 before surgery, 19 since). I've lost this much before on my own and have NEVER seen the resulting changes to BP - even with meds and weight loss and working out it's always been 130 to 140's over 90's. I work out regularly and have for years - I've run (OK - not fast but I finish!) 5K's, do Bikram yoga, etc) with no change in BP. One week after surgery and it was in the 90's over 60's! Too low! My surgeon was not surprised and said he considers himself a metabolic specialist, not a weight loss specialist. In fact, the medical community is seeing great results with people of normal weight with certain diseases such as diabetes. See link below...

http://asmbs.org/benefits-of-bariatric-surgery/

Anyway, if I never lose another pound (and I'm sure I will!) I'm glad I went through with this for just the opportunity to control my BP! I had NO problems (the anesthesia was the worst part! My throat hurt more than anything!) and was back at the gym and work after 2 weeks.

Friend me if you like - I'd be happy to be a sounding board for anyone struggling with this decision. I totally respect those who do it on their own, by the way. Wish I could have, but not sorry I made this choice at all! Minimal side effects with the sleeve, but it is a major decision. Good luck and I'm here if you ever need a sounding board!

Hi -

I'm writing because i'm startled by our similarities! I was 240 at my highest weight and never went below 200 prior to surgery. my dream would be to be near 120....but i don't think that'll ever happen.

The day of my surgery i weighed 224 pounds. I have a 3.5 year old (june 3rd b-day) and i have never, ever been able to lose weight without medication.

My surgeon did tell me that if i was any smaller i would not qualify - but I did....and i'm thankful every single day that I did. My only concern for you is your insurance. Mine required outstanding health issues (i HAD diabetes and horrible IBS). I had to have 6 months of nutritional counselling and have a psych. eval. I had to give 5 years of a weight history - via my medical doctor...

As i said - every single day - i wake up happy that i did it and i am firm that it was the best decision i ever made. I spoke with my doctor and several friends prior to doing it and they all agreed it was the way to go. I speak to you now, 45 pounds lighter, able to play with my daughter MUCH more, no longer a diabetic and no longer SUFFERING from IBS.

Make the change...

Please, feel free to write me with any questions you may have - i'm an open book!

I dont think your crazy at all! and I had the same thoughts..I kept thinking.. im really not THAT big.. do I really need it... I initially went in thinking lapband.. did lots of reseach and decided VSG was a better choice.. started going and doing all the necessary steps.. I started at 1st Dr appt at 252.. lost 10 lbs pre op.. they ask you to lose 10% of what you want to lose.. to show that you will put the effort into it.. Surgery day 3/14 242.. today 5 days out 232!!!! I feel great .. energized.. and like I finally have control.. my body tells me.. very clearly when im done.. no pigging out or eating just to eat...

hi i am 2 weeks post op. 5ft 2" and weighed 186lb.. bmi 33. I went to mexico for VSG and i am so pleased i did! I have a very large family history of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes (and whilst I had none of these at 40 years) i knew it was only a matter of time, as my weight was all abdominal. obviosly my insurance would not cover this so i self paid, this is a very personal decison and i was suffering mainly with low self esteem and depression directly related to my weight, I am not wanting to be or expect to be a super model! but if i can feel better about myself and avoid the obesity related conditions then its so worth it. I am a huge advocate that just because you are a 'lightweight" doesnt mean we shouldnt consider this surgery, i did not want to get to a BMI of 40 so decided to deal with it before i got there! i was typically gaining 10-15lbs a year so knew it wouldnt be long before i was there.. my advice go for it! rachel.

As most have said this is a very personal decision. I am 47 and my starting BMI hovered around 40. My insurance did not cover WLS so it did not matter whether I met the criteria - but I did because I also have high blood pressure and intermittent hypothyroidism.

I have 25 years of struggling. About four years ago my husband asked me if I wanted WLS and I was certain the answer was no.

When I did the research on VSG it was like the storm had cleared and the answer was there. Not the answer to all my problems, but the understanding that this could be a valuable tool along with other tools I have picked up along the way. I had broken my ankle a year ago and somehow lost whatever it was that kept me on my road bike. But even when biking and doing triathlons by BMI was still 35 and I was taking high blood pressure meds.

I am just post-op Day 5, but I feel good about my decision and I will not waster a moment wondering why I didn't do it sooner - I did it when the storm cleared and the answer was clearer. Best of luck to you during your decision making phase.