In Weigh Over my Head: September 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012

Some weird things... (and some party pics!:)

TMI alert! So I had my "period" for SIXTEEN days this month. My PCOS is RAGING right now and it sucks. 2nd weird thing... Lately I've been feeling some restriction??!! Haven't felt ANY since 5 months out of surgery and now I catch myself getting full VERY fast. I'm not complaining about that, but the down side is I am hungry again in about 30 minutes to an hour. Yes, I eat protein. Third weird thing... my hair is falling out... FAST. Especially on top. I had some hair loss about one month out of surgery which was way over a year ago but it was short lived. Can't understand why I am getting it again.

I have appointments next month with an endocrinologist, orthopedic surgeon and a hemotologist. I might as well take advantage of this time trying to dig deeper than just weight loss when it comes to my health.

Here are some pics from my oldest daugher's 13th birthday... :)

Below: the kids all waiting for my daughter in the arcade...

Below: the cake and treat bag table... the cake was amazing! My friend did such a great job and it was soooo cute for a 13 year old. Real "Cake Boss" type stuff. :)

Below: the little specs on the tables are fake jewels in her birthday colors.

There are also candles on the table.

Below: the bowling lanes...

Total: 37 kids! :)

Friday, September 21, 2012

So busy, no time to think

I teach preschool, watch a daycare child, I have 4 out of 5 kids in activities. (dance, football, scouts, air force academy, church groups, flute lessons, yearbook, swim school...) I am also a room mom, football team manager, church music conductor, mom and wife. Every day, all day I am on the move. Last night I was up late making the treat bags for my daughter's 13th birthday. We are having a "team dream" party for her at the bowling alley with 30 friends. Pizza, drinks, bowling, laser tag and arcade games. Not to mention a custom cake, table decorations, new outfit, treat bags, fake rhinestones to cover the table, a professional photographer and set up. Here's the thing... I am tired. REALLY tired. I won't lie. But yesterday I had a moment where I broke down and cried and not from being overwhelmed. It was because I was soooo grateful to be able to do these things. I wasn't directing others from a chair. I am doing all these things on my own. 100% me. When I am teaching preschool, I have so much fun with the kids. They are so happy to be there and have no idea what things used to be like for me. I was walking to different stores with my older daughter last night to find just the right bday outfit :) when I realized that was a moment less than 2 years ago I could not have had. I can't say I still don't think about my weight every day. I need the revision but it will have to wait until the loan is paid off from the house flood. In the mean time, I am LIVING. I still wonder why food addiction has such a grip on me. I know I would eat much more if I was able and whether or not my surgery worked to it's full extent or not, at least it preforms the duties it needs to in order to save me from me. I am not logging my calories these days but I need too... when I have time. :)

Pic of the day... the treat bags... :)

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Moving on...

Ok, I think I have made a decision to stop feeling sorry for myself... I am going to try 1200 calories per day for 30 days and see if I can make it. If for no other reason, to prove to myself that I can have control. I know I have to be under 800 calories for weight loss, but not gaining is good at this point too. There's no point in going back to where I was because of this set back. I have too much going for me to go back to that place. I need prayers. :)

My Weight Loss Surgery - NOT THE BAND OR BYPASS!

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) - Also known as Sleeve Gastrectomy, Vertical Gastrectomy

The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure (also called Sleeve Gastrectomy, Vertical Gastrectomy, Greater Curvature Gastrectomy, Parietal Gastrectomy, Gastric Reduction, Logitudinal Gastrectomy and even Vertical Gastroplasty) is performed by approximately 20 surgeons worldwide. This forum is titled “VSG forum” to include the two most common terms for the procedure (vertical and sleeve). The earliest forms of this procedure were conceived of by Dr. Jamieson in Australia (Long Vertical Gastroplasty, Obesity Surgery 1993)- and by Dr. Johnston in England in 1996 (Magenstrasse and Mill operation- Obesity Surgery 2003). Dr Gagner in New York, refined the operation to include gastrectomy(removal of stomach) and offered it to high risk patients in 2001. Several surgeons worldwide have adopted the procedure and have offered it to low BMI and low risk patients as an alternative to laparoscopic banding of the stomach.

It generates weight loss by restricting the amount of food (and therefore calories) that can be eaten by removing 85% or more of the stomach without bypassing the intestines or causing any gastrointestinal malabsorption. It is a purely restrictive operation. It is currently indicated as an alternative to the Lap-Band® procedure for low weight individuals and as a safe option for higher weight individuals.

Anatomy

This procedure generates weight loss solely through gastric restriction (reduced stomach volume). The stomach is restricted by stapling and dividing it vertically and removing more than 85% of it. This part of the procedure is not reversible. The stomach that remains is shaped like a very slim banana and measures from 1-5 ounces (30-150cc), depending on the surgeon performing the procedure. The nerves to the stomach and the outlet valve (pylorus) remain intact with the idea of preserving the functions of the stomach while drastically reducing the volume. By comparison, in a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach is divided, not removed, and the pylorus is excluded. The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass stomach can be reconnected (reversed) if necessary. Note that there is no intestinal bypass with this procedure, only stomach reduction. The lack of an intestinal bypass avoids potentially costly, long term complications such as marginal ulcers, vitamin deficiencies and intestinal obstructions.

Comparison to prior Gastroplasties (stomach stapling of the 70-80s)

The Vertical Gastrectomy is a significant improvement over prior gastroplasty procedures for a number of reasons:

1) Rather than creating a pouch with silastic rings or polypropylene mesh, the VG actually resects or removes the majority of the stomach. The portion of the stomach which is removed is responsible for secreting Ghrelin, which is a hormone that is responsible for appetite and hunger. By removing this portion of the stomach rather than leaving it in-place, the level of Ghrelin is reduced to near zero, actually causing loss of or a reduction in appetite (Obesity Surgery, 15, 1024-1029, 2005). Currently, it is not known if Ghrelin levels increase again after one to two years. Patients do report that some hunger and cravings do slowly return. An excellent study by Dr. Himpens in Belgium(Obesity Surgery 2006) demonstrated that the cravings in a VSG patient 3 years after surgery are much less than in LapBand patients and this probably accounts for the superior weight loss.

2) The removed section of the stomach is actually the portion that “stretches” the most. The long vertical tube shaped stomach that remains is the portion least likely to expand over time and it creates significant resistance to volumes of food. Remember, resistance is greatest the smaller the diameter and the longer the channel. Not only is appetite reduced, but very small amounts of food generate early and lasting satiety(fullness).

3) Finally, by not having silastic rings or mesh wrapped around the stomach, the problems which are associated with these items are eliminated (infection, obstruction, erosion, and the need for synthetic materials). An additional discussion based on choice of procedures is below.

Alternative to a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

The Vertical Gastrectomy is a reasonable alternative to a Roux en Y Gastric Bypass for a number of reasons

Because there is no intestinal bypass, the risk of malabsorptive complications such as vitamin deficiency and protein deficiency is minimal.

There is no risk of marginal ulcer which occurs in over 2% of Roux en Y Gastric Bypass patients.

The pylorus is preserved so dumping syndrome does not occur or is minimal.

There is no intestinal obstruction since there is no intestinal bypass.

It is relatively easy to modify to an alternative procedure should weight loss be inadequate or weight regain occur.

The limited two year and 6 year weight loss data available to date is superior to current Banding and comparable to Gastric Bypass weight loss data(see Lee, Jossart, Cirangle Surgical Endoscopy 2007).