In Weigh Over my Head: December 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

One of the darkest days in US history - I'm out

There are people whose kids are NOT coming home from school EVER again. I don't really give a crap about weight loss, or anything else so stupid compared to their pain. Just too much in this world is so evil. I have seen it first hand with this blog. Evil, sick, demented stalkers who are capable of almost anything. You never know about people in this world. The lowest form of life is someone that would hurt and KILL a little baby. He walked in to a school and killed a class of kindergartners??!!! Sorry if I don't give a sh!t about your weigh-in today. I really hope for the best with everyone out there in Internet land, but I can't see the point of all this "look at me" stuff when there is so much that is going on in the world. (I'm sooo guilty of using this forum for validation) I am so glad I have met a handful of great people here who WILL be my true friends forever. I really appreciate all the love and support from the sane group of you who are so giving and caring and have left some GREAT comments when I needed a friend or support. I need a break. Really. Not a fake one that people post about then they are back in 2 days because they need the attention. Peace Out.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

AAAHHH! I don't know why I do this to myself... so I guess I do have something to blog about...

My mom and her husband are coming for Christmas. They used to call me "two tons" as a nickname when I was in high school and beyond. I can't express enough the level of anxiety I have over their visit. I feel that all they will notice was that my WLS was a "failure." I feel like a failure enough as it is without a reminder. So... not that it will help, but I am going on a liquid diet for the next 14 days until they arrive in order to feel like I will at least lose some bloat. It may not help at all but maybe it will help me feel more in control? I am scared. Scared of being stared at, looked down upon. I LOVE Christmas and I'm sure they will not say anything to my face, but what is said behind my back to other family members always gets back to me. I hate being a fat failure. I hate that I am stuck. I hate that I have yet to have the Christmas card pic without a fat face. Oh man. So much for a Merry Christmas. :( I just have to keep reminding myself all that I have to be grateful for and play that over and over in my head.

On a happier note, here is my house all lit up...

Last weekend we were able to go to the downtown Christmas parade where the parking was a long distance from the street, but I made it just fine thanks to my surgery.

Today is also my 9th wedding anniversary so I will bore you with some wedding pics... :) I am sad when I see how fat I was. I could hardly stand. My husband had to hold my hands during the ceremony so I would not fall because my back hurt so bad. It's kinda painful to look at these pics, but I am sooo grateful to have a husband that loves me for me. Fat, infertility, medical issues, strokes, ALL before he married me. At least I know he didn't marry me for my looks. :)

Dee that does the "Dee's Tips and Trivia" is the red head in the middle. :)

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Quick peek at our Christmas tree... :)

Before...

After...

I hope everyone is enjoying the season!

Dee's Tips and Trivia...

Previous Questions –

~ In 1914, President Wilson denounced what material object as a symbol of “the arrogance of wealth”

Automobile

~ Which country leads the world in the mining and production of silver?

Mexico

~ What university did Bill Gates drop out of?

Harvard

Tips –

~ Add a capful of hair cream rinse to the final rinse water when washing sweaters.

~ Spray children’s drawings and artwork with hairspray to keep colors from fading and smudging.

~ Righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Trivia –

~ Intelligent people have more copper in their hair.

~ The average number of people airborne over the US in any given hour is 61,000.

~ In Shakespeare’s time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence, the phrase…”Good night, sleep tight.”

This date in history (November 30^th)

~ 1782 – The US and Britain signed the preliminary peace articles in Paris, ending the Revolutionary War.

~ 1835 – Samuel Clemens was born.

~ 1940 – Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were married.

~ 1982 – Thriller was released. Can you believe it’s been 30 years?

~ 2004 – Ken Jennings streak of 74 wins on Jeopardy came to an end.

Questions –

~ What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers have in common?

~ What is the most popular boat name?

~ It developed in the early 1970’s simply as a form of exercise. In 1981 it became a competitive sport for individuals and groups. What is it called?

Quote –

“To get ahead and stay ahead, use your head.”

Enjoy your weekend!

Dee

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).