In Weigh Over my Head: I won! I won! I won!...

Saturday, April 28, 2012

I won! I won! I won!...

this big ol' teddy bear at a baby resale store contest. I won I won I won! It's a major award! ;) (If you got that, you are my friend.) lol Anyway, I was out shopping and entered a drawing and won. The kids love it. I look at it as something else to clean... :) The great part is that I was out shopping, enjoying this beautiful day with 4 of my kids. My older son is camping with my husband for boy scouts so I was on my own and managed just fine other than missing him. It feels great to be self sufficient! Now, I am off to put my major award in my front window so all the neighbors can gaze with admiration. :)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...: Are you going to put it in your front window for all the neighbors to see?? :-); April 28, 2012 at 7:59 PM
Lap Band Gal said...: Is it FRAAA-GEEE-LAY? Lol :); April 28, 2012 at 11:55 PM
Sheila said...: Awesome bear and awesome that you won! And how cool to say that the bear is BIGGER than you are! :-) It's truly adorable and I bet the kids are SO excited!; April 29, 2012 at 9:02 AM
Linda Sherwood said...: In order to put a major award in your front window, you will need to find some fishnet stockings for it. :); April 29, 2012 at 9:09 AM
Lori said...: Congratulations on the major award! Was it Italian, you know, fra-gi-le? That is one of my favorite movies.

Congratulations even more on not being able to be seen behind the major award.
Lori; April 29, 2012 at 2:42 PM
Sarah said...: That is a major award! Is it Italian? Display it in the window!

Sarah
notaneffingdiet.blogspot.com; April 29, 2012 at 5:47 PM
Julie said...: Hey girl. I just spent the last little bit catching up and you know girl, you don't need to be ashamed or upset or worried or any of those things. You look amazing, you've done excellent on losing 70lbs and more will follow, it just all take lots of time and effort and work and you can do this.
Thank you for stopping by the other day. Enjoy your wee ones because they do grow up amazingly fast.
Take care and have a blessed week!!; April 29, 2012 at 8:43 PM
The Lovely One said...: You toss that bear aside and take a picture of the real major award: You! Maybe in some fishnet stockings and tight t-shirt that says FRAGILE...; April 30, 2012 at 11:23 PM
Taryl said...: Far less tacky than a leg lamp ;)

Congratulations on winning! I have such terrible luck I have only won one drawing in my life, that I can think of. It's fun either way (and that teddy is MASSIVE!).; May 2, 2012 at 8:21 PM
XBIGJIMX said...: Put it in the front window!!!; June 2, 2012 at 12:53 AM

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).

Let's Shrink!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

I won! I won! I won!...

10 comments: