Weight loss meds after surgery!

[Ronlih]

Hello All!

I was just wondering if anyone has taken weight loss medication after having bariatric surgery?! I had VSG in March and lost about 50 lbs in four months which was super exciting. Though, I haven't lost any weight since mid-July. My 6month post-op doctor suggested that I start taking Saxenda because Wegovy is on back order tool January. I started at 250 and have been sitting at 200-202 for three months.

I guess my question is, has anyone else taken weight loss medication after having surgery? I feel pretty disappointed! Yes, fifty pounds is something to be proud of, but I feel like I lost 70-80% of my stomach, and now I need to take medication. Wtf! I'm just frustrated because I'm following my plan so I'm not sure why I'm not losing any weight anymore.

 

[southernlady]

Most people decide to revise from the VSG to the DS when the VSG fails them. Have you considered a revision?

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Sometimes, the weight loss stalls for a while and then resumes. You have to decide how much more time you want to give the VSG.

But then, was It the right solution for YOUR problem? A 6’2” person wanting the VSG because s/he needs to lose 50-60 lbs is an ENTIRELY different problem than a 5’2” person who needs to lose 100-150 lbs. Sleeve might work on the tall person. On the short person, the sleeve will help at first, but a stall, and then a regain would NOT be at all unusual.

As southernlady mentioned, many VSG people go for a revision to the full DS. If that’s you, you’re in a good place. It is EVERSOMUCH easier for a skilled surgeon to “turn the VSG” into the full DS. In fact, sometimes surgeons proceed that way intentionally, which we discussed here:
https://bariatricfacts.org/threads/revising-to-ds-11-11-22.16110/#post-121323

 

[Georgepds]

Re.. "But then, was It the right solution for YOUR problem? A 6’2” person wanting the VSG because s/he needs to lose 50-60 lbs is an ENTIRELY different problem than a 5’2” person who needs to lose 100-150 lbs. Sleeve might work on the tall person."
.
Ah go on Spiky... you are dangerously close to saying VSG works for low BMI obesity, and DS for high BMI.... you did mention both excess weight and height

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Re.. "But then, was It the right solution for YOUR problem? A 6’2” person wanting the VSG because s/he needs to lose 50-60 lbs is an ENTIRELY different problem than a 5’2” person who needs to lose 100-150 lbs. Sleeve might work on the tall person."
.
Ah go on Spiky... you are dangerously close to saying VSG works for low BMI obesity, and DS for high BMI.... you did mention both excess weight and height

I did…because if someone has VSG to lose a stubborn 50#, that’s been there forever and isn’t actively gaining, and doesn’t get crazy post-op, it has been known to work. I don’t know how much weight JackieOnLine needed to lose and how it worked for her, but I don’t think I’ve heard her complain! And I have another friend who isn’t here, it went from band to VSG and is a happy camper. But she wasn’t as heavy as I was. (I think my top BMI was about 53. I was never a good candidate for the band, which I got anyway. And I’m pretty sure the VSG would not have been a choice, either.)

But my sister, 5’2” (on a good day) probably weighs well over 300#. The VSG helped her lose about…I dunno…70-80# and regain 100#.

Did I do bad?

 

[southernlady]

JackieOnLine has managed to maintain her weight loss with the VSG but typically it doesn’t happen that way. For most VSGers, regain is pretty much a given cause they actually needed the malabsorption as well.

 

[JackieOnLine]

I don’t know how much weight @JackieOnLine needed to lose and how it worked for her

it went pretty good. I think it was 115 pounds or so, I don't even remember. feels like another life!