Fitness Romance Saga
Gastric Sleeve: Pull Your Stomach Out Through Mouth to Lose Weight
August 25th, 2010 • 27 Comments | Leave a Comment »
This is not like that time you got drunk and threw up on your friend. And on the floor. And on yourself. That kind of tragedy only pulls out what’s IN your stomach. What I’m talking about is literally pulling OUT your stomach through your mouth. It’s a new procedure called Sleeve Gastrectomy, aka, the Gastric Sleeve, and it’s being called an alternative to gastric bypass.
According to FoxNews.com, the gist is this:
“…..surgeons use an endoscope to reach the stomach through the mouth and pull the divided portion out. The stomach is closed with staples applied through the abdomen, leaving the patient with a stomach about the size of a banana.”
So, yeah, the surgeon goes in through your mouth and pulls out 80-85% of your stomach. The remaining 10-15% is formed into a banana shape, and woallah! There is your new stomach. This promotes a sensation of fullness so you drop the weight fast. But don’t ask for your stomach back. The procedure is irreversible.
Fox News states that Connie Harris, from Carlsbad, California, had the procedure done 3-weeks ago (on August 3, 2010) and has already lost 25 pounds. She is considered one of the first Gastric Sleeve out-the-mouth patients worldwide. After going on a liquid diet, Connie got down to 200 pounds before her surgery was performed. Her extreme stomach makeover now causes her to ingest only 500 calories a day.
A quick search of the Internet shows the price tag for the gastric banana stomach to be anywhere from $7,000 – $10,000 or more. I have decided to help you cash in this groundbreaking action with my very own Gastric Sleeve affiliate program. You will receive 30% commission for every surgery sold when you tell people to click this magic link.
27 Comments
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Shannon August 25th, 2010 at 11:45
The media really never gets things right. It’s not THAT “new”. She is NOT one of the first gastric sleeve procedures worldwide. I worked for a surgeon who performed this surgery back in 2001 (although he did not remove the stomach through the mouth). Insurance can (and does) cover procedures like this. Connie, who only had surgery 3 weeks ago…well she just had a major operation. She probably is only getting 500 calories now. That’s only while she’s on a modified diet. She will not be eating 500 calories forever.
Now, back to my regularly scheduled protein shake…
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Josie Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 11:50 am
I suppose I should bitch slap the Fox News source. But does this mean you’re not in signing up for my Gastric affiliate program?
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skippymom Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 11:56 am
@Shannon, maybe the “new” part of the surgery is that they are now able to take it out through your mouth instead of the invasiveness of cutting open the patient’s stomach? Otherwise – it is pretty much the same old surgery like your boss performed. And insurance doesn’t always cover this surgery – the patient has to have a documented history of trying to lose weight that failed. Insurance companies are incredibly picky these days [moreso than in 2001].
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skippymom Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@Shannon – and Yum did say “gastric sleeve out of mouth” as opposed to just a gastric sleeve. So yep, that would pretty much make this chick the first on the forefront of this procedure. I say ewwww, tho. And you are right about the 500 calories, but here is hoping she doesn’t gain it back.
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Josie Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
@skippymom, I edited to add “out the mouth” for clarification, because I guess my title was too confusing?
JourneyBeyondSurvival August 25th, 2010 at 13:38
Well, I do know that less invasive measures are better for everybody. Anesthesia is used for a shorter amount of time, healing is quicker, infection is reduced and operating time decreased. Costs are lower.
I’m a fan of laparoscopy and endoscopy in general with surgeries. But I do think it’s a good idea to have documentation of attempts to lose weight and failing. There are many permanent effects that should really be avoided at all costs.
Other than that I have no idea what I’m talking about.
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Josie Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Well, uh, you sounded all impressive ‘n stuff until that last sentence. Do you want me to delete that line? …eh, never mind. You gotta live with it now.
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Jasmine @ Eat Move Write August 25th, 2010 at 13:48
I had gastric bypass (NOT sleeve) five years ago. That in combination with working out and eating well helped me lose 200 pounds, and I’ve maintained that loss now for three years. I struggle every single day to keep it off. That said, I’m not really a pro-weight loss surgery girl. It’s a last option life or death kind of thing to me. The idea of taking your stomach out through your mouth is … scary. Although, I realize laproscopic surgeries are way less invasive, so I suppose doing a surgery this way is maybe less dangerous? God, I don’t know. It’s just weird.
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Josie Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Hey Jasmine. Your results are fantastic, so it’s interesting to hear that you aren’t necessarily pro-surgery (which is fine, of course). I watch those surgical weight loss documentaries on TV, so I understand how badly some people need this. I wish you continued success!
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Jasmine @ Eat Move Write Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@Josie, Just to clarify. I’m not “pro-WLS surgery” in the same way that a heart patient isn’t necessarily “pro-heart bypass surgery.” I don’t believe its an end-all be-all cure for obesity. For me, I was told I was dying. I could barely walk. I’d been dieting all my life. It was a choice I made, knowing full well that I could actually die from the surgery itself. It bothers me A LOT when I see all these billboards for the lap-band procedure. Here in california, it’s actually advertised as 1-800-Get-Thin. They say in the commercials “Eat whatever you want, and still lose weight.” That’s not solving any problems. It’s perpetuating the problems we have and making them worse.
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Josie Reply:
August 25th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Thank you for sharing. It really sounds like you made the right decision. Too bad California ads need to get a grip. That’s terrible.
Michael / South Bay Foodies August 25th, 2010 at 16:34
Not gonna work for me. First, even HALF of my stomach won’t fit through my mouth. Second, if my left-over stomach was shaped like a banana i might get
hungryconfused and eat that too.[Reply]
Shannon August 25th, 2010 at 16:35
Perhaps I should have also mentioned I had gastric bypass surgery 11 years ago. I always forget to mention that… However, like Jasmine, I also don’t believe it is an end-all be-all cure for obesity. It’s alot of hard work. Honestly, it doesn’t get any easier. I still have dreams of Big Macs, it’s just now they’re nightmares. :)
I love reading your blog. Even after weight loss surgery, I’m still technically on a “diet”. And perhaps I will sign up for the affiliate program. hehe
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Quix August 25th, 2010 at 18:22
I like my stomach, even though it gets me in trouble. I always thought that it would be the easy way to get the surgery when I was 265 lbs, but it sounds like its just as complicated as figuring it out on your own…
Think I’ll pass on the affiliate program, sorry. Maybe next time!
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ShrinkingGirl (Rhonda) August 25th, 2010 at 20:13
500 calories a day.
Doesn’t seem like enough…..but whatever.
These types of surgeries have their place, like most things do… I know several people who have had them. It just makes me sad when someone has to do something permanent to their body though I’m sure being able to lose the weight makes the individual feel the opposite of sad.
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Melissa @ Journey to Marvelous August 25th, 2010 at 20:56
Interesting…thanks for posting about this. Gastric surgery isn’t right for me but I know a few people who have done it with varying degrees of success. This isn’t a surgery I’ve ever heard of before (“out the mouth”)….
Oh, and–Nice affiliate link….LOL!! You crack me up!!!
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Lori (Finding Radiance) August 25th, 2010 at 22:15
Actually it isn’t permanent. You can stretch the pouch back out again over time. WLS is a tool, not an answer.
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Rita @ The Giggly Bits August 26th, 2010 at 11:40
That mental picture is crazy.
Between that and scoping out colons it makes me very glad one can be unconscious at a few choice times in our lives.
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Lisa Whitten August 26th, 2010 at 12:37
Great mental picture! thanks!
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shana August 27th, 2010 at 13:07
I think you may be misinformed. I had this procedure done a bit over 2 years ago, they don’t pull it out your mouth. They did mine by making five small incesions in my stomach. I’ve lost 100lbs!
http://www.100lbsandcounting.com
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Josie Reply:
August 27th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
Hey Shana! Congrats on your weight loss. I believe the part that is new is the method they use to remove of the incised stomach area. FoxNews reports that they can pull it out of your mouth now. I don’t know why they would want to do that in the first place. Maybe it’s safer? I’m not really sure.
Comments are only delayed when a link is posted. Those have to be approved first.
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Sandra Reply:
November 3rd, 2010 at 3:32 pm
@Josie, Shana is right. There is no physical way they can get it out of your mouth unless they make another incision in your stomach or esophagus. Why would they risk that rather than take it out of an already existing hole? Makes no sense.
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paul kent August 28th, 2010 at 6:03
I am going to have the gastric sleeve within the next two months. I am overweight by 100 lbs and have cardiac problems. I am high risk but if i do not have the surgery I probably will not live more than 5-10 years. I am 61 now and this is my last chance at life. I realize this will be a life changing procedure but I am ready and anxious to have it done. I have researched all of the weight loss surgeries and this procedure is my best option. Good luck to anyone who is going to have this done and congratulations for anyone who has had the courage to do it allready.
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Sandra November 3rd, 2010 at 15:17
I want someone to explain to me how they get the stomach out your mouth. The surgery is done just how it looks in the picture. So now someone has to tell me how they get the stomach that is being removed inside the stomach that is left so that it can come out your mouth? Or do they cut a hole in the esophogus? Or does it make more sense that they pull it out one of the 5 slits they make in your abdomen to do the procedure laproscopically (which is, in fact, what they do). Just seems like common sense to me – but hey, what do I know?
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John Reply:
November 3rd, 2010 at 3:24 pm
@Sandra, Well she did say it came from Fox news. And we all know how good they are on fact checking and unbaised reporting.
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Sandra Reply:
November 3rd, 2010 at 3:31 pm
@John, Isn’t that the truth! Still, there should be some fact checking going on – especially if the source is as iffy as Fox News.
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fatty December 14th, 2010 at 13:51
@Michael / South Bay Foodies
LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!! i love this comment!
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