Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty

[GinaJaffacake]

Anyone know anything about the above procedure? I need to do something more after years of yo yo dieting but surgery still makes me very nervous. This seems to have become very popular in the US but I’m not sure about here. I’m looking at a clinic in Southampton who seem to do quite a few with good initial results. I’m an hour away so we could be home by the evening as it’s an out patient procedure. Very quick recovery apparently. However, at £10000, it’s a huge amount of money for something that may not work.

Bumping in case anyone has considered this.

Hey - im considering this too.

Hi

I had this procedure in January 2021. It was not a decision I entered into lightly and I did a lot of research and had some comprehensive tests and consultations with my GP and then the surgeons. After a lifetime of yo-yo dieting, plus menopause, if got to a stage where I was gaining weight if I ate more that 1000 calories a day. I was trying so hard but it was unsustainable and my weight was ballooning. I come from a family of people who all seemed to hit obesity in middle age.

It was so liberating to talk to the specialists at the weight surgery clinic and finally find medics who listened and didn't blame me or accuse me of lying to myself and to them. My referral was on the basis that obesity and its attendant co morbidities was pretty much unavoidable for me.

The preparation, operation and recovery were gruelling and very painful. Weight loss surgery is not an easy fix. I still have an appetite and I still get hungry but the quantity I can eat is severely restricted. Socialising is very difficult if it involves eating because I can literally only eat about half a cup of food per sitting. You still need willpower and you don't get to eat whatever you want. It can be very hard at times.

Having got the negatives out there, the positives are compelling. I've lost 22 kilos. I feel like I have regained control over my body and my weight. I am very mindful of making sure I put healthy food into my body. I am motivated to exercise and eat well because my situation is no longer hopeless and my efforts no longer feel futile. I am wearing clothes I love and my confidence has gone through the roof. I'm glad I did it. It's changed my life. But it is an extreme intervention and not to be taken lightly because there's no going back xx

I've had it done. Just over two and a half years ago. I didn't find the prep, operation or recovery gruelling tbh.

I'm surprised the clinic have said it's an outpatient job. I stayed in two nights and definitely needed IV fluids as couldn't drink much.

First few weeks are tough as you start eating and drinking after the op but that's a distant memory now! I can go out for dinner and I doubt anyone notices I'm eating smaller portions. I guess I just eat like a thin person now - no starter or desert.

I've lost 10 stone and EVERYTHING in my life is better.

Like you I had dieted for years and needed help. It's not an 'easy' option but it's well worth it if you work hard on eating the right foods and you won't regret it.

I also paid £10k so that sounds right but majority of cost was for hospital stay so I would ask for a breakdown if they reckon you can go home same day

ps it will work if you dont take the piss with food. For example when you're allowed puree and soft foods you eat good quality yogurt and fruit compote, mashed cod and broccoli blended with cream cheese, and soup. Instead of chocolate mousse and ice cream!

My SIL abroad has this done. She has PCOS and was insulin resistant and despite doing very regular exercise, didnt lose the weight. She had it done 8yrs ago at about age 23. She was a size 16/18 and now maybe a 10.

She has been extremely diligent in healthy, small eating, has a home gym and seems to be doing exercise all the time. However, she also seems to be ill very often. Sudden food intolerance, diarrhoea, hospitalised with dehydration and multiple other gastric related issues.

TBH- I'm unsure if the sleeve is the issue, or other mental health issues like panic attacks.

Hey thank you for sharing

Is there anything you would advise in terms of prep?

Hi op. Looks like you've named changed.

I would follow the advice of your clinic and read Andrew Jenkinson's book Why We Eat Too Much to prepare you for eating after your surgery

@DustyGrapevine, thanks for your post. What made you opt for this over a traditional surgical sleeve? I like the idea of it not being surgical but I’m just unsure if it will work the same as a surgical sleeve.

@Ra12345, hi, nope, no name change. The poster above isn’t me. I think it’s considered outpatient because there’s no surgery. It’s all done endoscopically. You do need a general anaesthetic as the stitching takes an hour but you’re then discharged within 2 hours apparently.

@Hairyfriend, thanks. Did your SIL have this procedure or a surgical sleeve? I didn’t realise it was available 8yrs ago. It seems as though it’s changed her life regardless. Although it’s worrying that she has regular gastric issues.

No surgery? They cut holes in you then remove 90% of your stomach and staple it up. It's definitely surgery and quite a big deal. I know a handful of people who've had it done and not one of them left hospital same day

Oh hold on. They stitch your stomach via your mouth - and then leave the rest of it flapping about inside of you? Why is this better than a regular sleeve? Any chance those stitches can come out and then you have your whole stomach back?

@Ra12345, with all due respect, I think you are referring to the surgical sleeve. This is a different procedure. This is an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) rather than a sleeve gastrectomy.

It’s a new procedure.
www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/endoscopic-sleeve-gastroplasty/about/pac-20393958

My apologies op. For ten grand why wouldn't you get the regular sleeve done? What's the benefit with the new one?

Ooh maybe we are talking at cross purposes.

The procedure I had was a sleeve gastroscopy. They make 4 incisions and do the surgery through those. For clarity, I had my appendix out by a similar procedure a few years ago. They put instruments through the holes, cut away most of your stomach, and remove the stomach through one of the holes.

I was in hospital for 3 days and two nights after my procedure and was in a drip most of that time. The drip was for pain killers as well as fluids. I had nurses coming in topping up pain and checking on me throughout the night. After discharge I was pretty good, up and about very quickly but I had pain for a good week after, and was very tired.

I am so happy I had this operation. It has been life changing for me and absolutely worth it. But I think I was a bit naive going in, thinking it was just glorified day surgery. I've since had people say to me that it was a 'cop out' or that I'm just lazy, which you will understand is horrible when you've been driven to surgery because you're despairing that nothing you do is working, despite years of focus and willpower that never paid off.

I know I'm making it sound horrible but I just want you to be aware that for some people it's not just a 'little procedure', because pre-op I only saw glowing 'it was a walk in the park' reports. Having said that, I've never had a baby! LOL.

If you feel as I felt pre op, and it sounds like you do, I would recommend it wholeheartedly. It will change your life. There will be adjustments, but with a lifetime of dieting behind you, I'm sure you have the strength for that, as I do!

Please feel free to DM me if you have more questions xx

@Ra12345, a couple of reasons. Firstly, I’d rather avoid surgery if possible. This is technically reversible within the first year. After that, it’s all too knitted together. Most people do not have it reversed but I like the option of reversal if I just felt constantly unwell or sick or couldn’t get enough nutrients.
Secondly, I’m now 14 stone and a size 14. At 10stone I’m a size 10 so have 4 stone to lose. The surgeon I’ve spoken to believes this is a good option for me as I don’t have a huge amount to lose. He says for many people my size, he wouldn’t agree to any procedure (other than gastric balloon) but I’m 50, through menopause and after paying for a complete analysis with a dietitian and tests with the surgeon I’d like to go with, it appears that my metabolism has slowed so much that my weight will continue to increase unless I can keep to 1000 calories max. I’m simply unable to do this. The surgeon says, based on all this, the EGS sounds like a good option for me. But it’s a fairly new procedure and I can’t find much about it or anyone to ask so I’m just interested in finding anyone else who’s had it done.

Oh I’m booked in for a surgical sleeve but I’ve just been reading up on this procedure today. I don’t know if this is a better or safer option but my surgeon doesn’t do it so I’d need to find someone else.

@GinaJaffacake - just wondering if you went ahead with the procedure as I'm seriously considering it? Thanks