Older WLS folks!

Are there any other older WLS pre and post ops out there? It has taken many years to get this much diet history. I am 58 years old and my surgery has been scheduled for 12/29/03. Please share your WLS story with me. A little nervous, Carla

Carla, Hi My name is Janine and I am 37 years old. Not the oldest one to have surgery and yet not the youngest. I figure I am in hte "middle-age" WLS category. I had my surgery on may 16,2003 at the Bariatric Treatment Center in Belvidere, IL. I was approved and had my date set as of the beginning of March so I had two months of waiting time before my surgery. My emotions were like being on a roller coaster, up and down frequently. Here's a little background on me. I had always been heavier than the other kids for as long as I could remember. When I was a senior in High School I eat once a day and took Dexatrim. That year I got down to a size 14. That is the smallest I can ever remember being. Slowly the weight started to creep back on. I admit it, I love food. I was very active playing softball, volleyball and any other sport I could. Despite all teh exercise, the weight kept going up. In 1990 I was diagnosis with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Having this condition makes it that much harder to lose weight. In 1998 I had hit an all time high of 270 pounds. My doctor tried me on a weight loss drug and i lost 30 pounds. My family doctor didn't hound me about my weight becuase he knew how active I was and I didn't complain. I figured all my aches and pains were due to my weight, so what good would complaining do when I knew that I just needed to lose weight. About a year ago I hit a wall, so to speak. I was helping some friends move furniture and found myself huffing and puffing after just walking up one flight of stairs. It hit me then that as I aged my life was not going to get any easier with all the weight. The hardest part for me was to actually say out loud to myself "Janine, you are obese". It soudns silly, but I would use every other term like chunky, fat, large sized, etc. but never obese. I went to my family doctor and told him what I wanted to do. To my surgprise he agreed I was a good candidate. I also found out I was at 278 pounds, an all time high for me. My doctor refered me to the BTC in IL, as he felt this was the best facility and program around. I had to wait 2 months to see the doctor there, since I had to change insurances at work to get one that would cover that facility. As I waited for my surgery I found myself second guessing it. I thought maybe if I tried really hard (like I hadn't before) I could lose the weight without surgery. (mind you I always tried hard on diets). Finally about 3 weeks before my surgery a calmness fell on me. I wasn't worried anymore (I had never had any kind of surgery bfore my WLS) I am not a deeply relgious person, but I felt that my life was in God's hand and he would guide me. Well as you can see I woke up and am still kickin'. Since May I have lost over 50#s. I don't own a scale and did not was to obsess about how much weight I had lost (especially when hitting plateaus) so I only weigh every 3 months. That way I am guarenteed weight loss Plus I had the surgery to stave off health problems that run in my family such as high cholesterol, High blood pressure, Diabetes, etc. From this point my surgery has been extremely successful. Prior to having surgery my cholesterol was at 286. I went on Zocor and it dropped to 186. 3 months after surgery (with no meds) my cholesterol is at 150. These were the kind of results I wanted. If I have any advice for you it is to continue living your life. You will change after surgery, there's no doubt about that. Avoid the "last supper" syndrome. If you can start exercising now, it will help you healer after surgery. about a month before surgery I began drinking a protein drink a day. I had read that it would help my heal faster, which I think it did. Hang in there. Now that you are approved and have a date, the biggest hurdle is behind you. - Janine

Hi Carla, I'm 50 yrs old and had surgery in Sept 03, been overweight since I was 10 I've tried weigh****chers 3x just to put the weight back on also Nutri sytem and physician weight lost which just about did me in at that time I said no more diets I was just meant to be fat. But after 15+yrsof that way of thinking I started to develop problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure cholestol and under active thyroid then my tendons in my feey blew out due to the weight . So after alot of research I decided that WLS was what I wanted . I started my journey in Feb 03 in Rochester . I'm happy so far with the weight lost , I did have a minor problem they did have to open me up due to an infection in my long incision found out that I was allergic to the sututures they used so now I Have to pack my open wound 2x a dy ucky. Take care and Good Luck Sheila

Hi Sheila! Congratulations on having had your surgery! Sorry to hear about your setback but hope that hurdle will soon be behind you. How long were you in the hospital? What was life like when you returned home? Were you in a lot of pain? Were you able to sleep in bed? Were you exhausted? These questions probably seem trivial butttttt? Take care and good luck to you. Thank you for answering my email. Carla

Hi, Carla! I am getting ready for my surgery tomorrow. I am 50 years old and ready for this. If you want my background, please read my profile at http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=R1047742224&NoStatic=1 I was nervous and weepy Saturday, but I have definitely found my center of calm now. Take care.

Hi, Susan! Prayers and best wishes for your surgery tomorrow and to a speedy recovery!!! You are truly blessed to have Sue in your life. My beloved passed away May 16, 2003, from Alzheimer disease complications. After many years of yo-yo dieting and many years of care giving I decided to do something for myself and get healthy. I will be very interested in your postings regarding the surgery and your recovery. God bless, Carla

Carla- I'll be 51 on the 25 of this month. I had surgery in July, and have lost 70 pounds. While I don't think the surgery was a walk in the park, I bounced back pretty quickly. I went back to work the first part of August. Where is your surgery scheduled? Mine was in Grinnell, and I really can't say enough good things about the doctors, staff and support group. Please email me with any more questions- I'd be happy to answer them! Jeri H.

Dear Jeri: Congratulations on your decision and follow thru with having the WLS. My surgery is also scheduled in Grinnell with Dr. Eibes. How long were you in the hospital? I am wondering how the patients get along at home after their dismissal from the hospital. I will probably be alone and am wondering if this is something I can handle. Glad for you that you are doing so well and thank you for answering my email. Carla