Long term success? 10, 20, 30 years?

Hi folks, perhaps I'm freaking out a bit. My surgery is getting closer which is exciting and scary. I know I need to do this. I was wondering, does anyone know someone who has had WLS a long time ago and is living a healthy life today? I think the furthest back I know is 12 years which is great but I'm in my mid thirties and would love to hear that someone knows a senior citizen somewhere who had surgery decades ago and is doing quite well :) I don't know when this forum started but given how long the internets been around this forum wouldn't have existed back then :)

Thanks all - have a great day and Happy Friday!!

Nikki

The surgeries have changed over the years so you likely won't find anyone who had the RNY of today from that many years ago.  Stomach stapling (VGB) was the WLS of choice in the 80's so that is what most had and many have now had revisions from that one.  

Good point, thanks Tracey!

I actually know a lady who had rny 25 years ago and she's kept all her weight off but she watches her food and exercises regularly. You have to continue to be viligant no matter what. This is a life long process. Good luck with your surgery!!

On one of the facebook pages that I am on for WLS there was a lady who posted just recently that had surgery 26 years ago and was commenting about having good blood work results.  So I guess they are out there but likely we just don't hear from them. :-)

My sister is a dietitian at a nursing home.  She has ladies in the 80's and 90's who had weight loss surgeries.  She said they are much healthier and more active than average patients and are very insistent that their protein needs be taken care of.

White Dove, that is very interesting...and good to hear about these seniors maintaining their needs!

Very interesting and that makes me feel better - good to hear they really did make the life long changes and continue to benefit because of it!

Thanks for sharing!

This study was posted on the RNY forum; 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/6004473/New-long-term- study-on-people-10-13-years-post-RNY/

I know/follow several people, you tube etc, that have had WLS 10+ years. Long term success combines the eating strategies created as a result of WLS with increased activity and overall lifestyle choices.

At year 3+ is when a lot of people (myself included) have to be really diligent and when regain can start and go one way or the other - gain a considerable amount of weight back or catch it and make the lifestyle changes necessary to get back to the goal. I gained back a few pounds and it took about 6 months of watching my diet, counting my calories (again!) and 80 mins or more of intense fitness 6 days a week to get back to my goal weight of 145 (this ticker thing is broken!). I can say it was a lot harder to loose 9 pounds than it was to loose 160 in the first year post op! 

Complications are not fun though, but are less likely now than they were 5+ years ago even.  

Congratulations on your success! Thank you for sharing this information and the link to that study. Very interesting stuff!