Im a Noob to WLS and I'm trying to decide the best way to go...here is my story.

My history is similar to yours, I was a workaholic, traveled extensively and ate on the run constantly.  Up until my early 40s, I was working at a very physical job in the field.  Even though my weight kept creeping up, I still functioned.  When I got into my 50s my job became more desk bound and so did my ability to move.  I come from a large family, my mother and son both had WS and the RNY.  My mother had a lot of trouble, but that was back in the late 70s.  My son had it in 2004 and went from 340# to what he is now about 220# with no problems.  I decided to do the RNY because I was 59 years old and it provided the what seemed the best "tool" to accomplish my goal.  My highest was 561.  I am currently 16 months out and am at 304.  I haven't been here for 30 years.  The RNY has been trouble free and has work very well for me so far.  I am almost off all my medications including insulin.  I feel like a ship anchor has been lifted off my neck. Which ever one you pick, its a lot of hard work but I am in agreement with you in that I will never go back to what I was.  Good luck on your decision!

Welcome to ObesityHelp!  We are glad that you have joined our OH community.  

As you check out OH, you'll see many features and tools that are created for our members as you embark on your WLS journey.  OH is a great place for support, research and tools to assist you with your journey.  Here are a few suggestions:

About Obesity
About Weight Loss Surgery
Medical Necessity
Post-op Planner
BMI Calculator
Health Tracker

We also have a great HELP SECTION with tutorials to assist you with navigating our site. If you need our assistance, you can reach us at [email protected]

May we suggest you research, research, research and feel free to post on the forum for your surgery type you are considering.

Duodenal Switch Forum (DS)

Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery Forum (RNY)

Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum (VSG)

We look forward to your updates

Regards,

Kathy S

Member Services

You have to stay focused and follow the rules long term. This not a diet, there is no end. It is your life. That is what I have gotten from my many hours on Obesityhelp and at support groups. Sounds like you have taken some awesome steps to move forward. DS people are very passionate... I wasn't on OH before my surgery, and didn't realize it was still done. Many hospitals and doctors don't do it. I had RNY because I felt I needed the malabsorption as well as restriction. I wasn't in a place of binging before surgery, I was restricting and not losing weight. So for me, just having a restrictive procedure didn't make sense.

Congratulations and good luck to you. I too was grossly obese following an accident that left me mobility impaired. I was in a wheelchair for almost a year. I developed diabetes, congestive heart failure and COPD, the latter from thinking for years that smoking would curb my appetite.

last summer, my husband, who was my rock, became I'll. He was unable to care for me and I could barely care for myself, not to mention care for him. After his 3rd hospitalization in 2 months, I started to get chest pains whenever I had to walk the long corridors of the hospital. I was sure I was going to die. 

My cardiologist sent me for a cardiac catheterization and much to my surprise, my heart was actually in better shape than 10 years ago. After hearing thus, I decided to have weight loss surgery. I found a wonderful surgeon whose specialty was operating on " fatter, sicker and older than me( at66). We decided on the sleeve but fate intervened and when they did the pre op testing they discovered I had GERD which prevented me from having the sleeve. 

On Dec3 I had RNY. My pulmonologist was against it but I told him I truly felt I would die if I could not loose the weight. I had a 5 hour surgery, and never any complications or negative reactions since. No nausea, vomiting, trouble breathing, bad reactions to food or other uncomfortable situations. I have no more diabetes and I take no meds for it. My cardio was extra tic and my pulmonologist could not believe I walked through his door alive and well. I had my 3 month checkup last week and I am down 47 pounds, which is good but not great, but I am older and slower in my exercise. I feel like a million bucks. Pinch me, it's real. If you told me A year ago I could do this I would say never. It happened. It's great.

I love seeing you do your research! I am not able to type t much right now, but I came from 654lbs. I was bed ridden and had a lot of health issues against me. To close to death!

RNY was one of the best choices I made!!
DS is not the only answer... Well irany WLS... You are right with getting down to be able to go to the gym or incorporating exercise. The more I lost the more I could do.

It is and will be a life commitment and sounds like you know this.
I have to go but will check back!

Best wishes!

Hi Denis, I hear your story, clearly. I am in Toronto, Canada, and if you would like to chat, I am open to talking on the phone or SKype. I am happy to make the long distance call, if you want to send me your phone number. Best Regards, Rhonda 416-801-6019

You might want to edit this to remove your phone number and send it to the OP via a private message. Even though this isn't a high traffic forum, putting your phone number on the Internet isn't usually a good idea.

Lora

I  had a lot of weight to lose.  HW 399  SW 339 CW 291 surgery was on 1/14/15.  After talking to my surgeon and his staff, we decided that VSG (Vertical Sleeve) was the way to go.  This way if I still need additional help in two years or so I could still actually have a RNY performed.  I don't think that will be the case since its only been 2 months and I'm on a roll.  I  had no issues, or pain, and could have came back to work the day after surgery.  I wish I would have done it several years ago.

Good luck and stay committed.

I had rny in 07 and was 550. I lost 307 lbs with no issues. I followed oh for support. Best decision of my life. I can and am still loosing weight with little else but food control. I did water aerobics three times a week first year. Cured all my health issues.