55 and not sure what to expect

HI, I had my first visit with the surgeon (pre-op), he said I was a good candidate, insurance shouldn't be a problem, no liquid diet before surgery, low risk for surgical complications...BUT..he said to expect only a 70-80# weight loss! I am 279#, 5'5". Is it just my age that will hold me back? I want to lose alot more than that. Please give me your opinions on what is realistic. Alice

You didn't mention which procedure you are investigating.  That can make a difference.  I think your surgeon is being a bit conservative.  I'm 62 and losing very well (as well as many of the younger gals).  At 55 you are just a spring chicken!

Thank you for the reply...I'm interested in RNY Lap. I live in LaCrosse, WI and have been told by those that have had surgery with this Dr that the team is great. Maybe he was thinking worse case senario...cuz I told him I have been in preparation for this journey for months...buying products, magic bullet, food scale, tasting protein powders, etc. I told him that when I do something I put everything into it...he then said well, you wouldn't be here then, would you. I told him that when I stop losing or for some reason get messed up in my food intake I get discouraged and quit. But I haven't had the support of you people on this forum for my past diets. I realize this will be a permanent lifestyle change. I live alone and don't have to cook for anyone else so I'll keep food in the house that I can eat. My hospital has a support group that meets last Thursday each month. I'm going to go to a mtg soon to talk with those that have had the surgery. I am currently out of town for 3 wks for specialized training for my job so I can only check out the forum on weekends. Thanks again for your help, you are all so great! Alice

Welcome Alice, The only thing that might hold you back is failure to follow protocol after surgery. You will discover that life long habits must change for WLS to work well.  On a positive note - you CAN do this, as we have learned. It takes commitment, dedication and the support of those around you - we will help you too. I had RNY 18 months agao. Age 59 years old, 5'2", weighing 320 pounds. My weight holds steady at 116 pounds. Annette

Thanks all of you for your help. I'm contemplating the RNY, the only one my DR does.  I don't get any excersize other than walking at work and I know that must change. Now that the weather is improving here (LaCrosse, WI) I'm going to try to walk. I'm currently in training for 3 wks in Madison but the motel has a walking path, a pool and an excersize room. I'm not bold enough to put on a swim suit yet but I can try walking. I've been fighting depression especially in winter. My NP says that because of my wt my meds are not as effective and she cannot increase the dosage. My Dr said I cannot gain one more pound before surgery, not sure when that'll be tho. This may be a good time to start walking to build strength. All of you are so great. I will be leaning on you for encouragement if I do this. I'm 85% sure that I'm going to do this. I'm very frightened that complications will keep me from returning to work...I'm my sole income. I always feel better and more determined after visiting this site.  Bless you all for being there!!! Alice

Hello Alice........I had Lap RNY  and I have gone from 242.2 pounds to 133.0 pounds and still losing (I hope). I am hoping to get to 125. I went from size 20 pants to size 4, some 2s and 3XL tops to medium.  It has been a very smooth journey one I am grateful for every single day!! Like it has been said....if you follow your doctors guidelines you will do well.  I am strict about following them and am not sorry for it. I haven't had any pouch issues and I feel great!! I wish you the best with your journey. Please keep us posted on how things are going. Good Luck!! Have I welcomed you to the board before?? If not here is a big WELCOME to OFF!!!!!!!(over fifty forum) Hugs, connie d

Hi Alice and welcome to OFF.  I ahd my Lap Rny a little over two weeks ago and am doing great!  I, too am 55 years young and ready to start the next chapter in my life.  I now have a future I can look forward to.  I only had one complication in the hospital, the day after surgery I started .  They had to keep me an extra day to replace my potassium.  So I went in on Friday, and came home on Monday.  No problems since then.  I go back to work on Wed.

I had my RnY surgery at age 62, almost 63...on Feb 5, so I am 11 weeks out tomorrow and have lost 30.7 lbs.  At 6 weeks check-up the nurse practitioner said I was losing only about half fo what was expected, so the 30 lbs should have been at week 6 and not week 11....but other than 6 lbs lost in the first week, followed immediately in week 2 by a week-long stall ,I seem to be losing, then holding for 1-3 days then resume....and doing it slowly.  Of course I am impatient to drop huge amounts, but look at it this way: slower weight loss is kinder to skin at our age!  My diabetes went completely into remissioin and I have morning readings so in the normal range it is unbelievable...for that alone the surgery is a blessing...(and "60 minutes" last night  proved it) I hope to even off at 160-180 lbs ( I was 160 in HS and university, although my surgeon's chart says I should be 150 for my age and height!) and still have some 85 lbs to go...I am 5' 7.5"  (used to be 5'8" but age has shrunk my spine a bit!) and presently have a BMI of 38.1, whereas I started this journey pre-op at 285 and BMI of 44.5...Although in 2003 I  lost 106 lbs, and got to 200 lbs in a weight loss clinic diet in 8 months, but steadily gained 85 lbs again  snce then despite changing my eating habits completely, (except for Hagen Daasz...they must be going broke without me!) which is why finally, last resort, I decided on bariatric surgery and initially was thinking of the band, but after meeting with my surgeon who does Lap banding , RnY and Sleeve, and his colleague does DS, so all the choices were there for me to choose, but I went for RnY!... ..I thought my age and previous diet yo-yoing had made my metabolism so skewed that I'm in for a slow weight loss ride.....I know the first 6 months are the golden months, but I seem only to manage an average 10 lbs a month so far...if I can just keep it up I will be happy to get to anything under 200 lbs, and getting to goal  of 160 will mean a glass or two of champagne, to heck with the bubbles and my pouch!

Alice, I think success with WLS has more to do with changing your eating behavior than it has to do with your age.  I would question the surgeon about why his projected weight loss for you is so low.  Do you have other medical conditions that might affect it? I have had great success with the band and so has a friend of mine who is 53.  Another friend had RNY at age 52 and has lost TON of weight. Jean