Help!
hi there....what everyone has already said it is true...sure you are worried now about the future...but remember this...what future would you be having without WLS?? NONE!! my dr also told me if i didn't have WLS i would be dead in a few short years!!! stay off the regrets board and stay here with us and you will be fine!!! so many helpful people here to help you when you need it!!!! i was 53 almost 54 when i had my WLS and i do not regret it for one minute!!!! i am having the time of my life now and i am so grateful that i went ahead and had this WLS!!! just wish i would havew done it sooner!!!
so calm down and you will be fine....also the more calmer you are the surgery will be easier on you and your surgeon!!! recovery will also be easier and faster for you!!! so take a deep breath and relax....come back to see us more often and we will help you through this....wishing you the best of luck and remember to sip sip sip and walk walk walk...also don't forget the chap stick for the hospital!!! making room for you on the loosers bench!!!
hugs
Hi,
I, too, am 53 and put off having this surgery years ago because of the unknown longterm effects! I saw family members, some now 5/6 years out who had RNY the open way, as lap was not the norm then, they are all doing well!
When I decided to go this route last year, my son was worried about the same thing you mention, well sometime last August or September there was a medical report published that said a study was done for 10 years and that the results of this surgery had proven to be positive. You might want to poke around on the main page under news articles, you might find that article there!
It is absolutely normal to have 2nd thoughts about changing a part of our natural anatomy, I did that when I had my tubes tied at the age of 22, actually they made me, because of my age, but having had 3 children in less than 5 years was a good enough reason to go forward for this woman! Then I had female problems, whereby I needed blood transfusions in my 40s (not related to having had tubes tied), doctor suggested a hysterectomy, I said absolutely NO! I Suffered 3 more years and was at a point of needing another transfusion when I decided, I'd better listen, turned out I had a very rare condition that they never would have found had I not had my hysterectomy, 6 months later, I was like, why did I wait so long, I felt better physically than I had in years. Well, when I finally decided to have RNY, having watched my family members and done my research I was feeling fair comfortable with my decision, until the weekend before when I had a few moments of doubt, very normal; well since then, while at times I have feared, due to stalls along the way, that I was going to be the person who failed within this, I am THRILLED that I did it, sorry I didn't do it a few years earlier. I really don't think about 10 or 20 years from now, mostly because I believe had I not chosen this, I might not even have 10 or 20 years, whereas, now I believe doing what I am doing, I might cash in on the longevity factor of my family!
Hugs, Laureen
My Mantra is that I do not determine my success by the number hanging in my closet, nor will I let the scale determine that success either. . . It is through trial and error I will continue to grow and succeed. . . Laureen
"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland
Thank you all for responding to this post as I am also a little concerned about having the surgery. I do agree with you all that if I do not I will not be alive for very long. I also am going to be 61 this year and things just get worse as the yrs go by. Hoping to have rny surgery this fall. I will see my surgeon on the 22nd of this month. Long term won't matter if I don't get the surgery. I don't post very often but do read every day and enjoy all the subjects and responses. Hugs to all and I hope to join you in this journey very soon.
Cheryl
I agree with the others......don't borrow trouble!!
I would be in a wheelchair today if it wasn't for this surgery. My life expectancy wasn't good. I do not regret one single day of this surgery. It HAS saved my life and many years of pain and suffering.
There isn't anything I can't do now. I am a completely different person. I am healthy and happy. My family and friends are amazed at the difference. I no longer have high blood pressure, diabetes, my pulmonary functions have completely changed and my acid reflux is gone. My arthiritis and Fibromyalgia are almost gone....very minimal pain now.
This surgery is a God send to me!! Because of this surgery I will live longer and enjoy my life.....God willing.
Hugs, connie d
on 7/15/08 1:26 am - Park Forest, IL
And you sound more than just normal, you sound wise, and centered.
Blessings and hugs, hoping for the best, 
Donna H 
Today, my bp read 100/68; ain't that marvelous. I still may end up in a wheelchair despite all my efforts. I have had a knee replacement; it hasn't ended up as I had hoped. I still have pain from my back and knees. But ... I believe I have staved off diabetes and hypertension, and maybe even held off the other family issues: cancer.
Do I know what this surgery will have cost me in 10-15 years? No. I do know that I have yearly checkups at the bariatric center. They test for everything imaginable. This year, I was low on Vit. D; they never checked that before, the PA admitted, but decided it was important so now they're checking for it. So now I'm taking Vit. D along with a prenatal vitamin (because it's the highest dose of a multivitamin they can find), calcium-magnesium supplement, iron, Vit. C, B-12. Yes, it's a lot of supplements to take, but it's a small price to pay for the gift of health they gave me.
I really believe that Dr. Foote, my surgeon, gave me back my life. I have not heard about the regrets forum, nor do I think I will visit it. I worry enough about other things. I really don't need to worry that far into the future. Don't get freaked out about things you can't control. Make sure whoever is doing your surgery has a good aftercare program.
Good luck tomorrow.
