Chronic health issues, surgery over 50
Hi Sheri. Best of luck to you on the 5th! By the way, I was born in Toronto and raised in So. CA. I now live in No. CA. I still have family in Toronto. I would like to go back soon to visit my 90 yr. old aunt. I hate to fly but will have to so I can see her next year.
Please let us know how it all goes for you. I hope your diabetes goes poof along with the HBP and others you mentioned.
Laya
Please let us know how it all goes for you. I hope your diabetes goes poof along with the HBP and others you mentioned.
Laya
Welcome Laya,
After years of dieting I got up to SUPER morbidly obese, 320 pounds on a 59 year old woman.
Two years ago I was having injections in my knee so I could walk, was on 10 different meds, and felt horrible.
Now I am off the shots & meds, can walk, run and jump on a trampoline. After recent hernia surgery my weight dropped to 111 pounds so I am working with my dietitian to gain some weight - amazing.
Life is worth living after WLS. Good luck to you.
Annette
After years of dieting I got up to SUPER morbidly obese, 320 pounds on a 59 year old woman.
Two years ago I was having injections in my knee so I could walk, was on 10 different meds, and felt horrible.
Now I am off the shots & meds, can walk, run and jump on a trampoline. After recent hernia surgery my weight dropped to 111 pounds so I am working with my dietitian to gain some weight - amazing.
Life is worth living after WLS. Good luck to you.
Annette
Annette 
hello laya
welcome a-board
i also cannot answer your original question about the long term illnesses and the effects after wls but i wanted to say hi and wish you the *******so have to question your doctor's comment about all of your weight around your middle possibly keeping you from rny?? my weight was also basically around my middle- i did have open-by choice- and it really seemed to me from all of my research that rny was possible with your weight around the middle--there must be more that i am not knowing from just seeing your post! obviously i am not a medical dr nor do i play one on tv!!! maybe it's the scarring from other surgeries?? i don't know much if anything about the VGS so maybe he has good reason??? i know that in my own case i needed the restrictions that rny imposed as to what i could and couldn't eat!
no matter what surgery you end up with i wish you all the best! i am sure we will see mor eof you befor ethen? and i want to welcome you to our board!nerves are normal..and yes, age can have something to do with it!
take some pre op full body pics ( i know! no one loves the camera preop!!); take measurements -arms thighs waist hips tummy etc ...you will be quite glad that you did!! and maybe start a journal if you don't already have one! i have some thoughts on my profile but i also keep a journal for myself--it helsp when i get down about my weight or body issues to go back and look and read!
chapstick is the only thing i would worry about takiong to hospital with you!!!
btw; what does your name mean??it is so pretty!!!
hugs!
welcome a-board
i also cannot answer your original question about the long term illnesses and the effects after wls but i wanted to say hi and wish you the *******so have to question your doctor's comment about all of your weight around your middle possibly keeping you from rny?? my weight was also basically around my middle- i did have open-by choice- and it really seemed to me from all of my research that rny was possible with your weight around the middle--there must be more that i am not knowing from just seeing your post! obviously i am not a medical dr nor do i play one on tv!!! maybe it's the scarring from other surgeries?? i don't know much if anything about the VGS so maybe he has good reason??? i know that in my own case i needed the restrictions that rny imposed as to what i could and couldn't eat!
no matter what surgery you end up with i wish you all the best! i am sure we will see mor eof you befor ethen? and i want to welcome you to our board!nerves are normal..and yes, age can have something to do with it!
take some pre op full body pics ( i know! no one loves the camera preop!!); take measurements -arms thighs waist hips tummy etc ...you will be quite glad that you did!! and maybe start a journal if you don't already have one! i have some thoughts on my profile but i also keep a journal for myself--it helsp when i get down about my weight or body issues to go back and look and read!
chapstick is the only thing i would worry about takiong to hospital with you!!!
btw; what does your name mean??it is so pretty!!!
hugs!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White
Hi Margo. Thanks for all of the terrific suggestions. I had read and forgot about the chapstick so I will work on buying some this week to have ready for next week. I bought a book to journal in back and May and it is still blank. I need to start writing in it. I think I'll do my body measurements next week.
The only think that came out on my pre-op tests was that I have a fatty liver. I know this is common in obese people, but my surgeon said it would probably get in the way of the RNY and I may be rather thick where they have to go in laparoscopically. The RNY is done further up and the VSG they go in much lower. I believe because I have had diabetes for so long and other chronic problems, the open procedure is much more risky.
Laya is my nickname used by my close friends. It is a Hebrew name given me when I was very young. It is really spelled Leah but pronounce Laya. I have not used that name for most of my life but a friend of mine thought that my given name "Lynne," was boring compared to Laya, so Laya it is. All my friends started calling me Laya. Everyone on the boards have been so nice that I though all my new friends could call me Laya too.
The only think that came out on my pre-op tests was that I have a fatty liver. I know this is common in obese people, but my surgeon said it would probably get in the way of the RNY and I may be rather thick where they have to go in laparoscopically. The RNY is done further up and the VSG they go in much lower. I believe because I have had diabetes for so long and other chronic problems, the open procedure is much more risky.
Laya is my nickname used by my close friends. It is a Hebrew name given me when I was very young. It is really spelled Leah but pronounce Laya. I have not used that name for most of my life but a friend of mine thought that my given name "Lynne," was boring compared to Laya, so Laya it is. All my friends started calling me Laya. Everyone on the boards have been so nice that I though all my new friends could call me Laya too.
Laya,
I am 57 and we have a lot of the same medical issues and concerns.
I sure was as anxious as you 2 weeks ago!
Please be reassured that you are making the correct choice in taking charge of your health!
I had the VSG because my personal choice is no malabsorption. Spending time on all the boards sealed it for me. As I said it is a personal choice and I would never try to sell anyone on any particular surgery.
Feel free to PM me. OH is a wonderful source of information and support!
I am 57 and we have a lot of the same medical issues and concerns.
I sure was as anxious as you 2 weeks ago!
Please be reassured that you are making the correct choice in taking charge of your health!
I had the VSG because my personal choice is no malabsorption. Spending time on all the boards sealed it for me. As I said it is a personal choice and I would never try to sell anyone on any particular surgery.
Feel free to PM me. OH is a wonderful source of information and support!
Hi CM. I have spent the most time on the VSG board after researching it and leaning toward VSG v. RNY because of the malabsorption issue with RNY. I think it is because of the malabsorption factor that my surgeon recommends RNY as the best type of surgery for my weight history and diabetes. I keep going back and forth on this in my mind. I don't have insurance approval for VSG yet but expect to hear one way or another during the week. RNY has been approved. I'll go to my pre-op appt on Friday and will ask more questions.
Congratulations on your successful surgery.
Laya
Congratulations on your successful surgery.
Laya
Hi Laya,
I am 53 and had my LAP RNY on July 9th (6 days after my 53rd birthday). July 9th will more than likely be my second birthday because, as my surgeon said, it is a rebirth.
I have had an open hysterectomy and a hernia repair in the 4 years preceding this surgery. I weighed 386 pounds and came with a bunch of comorbidities (anemic believe it or not, severe sleep apnea, asthma, back pain, knee pain, extreme fatigue, along with an awful quality of life). On surgery day, I weighed 382 pounds (I suspect metabolic syndrome because I tried to diet in the 6 months preceding surgery but with no success--more than likely because of sleep apnea which caused severe fatigue which didn't make me feel like doing anything) and that was after the 3 week liquid diet (I was at 407 the day I went to the dietitican). I could have been higher but really didn't weigh myself prior.
I am almost 4 months out from surgery date and have lost a total of 90 pounds from my highest weight. The only regret I have is that I didn't do this years ago. I have been thru the cycle of weight but never this bad. WW, LA Weight Loss (which is now closing its doors in Milwaukee), and anything else that was out there. I feel 100% better though I still have a ways to go.
My PCP told me that the road I was on would make me 500-600 pounds and homebound in the next two years. I know I will hit stalls, etc., but I am convinced that if I didn't do this, I would die a slow death.
My other tests preop were ok (Cardiac, psych, etc). Some of those chronic diseases may go away after surgery because you will have your built in control.
I don't think you will regret this. It is normal to be nervous before surgery but we have all tried everything out there and this more than likely will be the tool you will need to have the qualty of life you want for the second 1/2 of your life.
Keep us posted.
Sylvia
I am 53 and had my LAP RNY on July 9th (6 days after my 53rd birthday). July 9th will more than likely be my second birthday because, as my surgeon said, it is a rebirth.
I have had an open hysterectomy and a hernia repair in the 4 years preceding this surgery. I weighed 386 pounds and came with a bunch of comorbidities (anemic believe it or not, severe sleep apnea, asthma, back pain, knee pain, extreme fatigue, along with an awful quality of life). On surgery day, I weighed 382 pounds (I suspect metabolic syndrome because I tried to diet in the 6 months preceding surgery but with no success--more than likely because of sleep apnea which caused severe fatigue which didn't make me feel like doing anything) and that was after the 3 week liquid diet (I was at 407 the day I went to the dietitican). I could have been higher but really didn't weigh myself prior.
I am almost 4 months out from surgery date and have lost a total of 90 pounds from my highest weight. The only regret I have is that I didn't do this years ago. I have been thru the cycle of weight but never this bad. WW, LA Weight Loss (which is now closing its doors in Milwaukee), and anything else that was out there. I feel 100% better though I still have a ways to go.
My PCP told me that the road I was on would make me 500-600 pounds and homebound in the next two years. I know I will hit stalls, etc., but I am convinced that if I didn't do this, I would die a slow death.
My other tests preop were ok (Cardiac, psych, etc). Some of those chronic diseases may go away after surgery because you will have your built in control.
I don't think you will regret this. It is normal to be nervous before surgery but we have all tried everything out there and this more than likely will be the tool you will need to have the qualty of life you want for the second 1/2 of your life.
Keep us posted.
Sylvia
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