New to OH and have many Over 50 years old questions!

barbara...i just want to say welcome a-board

my problems had been shorter tem but were getting to be big problems; personal care issues, lack of mobility issues, developed sleep panea..i was 50 when i had my rny and i chose to have it open  due to prior problems with the gas they pump you full of during a laproscopic procedure...i have about a 4" scar now which is fairly invisible!

i have not reached goal but i know why- and it's  a head thing-they do NOT operate on your food issues -so do see a counselor --having said that i have not reached goal--i also know that i am not totally "done" the tool is still there-it just means that i have to work harder! last nite; as i pm'd someone else i realized that i am right now technically halfway to goal-( i had been 25 # from goal and regained ) and tho that is upsetting to think i haven't "made it"; i have to turn it around and think that i am 50# lighter than i was almost 5 years ago and even inspite of issues ( the last 5 years have presented many many challenges in my life) i have maintained that loss!!!! so -it is a positive....

yes; it is very hard to wrap one's head around the concept of having life changing surgery to fix the issue-the whole failure thing and why can't i do it-----however- most ppl will tell you it is the best decision they ever ever made! because you are in control of your life by doing this; you are grabbing life rather than letting it pass you by--go read jan c's post from yesterday about her wow moment! that speaks volumes in a few sentences!!!! jan is 60something and has an active life now!!!!

i cannot speak to the fibro tho eileen and george have addressed it well...

i read alot before my surgery-i recommend carnie wilson's books, barbara thompson is a favorite of mine and she has a website;colleen koch  is an awesome role model- michelle (vitalady) speaks well and still posts here on occasion.... google these folks cuz i am sorry that  i don't have the info in front of me to type in.... 

big big help is to be informed- be your own advocate -and stick around here cuz these folks have a wealth of info and experience (tho not always good ones; we do learn from the others'!)

a few tips; be prepared to NOT compare yourself to others' losses- each of us is individual in that- take a tape measure and take measurements pre surgery- i know! ugh!! but later, when the scale takes a stop for abit, maybe inches have come off instead of pounds! take some pre pics too- again-ugh! but you will want them!! trust me!!!if you smoke- try to quit-you'll need to for surgery tho many start back up later; if you drink pop (soda) give it up....water will need to be your friend!

best to you in whatever you decide to do!

Barbara,

You have some very good concerns and the others have done a good job of answering your questions.

I do not have Fibromyalgia, but I was in my 50's when I had my DS (duodenal switch) surgery.  That was two years ago and I would say it is the best thing I have done for myself in many years.  While the problems you have that are associated with the fibro will not be gone, most of the other conditions should improve/resolve. 

Before surgery, I had no energy.  I thought it was due to my age, not my weight.  I was amazed and happy to discover that many of my energy problems were related to the weight.  I now have more energy than I can remember having.  I was also starting to get pain in my knees and other places.  Those, too, have gone away.

There are many people older than you are who have had successful surgeries, so that really is not a big factor in the decision for you.

Good luck in your research.  I would encourage you to go to a doctor that routinely performs all the weight loss surgery techniques.  You will get more comprehensive information to make your choice.  There are pros/cons for each one.  Pick the one that is right for you.

Blessings,

Caroline 

Hi Barbara,

Welcome to OH and the OFF forum, where the common bond here is about obesity and what many of us have chosen to do to live healthier and, as a result, fuller lives!

I had my surgery at 52 and like you, have had different surgeries throughout my life, but my attitude regarding this surgery was it being a last ditch effort and an easy way out.  Then a relative through marriage of someone in my family had it and I saw the change it made in her life, then another relative of mine had it and yet another and I watched closely how they did and how it changed their lives, mostly in a positive way and I began to research it and my thought process changed in researching it, I was ready to move forward when my cousin, who had had WLS and had done well, tragically, got sick and 2 months later died, her death was not directly linked to WLS.  I want to say that she and I were best friends and when that happened it threw me into a spiral of depression and I put off my decision to have this surgery, that was 3 years ago.  A year after she died, I was cleaning up my computer when I came across my research and the link to OH, before deciding to delete it, I came on here and looked one more time at what people were saying, I learned and read some more; in that year between my weight had risen to an alltime high for me, I had gone to visit my grandchildren in Florida and my granddaughter wanted to go to Disney with me and I could not, as I was not able to be on my feet for more than an hour or two at a time, it made me sad as I realized that I was not living the life I should be, I was a young woman, who could have so much more to experience if I could only lose weight.  Well, I started researching surgeon's in my area, made an appointment to attend a seminar and in October of 2007 became an official "Loser's Bench" member. 

This journey has it's ups and downs and as some of the other posters already gave you good advice on what to do, I won't repeat it, what I shared is my story and the outcome for me has been wonderful.  I was a size 22/24, 3X and, tight fitting those sizes were, now I am a size 12 (loose fitting), medium tops.  I can sit comfortably, not be embarassed by the thought of having someone look at me and not want to have to share a seat on an airplane, train or bus, I can cross my legs, fit a regular bath towel around my body and people say I'm skinny (lol), for someone who has been overweight most of my life, this has been wonderful!  I am not at my goal yet, but I have not given up on that goal yet either, as it is a reasonable one (150 lbs.) and I believe one day I will get there, but even if I don't, I am living the life that I used to watch others live and think, gee I wish I could do that, well now I CAN and I DO!  I live each day fully and my only fear is that I will ever regain my weight and to not allow that to happen, they operate on the stomach, not the brain, so if you are not willing to change the things you can, you can gain the weight back by making poor choices and not adhereing to the "rules of the pouch".  I'm a very strong advocate of support as a means to staying on track, posting here on OH and attending local support groups is a good way to stay the course.  One last thing, you will meet wonderful people along this journey, people who will support you and understand the road you are traveling, that is what happened as a result of me finding OH, I mostly post here on OFF and the PA board and have met lots of wonderful folks as a result of this journey.  I wish you well, no matter the choice you make.

Laureen

Hi there, you are but a young thing.  I had my RNY at 64-years-old and have done wonderfully.  Age is just a number.  I had many surgeries before also.  I'm going to be 3 years out in Aug. of this year and I feel good.  I was in a wheelchair at the time of surgery due to being told I needed two new knees.  Fast forward 3 years, and I walk all over the place and my knees are fine.  I sometimes get a little tired, but I have a thyroid that is sluggish also.  Don't ever think you aqre too old to begin a new journey in your life.  I knew my quality of life was not good 3 years ago, and I seriously doubt I would be here today without WLS.  I wish you the best of luck in making the right decision for you.  Only you can decide what is best for you.  Good luck to you.

I am so glad that you are feeling so much better!  This gives me hope! 

I fell and injured my knee last April.  It is just not mending, and I am sure that excess weight is exactly the cause of this.  I don't want to end up in a wheel chair.  I want to be able to run around and play with my Grandchildren and my Children!  I have always been a high-energy person.  But I am slowly running out of steam, huffing and puffing, just trying to drag my body around.  I now am having to use a cane of support, just to be able to stand up on a bum knee!

Thanks for your input!  I appreciate it!
Barbara

Hi Barbara
I can't speak to your firbo problem nor can I speak to your issues about surgery because I haven't had surgery yet, so why in the heck am I responding to you?  I'm here to respond to your remarks about depression and shame after losing and regaining weight.  I think that all of us have felt that at one time or another. 
Two things have helped me to stop blaming myself.
The first is to realize that I have a food addiction.  For whatever reasons, I go to food for just about everything.  There are times when I am in the mood to lose weight and then eat something that I didn't want to without even realizing it!  Food has become a very important part of my life.  And, I think that we all have addictions - some others can see, some others can't.  When I think of others judging me for being fat, I always wonder what addiction it is that they're hiding.  I am an addict and for me there is no modification or "better choices" that will make me smaller and healthier.  It's an all or nothing thing.  Anyway, I used to smoke two packs of cigarettes every day.  I quit 33 years ago, and I have never had a cigarette in my mouth since then.  I know that if I smoked even half a cigarette, I would be doomed.   Try to tell some smoker to smoke four and a half  (or 5 or 7) cigarettes daily or tell a drug addict to have just one tenth of what he has been drugging himself/herself with, and it just couldn't happen.  No therapist working with addicts would ever tell a client to do that.  If one is an addict, one has to quit entirely!!!  I, as an addict, CANNOT QUIT EATING. I have to eat in order to continue living. And yet, we are told to modify our eating - just don't eat so much, just make better choices, etc.  For me, being a food addict, it's just never going to happen, and I suspect that it is the same for others.  However, weight-loss companies and doctors can make millions by saying just that.   Some day, I hope that weight loss organizations, companies, etc. are outlawed for food addicts like me because they are charlatans.  They might as well be selling snake oil.   So... knowing that I am an addict and that I can't quit eating entirely nor can I modify my eating for life (without weight loss surgery) has resulted in my feeling less shame.
The second thing that helped me was reading an article that confirmed what I had thought for 30 years - there is no cure for obesity.  If there were, there would be no need for this site or for the charlatans selling snake oil.  It made me so happy to read that someone (an MD) finally, finally understood.   It may take a long time for the obese and nonobese to accept that I (we) suffer from a disease from which there is no cure because we have been told for a looooong time that we are weak-willed.  Ugh  -  what a horrible term.  I am not weak-willed.  A 2 pack-a-day smoker who quits (cold turkey, I might add) for over thirty years (through loss of both parents,  divorce, breast cancer, etc., etc.) is not weak-willed, and you are not weak-willed either.
I've gone on a rant, sorry.  If I ever decide to do a phd, the subject will certainly focus on the addiction of food.
As I stated at the start of this tome, I am 58 - I'm waiting for approval for surgery and then hope to run with the VSG and get back my healthier, slimmer body and do my best to maintain my weight with my new tool.
All the best to you and welcome to a colourful and special group of people!
Margaret
www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html

What made you decide on the VSG, Margaret??

I would like to know from anyone who has had VSG what their experiences have been. 

There is little information out on it since it is so new.  It sounds like a better long-term solution than lap-band on so many levels.  But, I don't know if my primary care doctor will approve of it.  It has taken me YEARS to get her to approve of the lap-band!  Still, I want to do what is the most loving, the most successful, the most beneficial WLS there is for me!  VGS just may be it!

Barbara,

I'm 55, have fibro, COPD, asthma...and had lap RNY last Wednesday!

I'm on disability for fibromyalgia and COPD. I was a hairstylist for like 35 years and thought I always would be. I still cut my families hair. But my back and legs hurt so bad that I hated having to do it. I could maybe get thru the grocery store. But forget the mall! I didn't have enough energy, and way too much pain.
 
I decided that what I was doing was just existing, I wasn't living! If I had to live with that much pain, it wasn't worth it. So, I decided to go for surgery. It HAS to make a differance in the way I feel. Not carrying around an extra 150 pounds should help my back, my legs, my knees. I should be able to breathe better. And I know I'll look better, and even at 50something, who doesn't want to look better?

If you need to talk or have questions, I'm here.
Nancy

I know it has been a short time since your surgery...but have you noticed any differences in your Fibro since the surgery? 

I agree with you, it has GOT to make a difference pain-wise by getting excess weight off of bodies!!

I am still in the process of working through doctors consultations to get to a decision as to whether or not I will do lap-band or VSG.  I cannot do what you had done because of prior surgeries than have made my intestines/abdomen a mine-field of adhesions.  That would be very difficult for a surgeon to get through.

Thank you so much for your support.  I appreciate it.

I hope you are doing well since your surgery!

Barbara,

I do feel better since my surgery. My legs don't hurt, neither does my back. Of course, I'm still taking it easy...but I did go shopping on Saturday...and my legs didn't hurt! Now if I would just get over the extra fatigue, but I know that will happen too.

I'm sure eating better is helping my fibro too. I had problems with thrush before, and I know sugar makes it worse. Well, now its completely gone since I'm not eating sugar.

And I've lost 28 pounds! From the 2 week diet before and since surgery, down 1 pants size...so that's good too.

The doctors approval before surgery is a hassle, but I think everyone has to do it. It seems it takes so long...then, boom! And you're scheduling your surgery! Just research the surgery choices you have, you only want to do it once. Ask questions.

Take care,
Nancy