New to OH and have many Over 50 years old questions!
Hi all,
I am new to OH and am seriously considering weight loss surgery. I have many concerns. I have repeatedly cycled back to seriously considering weight loss surgery over and over for the last 19 years.
I have had weight problems since I was 3 or 4 years old. I have lost the weight several times in my life. I just cannot seem to get the weight off and keep it off!! I have whipped everything else that has ever been a problem for me in life, but not this problem!
There is such shame and depression in the regaining over and over. There is such shame and depression in the not being able to stay in control of myself about food!
When life gets tough, food has always been my bandaide...my drug of choice!
I am very concerned about being 53 years old and doing the surgery--not the surgery itself, but the long-term consequences of having done it. I have had too many surgeries already in my life, (two spinal fusion surgeries, two carpal tunnel release surgeries, sinus surgery, female surgery...ugh....all of which have had long-term benefits and problems!)
On top of all the side effects from these different conditions and surgeries, somewhere along the way I managed to acquire a very challenging to cope with condition called Fibromyalgia. This problem seems to bother me more than any of the others at this point!
I believe that at least part of all my body pain is likely caused from carrying around a bunch of excess weight for so very many years!
I have the finances to do the surgery. I have gone to 4 different seminars about it in the last 3 months. I have FINALLY gotten my primary care physician to give me permission to go see the bariatric surgeon to talk over all my concerns to see if it is possible to get through this all and do the surgery.
I would so very much appreciate any information you all have about going through this seriously life-altering surgery at an older age and getting through to the other side with hopefully less health problems and extreme body pain than I already have!
Thanks for any insights you can provide. I appreciate it!
Barbara
Hi Barbara:
Welcome to OFF. Boy, do you sound a lot like me! I was 49 when I had my surgery. I hadn't had many surgeries when I had WLS, but I sure could have been you. I had arthritic feet, knees and back, compressed discs in my back, degenerative disc disease and yes, fibromyalgia too. I had borderline high blood pressure and probably was headed for diabetes along the way since it runs in my family. I had been overweight all my life and was miserable. I remember at my grade school graduation dance ... there was this guy I had a major crush on and I wanted so much for him to ask me to dance. Then I heard him saying to his friend, "Eileen is cute, but man, she is so fat." I was devastated. It still hurts me to this day. I have never had a serious relationship with a man because I always thought I was inferior because of my weight. So I've been alone and concentrated on my career.
And then I yo-yo dieted just like you. I would lose, gain, lose, gain more, et****il I topped out at 350 pounds. I was at the pain clinic for my fibro and spinal arthritis, and the doc told me if I didn't do something about my weight, I would wind up in a wheelchair. So I chose life, not the wheelchair. I was desperate enough to look into WLS. It was the best decision I have ever made.
Yes, there are risks, like any other surgery. Read all you can. There are some great books out there. Make sure you are in good health. A good doctor or bariatric center should have good after-care to follow up nutritionally and on exercise. They should test you for your heart and do blood work to make sure you are in good health, both before and after surgery. They should provide you with good vitamins and supplements, because you're not going to get all of these from your food any more. Plenty of the people on this board have had their surgery after 50 ... some after 60. They are all doing fairly well.
Now, of course, there are people who have had major complications; some have died. Surgery is always with risks. Any surgery. You must understand that going in. A good surgeon will tell you that, too.
There are several kinds of WLS now: RNY, duodenal switch, lap-band, Realize band, gastric sleeve ... there are more available now than there were when I was looking into this. So do your research well. Talk to lots of people. I had lap RNY and was fortunate that I had no complications other than a small incisional infection that was cured by antibiotics. I am able to eat anything; nothing really bothers me. I've lost 180 pounds and have kept it off. But I really work now because I am able to eat sweets so I have to watch myself. And since I've had two knee surgeries (knee replacements on the same knee), my exercise is really limited because of pain issues. So I battle to make sure I keep off the weight. I don't want to gain it back.
I know all about the pain of fibro ... are you able to get in a pool? Swimming or water walking is great for fibro! I know it can be embarrassing to get in a swim suit when you're obese, but ignore the idiots who stare and do anyway. I did when I was 350 pounds ... I went to the Y and you would surprised at how many obese people there were there in the pool. I applaud all of them now.
Barbara, if I can help you, or you want to e-mail, please do! I'm here for you.
Welcome to OFF. Boy, do you sound a lot like me! I was 49 when I had my surgery. I hadn't had many surgeries when I had WLS, but I sure could have been you. I had arthritic feet, knees and back, compressed discs in my back, degenerative disc disease and yes, fibromyalgia too. I had borderline high blood pressure and probably was headed for diabetes along the way since it runs in my family. I had been overweight all my life and was miserable. I remember at my grade school graduation dance ... there was this guy I had a major crush on and I wanted so much for him to ask me to dance. Then I heard him saying to his friend, "Eileen is cute, but man, she is so fat." I was devastated. It still hurts me to this day. I have never had a serious relationship with a man because I always thought I was inferior because of my weight. So I've been alone and concentrated on my career.
And then I yo-yo dieted just like you. I would lose, gain, lose, gain more, et****il I topped out at 350 pounds. I was at the pain clinic for my fibro and spinal arthritis, and the doc told me if I didn't do something about my weight, I would wind up in a wheelchair. So I chose life, not the wheelchair. I was desperate enough to look into WLS. It was the best decision I have ever made.
Yes, there are risks, like any other surgery. Read all you can. There are some great books out there. Make sure you are in good health. A good doctor or bariatric center should have good after-care to follow up nutritionally and on exercise. They should test you for your heart and do blood work to make sure you are in good health, both before and after surgery. They should provide you with good vitamins and supplements, because you're not going to get all of these from your food any more. Plenty of the people on this board have had their surgery after 50 ... some after 60. They are all doing fairly well.
Now, of course, there are people who have had major complications; some have died. Surgery is always with risks. Any surgery. You must understand that going in. A good surgeon will tell you that, too.
There are several kinds of WLS now: RNY, duodenal switch, lap-band, Realize band, gastric sleeve ... there are more available now than there were when I was looking into this. So do your research well. Talk to lots of people. I had lap RNY and was fortunate that I had no complications other than a small incisional infection that was cured by antibiotics. I am able to eat anything; nothing really bothers me. I've lost 180 pounds and have kept it off. But I really work now because I am able to eat sweets so I have to watch myself. And since I've had two knee surgeries (knee replacements on the same knee), my exercise is really limited because of pain issues. So I battle to make sure I keep off the weight. I don't want to gain it back.
I know all about the pain of fibro ... are you able to get in a pool? Swimming or water walking is great for fibro! I know it can be embarrassing to get in a swim suit when you're obese, but ignore the idiots who stare and do anyway. I did when I was 350 pounds ... I went to the Y and you would surprised at how many obese people there were there in the pool. I applaud all of them now.
Barbara, if I can help you, or you want to e-mail, please do! I'm here for you.
Somewhat, maybe because I'm able to move a little better. There are times that I still have flare-ups (of IBS, or painful episodes). But not as many because the drugs are able to control these better. I know my back is better because the 180 pounds are off. I have quit losing inches off my height because the compression is off my discs in the back (or is not as severe). I don't think fibro is ever completely cured (nor is arthritis, because arthritis is progressive), but it can be controlled better after weight loss. Exercise definitely helps fibro, though.
Barbara, I just read Eileen's post. I can add nothing to what she wrote. It was heartfelt, sincere, and echos what many of us have gone through. I was 55 and 377 lbs when I had WLS almost 4 years ago. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would encourage you to read the profiles of many of us here on OFF. That will help you in your search for the correct answer for you. Best wishes and take care.
Karen C
Eileen says it all. I never thought in a million years that I would have the surgery. I was scared to think of the thought. But then I was also scared what the rest of my life would be like, always overweight, always yo-yoing, always on a diet. Not that I don't have to watch it now. It is not a cure-all. It is a tool, and a fine and dandy tool it is.
There are some risks but what about the risk of being overweight? I had gallbladder surgery when I was younger, hysterectomy 11 years ago, carpal tunnel on both hands 4 or 5 years ago.
But this surgery did concern me and the night before and day of the surgery I was pretty scared. I even wrote little notes to my family members in case something happened to me. But everything went fine. I did have a blockage around 6 weeks out, but the Dr's took care of it. It was not life threatening. But did need to be looked into. Sometimes it happens.
Just check into your Dr's, don't go to any fly by night. Look into all the different surgeries and make a decision on your lifestyle. I started out going to do the band but decided the RNY would be better for me in the long run. I was 50 (almost 51) when I had my surgery. Soon, I will be 54. But I feel like I am in my 40's. Actually, I feel way better than my 40's did. I actually get smiles now from people and don't feel like people are talking about how fat I am. I have even had people say they would have never guessed I had been so heavy. I think my heaviest was close to 330. I have lost over 130 lbs. Sure I could lose some more. But I am happy where I am right now.
Take care and hope you come to the right conclusion.
Mickey
There are some risks but what about the risk of being overweight? I had gallbladder surgery when I was younger, hysterectomy 11 years ago, carpal tunnel on both hands 4 or 5 years ago.
But this surgery did concern me and the night before and day of the surgery I was pretty scared. I even wrote little notes to my family members in case something happened to me. But everything went fine. I did have a blockage around 6 weeks out, but the Dr's took care of it. It was not life threatening. But did need to be looked into. Sometimes it happens.
Just check into your Dr's, don't go to any fly by night. Look into all the different surgeries and make a decision on your lifestyle. I started out going to do the band but decided the RNY would be better for me in the long run. I was 50 (almost 51) when I had my surgery. Soon, I will be 54. But I feel like I am in my 40's. Actually, I feel way better than my 40's did. I actually get smiles now from people and don't feel like people are talking about how fat I am. I have even had people say they would have never guessed I had been so heavy. I think my heaviest was close to 330. I have lost over 130 lbs. Sure I could lose some more. But I am happy where I am right now.
Take care and hope you come to the right conclusion.
Mickey
Everyone has said it so well I only have a little left to add. I am 51 and just had surgery 9 weeks ago. I believe it is the best thing I have done for myself in so many years. I still have to work at taking the weight off but i feel that I have been giving a fighting chance now. I thiink the most importatn thing is to do your homework before surgery. Look into all the different kind of surgeries and then decide which one is best for you. Weightloss surgery for dummies is very good. Another thing that I did not do but wishe I had.. start working with a therapist now about your emotional eating. You mentioned that when life got tough you used food as a band-aid. Me too. Of course now I can't really do that, even if i wanted to. Although the reason I know I don't dump occured when i was upset and chocolate bars were available. Recently I started seeing a therapist about these issue. The surgery fixes your stomach but the brain and emotions are still broken. These have to be worked on for the best success.
If you need to know more feel free to PM me also.
If you need to know more feel free to PM me also.
Welcome! I too have fibro, cfs, OA, degenerative disc disease, and a whole host of other chronic illnesses.
I was 54 when I had my RNY WLS 5/13/08. I have lost 142 pounds since 1/1/2008. I will be 55 in early March.
WLS will not cure your fibro. Fibro is a chronic illness.
I was using a walker, could hardly get up and down off the toilet, had to lean against the wall to go down 6 steps, and lived in my recliner.
WLS has greatly improved my life but not my fibro. I still use the walker from time to time, but get around pretty good with just a cane. I am still on meds for the fibro. That has not changed. I still have flares.
I have no regrets (only that I didn't do WLS years ago). Best wishes to you!
PS ... there is a fibro forum on OH.
I was 54 when I had my RNY WLS 5/13/08. I have lost 142 pounds since 1/1/2008. I will be 55 in early March.
WLS will not cure your fibro. Fibro is a chronic illness.
I was using a walker, could hardly get up and down off the toilet, had to lean against the wall to go down 6 steps, and lived in my recliner.
WLS has greatly improved my life but not my fibro. I still use the walker from time to time, but get around pretty good with just a cane. I am still on meds for the fibro. That has not changed. I still have flares.
I have no regrets (only that I didn't do WLS years ago). Best wishes to you!
PS ... there is a fibro forum on OH.
I'M AT GOAL! 
I am very concerned about being 53 years old and doing the surgery--not the surgery itself, but the long-term consequences of having done it. I have had too many surgeries already in my life, (two spinal fusion surgeries, two carpal tunnel release surgeries, sinus surgery, female surgery...ugh....all of which have had long-term benefits and problems!)
On top of all the side effects from these different conditions and surgeries, somewhere along the way I managed to acquire a very challenging to cope with condition called Fibromyalgia. This problem seems to bother me more than any of the others at this point!
My wife of 35 years had her RNY at 50 years old (I had mine at 56). My wife had over 30 surgeries in the 10 years prior to her WLS. Spinal chord stimulaters (2 different operations to install), adjustment surgeries, carpal tunnel on both wrists, rotator cup, etc. This was by far the most advantageous of her surgeries.
She also has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Parkinsons. It ends up now, the Parkinsons may have been medicinally induced and not the real thing. Her pain is so much a thing of the past, it is unbelieveable. In 2005, any time we went to the mall she had to have an electric wheelchair to get around. Currently, she walks up the stairs in the malls, will not use the escalator.
Lastly, the long term consequences.... There is a long term. You will live longer. That was enough for me.
On top of all the side effects from these different conditions and surgeries, somewhere along the way I managed to acquire a very challenging to cope with condition called Fibromyalgia. This problem seems to bother me more than any of the others at this point!
My wife of 35 years had her RNY at 50 years old (I had mine at 56). My wife had over 30 surgeries in the 10 years prior to her WLS. Spinal chord stimulaters (2 different operations to install), adjustment surgeries, carpal tunnel on both wrists, rotator cup, etc. This was by far the most advantageous of her surgeries.
She also has been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Parkinsons. It ends up now, the Parkinsons may have been medicinally induced and not the real thing. Her pain is so much a thing of the past, it is unbelieveable. In 2005, any time we went to the mall she had to have an electric wheelchair to get around. Currently, she walks up the stairs in the malls, will not use the escalator.
Lastly, the long term consequences.... There is a long term. You will live longer. That was enough for me.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!
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