encouragement please......
I've done most of my OH surfing on the main forum, which has given me a wealth of information, and then I ran across this WLS 50 and over. I will be turning 52 next month and out of all of my concerns over RNY, the main one that keeps nagging at me the most is my age. I am basically healthy, BMI of 42, with co morbidity issues of blood pressure, cholesterol, arthritis - everything that is pretty typical with the age bracket I'm in, but magnified due to the obesity. Blood pressure & cholesterol managed with medication, and extra strength Tylenol for the arthritis. I made the choice to go this route because these issues that I have only worsen with age. Losing the weight has not been as big of an issue as keeping it off has been - if that makes any sense.
So now that I think I've found the "right" place to be, how about it out there? I'm not in my 30's or 40's anymore, and as with everything else that gets harder in the 50's, I'm sure that the same holds true for WLS. How did you fair with your surgery? Do you find that, generally speaking, there are more complications involved that may be age related? I would be lying if I tried to put on the brave front and say that I'm not getting cold feet - I do have reservations that are creeping up on me since I'm only a week away from surgery. I've tried my very best to educate and prepare myself for this new way of life that I'm venturing into. It has taken so much to get myself to this point that I really don't want to look back now - I need to keep looking forward. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!
So now that I think I've found the "right" place to be, how about it out there? I'm not in my 30's or 40's anymore, and as with everything else that gets harder in the 50's, I'm sure that the same holds true for WLS. How did you fair with your surgery? Do you find that, generally speaking, there are more complications involved that may be age related? I would be lying if I tried to put on the brave front and say that I'm not getting cold feet - I do have reservations that are creeping up on me since I'm only a week away from surgery. I've tried my very best to educate and prepare myself for this new way of life that I'm venturing into. It has taken so much to get myself to this point that I really don't want to look back now - I need to keep looking forward. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated!
Welcome to the OFF Marlee. You have come to the right place.
Reading your post made me think I was reading my life.
I had RNY at 56. I am 18 months out and have lost 150 lbs. For good.
My BMI was 43.8. Blood Pressure was high, but not very. Medicated to normal by one pill a day. Arthritic knees from carrying the weight. Cholesterol was fine. Losing weight, not a problem. Lost 30 pounds on Atkins. But found it again.
I didn't have any real problems. Had my gall bladder removed about 6 months in. I have not noticed any age related problems. And really have not heard of any.
The main thing, once you have the surgery. Sip, sip, sip. Walk, walk, walk.
I am currently drinking a minimum of 96 oz of Crystal Light a day. Sometimes as much as 160 oz. KEEP HYDRATED.
Reading your post made me think I was reading my life.
I had RNY at 56. I am 18 months out and have lost 150 lbs. For good.
My BMI was 43.8. Blood Pressure was high, but not very. Medicated to normal by one pill a day. Arthritic knees from carrying the weight. Cholesterol was fine. Losing weight, not a problem. Lost 30 pounds on Atkins. But found it again.
I didn't have any real problems. Had my gall bladder removed about 6 months in. I have not noticed any age related problems. And really have not heard of any.
The main thing, once you have the surgery. Sip, sip, sip. Walk, walk, walk.
I am currently drinking a minimum of 96 oz of Crystal Light a day. Sometimes as much as 160 oz. KEEP HYDRATED.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!
Thanks for your reply George, as well as the words of encouragement. Wow, what an accomplishment you've made in such a short amount of time. Talk about life altering.....
It's a comfort to know that you didn't have any real problems. I pray that I'm as fortunate. So far, my gall bladder looks good with no stones, but I know that that has a tendency to change after WLS. I suppose time will tell.
Thankfully, I'm already a walker and a water drinker as well, and I just hope that I don't have a problem keeping up with my quota after the surgery.
Thanks for the advice - I'm going to do my best to keep up with the program as I should. I think that's half the battle, right?
It's a comfort to know that you didn't have any real problems. I pray that I'm as fortunate. So far, my gall bladder looks good with no stones, but I know that that has a tendency to change after WLS. I suppose time will tell.
Thankfully, I'm already a walker and a water drinker as well, and I just hope that I don't have a problem keeping up with my quota after the surgery.
Thanks for the advice - I'm going to do my best to keep up with the program as I should. I think that's half the battle, right?
Hi..Marie, I don't think I have words of wisdom, but I will share my short term experience with you. I will be 62 in June this year and I am about 10 weeks POST-op. I had a LAP RNY and for me everthing went very smoothly. My sister will be 65 in May this year and she has lost from an 18-20 to a size 4-6 in less than two years. We had an excellent surgeon and hospital care. It is a life altering surgery for sure, but for some of us it is our greatest hope. I would run, crying and reaching to have it done again in a heartbeat. I can also tell you than there were many people in their 50's plus at our meetings. I'm not going to say to you to go ahead, or you won't regret it or anything like that. I only wanted to tell you the outcome for me and my family. I do hope others will step up with their stories, so you can be fully informed on that first day of the rest of your life.
Barb
Barb
Barb, thank you for sharing your experience and that of your sister. What a testimonial to WLS. I'm so glad that it has made such a difference to the both of you. I also have an excellent surgeon with an excellent track record, and I'm having my surgery at a Center of Excellence. In that respect, I've done my homework and feel that I have chosen wisely. I guess I'm just having those last minute jitters and because my surgery is a week from today, I'm feeling the anxiety creeping in, which I'm sure is normal and happens to most everyone. This site has helped me so much since I've joined. You can read all the medical info you can get your hands on, but nothing can take the place of real life experiences from people who have previously walked the journey that I'm now embarking on. Thanks again for sharing with me.
Welcome Marlee,
Cold feet happens to most of us but I was more afraid to stay obese. The complications of remaining at 320 pounds were getting worse so at 59 I had RNY.
I had several abdominal surgeries over the years resulting in plenty of adhesions and scar tissue. Because my Dad had 7 hernias in his lifetime the surgeon said I had a genetic predisposition to have them too. Those issues have caused a few bumps along the way but never enough to cause regrets.
2 1/2 years later I am off all 10 meds, can walk, run, and lead a physically acitve life. My weight stays stable at about 115 pounds with little effort thanks to the help of people on OFF.
At first it was time consuming and often confusing learning how to incorporate the new eating, drinking and exercise way of life. It was necessary to set timers, make lists and really consentrate. For so many years I never gave a thought to what I ate or drank so actually thinking was new. It was worth every bit of effort.
Be excited, ask questions and rest assured ... the changes after WLS are wonderfully amazing!!
Annette
Cold feet happens to most of us but I was more afraid to stay obese. The complications of remaining at 320 pounds were getting worse so at 59 I had RNY.
I had several abdominal surgeries over the years resulting in plenty of adhesions and scar tissue. Because my Dad had 7 hernias in his lifetime the surgeon said I had a genetic predisposition to have them too. Those issues have caused a few bumps along the way but never enough to cause regrets.
2 1/2 years later I am off all 10 meds, can walk, run, and lead a physically acitve life. My weight stays stable at about 115 pounds with little effort thanks to the help of people on OFF.
At first it was time consuming and often confusing learning how to incorporate the new eating, drinking and exercise way of life. It was necessary to set timers, make lists and really consentrate. For so many years I never gave a thought to what I ate or drank so actually thinking was new. It was worth every bit of effort.
Be excited, ask questions and rest assured ... the changes after WLS are wonderfully amazing!!
Annette
Annette 
Wow Annette, you've lost 205 lbs. That is amazing! I love hearing about experiences such as yours. For the life of me, I simply cannot comprehend someone losing that much weight and the euphoria you have to feel. I've had weight issues for most of my life - I got so tired of my mom (RIP), bless her heart, telling people what a big baby I was, how, at 9 months, I was walking, was potty trained, and weighed 30 lbs. That's a LOT for a child of that age to weigh, but I also remember how she fed us, and heaven forbid if you left one little morsel on your plate. So the mold was cast when I was very young. I am just ever so thankful that I have this opportunity to change that mold, and that I don't have more to lose than what I already do!
I realize that it is going to be very difficult in the beginning, keeping track of water and protein intake, among other things. I have a journal and I plan to journal everyday to keep close tabs on things - I would never be able to trust all of that to memory anymore. I think that I've armed myself well with what I need to know and do, but in all honesty, that's only the tip of the iceberg and I won't fully know until I begin to live it. I really appreciated the time people invest in sharing their stories with me. I feel that I've made the right decision, and I'm really encouraged by the positive stories of people who have made this choice in their 50's. Thanks so much for sharing!
I realize that it is going to be very difficult in the beginning, keeping track of water and protein intake, among other things. I have a journal and I plan to journal everyday to keep close tabs on things - I would never be able to trust all of that to memory anymore. I think that I've armed myself well with what I need to know and do, but in all honesty, that's only the tip of the iceberg and I won't fully know until I begin to live it. I really appreciated the time people invest in sharing their stories with me. I feel that I've made the right decision, and I'm really encouraged by the positive stories of people who have made this choice in their 50's. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi, Marlee and welcome to OFF. You have come to a great place and there are more than enough people here who have so much knowledge it is amazing.
As your date draws closer it is normal to get the worries. I think there would be something wrong with someone who doesn't get some concern. It is life changing and of course we wonder if we are up to it. I remember the morning of surgery walking out the door thinking I should just cancel it since I could do it all on my own. Then sanity hit and told me that I had never been able to do it all my 53 years and so why could I do it now? By the time I got to the hospital all of that was gone and I was more than ready to start my new and exiting life. Now at 1 and a half years out and almost to goal weight I am so glad that I did. I can never imagine going back to what I was then.
I had all the normal co morbidity's and most of them are gone. There are a couple of things that are never going away but I knew that going into this. I have a heart problem that is never going away but it is now at a normal level. My heart is working at that of someone who does NOT have cardiomyopathy and that is making such a difference. My back problems are never going away because they are degenerative but that is alright. What I have gained far exceeds that fact. The diabetes is gone along with the high cholesterol. I feel I am a walking and talking miracle and I am.
As for problems with the surgery. The only one that I had when I had the surgery is that I couldn't get fluids down. They just wouldn't fit. They took another upper g.i. and found a lot of swelling so the doctor put me on ice chips for 3 more days and then I was fine. I do have a hernia but I had also had my gall bladder removed about 15 years ago and so there is scar tissue from that right where the hernia is also.....so it could be from both the surgeries. The up side of the hernia is when they take it out they are doing the tummy tuck too so that is not a good thing.....it is a GREAT thing.
You just will not believe the changes that you will feel once you have this surgery. You will be able to enjoy life like you were meant to and love every minute of it. My worst days today don't even measure up to my best days then. I was more miserable than I ever knew and didn't figure it out until I got out of the mess.
Good luck and God speed.......it won't be long and you will be joining us on the losers bench and that is a wonderful place to be.
As your date draws closer it is normal to get the worries. I think there would be something wrong with someone who doesn't get some concern. It is life changing and of course we wonder if we are up to it. I remember the morning of surgery walking out the door thinking I should just cancel it since I could do it all on my own. Then sanity hit and told me that I had never been able to do it all my 53 years and so why could I do it now? By the time I got to the hospital all of that was gone and I was more than ready to start my new and exiting life. Now at 1 and a half years out and almost to goal weight I am so glad that I did. I can never imagine going back to what I was then.
I had all the normal co morbidity's and most of them are gone. There are a couple of things that are never going away but I knew that going into this. I have a heart problem that is never going away but it is now at a normal level. My heart is working at that of someone who does NOT have cardiomyopathy and that is making such a difference. My back problems are never going away because they are degenerative but that is alright. What I have gained far exceeds that fact. The diabetes is gone along with the high cholesterol. I feel I am a walking and talking miracle and I am.
As for problems with the surgery. The only one that I had when I had the surgery is that I couldn't get fluids down. They just wouldn't fit. They took another upper g.i. and found a lot of swelling so the doctor put me on ice chips for 3 more days and then I was fine. I do have a hernia but I had also had my gall bladder removed about 15 years ago and so there is scar tissue from that right where the hernia is also.....so it could be from both the surgeries. The up side of the hernia is when they take it out they are doing the tummy tuck too so that is not a good thing.....it is a GREAT thing.
You just will not believe the changes that you will feel once you have this surgery. You will be able to enjoy life like you were meant to and love every minute of it. My worst days today don't even measure up to my best days then. I was more miserable than I ever knew and didn't figure it out until I got out of the mess.
Good luck and God speed.......it won't be long and you will be joining us on the losers bench and that is a wonderful place to be.
It's not what you gather, but what you scatter
that tells what kind of life you have lived.
"It is life changing and of course we wonder if we are up to it. "
Brenda,
That pretty much sums it up in a nutshell for me. That's where my anxiety lies. Although I have to admit that I'm beginning to realize that being in my 50's isn't as much of a risk factor as I thought it might be, and that in itself is very reassuring to me.
I am determined to do this right. I've waited for this for so long - it's here now and I have to keep pushing forward. I have a wonderful husband and children, the greatest support system that anyone could ever want for. And the most precious granddaughter that I never, in a million years, thought I would be blessed with. I have so much to be thankful for, and I want to be around in the years to come to grow older with all of them. This is the ticket, my only ticket, to get to where I've longed to be for a very long time now.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me - all of the encouragement that I've recieved here has helped tremendously.
I'll just be glad when it's all over with and I can put all of these fears and anxieties behind me and get on with living again. I'm really looking forward to the changes. Thanks again....
Brenda,
That pretty much sums it up in a nutshell for me. That's where my anxiety lies. Although I have to admit that I'm beginning to realize that being in my 50's isn't as much of a risk factor as I thought it might be, and that in itself is very reassuring to me.
I am determined to do this right. I've waited for this for so long - it's here now and I have to keep pushing forward. I have a wonderful husband and children, the greatest support system that anyone could ever want for. And the most precious granddaughter that I never, in a million years, thought I would be blessed with. I have so much to be thankful for, and I want to be around in the years to come to grow older with all of them. This is the ticket, my only ticket, to get to where I've longed to be for a very long time now.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with me - all of the encouragement that I've recieved here has helped tremendously.
I'll just be glad when it's all over with and I can put all of these fears and anxieties behind me and get on with living again. I'm really looking forward to the changes. Thanks again....
Aloha Marlee and welcome to the OFF.......OH, my you have such an adventure ahead of you. PLEASE take pictures and measure NOW...you will not like it, but you will be thrilled in a few months that you did.
I am one of the ancients on here......65, almost 66 (June), and had surgery at 63. My weight going in was 319 and now I weigh around 155-158 and am having no trouble staying at that weight. And, I eat a lot!! Good things, of course, mostly.........but the surgeon seemed to have plumbed me so that everything goes right through, and doesn't land on my hips or buh-tocks like it used to.
In the beginning, you will feel like a chemist juggling your eating/drinking schedule, but soon it will become 2nd nature and from then on it's DOWN the scale into eventual fitness, health and freedom in your body. There may be bumps along the way........I think we all have had them....but they are just that....bumps.....and you go OVER bumps and back on the pathway again.
I loved reading your post this early Maui morning (just getting light here). I gave me a great reminder of where I was not even three years ago now.
Good luck!!
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
I am one of the ancients on here......65, almost 66 (June), and had surgery at 63. My weight going in was 319 and now I weigh around 155-158 and am having no trouble staying at that weight. And, I eat a lot!! Good things, of course, mostly.........but the surgeon seemed to have plumbed me so that everything goes right through, and doesn't land on my hips or buh-tocks like it used to.
In the beginning, you will feel like a chemist juggling your eating/drinking schedule, but soon it will become 2nd nature and from then on it's DOWN the scale into eventual fitness, health and freedom in your body. There may be bumps along the way........I think we all have had them....but they are just that....bumps.....and you go OVER bumps and back on the pathway again.
I loved reading your post this early Maui morning (just getting light here). I gave me a great reminder of where I was not even three years ago now.
Good luck!!
Aloha nui loa,
Maui Karen
Most Active
Recent Topics
