Hello there... I'm new and curious....and an itsy bit afraid

Hello, I feel so thankful to have found this site, I'm 54 and my family doctor has suggested gastric bypass (or sleeve) (whatever that is)surgery and a doctor, I'm worried about the pain, the dangers etc., though I'm willing to put up with both if I can get my old life back, please tell me about your experiences.

Hi Sophia, welcome!  I'm 54 too and I had my weight loss surgery in April of this year.  I had the duodenal switch, which is  a combination of the sleeve and the intestinal bypass.  So far I've lost over 90 lbs.

There are risks and pain with any surgery but if you look up the statistics for weight loss surgery, they're nearly not as scary as the devastating effects of obesity--which contributes to diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer (some studies are finding) and other issues.  I was really scared of the switch because I thought the death rate among surgery patients was so high...but it's really not.

Pain...some people, like me, can tolerate pain really well.  I was a little uncomfortable but that is all.  But you have to figure that the surgery involves doing stuff with your belly and intestines.  It can't be pain free.  There are ways to manage pain and discomfort very well.

Recovery for me was 4-6 weeks.  I didn't have to go back to work so I was able to take my time and go at a much slower pace.

At first you can only have water, then clear fluids, then all fluids, followed by mushy food, soft food and then slowly adding in regular food.  Depending on which surgery you have, you may have dietary restrictions you have to follow.  I'm not as familar with the bypass and someone who's had it can explain it better.

Hope that helps--please feel free to PM or ask me more questions if you like.  :)

Thank you so much for all of the information, I won't see the doctor until Dec. 10th, he was recommended by my family doctor, so I have few visions as to what it all entails, I am an absolute coward for pain, I have no ideas as to the choices and even less as to the dangers involved, hadn't thought of that at all.
I'm retired and don't have to worry about work, the house can fall apart for a few weeks (lots of family to help).
I've dieted all my life...since I can remember...so a few weeks of consomee and strained fruit juice isn't going to frighten me and the smoothies someone mentioned sound more than palatable.
How dangerous is it???? I thought the whole idea was to become healthy.....uhhhh

Oh Sophia welcome!

You have come to the right place. I'd recommend reading profile pages from people here on OFF. Many of us have been around for several years. I had my LAP RNY Feb. 16, 2005. I weighed 377 lbs and was not so slowly eating myself into an early grave.

The surgery gave me my life back.  When I'm not here posting for a week or two I'm probably out galavanting around the world. I just returned from 2 weeks in Italy, walking miles each day. The plane ride would have been an impossibility before losing 180 lbs.

I won't bore others with stuff they've heard before. Just wanted to welcome you. This is the best place to ask questions, to learn, to prepare yourself to make a very important decision that only you can make.

If you click under a person's picture (avatar) it will take you to their profile page. I'm afraid I haven't updated mine in a long time but I kept it for a couple of years. There are also pictures posted of many of us prior to and after surgery. I spent a lot of time looking at the before and after pictures not believing that I could be there some day.

But it did happen and I am so thankful for the surgery and for my "family" here on the over fifty forum. Many of us have been lucky enough to meet in person. Perhaps you'll join us some day.  Don't be a stranger!

One more thing. I didn't answer your question. You asked "How dangerous is it?"   My reply: "How dangerous is the way you are living right now?" 

For me I don't know if I would be alive today had I not had surgery almost 5 years ago. I had given up on dieting and had just decided that I would die fat. The first time I saw the term "obese" was bad enough then it became "morbidly obese" and when I had surgery at 377 lbs I was "super morbidly obese." I don't think there is any worse term. .  .

Any surgery is dangerous, I won't deny that, but so is existing inside of a body that is slowly killing us in so many ways. For me high cholesteral, severe sleep apnea, high blood pressure, stress incontinence, acid reflux, arthritic joints which required bilateral knee replacements when I was "just" 340 lbs. . . .

Sorry, I didn't meen to get going. Guess you touched a soft spot. I know there are complications, but for me the journey has been mostly smooth. I don't take it for granted. I am fighting a bit of regain, but I'm determined to get back on the exercise routine that I've become slack about. That seems to be the key for me and once I get out of the habit it's hard to get back to it.

Checking in here with friends who understand helps so much. Make it a  regular part of your routine if you can. We're not a huge group and we support each other as much as possible.

Welcome, Sophia!

You are doing the right thing by investigating the different types of bariatric surgery. I can't say what the "best" surgery is.  The best surgery for you is the one you and your doctor decide on. I had decided on RnY (bypass) but decided on the night before my surgery to have the VSG (sleeve) instead. My surgeon felt this was a better, safer surgery for me at my age (61) and physical condition (BMI 49.6, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, & an assortment of other maladies resulting from long-term obesity).

To make a long story short, I started my pre-op diet in March, had surgery in May. To date I've lost 100 lbs and I feel wonderful!  I am off all prescription meds. My diabetes is gone, my blood pressure is normal, and the only physical complaint I can think of is the pain in my butt from lack of the padding that used to be there! Oh, and I'm missing a couple of chins, too.

Ask yourself if you really want this surgery. Are you doing it because your doctor suggested it, or because you truly want it?
Weight loss surgery is a tool. It will not give you your old life back, or make this life any better. YOU are the only one that can do that.  Surgery will make it easier to lose the weight, but YOU are responsible (and accountable to  yourself) for losing and maintaining the weight loss!

And you will need support in your efforts, too.  I am truly fortunate to have the love and support of my husband. Additionally, the folks here on the OFF have been inspiring and supportive. A wonderful group of folks! My friends and co-workers have been very positive, though I didn't tell them ahead of time about the surgery, as I didn't want to deal with that scene.

These have been a few random thoughts; hope it helped. Do your research, visit the dfferent surgery forums, and keep asking questions!  Good luck, and keep us posted on your decisions!

Sophia,

Welcome to the OFF forum.  I can share my experience.  I'm 57, had surgery August 19th, and it was the BEST thing I could have done for myself.  I felt horrible.  Diabetes out of control, hypertension, on multiple meds for stomach issues, dizziness, diabetes and hypertension.  Leaving the hospital taking only my blood pressure pill, I literally take no meds at all now, only the vitamins and calcium.  I feel better than I have in years.  No more problems with my bladder, I'm sleeping better because I'm not up all night going to the bathroom, and my husband said I no longer snore.  I couldn't feel better!

You will get a ton of support from this forum and the other forums as well.  I would recommend that you educate yourself about the various procedures you are looking into and then decide what is best for you.  The RNY was best for me.  I couldn't read enough before surgery.  I wanted to be sure that I was absolutely sure I could handle not only the surgery but the lifestyle change it required to be successful.  Going in, I was totally prepared.  For me, I figured if I had a stroke or heart attack, I'd have a lifestyle change I was forced into.  This way, I get the benefit of good health and weight loss too with my lifestyle change!  What a journey!

I attend support group every month and try to involve myself as much as I can with others who have had weight loss surgery.  I've met so many nice friends along the way.

Good luck with making your decision.

Debbie

Hello and welcome to the over 50 group.
I can't help with the WLS questions as I did not have surgery but I can tell you you'll get some great insight and advice from this group.  They are always very encouraging and willing to share and support.

So keep on posting.

Best wishes on your journey!!!
Ruth

Thank you all, I will check out the profiles, I did look through and wave what seemed like a magic wand over the "before and afters", WOW, what happens to all the skin????

My doctor has been suggesting the surgery for about three years now in a vage sort of way, my mother asked me if I'd thought about it a few weeks ago. I'm thinking, I'm thinking....I'm just so tired. I swim like a maniac its just not enough. I would just like to walk a couple of miles with my children, walk around the ranch, ride a  horse without worrying about the horse's safety (specifically on hills), look in the mirror and see a pretty dress instead of avoiding it. I'm always out of breath after a small effort and it doesn't help my asthma. So I am really thinking....

Hi, welcome to the group. Each wls has its benefits and risks. Every surgery has risks. The benefits of having surgery outweigh the risks. Gastric banding is the least invasive of the procedures and doesn't reroute intestine. Take a look at my profile. Good luck in your journey. Mona