51 and having my 2nd revision surgery

Hi, 

I'm 51 year old.   I have 2 weight loss surgeries already Lap Band in 2008 and Sleeve 2009.  

I have failed with both of them.  I am not bashing either surgery.  I just picked the wrong surgeries they give you restriction but I needed more than restriction. Now I'm 5 yrs older.  I'm hoping it's still not too late.    

I am not giving up I plan to get either the DS or RNY.  

Have you had a revision and if so, how are you doing?

Thanks in advance for sharing!

I'm kinda right there with you.  Remember, It's never too late to be healthy!.    I bounce all over all the boards and it seems that some people who have revisions lose a little slower but they are losing!  I have the band but need more than restriction.
 I am 52 and I want to live to see 60 and be able to walk and go on airplanes....do what I want to do without my weight holding me back.  Some of my problem is genetics and some is just that I have a major sweet tooth and no long lasting will power.  The band was a bad choice for me to begin with. 

Hi SuzaQue,

I was hoping I would get someone to chime in.  We both have a lot in common.  I will be 52 on Feb 16.  Yes, I have heard this before that people with revisions lose slower.  My question is do they get to their goal?  Getting healthy is a big issue for me too. I have Type II Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and possibly Sleep Apnea.  I also want to look and feel good.  

Have you decided what surgery you will be revising to?  

Best Wishes to you and thanks for sharing.

I have pretty much decided on RNY because restriction only with the band didn't work.  I have a major sweet tooth, so I can't blame all my troubles on the band problems.  So I need malabsorption.  This is strictly my own thoughts on DS.   What I have read is that it is for people with higher BMI's.  It looks like you have to take even more vitamins and there is a greater chance of vitamin deficiency. And there is the possibility of "malodorous gas/stool".  It kind of scares me so it isn't for me.   I just met a gal who had DS and she had just gotten back from having plastics done in Mexico.  She has lost like almost 200 lbs and she says she feels great.  She look fabulous!

Susie

Hi,

I am going to chime in here and just want to say that I had RNY in 2007 and lost 98 lbs. over 1.5 years, maintained it well through my 3rd year and in the past 2 years I have regained 30, though in all honesty, I was really fine with the first 10, as I really looked rather gaunt in my face and upper body at my lowest weight and also due to the fact that I cannot afford plastics, I figured at least 12 to 17 lbs. is excess skin issues, so I was ok. . .

I am going to tell you both this. . .  my surgical procedure worked fine, however, as with any other "diet" maintenance is the phase where we all failed. . .  the reasons vary and everyone has different issues, stress eating, emotional eating, boredom eating, sweet tooth, etc. . .  the surgery is on our anatomy, not on our minds and behaviors which we must monitor and learn to master.  Changing 50+ years of how we relate to food is a challenge for a good many of us.

I facilitate a support group and I want to tell you that while everyone does well in the first 2 to 3 years post-op, many struggle beyond that.  They were not prepared for the "real work" that comes with this lifestyle. . .  and work it takes. . .  in particular, many of us on this board, being of the age we are, have very little, if any, wiggle room.  Beyond the initial two years post-op, our bodies, in part due to our ages and in part due to years of yo-yo dieting and so forth, work against us.  I am writing to say, if you don't change your habits and what I mean by that is, learning how to not use food for comfort, boredom and coping mechanisms, as well as incorporate a form of physical activity that you are willing to do at a minimum of 1 hour per day 3 to 4x a week, the surgery will give you but a certain outcome and then it becomes a constant battle.

I suggest the following things to stay on the successful side of things . . .  start changing your habits NOW, drink more water, move about as much as you can, start in little ways, perhaps park your car further away from the house, mall/supermarket entrance.  If you have arthritis and mobility is an issue, try to find a gym that has a swimming pool and possibly an aquatics exercise class (this is how I started), learn how to adapt recipes of foods you like so that you can enjoy life post-WLS.  Learn to keep a log of all the food you put in your mouth and I do mean everything, there are good online ones that are free, the one I use now and love is MyFitnessPal.com, I use an android phone and it is a free app both on Android and Iphones, if I put creamer in my coffee it goes on there, my vitamins because I use gummy ones, go on there, it also allows me to put recipes on there, that I can break down into servings sizes and get the correct calorie content, it gives me the option of putting my exercise on there as well and it helps me to see where I need to change things.  Find and get with a support group that helps you deal with some of the things that you need to change and will give you ideas on how to change what you can.

I share this with you, not to deter you, but to let you know, that while on a conscious level I did not think this was going to be easy, I realize that along the way, I thought the surgery worked and I slowly slipped into old habits and the results are what they were.  I am still "successing" because I have not given up and I know what needed changing and went back to what I know works, logging foods, staying away from the bad carbs and back to the exercise routine that worked so well for me the first 2+ years. 

I wish you both well and hope that you will come here often to get the support that the women (probably some men lurking) give here.

Laureen

Hi Laureen,

I appreciate you sharing.  I hope I get to my goal because this will be my 2nd revision.  

Thanks

Hi!  I started the weight loss journey at 50.  The weight was pilling on after I went thru the change and nothing that worked prior was even slowing me down.  I was up to 280, before I was always able to put a stop, turn around at 250.  My weight was still climbing.  I got the band in 2009, a month before turning 52.  I did well with the band with just restriction.  But, than after losing 60 pounds (80 total) I started have issues with band.  After 2.5 years of medical problems with it I had to call it quits.

My insurance had a once in a Lifetime WLS policy put in place just when I was preparing to apply for the sleeve.  They approved the band out but, not a revision.  So after I got it out I fought the insurance to get the sleeve.  This is my last chance.  Not only won't insurance pay for anything else, the Shrink that does the Psych Eval will NOT approve another surgery.  I got my sleeve 1/22/13 at 55 and while I am losing much slower than the virgin sleeves, I am already within 5 pounds of my lowest with the ban

My DD got her sleeve two year ago and is doing great.  She wasn't doing all she needed to make the life changes as stated above.  She have taken charge to stop thing going south and has gotten back on track.  You HAVE to exercise or no surgery will be a success.  My youngest sister is one year out with her sleeve and made it below her goal.

My oldest sister has the DS and that is the reason I won't.  You can eat stuff you shouldn't with the DS and not gain but, it causes major bodily issues.  She was to have her septic pumped ever 5 year because of it, nuff said.  Even she has gain back ever time she has foot surgery and can't exercise.  She has had many foot surgeries, both feet have been rebuilt twice.  This is due to the major mal-absorption of calcium from the DS.