Question:
Is this surgery easier on younger patients?
Im 20 years old, 5'2", and weigh 260...I was wondering if anyone out there of the same age or size could tell me a little bit about their journey? How much have you lost? Has it been easier because you're younger? Did you recover faster and did you have complications? Im having my surgery soon and im nervous because i don't want to be lathargic (sp?) im young and i still want to be active during recovery... — Becca P. (posted on August 23, 2002)
August 23, 2002
I had just turned 26 when I had my surgery, and it was alot easier for me
and my skin firmed up alot faster than alot of older people I had seen.
You body is easier younger and hasn't had the wear and tear that alot of
older people have had. I have 2 small children and I was like you I
couldn't be lathargic either. I had to run after them. I am glad I did it
while I was young!
— Donna J.
August 23, 2002
I am 23, and had my surgery June 11 2002. I am down 51.5 lbs. as of this
morning! I think this surgery has been great. I have a detailed journal
and diary on my website, so take a look at it for lots more info. Here is
my website: www.geocities.com/toolgrl150/WLS.html, which has my journals,
pictures, and measurement/weight loss tracking. Also, visit my new
webring, WLS for Younger Patients; Generations X and Y, here:
http://s.webring.com/hub?ring=wlsforyoungerpeo&id=1&hub . I
started the ring for people just like us, who want to get to know and find
info. about other younger people going through WLS. Good luck!
— Jennifer Y.
August 23, 2002
I can say from experience that AGE DOE COUNT. I've had 14 surgerie in my
life. (I'm now 44). Everyone takes alittle more steam out of me as I age.
You people who have this done in your twenties are WISE. (But then I never
started putting on weight until I was 19 or 20). Do it while you are young,
heal and recover better and you HOPEFULLY have more years ahead of you in
which to enjoy life after WLS. ;)
— Danmark
August 23, 2002
I am 49 years old and had lap done on 7/15/02. I am just starting to feel
better this week. Still have some incision pain. But the gas pain in my
shoulders would come and go and last for days at a time. I also had sharp
stabbing pain in the stomach area on occasion and was told that this was
healing pain. No problems with food but the healing I believe takes longer
and I will not return to work until 9/3/02. I have never had any major
surgery before and have no children. I am 5'8" and weighed 302lbs at
time of surgery. I am now down 40lbs.
— terri K.
August 24, 2002
Hi Becca... I'm 20 years old too and I'm just a little over 6 weeks
post-op. At my 2 week appointment I had lost 26 lbs + 4 lbs before
surgery. I go for my 6 week checkup on Tuesday so I'll find out my current
weight loss then. I had what you might call a "textbook
surgery". No complications, minimal pain, and a fast recovery. My
surgeons do a surgery every day so there were at least 3 other bariatric
patients in the hospital with me while I was there. All of them were older
than me. The nurses kept calling me super-woman and telling me that they
wished the other patients would be as motivated to get out of bed and walk
and stuff. So, yea I think age does make a difference. Also, that
morphine button was my best friend. That's probably the best advice I got
before surgery. "Don't be ashamed to push that button." If you
have any questions or just want to chat about surgery e-mail me.
[email protected] I know it's kinda hard to find people our age that
have had this surgery. Good luck! =)
— Tanya B.
August 24, 2002
Hi. I just turned 20 but had surgery when I was 19. I had a pretty good WLS
experience. I believe that I have lost faster because I'm so young. I
started out at 5'11 375 pounds. I had surgery on May 7, 2002. And as of
today, I weigh 304 pounds. I do advise you to eat protien and exercise,
something I find myself not doing. Although I've tried I don't think I
never really get in enough protien. If I would I'd probably lose even
faster. My recovery time was about 2 and a half weeks. Not too bad, but the
surgery was very painful. I was miserable for the first week or so. now,
I'm feeling great. The only thing that I'm a little upset about is that
I'll need plastic surgery to get rid of the excess skin. I was hoping I
wouldn't need it, but my arms are already sagging. I'm so happy that I had
surgery before my body got any worse. I wish I would have had it sooner.
Good luck. If there is anything else I can help you with, feel free to
e-mail me at [email protected].
— Sarah K.
August 24, 2002
Well, I don't know if it's easier or not from a personal expirence...but I
am SO glad to hear everyone else say it is on us youngin's!!! I'm 22 and
will be having surgery this wednesday the 28th (YAY!). I'm not nervous but
was kind of anxious in regards to pain. WHEW!! At least I'll hopefully
have something to look forward to! An easier recovery!! email if you'd
like! [email protected] =D HUGS! ~christie
— Christie N.
August 24, 2002
My stats, except for age (I'm 54!), are close to yours. I had Lap RNY on
3/4/02. I have lost 80 lbs. to date. I had no commplications and feel
great. I think younger people typically lose more quickly and rebound
faster. That's one of the benefits of youth, but I'm not complaining!
Good luck on your journey.
— ZaZa F.
August 24, 2002
Well I am 33 and had my surgery July 15, 02 and have lost 40+lbs. in less
than 5 weeks...so I'd say I am doing pretty darned well for a 30
something!!!!
— Trish R.
August 24, 2002
Becca, I am 24 years old and had open RNY 11 weeks (and 2 days) ago. My
recovery was very fast, and I'm sure it had something to do with my age and
general health. I did not have the near-death co-morbitities that some
people mention, but I was certainly on my way. (ie: cholesterol was 304). I
was off pain meds all together by the time I was 3 days post-op, I was able
to walk around slowly...but with no major problems, and I have lost 63
pounds so far. My diet progression has been the worst part of the whole
post-op process, and I didn't tollerate much of anything for a long, long
time. I can eat more now, but not as many different foods as some of the
people on this site. (Which I see as not such a bad thing). My scar was 5
inches long, but somehow ended up being 6 inches (I guess from my stomach
and skin shrinking and moving about). Everything else has been ok and I
consider myself lucky when I look at the big WLS picture. Good luck to you,
and I hope I've helped. P.S...I am 5'3, surprisingly small frame under all
this weight, and started out at 317.
— Kelly C.
August 24, 2002
I had surgery in June and turned 25 in July. I actually had a really fast
recovery....alot better than I expected. I had open rny on June 12th and
was back to work 2 weeks later (and I am in sales, so I travel and walk
alot). I flew to Chicago by myself 3 weeks post and flew to Texas 4 weeks
post. I would say I was back in full energy by 4 weeks. I'm not sure if
it had to do with age or not. I was 5'6, 269 pounds and pretty much in
great health besides the weight. My surgeon says its good when you do it
young before you have a list of co-morbitities. And I had no complications
at all.
— emilyfink
August 24, 2002
ALL surgeries are easier (physically) on younger patients. I wish Ihad
this done at 25 instead of 35!! GOod Luck, I am sure you will do great!
— Vicki L.
August 25, 2002
I had the surgery performed last year, at 43 years old. I had a lap
performed at the same time as a 20 year old did. We were across the hall
from each other, and she had a terrible time. I recovered much better than
she did, and I was up and walking around. Also, she was quite a bit
lighter than me. Even her mother said, I looked and got around a lot
better than her daughter did, as she pusher her by me in a wheelchair. I
guess age is not always a factor in recovery; however, I will say, it is a
great factor in the hanging skin portion of the deal! You young gals
certainly have the edge on this and a faster metabolism. I wish the
surgery was well known when I was in my twenties. Good luck!
— sheron H.
August 25, 2002
IN GENERAL younger is easier. However according to my wife Jen a RN she has
seen 70 year olds up and about while a 20 year old with the SAME surgery is
in bed crying. Its very individual but younger folks generally have fewer
co morbidities making things easier for them.
— bob-haller
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