Question:
What will happen to my health status 20 -30 years from now?
I read wonderful stories about 3 year post-op patients and it all sounds like they lead quite a normal life and their health has significantly improved. BUT, how about when I am in my geriatric years, will I regret having this surgery because of a failing liver, stomach ulcers, gallbladder problems, chemical imbalance, or osteoporosis? I understand this can happen to anyone, but what does research say is the likelihood of it being more prevalent in bypass patients? — Elizabeth P. (posted on December 24, 2001)
December 24, 2001
The sad question, will you live another 30 years to worry about it if you
DONT have surgery??? I sure know I wouldnt. I will let tomorrow take care
of itself when it arrives. Truly this is the issue and even IF I lived
another 30 years what would my quality of life have been? Now being down
107 pounds life is GREAT, and I feel so much better.
— bob-haller
December 24, 2001
I have two aunts that are 20+ and 15+ years post op, they are both in great
health.
— elifritz
December 24, 2001
My girlfriend\'s mother had it back in the early 80\'s, and she is doing
GREAT!!
— Phiddy B.
December 25, 2001
only God knows, we couldn\'t begin to guess what your life will be tomorrow
moreless 20-30 years!!!
— [Anonymous]
December 25, 2001
Go to ASBS.org. This surgery has not ben around a LONG time for results
30-40 years down the road. Othr techniques were tried, but the really
successful ones are less than 20 years old. nThere are some older
surgeries...individuals who have been successful, but I doubt hey are on
this board.Certain surgeries carry higher risks. Those kinds of questions
need to be asked of the doc doing it. He/she may or may not be up on the
literature. Statistics that are meaningful are hard to come by. Good
questions to pose, however. By the looks of the board, not ENOUGH
questions are asked and answered preop. Let us know what y9u find.
Corrine
— corrine G.
December 25, 2001
I think I\'ll be much more healthy in 20-30 years post-op. Because (1)I\'ll
know SO MUCH more about my body and nutrition, (2) My gallbladder was
removed during my open RNY so no future gallbladder problems, (3) I\'m
taking extra calcium to prevent osteoporosis and know about weight-training
for strong bones, (4) My surgery has eliminated my acid reflex, and stomach
ulcers are a thing of the past for me, (5) I\'m eating better than any time
in my life, and am nutritionally more healthy because of it. Also remember
that with the use of the internet we can know how to research about our
health problems and how to work better with our doctors to diagnose our
health problems and work on preventing them. Who knows where the medical
profession will be in 20-30 years? I\'m sure there will be better and
better diagnostic methods and drugs and surgeries available then. Think
about how much more we know about health now that we knew in 1970!!!!!!!!
— [Anonymous]
July 15, 2002
I have several friends who are now seniors and had the surgery several
years ago. They are more active, more healthy, and delighted with their
decision.
Remember WLS is a tool. We need our vitamins and iron and protein and
water. We need to be checked at least every year and continue to have our
progress watched.
30 years from now, I expect to be more active than my parents...because of
better health. Is that a sure bet? No, but the day before my surgery Mom
had a toe amputated due to diabetes. My risk of having diabetes is far
less if I am thin. Mom has had a 4 way heart bypass. Does this mean I am
exempt from heart problems? No but the chances are reduced if I am in
shape and exercising my body and heart.
And as one of the others said...being obese what indications do you have
that you will even live 30 years?
If I do what I have always done I will get the results I always got. I was
always obese. My dieting failed to work. My exercising was never enough.
Now at least I have a chance.
— Thomas M.
August 25, 2002
I had a simple gastric stapling in 1980. AFTER I had it done, all my
'friends' would tell me horror stories about people who always died within
ten years of having this surgery.(Didn't sound too good to me, but what was
done was done.) Well, here I am, 22 years later....alive. Let me say that
that surgery was most successful for 5 years, but something happened to
make the exit port stretch in my pouch which allowed me to want to eat more
frequently and I gained all my weight back. Now I'm scheduled for a
revision RNY. The long-term outcomes may be different since there is a
'malabsorbtion' issue with this surgery, but I'm 52 now, have many weight
related health problems....and like someone said...if I live 20 or thirty
years either way, what quality of life do I want for my time left? Heck,
any of us could keel over on our keyboards right now! We're not promised
any particular amount of time to live. So I will always go for the gusto
and do what I think is best for me. I'll ask God to take care of the rest.
— Georgianne Faith W.
March 2, 2004
RNY is barely 20 years old. The surgery your mother or friends had in the
80's is no way the same as today. Yes, we are going to have problems its a
matter of time. To what degree no one knows. Malnutrition always bring
problems. Please let's no fool ourselves. How much time are we given by
the surgeon for follow ups? Not long before being referred back to our GP.
Most if not all of what happens to us after that is not logged under wls
complications but rather, i.e Heart attack, liver failure, lupus, kidney
failure, and the list go on. All of these can be the by produce of
malnutrition. I have tried just about everything out there to lose the
weight. Wls seems to be the answer to losing the weight but adding years
to my live? THere is no know proof only suggestions. I too, would like to
hear from someone who is 20 -30 year post-op. I have recently read that
there is no data because we are mainstreamed back to our GP who in most
cases does treat us as a wls patients but patients with ailments. I hoping
to be band, can only pray for fewer and less life threatening
complications.
— Lillian J.
March 2, 2004
Lillian, where did you get the bad info that wls causes
"malnutrition"? That is certainly not the case. Malabsorbtion
is an issue, but that is easily remedied.
— Smitty B.
March 2, 2004
I asked my PCP this. "Will we see healthy little old ladies walking
around that have had WLS?". She said "Yes, what you won't see is
old morbidly obese old ladies". Hmmmmmm. I know for me, I wouldn't
have lived to be an old lady being 150 pounds overweight. I think some
things are a trade off. Who know if we'll end up with osteoporosis or
anemia, even with supplementation? Personally, I think it's a possibility.
But I know it's the lesser of two evils for sure.
— mom2jtx3
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