Question:
How have you fared Post op with Diabetes, Hypertension, etc.

Syndrome X is a condition in which there are a gradual increase in the following: hypertension, blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia..cholesterol stuff..., obesity, appetite, and finally cardiac problems. I'm mostly having the surgery because it has proven to help at least the hypertension and obesity and blood sugar. I'm wondering how others have fared with these symptoms post op. thanks    — pfgetty (posted on March 3, 2004)


March 2, 2004
Paul, Interesting you should ask. I gained weight fasting for Lent two years ago. After many months of testing, watching my normal blood pressure skyrocket (even on meds), continuous weight gain (even on low calorie diet), fighting fatigue, having two false positives for heart attacks, and more, I was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome x. More meds. Finally WLS Dec 02. From the day of surgery on, my blood pressure returned to normal (it's a bit low now), insulin resistance resolved (still hyper sensitive to sugar), weight dropped off (-101 pounds to 137 stabilized now), and health soared. Even with some complications, this surgery saved my life. I take no meds (just vitamins) now. Even the migraines left. Good luck. Oh, BTW, the last year of obesity for me saw me gain three to four inches of fat in my abdomen. All melted off now.
   — Mary Ann B.

March 3, 2004
Paul, I had out of control diabetes (3 shots a day), high blood pressure, high cholesterol (believe it or not cholesterol was 1,300 at one time the lab at the hospital tested it 3 times because the couldn't believe it could be that high). I had high triglycerides (9,000 at one point same time as high cholesterol), and an outrageous appetite. I was not diagnosed with syndrome X, but had all the sypmtoms. Since surgery 15 months ago, I take no medications for any medical problems. My blood sugars are always in normal range (usually between 80 and 90, my cholesterol is 135 and my triglycerides are 180, my hypertension is gone and I have lost 110 pounds. I weigh in between 120 and 125 consistantly. I have been blessed by this surgery. My doctor whom I have been seeing for 18 years is astounded. I think he is now a believer that this surgery works. By the way, my sleep apnea is also gone. No more c-pap. Yipee!
   — Sharon L.

March 3, 2004
I had taken medication for hypertension for almost 10 years. Haven't had one since the day before surgery and blood pressure is completely normal. I also quit taken medication for GERD. Interestingly enough, although I was never officially diagnosed with Syndrome X, I had all the symptoms, as well as high cholesterol and triglycerides. Now, all readings are completely normal. Thank God for this surgery. I haven't felt this good since I was....well I can't ever remember feeling this good!I'm hoping my beloved younger brother, who is a two shots per day diabetic, will have the surgery too.
   —  SCbabe B.

March 3, 2004
1 month post op down 39 pounds and off all meds .. was on multi meds for diabetes and had borderline high blood pressure. Sugars and bp GREAT after just 1 month. I wish you the same luck. I still have a long way to go before the obesity thing is gone but I'll get there! Good luck and god bless.
   — Vitabella

March 3, 2004
Pre-op I had a fasting insulin level of 16 (high normal) on 1500mg of Glucophage XL per day. Post op: Stopped Glucophage a few days before surgery, never went back on it and last fasting insulin level was smack in the middle of the normal range! (I had to point it out to my PCP - it was so normal he missed it!) My blood sugar levels (fasting and HbA1c were always normal - I was pumping out the insulin to keep them that way!) Hypertension - pre-op was on two medications to control it. Post op - decreased dose and eventually off one medication completely, and now on the lowest dose of the other (combination drug with a small amount of diuretic - tried going off completely but diastolic B/P started hovering around 90 and I had problems with some edema, so I went back on the lowest dose.) Lipids - I went off Zocor after surgery, but had to go back on it. My cholesterol is still under 200, but my PCP likes to see it a bit lower, plus I believe I inherited my dad's genes in that department - he was normal weight, active, and stayed on a very low fat, low cholesterol diet many years without being able to bring his cholesterol down.)Triglycerides are down and have stayed down since surgery (I am 16 months out). I believe my cardiac risk factors have been significantly decreased since WLS. I really believe I was headed down the road to diabetes and heart disease. Now I have a much healthier lifesytle and my diet is much healthier since WLS!
   — koogy

March 3, 2004
Hi Paul, I had surgery May 15, 2003. I was taking 50 units of insulin twice a day plus oral diabetic medications twice a day plus high blood pressure meds , cholestrol meds also. I thought as soon as I had the surgery I would no longer have to take the meds but i was wrong. Four months down the road I was still taking insulin and HBP pills. But no diabetics pills or high cholestrol pills were on my list anymore. 9 months out my PCP finally told me that I no longer needed my insulin or hbp pills. I was so happy. Don't get down when you are still taking your meds after surgery because there will be a day when you won't have to take them . Good lUck. Martha in California ...270/ ..- 80 pounds
   — Martha L.

March 3, 2004
I am 7 months post-op and down -112 lbs. Before surgery, I was using 80 units aday of 70/30 insulin, and Actos 45 oral diabetic meds, on two high blood pressure medication, cholestrol meds, a total of 9 medications plus my insulin. I was in a walker, thinking about putting in with my insurance company for a elec chair. I was on Vioxx for the pain in my left hip from the weight. The day after I got home from the hospital was the last day that I used any medications including insulin. I went off of 7 medications right away, and the last two, I should be taken off in the next few months, but they are (Coumndin) blood thinner for my heart and a thyroid medication. I just had a blood test done on Monday and my A1C was 6.8 and my glucose for the day was 103. My triglycerides was 137 and my cholesterol was 197. All normal. My BP has been running 120/77. It was running 160/100 before surgery. Cindy Smith
   — cindy

March 3, 2004
My Hubby just ha s surgery 2/11/2004. He still takes 1 Blood Pressure med, but we take his BP every day. He is off all sugar meds. From 7 pills a day down to 2. Not too bad for 3 weeks.
   — Pookie B.

March 3, 2004
Hi Paul. I had htn years ago, lost weight, it dropped down, and the minute I put the weight back on, it shot up again. I was off the meds with 6 weeks after my surgery. Hadn't reached the diabetes stage yet, but was well on my way. Definite insulin resistance. Still have to watch the carbs. I have slight hypoglycemia now, but can live with that. My cholesterol is still a little high, but my PCP said he feels certain that it will reach the normal stage as I continue to lose weight. Lots of luck.
   — lharbison

March 3, 2004
Paul, I am 5 weeks post-op, and am off all but 1 HBP pill/day. I was on 5 HBP pills & 2 blood sugar pills/day, but since the surgery my blood sugars are excellent & my blood pressure has come down dramatically. I have also been taken off my lipitor and neuropathy meds, since my cholesterol has dropped to under 200 and my diabetes is well under control.
   — Susan B.

March 3, 2004
I am 10 weeks post-op and have been off the diabetes pills for 2 months and off the hypertension pills for 5 weeks now. I have lost 50 lbs so far.
   — catleth

March 3, 2004
Gosh, I am glad you asked! My pre-op co-morbidities nearly killed me, and I didn't know I was sick until I nearly died. <br><br>Four years ago I went into the emergency room with Pancreatitis, which necrotized. I weighed 285 (5'-2"). I had undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My triglycerides were 6,600 (!!!!), and my blood sugar was nearly 700. I spent over 4 months in the hospital, had 12 surgeries, was in a coma for 2 months, had a mini-stroke and had to learn to walk again, among other things - left the hospital on 14 meds. <br><br>I had lap RNY a year after that. Now, about 2 years later, I am down to 140 pounds, and only take something for migraines. Diabetes is GONE, and I have perfect cholesterol and blood pressure. I love to exercise, ride my bike, rollerblade and LIVE for once.<br><br> Gastric Bypass <b>LITERALLY</b> saved my life.
   — kultgirl

March 3, 2004
I had Lap RNY on 2/16/04 and have been off of my blood pressure meds for almost 2 weeks now. I am down 35lbs. and feeling great. I thank God that I did not have any complications! Good luck!
   — onepowerfullady

March 4, 2004
I was also diagnosed Syndrome X before surgery. From the day of surgery I have been off diabetes medication (was on oral meds), been off blood pressure meds for about 6 months. Normal BP for me now is 90/62. Good luck!!
   — Chris S.

March 4, 2004
I'm completely off my high blood pressure meds. I haven't had an asthma attack in nearly a year now. I'm off all arthritis meds. (Arthritis didn't go away--but as long as I exercise daily, I don't have any arthritis pain). Cholesterol is great. I regained all feeling I lost in my right leg and foot. LIFE IS GOOD.
   — Cathy S.

March 4, 2004
I have been off my high bliid pressure meds since 1 week post-op. Its amazing what this surgurey does for us. Good luck, it is definitly worth having WLS...... Tracy.....
   — Chefswife (.

March 5, 2004
From the day after surgery, my blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol have been well within normal limits and I went off all related meds. I'm 10 months post-op and still have no problems in those areas.
   — Debbie C.

March 5, 2004
Hey Paul, I weighed 365 lbs at 5 foot 3 inches tall with a BMI of 64. I had out of control diabetes - on 5 meds, insulin resistence - so more meds all the time!, stroke level hypertension, congestive heart failure, severe obstructive sleep apnea, horrible gerd, stress incontinence, and was in a wheelchair due to degenerative joint disease in my back and bilateral grade 4 degeneration of my knees. I was having little heart attacks, and my doctor was worried I wouldn't live until surgery. My insurance wouldn't cover anything weight related, so I went out of country for my surgery. On July 2, 2002 I had an open BPD/DS with Dr. Aniceto Baltasar. I was in surgery 80 minutes, during which he did the DS, removed my gallbladder (and stones) appendix, and did a liver biopsy. I was up walking to the toilet within 3 hours. My recovery was nothing short of astonishingly amazing. By the time I was discharged from the hospital I was off of all of my diabetes med with normal blood sugars, off of my hypertension meds with normal B/P, my sleep apnea was resolving, and a week out from surgery I walked 1/8th of a mile - before surgery I could hardly stand 30 seconds. In the last 20 months I've enjoyed a quality of life that I never dreamed possible - and lost 200 pounds to boot. Interestingly, my surgeon - and a growing number of others worldwide - are now just doing a portion of the BPD/DS on non-morbidly obese severe diabetics to cure the diabetes - it's working. It's amazing. You may find www.duodenalswitch.com and www.bodybybaltasar.com helpful. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride




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