Weight loss Surgery at 57

HI Everyone,

I was directed this way from the main forum.  I have been worried about surgery because I am over 50.  My story is short.  Been heavy all my life and now i have lost 134 lbs on my own.  It took me five years.  I just can't lose anymore.  So, I have chosen to get Bariatric surgery.  I have been approved and going in to have it done July 14.  I have the stress test this Wed.  I am hoping other people will share their stories of how well they did being over 50. I am a little nervous about it.


Thanks

Mary G

Hi Mary and welcome to OFF. And congratulations on your upcoming surgery and the most wonderful thing that you will ever do for yourself. It is a great thing and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I had my open rny in October 2007. I was 53 years old with a bunch of health problems that weren't getting any better. I knew that my life span was quickly shortening too and that didn't make me to happy either. I wanted more time with my husband and my family and friends. When you look at things that way your eyes open quickly. Or at least mine did.

I had diabetes that was totally out of control with not much chance of getting better. I had been taking 4 shots a day and oral meds 2 times a day and still crazy sugars. They finally put me on a insulin pump with the oral meds. I used U500 insulin that had to be special ordered. It is 5 times stronger than U100. I still took so much of it but at least I didn't have to change the pump every day like I did when I used U100. I was off the oral meds 1 month before surgery and off the insulin pump 1 week before surgery. I haven't had anything but diet and exercise control my sugar now and I have an A1C o****o it worked there.

I have cardiomyopathy and the heart doctor mentioned about not absorbing the meds for it but told me that we would cross that if we got there. I can tell you we have never gotten there. With the cardiomyopathy they go by a ejection fraction number and mine now is 64 or 65% which is normal for someone without cardiomyopathy. I call that amazing and so does the heart doctor.

My back is a total mess and just keeps getting worse so needless to say that is not faring as well..but I do get around much better. I no longer have to use the carts in the stores now. So that is a plus that wouldn't have happened.

The decision is a personal one and one that must be made with great thought. You must do what you need to do in order to make yourself happy. It sure sounds like you have made a great decision and it will soon be a new and exciting life for you...please feel free to post with questions as often as you need to. And please feel free to join us in our chats that we have every day too.

Mary...I am 66 yrs old and had Lap RNY surgery November 18, 2008.  I have lost 103 pounds in 6 1/2 months and feel 20 years younger (or maybe 10-15 ??).  I have  6 pounds to shed to get to my surgeon's goal weight.  I feel wonderful and have had no problems whatsoever.  57 is young!!    Congratulations on being approved.  July 14this just around the corner.  Welcome to the over 50 yrs old forum.  You will like it here.  Everyone is so helpful ahd supportive and can answer many questions that you may have.  I am excited for you Mary.

Sandy

Hey MM,
I'm 57, will be 58 in August.  My surgery is scheduled for August 10th.  I'm very excited about it too.  It's a big decission for anyone to make and I  understand your concerns of being over 50.  I'm diabetic and don't heal as quickly as others may, so that's a small concern for me, but I know this is right for me.  It took me two years to make the committment, but now I'm all in.  Ready to go.
Good luck with your surgery and keep us in the loop.
Jan

Hi again Mary, I'm so happy you found your way to this forum. 
I think I told you I'm having surgery next week, and I'm 62.  I'm having a vertical sleeve gastrectomy VSG.  I've been heavy so long I don't remember ever being a "normal" size.  Teased as a kid, avoided as a teen, rejected as an adult.  It's a pretty familiar story.  Along the way I managed to accumulate some related conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, bursitis, fibromyalgia, reactive hypoglycemia and neuropathy.  The future wasn't looking too good.  I want to live a full life in retirement and this is that opportunity.  We'll cheerlead for you.  Need a friend, here I am.  It's a journey for sure, but lots of folks here attest to a terrific experience along the way.  Blessings yet again.

I was 56 when I had my surgery.  Piece of cake, as long as you FOLLOW THE DOCTOR'S ORDERS.  Don't cheat.  It ain't worth it.  Take it gradually. 

I borrowed the below info from someone who posts on the TMB (Texas Message Board).  Every place she had TMB, I felt I could also substitue OFF. 

In 96 hours I'll be headed to the hospital for my WLS.  Because of YOU I know ....

1.  It won't be a walk in the park.
2.  If I feel great 2 or 3 days later, that's natural
3.  If I feel like I've been hit by a bus 2 or 3 days later, that's natural
4.  That I must sip, sip, sip, walk, walk, walk, rest, sip, rest, sip, sip, sip and repeat the process.
5.  That if I don't do step #4, dehydration will likely set in and a visit to the hospital required
6.  That I will wake up and wonder "what have I done to myself?", that's natural
7.  That no matter what time of day or night, there is someone on the OFF browsing and posting information - the good, the bad and the ugly.
8. OFF has the BEST cheerleaders
9.  If I slip up and make wrong choices on occasion, it will be OK that I haven't ruined my sleeve
10.  I will be able to eat at my favorite restaurants AND have leftovers for lunch the next day!!  
11.  Don't get on the scales every single day. (WooHoo for the day - for the first time in my married life I weigh less than my husband this morning!)
12.  I have a pretty good idea of what the "don't take another bite" feeling will be.
13.  I know that if I want to keep my hair on my head, don't cheat myself out of protein.
14.  Protein FIRST, veggies second and then if there's room - a little something extra!
15.  That you'll all be here whenever I need a shoulder to cry on or someone to celebrate with - YOU will be here and I THANK YOU so very much for that comforting thought.

And most of all because of YOU - I AM READY ....... for the first day of the rest of my life. 
 

Welcome, Mary.

I had WLS at age 54.  The surgery and recovery were easy.  Changing my eating habits...not so easy!  But I'm so glad I finally took control of my lifetime weight problem by having bariatric surgery.

I have two friends in my "real" life who also had WLS in their 50's (age 53 & 54) and have done very well too.

I think older people have a good chance of success with WLS because we are better able to follow our doctor's instructions.  I don't mean to knock younger people, but in my participation on the OH lap-band forum, I often see poor patient compliance behavior in the younger members.  Maybe it's a defiance thing.

Anyway, good luck with your surgery and keep coming back to visit us!

Jean

Thank you everyone!

You have given me the support I needed.  I needed to hear that we can do ok at our age.  I also have diabetes 2.  But it is pretty much under control.  I have sleep apnea, my blood pressure and cholesteral are good with medication also.

I want to thank all of you for taking the time to answer, it has been encouraging news for me.  Soon my surgery will be over and i will have to join you all on the losers bench.  What a journey I am looking forward to.

Thanks again for all your stories and help.

Mary G

Hi Mary:

I was 49 when I had my surgery, so not quite 50. But I had arthritic knees, degenerative disc disease, spinal arthritis, high blood pressure (borderline), and diabetes runs in my family ... so I was heading down a bad road. I was up to 355 by the time I starting my pre-op diet. I had been heavy most of my life ... I was a fat kid, teen and adult ... it's a sad story. I was literally crushing myself with my weight. My pain clinic doc told me if I didn't lose weight, I would end up in a wheelchair, unable to care for myself (and I'm single and live alone). So I choose life ... I had the surgery. It was the best decision I've ever made.

I've since had knee replacement on one knee done twice ... I'm still waiting for that to work. But my back is better; I've actually gained a half inch in height since losing weight because the disc compression has stopped. Strange, isn't it? Now, I still have arthritis, that's progressive, but it's not as bad as it was. The shots I get to help my back pain actually work better because of my weight loss. I no longer have high blood pressure, and I'm not in as much fear of getting diabetes as before.

I wasn't nervous at all about having the surgery; I was eager for it, to begin a new life. It's been great. This is a great board, a great place for support.

Thanks Eileen,

Sounds like you are doing well.  You have lost a lot of weight and are an inspiration to me.

I am glad your shots help you and that is really weird that you gained an inch.  But hey, the surgery did wonders for you!

Thanks for writing and I really appreciate your story

Stay healthy

Mary G