Can you grow old with WLS?

Hi Guys

Kudos to all of you grads out there! Wish i had your courgage.
What keeps bugging me is the question: can you grow old with a WLS? It seems so drastic to rearrange your insides, it just seems to me that such a drastic thing MUST lead to health problems in the very long run.

This angst also comes from articles I read about Mason himself having strong reservations about the whole GBP procedure now, and also articles comparing GBP with predecessor the BillrothII op, in which people did not last for longer than 20 yrs post op (without serious healht issues anyway)

I know, I know, being obese for SURE does guranatee a shortened lifespan so GBP must be better than that.
And I know, nobody gets any guarantess on life (well except for the fact that we all die some time sooner or later)

But being only 30 yrs old, it freaks me out thinking about being severely anemic or something else from age 35 onwards. Would like to get older than 50 if God is willing

I was just very curious about your thoughts on this. Maybe you have read better reports on WLS and lifespan than i have. It is the one thing that keeps me from doing it, even though I already have the insurance in place and could be on my way to a new life in already 3 months time...

I can live with all the adjustments that have to be made (although must admit it seems overwhelming not to be able to drink with meals, drink diet pepsi, never have anything with sugar or alcohol, possibly get lactose intolerant or possible can not tolerate meats or breads)

I can live with the HUGE fear of the operation itself (just corssing my fingers that being 30 with no co-morb lowers my risk to die greatly)

But I could not live with the idea of shortening my lifespan...

Love from a very doubtful Carina in Holland

(maybe you all had these doubtful phases????)

Hello I have been to the Netherlands...absolutely beautiful!!! Anyways...I don't read much about this. I'm sure anyone who had enough time and energy could put together enough of various types of info to scare lots of folks. I honestly think that the lifespan question is something that really no one knows the answer to. Also keep in mind that through probably the last decade (at least), WLS surgeries and methods have been improved from what they were, say, 15-20 years ago. I was more afraid of what my life would end up as if I remained obese. I would venture to guess that much of people's post op results have a lot to do with whether not they supplement with vitamins as they are supposed to. There are a few folks here who can attest to what can happen if you DON'T. It is not wise. I know of someone who had RNY done a month or 2 before me and from what she has told me, she NEVER took supplements at ALL...hopefully she does now. I shudder to think of what could happen to her years down the road. This is why taking your supplements and following up with your surgeon are very important. If you read around you will find some people on OH who had the OLD stomach stapling or other stuff they did 15-20 years ago, and they are still kickin'!!!

Doubts are normal. WLS is not and should not be taken lightly.

Best of luck!

Doubts, I had them by the bucketful!  But I knew that I wouldn't live another 20 yrs the way I was going.  And even though we mal-absorb going into this I knew I would have to supplement for a lifetime! WLS is such a personal decision, we have to decide whether ornot the risks are worth it.  The unknown can jump up and slap us in the face.  I almost didn't survive mine due to complications that no one had a clue about before hand or they probably wouldn't have done the surgery. Those same complications could have happened with any surgery that I might have had WLS or other.   But WLS was a chance I was willing to take and run with because the alternative was even worse.  I just wish I had done it much sooner then I did.  I don't miss my diet coke, but I do miss drinking with meals but I am getting more used to that as well.   I already take daily meds and will for the rest of my life, now I just through some extra supplements into the regime. I chose to risk the chance that WLS might not lengthen my life to the fullest, but that is something we won't know until I actually die.  I knew if I didn't have it, I wouldn't live a full life or enjoy what time I had left.   All of these doubts are normal, in my opinion and the choice is personal.  I wish you the best in your choice. 

There is a study on my profile and on the DS forum right now out of canada. It's a 15 year follow up of DS patients....long story short, their life expectancy out 15 years from surgery was about that of the general population, longer then MO and actually longer then lap banders and RNYers (not a crack at RNYers or lap banders, but that is what the study found).  At 500 lbs and 33 years old, I was not going to make it to 40 without major medical issues or dying.   Now after losing 300 lbs, I wish I did the surgery in my 20s because I'm suffering from complications from being obese (back issues including arthritis).  Carrying around a hundred or a few hundred extra lbs is really bad for your body, it's really bad for your life expectancy, and it's REALLY bad for your quality of life. I'm sorry I'd rather live to 65, be fit, and have a great active life, then live to 90 at 500 lbs.  I could barely walk, I couldn't fit in public seating, I could barely get behind the wheel of a car, and shopping for cloths was a nightmare, and worst of all, the normal daily tasks of living ...such as washing myself and keeping clean, and such were really difficult.  I had to shower 2 times a day to keep myself smell free, because even sitting down in an air conditioned room, I'd break out into a sweat. So is it worth it? is it worth the risk?  YOU BET.  Life is a risk, you only live it once..... Scott

This is a question that I have been asked many times by non-surgery people that I know. My short answer is that I was not "living" at 328lbs~oh, I was alive, but not living by any means. I was miserable every day, felt terrible mentally and physically, had the weight of the world (and my body) on my shoulders~it was an awful exsistance for sure even though I had my loving husband, 2 beautiful children, family, friends, etc. at 3+yrs post op I feel SO sad for the time lost in my life~time I will never get back!  A longer answer is that things could go wrong down the road now that I'm of normal weight, but they for sure would have gone wrong if I would have stayed MO any longer. I was borderline diabtetic, on a water pill for high bp~I'm sure things would have gone downhill quickly over the next few years and I had 2 small boys to worry about. Sure there are diet adjustments to be made~not drinking while eating was difficult for the first few months, but now its just a normal way of life for me. I am able to drink soda if I wanted to, but it has honestly lost its appeal to me. I do have sugar at times and haven't dumped on sugar since the first year post op~not sure if that's a blessing or a curse b/c if I did dump I can tell you I would NOT eat sugar again!!!! Its a terrible feeling!!!! I can tolerate meats and breads fine~Just need to chew well b/c things do still get stuc****asionally. Most breads/pastas have lost their appeal to me as well and that's ok~there's enough other stuff out there to eat so it doesn't really bother me.  I definitely went thru my doubtful phase before having surgery~its a scary proposition!!!! But, it was the best decision I ever made!!! I only wish I would have done it sooner than age 36 so I wouldn't have to feel like I lost so much time. Today at age 40 I'm happy, healthy, strong and in WAY better shape physically and mentally than I was at age 30~all thanks to my choice to save my own life and have weightloss surgery! Hope this helps and Good Luck to you no matter what you decide is right for you!!! ((((HUGS)))))

I think WLS should be a LAST resort.  When all else fails.  You are young.   You look beautiful.  You should really try doing it yourself.  This way you don't have to worry about that. BUT....  Lose the weight now otherwise when your 50 years old you'll be saying you wished you did it sooner. I did mine at age 52 and I'm glad I did.   Yes I do think about the future but for me this was the right thing to do.  I would not have had a future if I didn't do it. BUT...at 30 years old I really should have tried harder, instead of saying "I'll start my diet monday" Now I have now choice.  I have to follow the rules or pay the price. So I say to you - START A NEW WAY OF EATING HEALTHY AND GET TO THE GYM FIVE DAYS A WEEK. You'll be glad you did. Good Luck.

Going in for WLS of any sort without being 100% comitted to  the new lifestyle and being 100% confident in your decision is a huge mistake.   You are young.   Develop a healthy eating program, a vigorous exercise program, increase water intake, make a list of things to do other than eat and keep it posted in a very conspicuous place.  Break the cycle while you're young and you won't have to make this decision.   Don't wait too long whichever way you decide or you'll be 60, like me, and wonder where it all went and what happened to your "wonderful years" cause being healthy in these "golden years" is simply not the same as being healthy while you're young. Good luck with your decision.

The statistics I found actually gives RNY'ers a little more time to live than those who stay MO. I guess it depends where you look. I'm 47, so I sure hope to live into my 50's. I'm a little less than two years post-op, and I do worry sometimes about complications in the future, but I think most people who suffer late complications got lax on vitamins and supplements. I haven't always been kind to my body, and I'm sure my past indiscretions will cut into my life expectancy. None of us know what the future holds, but I do know this much: I used to sleep sitting up in a chair because I smothered in a bed (sleep apnea is gone, I sleep like a normal person and don't even snore anymore); my sugar level was always over 200 (no more high sugar, although if I don't eat a bite every 2-3 hours it drops low); cholesterol level has come down over 100 points; high blood pressure is gone; joint pain is almost gone, though I do have some permanent damage to my knees from carrying the extra weight for so many years; I don't pee myself when I sneeze, cough or laugh; I wear a size 2 instead of size 28 (not necessarily a health benefit, but it feels pretty good); I can walk over 10 miles at a good clip and it feels good, whereas a 1-mile stroll was death-defying when I was heavy. It is a very long list, and I won't bore you with it. It's a very hard decision to make, one I struggled with for years. When people ask me whether I'd do it again, I tell them sure, but I had tried everything else before and it didn't work for me.

Thanks for your kind replies so far!

You know, about trying to lose it without wls: Of course I have tried and failed at this for 30 yeras. I was already obese as a small child and sent to a dietician at age 2. I followed all kinds of programs. All to no avail.

I did decide that I wanted to make a decision about it when I was 30 yrs old, because life is to short to actually waste away off and on diets all the time. My mum is now 62 and on weigh****chers for about the 10000th time. I don't want that. I decided at age 30 i should get WLS, do it without once and for all, or stay fat (latter not really an option with 2 very young children)

So I am in doubt: one last attempt or go for the WLS. Really after reading back my old journals of 8 yrs and seeing all my failed diet attempts, make me wonder if it is even possible without WLS. Also if i look at my mum and other obese people, I do not know anyone who had lost a lot of weight AND KEPT IT OFF for good.
That is what makes me doubtfull to even begin again.

But hey, I have 8 more months before turning 31, so i surely will have made up my fearful mind by then

On April 17, 2008 at 11:05 AM Pacific Time, catje1977 wrote:Thanks for your kind replies so far!

You know, about trying to lose it without wls: Of course I have tried and failed at this for 30 yeras. I was already obese as a small child and sent to a dietician at age 2. I followed all kinds of programs. All to no avail.

I did decide that I wanted to make a decision about it when I was 30 yrs old, because life is to short to actually waste away off and on diets all the time. My mum is now 62 and on weigh****chers for about the 10000th time. I don't want that. I decided at age 30 i should get WLS, do it without once and for all, or stay fat (latter not really an option with 2 very young children)

So I am in doubt: one last attempt or go for the WLS. Really after reading back my old journals of 8 yrs and seeing all my failed diet attempts, make me wonder if it is even possible without WLS. Also if i look at my mum and other obese people, I do not know anyone who had lost a lot of weight AND KEPT IT OFF for good.
That is what makes me doubtfull to even begin again.

But hey, I have 8 more months before turning 31, so i surely will have made up my fearful mind by then

I don't think youth has anything to do with it.

And I don't think it's fair that people are telling you that since you are young try to take it off the 'regular way'.

That's just like thin friends telling a 50 year old - hey, you can just take it off the regualar way. :((

I think we are all in the same boat - addicted to food and we've all tried getting it off the 'regular way' - that's why we are all fat.

95% of the people that use diet and exercise alone to lose weight gain in all back plus more within 5 years. Only 20% of the wls paients that lose weight gain it all back within 5 years. These are good odds to me!

 I had the wls when I was 51 and for the life of me ... I wish I would have had it earlier when I was your age. Intead I wasted allll those years trying to achieve something that I could never achieve instead of getting thin and living the life I wanted.

I encourage you to do your research and make a decision based on your needs - and not what other people expect from you.

BTW - I live in The Netherlands too in Den Haag! I've been here almost 8 years! :))