Weight loss surgery

[JanetRose]

Anyone over 60 who has had surgery?

Considering it.

 

[rwdavis2]

I know several people that have had it and it looks like they gained back about 30-50% of the lost weight. One person was able to quit their diabetes meds though. But that person almost did not get the procedure as she would not follow the diet pre-surgery. One still has to change their eating habits for fully successful surgery.

May I recommend a book my doctor did name "The Obesity Code". It explains and documents (tons of footnotes) current diet research and why virtually all calorie restricted diets eventually fail.

I looked into the surgery and they put me on a 6 month diet to see how successful I may be. I lost so much weight (50lbs in 1 year) I skipped the surgery. But it's still a struggle.

 

[JanetRose]

Thank you...so if you didn't follow the 6- month diet, the surgery wouldn't have happened?

 

[RF536]

I'm 45 and had a gastric sleeve 3 years ago. It is not a magic cure all you still have to change your habits and exercise. It does help you get full faster, if you eat high protein. There are what are called "slider"foods that you can eat a lot of, think chips, some sweets that you can eat a lot of and not get full.

The pre surgery diet varies by insurance and surgeon. My insurance requires a 6 month proof of trying to lose weight. I was able to provide 6 months of weight watchers records. The only pres surgery diet I had was 1 week.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. I feel like I have my health and life back. I have lost and maintained a 100 lb weight loss.

 

[rwdavis2]

Thank you...so if you didn't follow the 6- month diet, the surgery wouldn't have happened?

That depends on the surgeon. I highly recommend doing what they asked for best results. I even had a psych exam.

 

[RF536]

Thank you...so if you didn't follow the 6- month diet, the surgery wouldn't have happened?

If you don't follow the surgeon's plan they won't do the survey. They want to know you are willing to put in the work. .

 

[Christine]

Not about me, but my coworker's experience is similar to posts above. She was considering weight loss surgery (she weighed close to 300 lbs). Went in for the counseling and was determined to do well on the pre-diet, exercise, and such. She signed up at a gym near her home, worked with a nutritionist and trainer, and has managed to lose more than 150 lbs over about 4 years now. Never had the surgery, although she's had a few surgeries since then to remove excess skin. She's really inspiring.

 

[unrequited23]

My SIL had a gastric bypass surgery when she was 29. Overall she has mixed feelings. She was able to realize her dream of becoming a police officer (and recently made detective!) but has been hospitalized due to a bleeding ulcer at the incision site and is now on metformin due to blood sugar issues that are a result of the procedure. For her, it was about a one year process with many dr. appointments, tests and evaluations.

 

[RogueX]

I had gastric bypass in May of this year. So far I've lost 45 pounds, reversed my pre-diabetes and lowered my cholesterol. The team I am working with had a long list of criteria that I had to go through for approval (cardiac clearance, check for sleep apnea, tons of blood work, lose a certain amount of weight in order to get approved and neurological clearance due to seizures).

It's not an easy road to go as I struggle to get enough protein and fluids in, but overall for me, it's been worth it.

 

[Stratman50th]

My 64 YO coworker had bypass surgery. I don't like it because people think it's some kind of magical fix. She lost 45 pounds before the surgery. I told her if she could do that, keep going without getting cut.
She got the surgery and died two weeks later from complications. Never got to see that retirement she was so excited about. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend it but hey, everybody has to do their own thing.....

 

[kymom99]

My 64 YO coworker had bypass surgery. I don't like it because people think it's some kind of magical fix. She lost 45 pounds before the surgery. I told her if she could do that, keep going without getting cut.
She got the surgery and died two weeks later from complications. Never got to see that retirement she was so excited about. Yeah, I wouldn't recommend it but hey, everybody has to do their own thing.....

Unfortunately I know someone who died from it too

 

[RF536]

Make sure you research the types of surgery. I had gastric sleeve, which is less invasive. With this surgery they remove most of your stomach and leave your intestines alone. It is normally for someone with less weight to lose. It can be revised to a bypass. The bypass is what most people think of and is where they remove most of your stomach and bypass part of your intestines. It can have more issues, especially with not getting enough nutrients.

 

[Princesca]

I had the sleeve, never lost what was said to be the average amount, and have gained it all back. Even in the earliest weeks I was hungrier than other people in my weight loss groups. I went into it with a healthier diet than most patients I met, though, so maybe that's a difference? A lot of them were big soda drinkers which who can't comfortably do for awhile after sleeve, so that alone would cause you to drop a lot of calories per day.

I'm now looking into Tirzepatide, the injectable, for maybe a year or so and if I can't keep the weight off with that help, might consider a revision.

I strongly, strongly recommend therapy. Especially if you go with the sleeve, it is far too easy to regain. If you don't change your brain, you will likely eventually end up back at square one. Maybe you'll have better odds going with DS or something more extreme, but those come with a host of other issues to think about.

 

[igrsod]

My DD had the surgery and it's the best thing she could have done. With PCOS, weight loss was so hard for her and she was heading down a dangerous path. The surgery probably saved her life.
As others have said, it's not an easy, magical solution. You have to put in the hard work. Here in Canada, the pre surgical protocol is extensive, but necessary so as to make sure you understand what is required and to get you prepped for surgery. You need to be on a liquid (pre prepared shakes) diet, with a very restricted calorie diet prior to surgery in order to shrink your liver. If you don't do the work, you don't get the surgery. Also there is extensive after care and therapy sessions to assess and make sure you are keeping on track. The recovery was difficult and painful for her. But if you ask her if it was worth it years later, she would say yes. She now has an active lifestyle, with very healthy food choices.
Good luck with your decision, only you can decide what's right for you. I would say not to shy away from a surgeon that has some pre surgery criteria. I think that is a good and safe thing.

 

[footballmouse]

I had the sleeve surgery 3 years ago (I was 50), I'm happy with my decision. I had to go through quite a few tests before I was cleared, I had to give up my daily Coke, and I had to attend a support group meeting to hear what they had to say. It took about 5 months from my first meeting with the doctor to the surgery date. The time line depends on your insurance. I lost 85 lbs, gained 25 back but I've lost another 15 lbs. I didn't have to prove that I could stay on the diet. I did have to do a 2 week pre-surgery diet (I lost 20 lbs. from that), this depends on your doctor, some do 2 weeks, some do 3 days. I didn't have any problems after the surgery, I could have went back to work after 2 weeks but I took 4 weeks off. I had 2 co-workers that also had the surgery and I think they're happy with their decision.

 

[Pooh2]

Five of my family members have had it.
They've all gained back about 30-50 percent from their lowest.
One family member was in her 20s, the rest were over 50 at time of surgery.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm considering it. I'm 54. My cousin who lives with me had it a year ago, so I got to see firsthand what she had to do to be approved, and what she went through after the surgery. So I'm not going into it with eyes closed. She had the sleeve.

I have tried everything to lost weight, but nothing is working. Ever since I started menopause, the weight has just gone up and up. I haven't been slim for years, but I've gained another 40 pounds since 2016 when I had my hysterectomy. I feel terrible. I get out of breath easily, my knees and my back hurt, I have trouble doing things I used to be able to do without a thought-and I have this overall sense of just not feeling good. I don't care about how I look; I just want to be healthy. I don't feel myself. I'm giving myself until after my Disney trip next month to decide for sure, but I'm pretty much there.

 

[lovesmurfs]

It's so hard, isn't it? I've tried everything. Two years ago I joined NoBS, and it's a common-sense way of losing weight. She offers a free (it's REALLY free) course to describe the process and has a great public podcast (Losing 100 Pounds with Corinne).

I'm 54, and I've lost 55 pounds so far (from 320). It's not about the weight loss -- it's about the mental weight.

http://www.pnp411.com/

 

[lisaviolet]

My SIL had a gastric bypass surgery when she was 29. Overall she has mixed feelings. She was able to realize her dream of becoming a police officer (and recently made detective!) but has been hospitalized due to a bleeding ulcer at the incision site and is now on metformin due to blood sugar issues that are a result of the procedure. For her, it was about a one year process with many dr. appointments, tests and evaluations.

Please make sure she keeps on top of her b12 levels, if her doctors are not. I have pernicious anemia (b12 deficiency) and I do a ton of research. Metformin use & weight loss surgeries have both been listed as resulting in low b12.
Also note that this deficiency is not well understood by the medical community themselves, as they spend very little time on vitamin deficiencies in study & residency. And it can become a very serious issue when not resolved in a timely manner.

https://stichtingb12tekort.nl/english/misconceptions-about-a-b12-deficiency/

 

[LuvOrlando]

I know 2 people who had versions of weight loss surgery, they both looked healthier but their bodies got very sick afterwards. My impression is they were better off before and would have probably done better if they threw the money into more expensive but healthier food.