Hello Forum,

I am considering having this surgery. I have a few health issues and 2nd stage COPD is one of them. I recently briefly asked my Pulmonary Doc if I would be a candidate for this surgery since my primary stated no one would want to operate on me, because I would not make it off the table. That was a pretty scary statement she made, so I wanted to check with my specialist, and he said I would do fine, and they would be there to make sure. I have about a hundred pounds to lose and am considering this purely hoping that it will help some of my other medical conditions. I also have major lumbar disc hernaiation and a weak left leg, which may or may not have to do with the Meningioma ;they found on my brain. In case you may not know what that is, it is a brain tumor, but not cancerous as far as we know, and it is small. But diagnosing is still ongoing.

My question is about exercising. Because of the low stamina I can hardly walk, and exercise is non existent at this time, and I am sure the extra weight is not helping. Before I became ill I had previously lost this weight before with proper diet and exercise. I was at the gym four days a week and raquet ball twice a week. And now gained weight back and cannot do anything...So was wondering if you think I would be wasting my time with having ;this procedure done. It seems exercise is a big part of the weight loss. (of course I am hoping that I could still lose my weight in a timely fashion.

Thank you all in advance for any opinions.

Karen

Hi Karen,

Everything is generally better when you lose weight and I would think if you do have the surgery it probably would help with your breathing. If I recall correctly second stage COPD is a mild form, correct?

I was diagnosed with COPD and sleep Apnea, but I was worried about not getting approved due to COPD. I only told my doc about the apnea, since I knew it was a comorbidity that would qualify me for the surgery. I was at the point in my life where things were only getting worse and I didn't care if I didn't make it through surgery.

From my own experience at 8 weeks post-op, exercise does not play a big role in my weight loss. The dramatic reduction in my calories does. It was at least 4 weeks post-op before I had enough energy to get up and moving, and that was less than a mile a day of walking (and that includes walking at work).

I'm just getting to the point where I can average 3 miles a day 5 days a week. I'm aiming for 5 miles 5 days a week.

My weight loss has remained consistent the entire 8 weeks - about 3 lbs down per week.

I think the main advantage to the increased walking is the steady consistent weight loss. I haven't had any of the infamous weight loss stalls at this point.

Thank you all for your comments. In my case with the copd, is I have had three exacerbations in 1.5 years, and am on Oxygen 24/7 and all the drugs for copd. The first exacerbation really changed my life and I have never fully recovered as far as stamina. My PFC showed 65%.

I am very glad to hear that some are losing weight without exercise. Very encouraging.

Thank you all so much.

Dear Aspiring,

I completely understand your feelings on making it or not. I felt that too. I also have sleep apnea and apparently stop breathing 28 times an hour. I do not use the machine. My life has changed so much since all of this as I am sure yours has too, that I sometimes figure if I go in my sleep, what more could I ask for. But I love people so much and I also want to be here with them. I want me back and some of my life back. So just wanted to say thank you and I understood your comments.

Karen

Karen,

My mother suffered with COPD and it broke my heart to see her suffer. I would definitely circle back with my pulmonologist and a Bariatric surgeon to make sure you are a candidate for the surgery. Good Luck.

The way I see it, for me, my health was my main concern - prediabetic, back and feet problems and sleep apnea. My health was going down-hill faster with each pound I regained (I recently lost weight on Jenny Craig, but tired of the food after a year, and foot surgery halted my exercise regime). By my 53rd b'day last July I had had enough (broke a beach chair and almost drowned in the surf because I couldn't get up!) The next day I went to a WLS open house. I made my appt. with my surgeon on Aug. 11th and have not looked back since (OK, so I lied, I do have a pity party every now and again when I miss certain foods) I was 278, my highest in August, and on my day of surgery, Oct. 11th, I was 255. Today I am 198. I would never have dreamed I would be this size when I started my journey 6 months ago! I haven't been under 200 pounds since I had children, and my daughter just turned 19! Exercise is important, but for me, right now, the calorie restriction and my increased activity levels for my normal day-to-day life have been enough for me to enjoy a pretty consistant weight loss. I imagine that once I start walking "for real", I'll start losing again. But the fact that I'm not going to the gym hasn't stopped me from doing awesome. The gym was never my "life style" so why should it be now?

Good luck!

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing.

Very inspiring!!! Thanks for sharing.

Well come to find out my doc was wrong as far as PFT as I am not 75 percent, but 64. I thought about this all night. I have decided I am going to risk it. Like above I am only 58 and never thought I would be having so many health issues. I had a life, a ;business, friends, and now I have nothing. I have been losing the battle and often wished I simply would not wake up in the morning. They are right when they say you have nothing if you don't have health. I have always been a fighter, and I found myself not fighting anymore, because it seemed like and endless battle I was losing. And the fight left me. My sister suggested ;this surgery to me and at first I said no, because I just did not care anymore.

But a little spark of that fight I always had came back slowly, and now I feel ready to do it. I am encourage with many of the stories I have read in here, and it has allowed me to get out of this pity party and depression long enough to make this decision, and for the first time I feel hopeful, which is something I have longed to feel again.

It does help to talk to others as I tend to keep my feelings bottled up as to not dump on others who have situations far worse than I do, and so anyhow just want to say thanks to all of you.

Karen