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3 years after VSG I need a total knee replacement



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3 years after my VSG I find I need a total knee replacement. I am 65+ years of age. Very nervous about surgery because of the VSG and anesthesia. Any comments greatly appreciated.

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I can't see why it would be a problem as long as you are healthy enough for surgery. The great thing here is you will have a much easier recover since you've lost weight.

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I am only 49 & had to choose between getting the sleeve & having a double knee replacement. I knew that the longer I could hold off on the knees & the more weight I could lose beforehand, the better the outcome would be. I'm sorry I can't help reassure you about the anesthesia, but I know other folks have had surgeries post-VSG and have come out just fine. Good luck to you!

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I also had issues with the anaesthesia during my sleeve surgery - so can appreciate your fears. As Shelle said though - you have your weight loss on your side! Thinking of you

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I don't think there should be an anesthesia issues, but I'm not a doctor. Does this medical facility know you've had the sleeve surgery? I had a procedure three months after my sleeve surgery that required me to be knocked out - no problems. :)

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Shelle; SouthernSoul; Selena and Kimbernada: Thanks very much for responding. Issue I have is since my VSG for some reason I have this Vasal Vagal thing where under certain circumstances I pass out - sometimes if I eat something [that gives me diarrhea] or if I take a certain medication for pain, I will pass out. THis is what worries me - will I ever come out of the anesthesia? OF COURSE I will talk to the physicians about this - and NO I have no yet told them I have had the VSG because when I do most doctors seem to have a negative opinion of that - plus if/when they ask me where I had it (which was Mexico) they look at me like I'm nuts. (Thing is I could have had it in the U.S., but the Mexico Surgeon had more experience with tthe VSG - it was Dr. Aceves - he had more experience than most surgeons in the U.S. - he was excellent! Anyway: this has me very nervous and I appreciate being able to bounce this off of those who have done what I'vd done.

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I had my knees replaced 4 years ago at age 42, so I was pretty young for the surgery. Be prepared to have no appetite afterwards, which is totally normal. I am not sure how much, but I did lose a fair amount of weight post op, but unfortunately gained it back over time (pre VSG). I thought it was a very tough surgery, to be honest, but worth it

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Wow, God is good and my prayers are w u honey. Very bad me and I've been told I can't get replacement until I'm 65 I am 43 and I'm in a lot of pain all the time. So I was talking in church today about my knees being replaced but also I am pre op for the vsg. So I was discussing it with my daughter pertaining to the knee surgery and I told her that I think I should have my VSG surgery first nd have the knees replaced afterwards. She thinks that I should have my knees done first because they know how bad I hurt. But I think the reasons for the doctors not wanting to do my knees is because I am overweight and they keep saying lose some weight and exercise, to help. Also they want to wait until I'm 65 but I cannot hold out that long. I say that God is good because he brought me to this forum but I just saw and I think that confirms for me that I should wait until after the VSG surgery for the reasons that one of you stated which is, knee surgery is a hard surgery to recover from nd at least afterwards I will have so much less weight carry around. Good luck to you all and I thank God for all of you because now I have a better idea of what I need to do. I'm sorry that I could not give any input on what you should do but definitely tell your doctor about the VSG surgery. That way they can be informed on what needs to happen concerning anaesthesia also don't worry about what they think about you because they are not the ones who have to walk around with bad knees or the one who had to walk around with excess weight when you were heavy. As long as they give you the proper care concerning your knees and concerning VSG surgery, then that is what their job is and not to judge you! Their place is to be the best orthopedic surgeons there is out there that's why you came to them about your knee and NOT your weight! So God bless and good luck and I will keep you in my prayers and again thank you all for your stories! :-)

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I had my knees replaced 4 years ago at age 42' date=' so I was pretty young for the surgery. Be prepared to have no appetite afterwards, which is totally normal. I am not sure how much, but I did lose a fair amount of weight post op, but unfortunately gained it back over time (pre VSG). I thought it was a very tough surgery, to be honest, but worth it[/quote']

So have u had the vsg done yet? And w ur replacements, did it make losing the weight easier u think, bc u were able to move better? Again, I want my vsg first bc I want to see if the weightloss will make them better and if it doesn't, what do I have to lose by having it after vsg. Tyvm. And just curious, how are the new knees in comparison to ur real ones, I mean do they function or feel different, can u run nd squat, things like that?

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So have u had the vsg done yet? And w ur replacements' date=' did it make losing the weight easier u think, bc u were able to move better? Again, I want my vsg first bc I want to see if the weightloss will make them better and if it doesn't, what do I have to lose by having it after vsg. Tyvm. And just curious, how are the new knees in comparison to ur real ones, I mean do they function or feel different, can u run nd squat, things like that?[/quote']

Yes, I had the VSG on 10/31/12, and have lost 92 lbs so far. I don't think the knee replacements made the weight loss easier, but I am able to enjoy exercise and increased mobility much, much more. I think it is great to get the VSG surgery first, but if you are having lots of knee pain, no way should you wait until you are 65 to get them replaced. I can't even imagine that! When you are ready, I would consult with a different orthopedic surgeon.

My new knees do function a little differently, but it is worth it to me. I don't like to get on my knees for any reason now, but I can find alternate ways to get things done. The freedom from pain and increased mobility mean the world to me. Feel free to PM with any questions!

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I am only 49 & had to choose between getting the sleeve & having a double knee replacement. I knew that the longer I could hold off on the knees & the more weight I could lose beforehand, the better the outcome would be. I'm sorry I can't help reassure you about the anesthesia, but I know other folks have had surgeries post-VSG and have come out just fine. Good luck to you!

That mirrors my story.....I'm putting off the knee surgeries as long as I can....this surgery cant' come soon enough.....

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I to need knew surgery. Will be 52 this month was 349 pound when I was told and of course i needed to lose weight. I decided to fo sleeve first. Done 6/18/13...presurgery 301...last primary doctor appt. Friday 294. My sugar meds off, my Blood pressure meds réduced and knees féel somewhat better with the weight loss already so i know i made the right choice.

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I had TKR 3 years ago, before my sleeve. Make sure you do all the pre-exercises they give you to strenthen your legs, it will really help after surgery.

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I had to have a tkr at 29. :( It sucks to have the restrictions on running, as that was something I enjoyed before I gained the weight. I had the left one done, and the right one needs to be done, but as I drop pounds I am seeing that the pain is better. I am still bone on bone, and will have the right one done, eventually. I will suggest inquiring about the smith and nephew knee, I have actually had my left knee done twice, the first time was a failed tkr. The implant failed and had to be replaced. I opted for the smith and nephew the second time, and it was a day and night difference.

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I had to have a tkr at 29. :( It sucks to have the restrictions on running' date=' as that was something I enjoyed before I gained the weight. I had the left one done, and the right one needs to be done, but as I drop pounds I am seeing that the pain is better. I am still bone on bone, and will have the right one done, eventually. I will suggest inquiring about the smith and nephew knee, I have actually had my left knee done twice, the first time was a failed tkr. The implant failed and had to be replaced. I opted for the smith and nephew the second time, and it was a day and night difference.[/quote']

WOW!! Ty 4 the info, I will certainly check out nd research the knee. Nd I was wondering bout how running wud b:( sry to hear that but now ik what to expect.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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