Hi I'm thinking of having this operation. I weigh 110k and I am on cholesterol tab 2 types of blood pressure tablets. It is a very big decision for me, as I love to cook and eat!

I don't walk well, get very puffed when I walk up hills I had a stroke in 2004 , have had 2 knee replacements.

I am 65 years old and I need a better quality of life, do you think I am making the correct decision?

Nobody but you can say if you're making the right decision. For me, it's definitely the right decision

Hi there! Just based on what you have said so far I think you are taking the right steps to better health. If you wait too long too long to start a new life, you will miss out at many more years of feeling better. I can only speak from my personal experience. I am 51, I have hypothyroid, type 2 diabetes, stage 3 kidney disease and psoriatic arthritis. I have also suffered from very severe migraines my whole life. I weighed 310lbs and I am 5 ft 10. I have had 5 back surgeries and have a neurostimulator implanted in my spine to deal with nerve pain. I began this process when I was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease and my doctor told me if I did not do something I would be looking at dialysis and ultimately a transplant in my older years.

I began the WLS process within 2 weeks of getting that diagnosis. It took 9 months to get through it. I had my surgery on sept. 29th, 2014. I am down 59lbs and 4 sizes. I CAN work out as much as Want. I am off all diabetes meds, high cholesterol meds, high blood pressure meds, pain meds (been off those for 2 years), and my migraines have improved greatly!

I feel fantastic. This was the best thing I could have ever done for myself and there has not been one single day that I have regretted it.

I feel healthier. I still have 87 lbs to go and many more years to maintain it but I was given a great gift!

If I were you, I would do my research. Don't be afraid!

Good luck and keep us posted!

I'm 63...... instead of the stroke, I had a heart attack. I'm taking a ga-zillion pills, and I also had both of my knees replaced a couple of years back. And you are dead right.......my life sucked....quality wise.

I was surely going to die, new knees and all.

So I decided I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. (no pun intended)

At the very least, the surgery would keep the new knees from wearing out or failing prematurely.

Now that I could walk, I needed to be able to live........

And guess what......even at 63....it worked!! Good luck to you too......

Edited November 30, 201411 yr by Recycled

Keep in mind the mental part of WLS is the toughest part. This is not a magic bullet, but you can have great results if your follow the rules. In my, on the ground support group I have obsearved that most women think this surgery is a silver bullet with no work involved. If I just get this surgery, I will have better a better self image, I will look like my skinny girl friends, my relationship with men will improve ect ect.... Surgery happens and they dont change their life style. All the great benefits of this surgery doesnt happen. These women turn out to be sad and frustated. Most never fully understand that success is in their hands, but they dont want to be bother with having to work for it. Its easier to blame non sucess on something other than themselves. Dont fall into this trap. Do your research and know every little detail for sucess inside and out. It is definatley worth it.

On the bright side you can still enjoy cooking, but you will look at it differently. You will learn exactly what a 1/4 and 1/2 cup a tablespoon, a 4oz piece of meat is without measuring. You can experiment with spices your have never tried. You can find great substitutes for Pasta and grains. There is lots to learn. And your will become a better healthier cook.

Keep in mind the mental part of WLS is the toughest part. This is not a magic bullet, but you can have great results if your follow the rules. In my, on the ground support group I have obsearved that most women think this surgery is a silver bullet with no work involved. If I just get this surgery, I will have better a better self image, I will look like my skinny girl friends, my relationship with men will improve ect ect.... Surgery happens and they dont change their life style. All the great benefits of this surgery doesnt happen. These women turn out to be sad and frustated. Most never fully understand that success is in their hands, but they dont want to be bother with having to work for it. Its easier to blame non sucess on something other than themselves. Dont fall into this trap. Do your research and know every little detail for sucess inside and out. It is definatley worth it.

On the bright side you can still enjoy cooking, but you will look at it differently. You will learn exactly what a 1/4 and 1/2 cup a tablespoon, a 4oz piece of meat is without measuring. You can experiment with spices your have never tried. You can find great substitutes for Pasta and grains. There is lots to learn. And your will become a better healthier cook.

You beat me to it....... Excellent advice...... word for word.

• par1959,

I absolutely love your comment: "You will learn exactly what a 1/4 and 1/2 cup a tablespoon, a 4oz piece of meat is without measuring."

Man have you got that right!! If you don't learn you'll face the consequences of eating more than your new sleeve can handle.

That however is one of the things about my sleeve I like. I cannot eat more than I should without consequences which keeps me compliant and thus keeps the weight off. My appetite is no where near what it was pre-surgery. I crave savory foods now--not the sugar, carbs and fats that I used to.

Good luck with your decision. My husband is 65 and is an extremely high risk patient and I pray to God he'll have the surgery in January so we can BOTH get our lives back.

Blessings,

Kathleen