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Worried about my aunt.



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So, I have an aunt that wants to get WLS. She was not interested in getting it until I had it done; I guess I sparked some bravery into her. :)

She is only about 4'10'' and weighs over 300 pounds. She mentioned to us that she has congestive heart failure. This really worries me. Does having congestive heart failure make it impossible for her to have the surgery? I feel like, if she can't have it, then what is she going to do to lose the weight and correct her heart? Has anyone here had the surgery and made their heart healthier? I don't know how severe her condition is.

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Only a doctor can say if her heart is strong enough for surgery, but I do agree that losing the weight would help. Just have her see her doctor and discuss the risks and benefits of WLS. Hope this helps.

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@@Hiraeth WLS is often recommended for people with congestive heart failure. The important thing will be for the Bariatrician and Cardiologist to work together at ensuring her heart disease is managed and it is safe for her to have surgery. There are certainly more risks involved - but honestly - she's at risk every day at that weight. She will obviously need cardiac clearance.

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Thanks so much for the responses. I never even knew she had that condition until last year. She only mentioned it slightly, which makes me wonder (and hope) that it's only mild or moderate. I agree that she will have a better chance at life if she loses weight. Her legs and feet are CONSTANTLY swollen. It's hard to look at because she is only 44 years old. She's pretty excited for the support group next month on September 17th. So I really hope this works for her. She has a 20-year-old daughter that just started nursing, and I know that she would be devastated to lose her mom anytime soon.

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@@Hiraeth She's younger than me! I was picturing her older - that's scary she already has CHF. Hope all goes well!

Yes, it is scary. She smokes and eats a lot of fried foods. She's also not very active. I hope she doesn't get discouraged by anything during her process. I'm glad that her husband is being supportive.

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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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      1. LeighaTR

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    • Alisa_S

      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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        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.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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