On the Brink....Help with a few questions

[JR15 5]

I Just filled out questionnaire and was approved for self pay sleeve in Mexico with Dr. Illian sometime this summer. Would like some valuable input from those who can help me decide to pull the trigger or not.

1- I'm a 67 year old male who is 5 ft 7 in and weighs 240. I now live full time in an rv and enjoy the travel lifestyle very much. I'm not overly obese but enough to make me think about it way too much with both the way I perceive myself and somewhat how others perceive me. I put most of the lbs on in the last 20 years. According to what I've read about seniors having the surgery is that they will not shed as many lbs as a younger patient. For those seniors reading this please let me know how it worked out for you. Also, did it take you longer to recuperate? I can continue to live my life as is but would certainly like to live out the rest of it feeling better both physically and mentally.

2- I have borderline high BP and slightly elevated levels of cholesterol for which I take daily medications. For any of you in a similar situation were you able to eventually stop the meds due to the weight loss?

3- when fully recuperated from surgery did you find yourselves with an increased energy and activity level or the opposite effect?

4-As far as the mental aspect did you adjust to the severely diminished food intake? Do you still enjoy food in the limited diet or do you now perceive eating as simply fuel intake? I would think one of the reasons for surgery is that we overly enjoyed food to begin with so this must be one of the hardest obstacles to deal with post surgery. How much do you get cravings and are they hard or easily dealt with? Please give examples.

5-For those who enjoy an alcoholic beverage once in a while (3-4 times per week) how has this affected you?

Thank you for those who have read this entry and I look forward to hearing from any and all who can help me in this serious decision making process......................

[XYZXYZXYZ1955 675]

I'm currently 62 and was quite a bit heavier to begin with (and still am, for that matter). I, personally, did not find the surgery difficult at all--recovered quite easily with almost no pain. I did have low energy for the first month or so, but am now back to what I'd consider pre-surgery energy levels--no big increase has been noticed by me, though many people report that.

I also take medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as GERD and diabetes. I'm still on the meds for the first three, but can report that my numbers/test results have been very good since the surgery. Additionally, while I'm still diabetic, I've stopped one medication and reduced another. More may happen with all of this as I lose more weight.

I'm still eating less than I did pre-surgery, but I'm at what I might call "small normal" meals--I don't miss the stuff I don't have any longer (e.g., diet soda, lots of bread), though I do incorporate some carbs into my diet (e.g., rye bread instead of white, and much less of it). Not a drinker, so that's not been an issue for me. Overall, it's not that you won't be able to eat many things, it's that it's not a good idea to keep eating some of them.

I don't know how much I'll lose overall, but I do know that I'm darned happy to have lost as much as I have so far. I don't spend a lot of time worrying about how I compare with others in terms of this--I just know whatever I can lose and keep off will improve my health and longevity. I'm also, personally, interested in having my knees hurt less, which they seem to be doing.

Good luck in making the decision. You can certainly read around the site and see what people say, but the majority definitely are glad they had this surgery--and very many wish they'd done it sooner.

[TakingABreak 2,733]

2 hours ago, JR15 said:

I Just filled out questionnaire and was approved for self pay sleeve in Mexico with Dr. Illian sometime this summer. Would like some valuable input from those who can help me decide to pull the trigger or not.

1- I'm a 67 year old male who is 5 ft 7 in and weighs 240. I now live full time in an rv and enjoy the travel lifestyle very much. I'm not overly obese but enough to make me think about it way too much with both the way I perceive myself and somewhat how others perceive me. I put most of the lbs on in the last 20 years. According to what I've read about seniors having the surgery is that they will not shed as many lbs as a younger patient. For those seniors reading this please let me know how it worked out for you. Also, did it take you longer to recuperate? I can continue to live my life as is but would certainly like to live out the rest of it feeling better both physically and mentally.

2- I have borderline high BP and slightly elevated levels of cholesterol for which I take daily medications. For any of you in a similar situation were you able to eventually stop the meds due to the weight loss?

3- when fully recuperated from surgery did you find yourselves with an increased energy and activity level or the opposite effect?

4-As far as the mental aspect did you adjust to the severely diminished food intake? Do you still enjoy food in the limited diet or do you now perceive eating as simply fuel intake? I would think one of the reasons for surgery is that we overly enjoyed food to begin with so this must be one of the hardest obstacles to deal with post surgery. How much do you get cravings and are they hard or easily dealt with? Please give examples.

5-For those who enjoy an alcoholic beverage once in a while (3-4 times per week) how has this affected you?

Thank you for those who have read this entry and I look forward to hearing from any and all who can help me in this serious decision making process......................

1. I can't speak for seniors and recovery time. My experience wasn't without complications. I was in the hospital 5 days post op RNY. My bowels did not wake up right away and I developed Shingles for the first time.

2. I was a full on diabetic. I was on 2 different types of insulin and oral medications. I took 2 different statins for my cholesterol, a medication for neuropathy, tramadol for lower back pain, and a muscle relaxer. All of these medications stopped after surgery. My blood sugar completely resolved. My cholesterol is coming down, not completely resolved, but no need for medication at this time. My BP was never high, so I can't speak to that. But if you talk to most people they were able to get off 90% of daily medication.

3. I found that my energy levels came back at about 6 weeks. By 4 weeks, I was exercising lightly. But it wasn't until my diet wasn't restricted and my calories were able to increase that I felt myself.

4. I found that things were different....When I would go out to a restaurant with friends or family, at first, I would get inpatient waiting for everyone to finish their meals. I would feel awkward and uncomfortable with people watching me eat. This changed quickly. It became second nature to me. Friends and family still struggle with understanding my restrictions. My girlfriend asks me if I want a glass of wine, every time I come over! Even my husband still offers me bites of his dessert. My taste buds have changed a lot. I don't crave things like I did before, and when I am hungry (I do get hungry) I am satisfied very easily. I still enjoy food, but not like before.

5. I haven't tried alcohol yet.

[JR15 5]

Thank you for your prompt reply. Good luck to you