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Hi everyone. New to the group just starting my WLS journey.

The journey started with a visit to an ortho surgeon for very bad knees. Recommended knee replacements and obviously weight loss. Being only 50yrs old I am going to focus on the weight loss and hope the knees improve greatly with weight loss. I believe with me wanting to lose over 50% of my body weight that bypass makes the most sense. I just had my consultation yesterday.

My question is how much less pain, especially in the knees and feet, have you successful WLS patients experienced after 100 or more lbs lost?

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I have had a right knee replacement and the left might eventually be replaced. I had to stop taking NSAIDS right after my knee replacement because they were giving me duodenal ulcers. I have had a revision from a lap band to a RNY, and have only lost 34 pounds, and can already tell a MAJOR difference in both of my knees.

If you have severe enough osteoarthritis, you may still need a knee replacement. But you will likely buy yourself several years before you might need one by losing weight.

Good luck!

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Thanks for the reply. That is my guess as well, kinda common sense, but I was looking for confirmation. I still have a choice between VSG and bypass. The Nsaid is really the only issue with bypass which i prefer.

Thanks again!

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My knees have been pretty good, but my ankles were my problem. I couldn't stand for more than 15 minutes before they woul start hurting. I took ibuprofen four pills at a time almost daily. Probably at least 5 days a week. When I got to my heaviest most days I would take it right before bed because my hip, leg and back hurt and I needed it to sleep. Some days I took three or four doses of four pills. I still wonder why I never developed an ulcer. I am two weeks post op and over 100 lbs lighter than my heaviest weight and I have zero joint pain. I feel better than I have in years. I wish I would have done this sooner. Even losing 20 lbs you will feel a difference in you knees. Stick with it, it will pay off.

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Thanks for the reply. I knew there was another one out there. I'll take the chance and do the bypass. Thanks again.

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2 hours ago, Tom Greeley said:

Hi everyone. New to the group just starting my WLS journey.

The journey started with a visit to an ortho surgeon for very bad knees. Recommended knee replacements and obviously weight loss. Being only 50yrs old I am going to focus on the weight loss and hope the knees improve greatly with weight loss. I believe with me wanting to lose over 50% of my body weight that bypass makes the most sense. I just had my consultation yesterday.

My question is how much less pain, especially in the knees and feet, have you successful WLS patients experienced after 100 or more lbs lost?

I already had one knee replacement in my 50's and the next one was soon to come. My mobility was greatly restricted because of pain. I was using Aleve twice a day. Since surgery, I have not used an NSAID. My pain is GONE. Even the joint space in my bad knee has expanded and I have no pain at all. I had low back pain 24/7. No back pain now at all. It's quite amazing and feels like a miracle. Since surgery,I have completed a 52 mile bike race, am working toward my 2nd triathlon, and training for a rim-to-rim (24 miles in one day) Grand Canyon hike later in the year.

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I was 59 when I had bypass surgery. Prior that I had moderate to severe pain in my right knee, particularly when walking up stairs. After losing 110 pounds it has essentially disappeared.

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Wow everybody.. thanks for the replies. You all have confirmed what I had hoped. I will go forward with bypass and lose the weight. I expect my pain will be very little to none afterwards. Thanks again!

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I used to get cortisone shots regularly and was looking at an eventual hip replacement. I was in constant pain. I'm almost never in pain anymore, and the few times I am, it's very tolerable. As in I don't even take anything for it.

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NSAIDs aren't recommended after a sleeve or bypass by most doctors. I have a bad back and I take Tramadol when I have to. Losing 87 pounds has helped a lot, but it was not a cure-all for my back pain.

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • 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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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