maggie'smom

I was also told I was too young for total knee at 50, so i had arthroscopies x 2 on both knees, ibuprofin, aleve, celebrex, mobic, tramadol, etc, cortisone shots, synvisc injections and ambien to knock myself out so I could sleep through the pain. Changed jobs, so that I had to change doctors. When I saw him he asked how long I had been in this much pain? 12 years at least. He asked why I had gone that long in pain and I told him that I was told I was too young for replacement. He shook his head and said that knees are much improved now and last much longer. Best decision of my life.

I can tell you that, once your knees are gone, they're gone. I put off having replacements for years and finally it became so debilitating I had to just do it. took a while to get back to normal, but it was worth it. The only thing that I regret is waiting 2 years in between. I should have done them either at the same time or closer together. NSAIDS will tear up your stomach, I know because I tried them all. Please see a good orthopedic surgeon and take his advice. You won't regret it.

Thanks all of you. It takes a person who has been there to understand and give experienced advice. thank you!

I'm so sorry that I told anyone about mt upcoming surgery. If I had it to do over again, I'd keep it a secret. I'm only 5'1/2 " and started at 207 lbs. BMI39. I have hypertension and arthritis, already had both knees replaced. My insurance required me to diet for 6 months before WLS. I've lost 33 lbs, but it is getting harder and harder to keep from eating everything in sight. All I keep hearing is that I'm doing so well that I should just stay on the diet and even if it takes years to get it off it would be healthier than the WLS. I've been on so many diets in the last 40 years only to gain it all back and then even more.I'm desperate to be able to keep it off and not feel starving all the time. I'm praying that this will finally be the help I need. All I hear is you'll just regain it anyway and you'll be sick. Wish I hadn't told anyone, especially my 88 year old mother.

I went to my presurgery seminar on 7/20. stsart the 2 weeks prep om 7/29. Surgery on 8/12. Thanks for all these encouraging posts.

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I have struggled with the fear that I'll be less healthy than i am now. I want to be able to work another 5 years and still have energy to enjoy my life when not at work. Right now I'm not able to get much accomplished at home when I work. I try to envision carrying all this extra weight around as an energy sapper. You have made me believe that this is the case. i'm not as apprehensive about going through with the procedure now. On wed. I'm going to a pre-surgery seminar with others having WLS, my friends said that I'll be the thinnest person there. That's because my weight is evenly distributed, fat all over.

No my surgery had to be rescheduled for aug. 12 because of vacation schedule at work.

So happy to have seen these posts. I am 65 and had a BMI ot 37 and hypertension along with arthritis. I've dieted on and off for 40 years and after 60 it is significantly harder to lose weight. my insurance requires 6 months of bariatrically supervised dieting before surgery. I've lost 32 lbs, but none for the last 8 weeks. My co-workers think I should just be happy where I am now! 175 lbs at 5 feet tall is not fine! I've already had both knees replaced so I know it is important to get the excess lbs. off. Thank you for the encouragememt.