On this journey at almost 70

[MsUjima 109]

I started this journey when my son (43 years old) called me and said that he was going to get the surgery. and thought i should. My son is a person who researches thoroughly before making a decision. He was particular impressed by the research that showed the significant impact that the gastric bypass had on diabetes. At almost 70, having surgery is no small decision. But after reviewing the research. I agreed and I started the process.

Amazingly even though I started the process earlier than my son. I got approval first (could be all those weight related chronic diseases ), Also humana medicare did not require any pre-weight loss. Plus being a smaller town I think it was easier to get scheduled. also, because I had chronic diseases, I have an existing relationship with my cardiologist and other specialist it was easy getting there approval, My doctor didn't send anything into the insurance until everything was complete and I got approval in less than 2 weeks. The surgery was scheduled for a month later.

My starting wieight was 368 lbs.

The per-surgery diet was easy - two shakes a day and two low calorie frozen meals and two cups of vegetables. - 1 for lunch and 1 for dinner. I opted for Atkins Weight loss because I prefer a low carb/ moderate fat diet over moderate carb/low fat. I lost 6 lbs on the two weeks per-surgery diet.

So my pre-testing was uneventful. I had been diagnosed with sleep apnea years ago but had never used the machine. My doctor made it clear that he wouldn't do the surgery unless I was using the CPAC regularly. So of course I did.

i had the surgery on Sept. 16, 2014, 7:15am.

I had laparoscopic robotic gastric bypass . it went well no complications. I had very little pain, no nausea or diarrhea. The only problem is that my oxygen saturation levels dropped below 88 when I walked. So the doctor ordered another sleep study to determine my oxygen saturation during sleep. Sure enough the levlels dropped during sleep. So I was discharged home on Oxygen.

My recovery at home was uneventful. till my 2 week folloup No pain, no nausea, no vomiting. At two weeks I had lost a total of 22 lbs. The doctor thought I was doing so well that he moved me from the liquid diet to the soft diet.

This is when I encountered my fist hiccup - the first soft meal stimulated my GERD. Gastroesophageal reflux disease - The pain from that was excruciating. . I backed off the soft diet, went back to the liquid diet and worked with my doctor to get better medicine.

I seem to finally to reestabish my equilibrium.

So I am 4 wwks from surgery - - I have had no significant complications; my incisions are all healed. I have lost 32 pounds.

.

[dark n lovely 70]

You go!! You look beautiful????

I am 42 with several medical issues myself. Asthma, sickle cell, diabetic, high blood pressure, end stage kidney disease, and i am legally blind. I am 8 weeks post-op from my gastric bypass. I had no pain, went home the next day, and lost 44lbs in 7 weeks.

My doctor felt i lost too much to fast and put me on a regular diet. I still can not eat the amount of food the dr and nut is asking for. I only take in about 400cal. I continue to drink my Protein Shakes.< /p>

At my heaviest i was 398lbs. August 5th 2014 i was 239, surgery August 12th 2014 i was 229, today October 13th 2014, i am 195lbs. I cant remember being this small any time in my adult life.????

Congrats on your decision to lose the weight, no matter at what age you may be.....you look GREAT!!

[bgr8now 2]

Congrats on your journey!! you are an inspiration to me.... I am 53 a granny and have several health issues which have convinced me to have WLS. thank you for sharing.

[MsUjima 109]

THank you so much. I am glad you took the steo at a younger age. It must be life changing. What is your goal weight? I was very thin till my early 20's then I began to gain and have been doing so my entire adult life. How has your chronic diseases (specifically your diabetes) responded to the surgery and weight loss?

You go!! You look beautiful
I am 42 with several medical issues myself. Asthma, sickle cell, diabetic, high blood pressure, end stage kidney disease, and i am legally blind. I am 8 weeks post-op from my gastric bypass. I had no pain, went home the next day, and lost 44lbs in 7 weeks.
My doctor felt i lost too much to fast and put me on a regular diet. I still can not eat the amount of food the dr and nut is asking for. I only take in about 400cal. I continue to drink my Protein shakes.
At my heaviest i was 398lbs. August 5th 2014 i was 239, surgery August 12th 2014 i was 229, today October 13th 2014, i am 195lbs. I cant remember being this small any time in my adult life.
Congrats on your decision to lose the weight, no matter at what age you may be.....you look GREAT!!

[dark n lovely 70]

Thank u. My goal weght is 170lbs. Im 5'8". But my dr informed me that I will be smaller than that. He is estimating me to be around 140lbs at the rate I'm going.

Yes, this has been life changing, along with everything else I have encountered, health wise, in my life. As for my diabetes and blood pressure, my medication is on hold. My numbers has dropped for both illiness and are being monitored. My dr warned me before the surgery that most people do get off their meds due to the weight lost and the changes within the body. When I lost 170lbs on my own, my insulin intake went from 3 injections a day to only 1, then to a sliding scale, then no longer need regular insulin at all. I was only using nph once a day, now nothing.

I can honestly say I feel better being off of some of the 20 different medications I had to take daily ???? I hope you will be able to do the same as a result of your weight loss. Good luck.....

[MrsGloMartin 198]

Amazing!!! You look great and your face is glowing. You have inspired me and many others. Please keep us posted on your progress!!!

[MsUjima 109]

thank you.

Congrats on your journey!! you are an inspiration to me.... I am 53 a granny and have several health issues which have convinced me to have WLS. thank you for sharing.

[DENISEMIC 26]

WOW YOU LADIES ARE AN INSPIRATION!!

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND PLEASE CONTINUE TO SHARE YOUR RESULTS AS WELL AS WHAT YOU'RE EATING AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SHARE. I NEED HELP. I AM RELATIVELY NEW TO THIS SITE AND EXTREMELY NEW TO POSTING LOL!.

I WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE A REVISION FROM LAP BAND TO BYPASS 8/27/14, BUT WOKE UP TO FIND DR. CHAND COULDN'T DO IT. HE EMPTIED THE BAND 4/1/14, BUT FOR SOME REASON IT WAS STILL TIGHT AND IT HAD ATTACHED ITSELF TO MY LIVER. THERE WAS ALSO ALOT OF SCAR TISSUE. HE REMOVED THE BAND, DETACHED IT FROM MY LIVER & CUT OUT SCAR TISSUE. IT WAS A 2 HOUR SURGERY. SO I WAS SENT HOME TO RECOVER FOR 3 MONTHS. I KNOW ABOVE ALL ELSE, WE WANT TO BE SAFE AND MY DOCTOR IS EXCELLENT BUT,I WAS SOOOO DISAPPOINTED. I JUST WENT TO SEE HIM 10/14/14 AND HE SAID I SHOULD HAVE A EARLY DEC. 2014 DATE FOR THE BYPASS. I CAN'T WAIT. I WAS 278 WHEN I SAW HIM YESTERDAY. I WANT TO GET DOWN TO 135-140 BECAUSE HE SAID YOU ALWAYS PUT BACK ON 10% OF THE WEIGHT YOU LOOSE - SO I WANT TO STABILIZE AT AROUND 150. I'M 62 WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE WAS ONLY USING 12-15% OF MY HEART WHEN DIAGNOSIS'D IN 2011, BUT NOW I'M AT 45 -50%. GOD IS SOOOO GOOD!!

I'M ON CPAP MACHINE SINCE 2008 WHEN I GOT THE LAP BAND. I'VE GOT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, BORDER LINE DIABETES AND GERD. I WON'T EVEN GO INTO THE BODY ACHES & PAINS. I CAN THINK OF AT LEAST 14 THINGS HAVING THIS SURGERY IS EITHER GOING TO DRASTICALLY REDUCE OR CURE. I KNOW THIS IS ONLY A TOOL AND WE STILL HAVE TO DO THE WORK, BUT BABY AM I READY. YOU GUYS BE BLESSED.

[dark n lovely 70]

Wow! U are blessed too!! Good luck on your up coming surgery in December ????

[The Candidate 3,215]

What a wonderful and uplifting story, both you's and your son's. It's never too late to turn your life around. It's all about the journey and the goal and you definitely have the right mindset to get you where ever you want to go. Your pictures are beautiful! I can't wait until I have my own surgery.

Please keep us posted. I wish you all the best!

[Ima Doit 15]

Thank you for sharing your journey.I'm starting my 6 month required diet next week.After reading your post I am sure this surgery is the right decision for me.I'm 60 this yr and thought I might be to old for this,but it would great to get off some of my meds and have the energy to go for a walk .