Abandoned Forum?

[Shadowcub 28]

Nothing in over a year? Wow! Not even crickets chirping in here. (Must have all died of lonelieness, I guess.)

I'm thinking about starting my fifth journey towards WLS at 47 with a BMI over 60. I have pretty much the whole list of co-morbidities other than diabetes: hypertension, sleep apnea, bad osteoarthritis in my knees, collapsing disks and bone spurs in my back, and on, and on, and on.

A friend recently (Jan 19, 2015) had the gastric sleeve done. He's about 200 miles away, but is probably the only person who supports me. I've only got a couple of real friends here in Pittsburgh, PA, and since they're both in OA are dead set against me getting the surgery.

Last night I saw that the Maestro, the vegus nerve "pacemaker", was approved a couple days ago. Too early to tell what insurances might cover it. I'm on SSDI due to all my co-morbidities and Medicare is funny. They cover WLS, and at my BMI, they don't really have any conditions for approval,. (The doctor I'd use DOES want 3 months weight loss attempt, pre-op education, and a bunch of tests to make sure I'm a reasonable risk for the surgery.) And Medicare just started covering Obesity Counseling. But medications, weight-loss shakes, etc. are all NOT covered. No idea if the Maestro will be covered as a type of WLS or excluded for being a lessor procedure.

I'm concerned about the expected complications that go hand-in-hand with a RNY like malabsorption of Calcium, B-vitamins, difficulties getting enough Protein and Water, etc.And my local friends hype those potential problems. Being on Disability has me on a very tight budget and most of my food comes from food banks and food stamps so I'm not sure how I'll afford at the supplements I'll need post-op.

Anyway, I have a feeling I'm talking into empty space, and maybe that's why I feel comfortable saying all this here. I'll shut up now and let the dust resettle.

[ab123. 90]

I'm not sure where you are at but I'm new and the forums are very active. Sign up and then look at the different forums. People are on them right now.

[ab123. 90]

I am pre-op too I am going for my first consult next Wednesday 1/28/2015 so I can't really advise you. Can empathize though. I am also on SSD and medicare.

[green*eyed*girl 170]

Hahaha maybe this part of the forum is abandoned but the rest is buzzing especially with new-commers like yourself!

Look around in the pre-op section and you will find loads of like-minded people whos are going through the same emotions like yourself!

Meanwhile I wish you the best, and I hope you will be able to make up your mind. Well, you are on a bypass forum so obviously we will all encourage you but still, you have to make your decision. However I would like to add that if you had the bypass and after the first months of significant weight-loss you would probably be able to supplement your income with some kind of light duty work and be able to afford whatever you need. And I am sure you will find lots of helping hands here to get you through the first few months!

[Shadowcub 28]

Thanks. Both of you,.

Somehow I think that a RNY will only be the start of my surgical journey. I have no illusion of getting down to 180# (the high end of "normal") but cutting my weight in half (a loss of 240#) would be nice. Of course, losing that much weight will probably cause the sort of skin problems that would qualify me for a second procedure to remove excess skin. And depending on how much my knees & back improve with weight loss, I may end up with knee replacements/spinal fusion surgeries as well.

But I have to start somewhere. And, for once, I need to follow through and see this to the end!

The reason I was so disappointed in there not being any recent posts was that I was hoping for somebody "like myself" to talk to. I did Weight Watchers decades ago and got discouraged seeing people who joined after me, losing total what I was losing in a week, and hitting their goal, while I still had so far to go. I was the only guy. I was the only person with over 100# to lose. And I just couldn't relate. Not to mention the resentful looks I got if the leader mentioned I had lost 7-10 pounds that week.

So, uhm, yeah.

[Salonboi 353]

Thanks. Both of you,.

Somehow I think that a RNY will only be the start of my surgical journey. I have no illusion of getting down to 180# (the high end of "normal") but cutting my weight in half (a loss of 240#) would be nice. Of course, losing that much weight will probably cause the sort of skin problems that would qualify me for a second procedure to remove excess skin. And depending on how much my knees & back improve with weight loss, I may end up with knee replacements/spinal fusion surgeries as well.

But I have to start somewhere. And, for once, I need to follow through and see this to the end!

The reason I was so disappointed in there not being any recent posts was that I was hoping for somebody "like myself" to talk to. I did Weight Watchers decades ago and got discouraged seeing people who joined after me, losing total what I was losing in a week, and hitting their goal, while I still had so far to go. I was the only guy. I was the only person with over 100# to lose. And I just couldn't relate. Not to mention the resentful looks I got if the leader mentioned I had lost 7-10 pounds that week.

So, uhm, yeah.

I'm a newbie myself, so yeah, Hi ???? good luck on your journey, and I'm hoping for the same. I've got 165lbs I need to lose, so I feel ya.. I've tried all the diets and fads but nothing has stuck...

[ab123. 90]

Thanks. Both of you,.

Somehow I think that a RNY will only be the start of my surgical journey. I have no illusion of getting down to 180# (the high end of "normal") but cutting my weight in half (a loss of 240#) would be nice. Of course, losing that much weight will probably cause the sort of skin problems that would qualify me for a second procedure to remove excess skin. And depending on how much my knees & back improve with weight loss, I may end up with knee replacements/spinal fusion surgeries as well.

But I have to start somewhere. And, for once, I need to follow through and see this to the end!

The reason I was so disappointed in there not being any recent posts was that I was hoping for somebody "like myself" to talk to. I did Weight Watchers decades ago and got discouraged seeing people who joined after me, losing total what I was losing in a week, and hitting their goal, while I still had so far to go. I was the only guy. I was the only person with over 100# to lose. And I just couldn't relate. Not to mention the resentful looks I got if the leader mentioned I had lost 7-10 pounds that week.

So, uhm, yeah.

Did you find a forum that you could relate too? Please don't stop here! If the online site seems too hard to navigate there is an app for both Apple and Android that is much easier. There are people with every type of experience I have found. Even if you go to the Gastric Sleeve forum you will find people who have found the bypass. Good luck.

[Shadowcub 28]

Only been here a couple of days, so I'm still in the "looking around/exploring" phaze. Not too worried about finding a full support network yet.

Bypass in 40's describes me perfectly, is why I hoped to revive this group. And while there isn't a local "in-person" Bariatric Pal chapter, I've started talking to a few people on the general USA group from Pittsburgh, PA.

I've applied to the LGBT social group, but that's still pending. (Only been about a day.)

Anyway, I appreciate the responses. I'm looking forward to actually seeing this through this time!

[skc72 138]

Exploring and found the 40 something group!! I am in the pre-op phase and hopefully will have a surgery date next week. I am looking forward to following everyone's story. (non-stalker like)

[nybaby 6]

Hi there, there is also a website called "Thinner Times" that I also go on. It is similar to this one, maybe there you can find people going through similar situations as you. Please do not feel discouraged, have faith that everything will work in your favor, because you deserve to be happy, and healthy.

[Shadowcub 28]

I was half-tempted to wait until March 28 to post this as the last two replies were from January 28 and February 28. But then I decided that would just be silly!

I can't help but wonder while this particular forum seems to get so little love. Do people over 40 just not get WLS as often as younger folks do? Have we (this age bracket) given up on losing weight and are just biding our time with pizza and bonbons until our co-morbidities take us to the next world?

Or maybe the 40+ crowd still gets WLS, just not Bypasses? Do we go for Sleeves or even Lap Bands instead, fearful of the malabsorption leading to malnutrition and it's own medical problems and treatments replacing those we already know from being obese?

Possibly we're just "too old" for all this on-line and social media stuff? After all, we were born into a world of room-sized computers using punch cards with less processing power that is now in our cell phones. We remember nodding sagely at Bill Gates as he made his "never need more than 640k of RAM" comment. A world first, before AOL and then one where we all had dozens of their CDs to use as coaster. We remember the 1984 commercial introducing the world to the Macintosh from whence all iStuff was born. Many of us remember DARPAnet and the horror we felt when we first found somebody trying to make money on the Internet, after all, it was for sharing knowledge and advancing research freely, not crass commercialism! And so, we turn to in-person supports as we face the challenges of WLS, unlike those follow us knowing nothing BUT on-line everything.

But this sub-board is NOT dead. This thread is NOT dead. Our joint Quest to live healthier, happier, thinner lives is NOT dead!

(With sincere apologies to William Shakespeare and Henry V of England)

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that loses his weight with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
Of the weight we lost upon Saint Crispin's day.

[skc72 138]

Really interesting read....had some major flashbacks :-)

I am headed in this morning for the required EGD. Wishing you all well, have a great week!

[rockinlori 1]

I'm 3 1/2 weeks post op. Here in Central Illinois, I'm looking for any support groups that want to stay active. At times I want to just cry because I don't know if what I'm feeling is normal or not.

[ryn2bthin 87]

I am 13 months post-op and always seeking support from others.

I didn't get the surgery my first time around but after i got past all of the possible complications of having the bypass i knew i had to go for it. That was two years later from my first attempt and I am so glad I did it.

My starting weight was 243

Surgery wt 226, and todays wt 133. I still have 10 lbs to go for my goal weight and it is very easy to eat more and most foods no longer cause me to dump or vomit. I believe getting the fluids in will be a struggle for the rest of my life.

I had serious worries early on that the surgery didn't work on me ( very slow weight loss) then it would kick in and my weight was dropping.

There were and still are weight stalls that are very frustrating but i try not to focus too much on it. ( I think in the early months that is nearly impossible not to focus on it) Now i am just trying to keep the eating within the guidelines and most days i succeed and a few that I don't.

Everyone is different in the process other than we all need a place to get support.

Thanks for getting this forum active again.

Best wishes everyone!

Deanna

[OregonTeacher 63]

Hello! I am appreciative of finding a board for people in their 40s. It seems that many WLS people are much younger than I am. They are fine people, but I am always curious how people around my age are handling the trip to surgery and after surgery. I have my surgery date, April 21st, and the expectation of getting out of the hospital on the 23rd, which is my birthday. Today I learned that I have lost enough weight that I don't have to do a full two weeks pre-op liquid diet, but instead I only have to do 8 days. That was a very nice surprise!!!

I teach third and fourth grade am still trying to figure out how I am going to make the liquid diet work while I am at school...not to mention how I am going to handle eating at school when I go back to work. I am off for three weeks, but then will have five weeks left of school when I return. Only a few people at school know what kind of surgery I am having. I can just eat in my classroom, but eating at odd times may be a real challenge.

Anyway, nice to find this board and people of a similar age! Good luck to everyone on your journeys!