One month out from bypass -- amazing results!

[VDB 800]

Date of surgery was April 21. Now, one month out, here are the results thus far -- After 40+ years of dieting and failures on my health, I am absolutely shocked that gastric bypass has produced such results in one month.

Results:

1. Down 45 pounds

2. Gone from a 54 inch waist to a 48 inch waist

3. Went into surgery on 5 diabetes meds, now on a very small dose of one med.

4. Went into surgery after a decade of swollen legs and feet, from edema. Now, edema is 80% better and getting much better every day.

5. Went into surgery with a real hassle -- urge incontinence. This means that it got almost impossible to keep from urinating when the sudden urge occurs. I was close to Depends. Now, have just gotten through a week with no urge incontinence.

6. Went into surgery with painful diabetic neuropathy in my feet. Doctor said this probably would not change much. However, the pain is 75% gone. I went the last two days with almost no pain. I had a real problem with using too much ibuprofen or aleve just to be able to garden and swim. Now, have not had any NSAIDS or even Tylenol for a month, and never will again.

7. Went into surgery on blood pressure meds that I have had to take for 40+ years. Out of surgery on no BP meds, and BP better every day, no need for meds.

Needless to say, I am thrilled with these results and am very grateful to have been able to have this surgery. It has made the year and a half of getting qualified worth it, and the fairly intense recovery weeks were rough but now each day my normal coloring is coming back and beginning to feel great.

Edited May 22, 2015 by John VDB

[Djmohr 6,965]

See! This Is what it is all about!!!

Congratulations! You are well on your way to better health. Thanks so much for sharing your update. It is very inspiring!

Keep up the good hard work. It is so worth it!

[James Marusek 5,244]

Congratulations. It is wondrous how many medical conditions go into remission after WLS and how quick this all happens.

[hellohealthy 32]

Congrats!!

[K.M 0]

Congrats !! Happy to read your story

[vanessa012287 46]

Congrats...

[Bdevine 0]

Glad to hear your story. My surgery is coming up in June, getting nervous but calm and ready to go. Congratulations

[RNYGal 47]

Wow, congratulations! That's amazing! I'm only 4 days post op and this is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing!

[desdeemona52 5]

Congratulations! Your success is such an encouragement to me I wish you continued good health.

[laurenjane 35]

Congratulations!! Your story is so incredibly inspiring. Keep us posted!

[Salonboi 353]

You are knocking it out of the park ⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️

Congratulations on all of your success, and I look forward to more of your updates ????????????????

[pinkie1 36]

John I have said it to you before and I don't mind saying it again.. "YOU ARE AMAZING "

Well done and congratulations.

[VDB 800]

Thanks everyone, it just keeps getting better. Edema now 95% gone after 7 weeks, urge incontinence all gone, weight loss has slowed but still losing every week, getting "the lay of the pouch" down, getting the right amount of food in is now habit.

[Madeleine Renee 77]

John,

I am having my by-pass on August 18. I was supposed to leave on holiday on September 3rd, driving 5 days of 5hrs a day to get there. My husband drives. Am I crazy to still think I could do this? Or I should really post-pone and if so by how long do you think? How did you feel at the 2.5 3 weeks mark?

I would appreciate if you could answer me. Thank you.

[VDB 800]

Madeline, Several things I don't know, such as your age and relative health prior to surgery. I am 64 and had lots of problems, such as diabetes getting worse, etc. I was 180 # overweight, and have read that recovery is tied to initial weight, age, and pre-surgical health. For me, there would have been no way to go on a trip such as you describe at 3 weeks post surgery. I was still sore inside (treated with Tylenol), I was still needing lots of extra sleep, and had just started mushy phase. My digestion was still problematic, frequent bathroom breaks required.

However, people are very different, age, health etc. My gut level, though is that it is not realistic to have such a long trip, given what major re-routing of "innards" has occurred. My healing, at 10 weeks post is much better than even two weeks ago. I was able to gently start my aerobic swimming at 6 weeks, but it did make me sore, but now am at 75% workout and maintaining well.

Good luck. Thanks, john