Need Feedback - ThinnerTimes

xocats · 02-18-2005, 08:29 AM

My surgery date is March 23rd. I am aware that only I can decide if the benefits from this surgery outweigh the immediate & long term risks.

I keep thinking that maybe at my age (66) & my relatively low BMI (35) with high BP & type 2 diabetes that maybe I should cancel the surgery & just live out my life as best I can. I am fairly active & exercise but like you...I have tried everything & cannot lose this extra weight that might kill me.

My question is: If I were your Mother or Grandmother with those numbers...would you want her to have this surgery that might allivate the heath problems related to her obesity

I know that you can't make up my mind for me but some feedback about this might help.

Thanks for your support.

JohnsWife4Life · 02-18-2005, 09:33 AM

Xocats,

As a nurse I can tell you that if your surgeon didn't think you were a good candidate for the surgery, you would never have been considered. If you are with Dr. Callery or Dr. Potts, then I can tell you they don't sugar coat it. Dr. Callery had no problem telling me I was just not healthy enough for surgery at the time. He asked me straight out, would you take a plane that was spitting and sputtering across the ocean, I said no, he said "you are spitting and sputtering" My surgery was postponed. My mama is dead 23 years, not from obesity but a bad heart, but I can say if you were my mama, I would want to see you live a quality life, and since you are active, and have a surgery date, you are a good candidate. You are not that old. There is young, middle age, young old, old and old old, you are a young old. You are not OLD yet, and if this surgery can give you another chance at a better life, well, what do you think?

Hugs,

Traci

xocats · 02-18-2005, 11:25 AM

Dear Traci,
I am sorry that you lost your Mother when you were so young. That must have been a very difficult time for you.
Your thoughtful feedback means the world to me.

The Wittgrove Center is doing my surgery. They required a lot of testing before they agreed to do it. I think that I am a fairly good candidate for it.
My reality is that I am scared of the surgey and the life style that I will have to live after the surgery. But of course, I am scared of not having the surgery too and having a heart attack, stroke or more damage from my diabetes.

I love what you said about ages. Yes...I am "young old." I love to laugh at irony and I can laugh at myself when I think I am being cool & blow it.
Your wisdom had given me nourishing food for thought.
Thank you so much,
xocats...Meow!

Meaghan · 02-18-2005, 10:41 PM

xocats,

My mom is the same age and if she had high BP and Type 2 Diabetes and was approved for the surgery - I would be right behind her on it. The "older" I get the more I realize that "old" is not a number. I think it may be getting scary cause you're date is coming up - mine too and I'm getting nervous, but if I had only one year left on this planet - I'll still do it. Good luck.

CJ Skinner · 02-19-2005, 01:18 AM

when i asked my doctor (family) why he wanted me to have the surgury, he said it would add at least 10-20 years on to my life. if i didnt have the surgury, he said it would be less than 5 years and i would be dead. the health problems dont go away when you MOB. I am scared about the surgury and i havnt even gotten my appoinment yet, but i will go through it no matter what, like it was said, If i knew i had one year to live i would still go. Keep your chin up.The date will be here before you know it. CJ

lealphachienne · 02-19-2005, 06:29 PM

Surgeons do major hip surgery and open heart surgeries on people in their 70s and 80s! Many on people who aren't too healthy either. If it's a surgery to improve one's health and give a better quality of life, for however much longer that may be, well hell yeah! Of course, we're a little biased on this forum

bridgetgirl · 02-19-2005, 07:04 PM

In a heartbeat I would tell anybody related or not with your history to go for it! A lfe with diabetes and a life being heavy is not the way to spend the rest of your days. Do it without insulin, do it without running out of breath. Youhave been afforded a wonderful opprotunity, take advantage of it. You are in awesome hands with Dr Wittgrove, he did the first GBP surgery EVER! He was my second choice.... you cant go wrong sugar pea! Big hugs to you!

JohnsWife4Life · 02-20-2005, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xocats

Dear Traci,
I am sorry that you lost your Mother when you were so young. That must have been a very difficult time for you.
Your thoughtful feedback means the world to me.

The Wittgrove Center is doing my surgery. They required a lot of testing before they agreed to do it. I think that I am a fairly good candidate for it.
My reality is that I am scared of the surgey and the life style that I will have to live after the surgery. But of course, I am scared of not having the surgery too and having a heart attack, stroke or more damage from my diabetes.

I love what you said about ages. Yes...I am "young old." I love to laugh at irony and I can laugh at myself when I think I am being cool & blow it.
Your wisdom had given me nourishing food for thought.
Thank you so much,
xocats...Meow!

Dear Xocats,

The catagory of ages are straight out of the book. LOL, when I think I am old, I just remind myself, I am still middle age. However, before surgery I felt like I was old old, and now, I am not old, just older. (bon jovi)

Honestly your life style will change, but it will change for the better. You will eat more healthy foods, you will be more conscience of anything you put in your mouth. Within two weeks of my surgery I was off my blood pressure medicine, and while I was never diagnosed with type ll diabetes, in my pre op history that we had to review before surgery, Dr. Callery had documented that I was in the beginning stages of type ll diabetes. I also have COPD, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Lupus, and while the WLS didn't cure those, the weight loss has helped tremendously. Yes I still have chronic lung problems, but they don't put me in bed for weeks at a time. I can function and maintain life where as before, I just wanted to die, it took all my strength just to breathe.

Good luck in your journey, maybe I can get over to see you. What hospital will you be in? I work in Los Angeles, and have a home in Lancaster, but also have an apartment in San Diego. I am in SD at least twice a month, more if I can, my husband and son stay in SD in the apartment.

Take care you young thing!

Hugs,

Traci

xocats · 02-20-2005, 06:59 PM

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments. You are like bright lights in my world. You have illumiated the positive things about WLS that I want to focus on.
I now have a hunger for information about WLS & my new lifestyle rather than "Milkey Ways." As Martha would say..."That's a Good Thing."

JohnsWife4Life · 02-20-2005, 07:21 PM

I did alot of research and I found the GOOD, far outweighed the bad, whooooohoooooo! yipee!

Hugs,

Traci

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