“You have weight-related medical issues including pre-diabetes, asthma, worsening high blood pressure and an underactive thyroid,” Barbara Mancini’s doctor told her in 2018.
And Barbara fought the good fight trying to lose the extra weight—she subscribed to all of the nationally-recognized diet plans, including Weight Watchers.
“Some of the weight came off in the beginning and then it eventually tapered off until I started gaining again,” Barbara recalls.
“I didn’t eat much and I still didn’t lose weight.”
After a particularly bad asthma attack that sent her to the ER, Barbara decided things had to change. She was also tired all the time and felt depressed for no specific reason.
Making a life change at age 66
The tax processor had attended a bariatric weight loss surgery seminar hosted by Prime Surgicare years ago and pulled out the information after the attack.
“I knew these medical issues were only going to get worse as I got older, so I made an appointment to talk about my situation with Dr. Bennet Togbe,” Barbara recalls.
After she underwent pre-surgical testing, Barbara was medically-cleared to undergo weight loss surgery.
“Our over 55 population is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ascertain their fitness to undergo surgery and their risk to benefit analysis,” explains Dr. Togbe.
“We’ve seen very successful weight loss in older patients like Barbara who significantly improved her quality of life and overcame chronic medical conditions as a result.”
Dr. Bennet Togbe
She and Dr. Togbe decided the gastric sleeve operation would best suit Barbara’s current health and future weight loss goals.
A year ago, Barbara had the sleeve gastrectomy ( VSG ) and started a journey where she would lose 68 pounds, 25 percent of her weight, in one year.
“I now understand that I have to keep moving, especially because I sit at a desk all day,” Barbara says. “I walk during my lunch hour and do whatever I can to exercise daily.”
Weight loss offers a new lease on life
She says the significant weight loss allows her to do things in her new home that would have been too exhausting or dangerous before surgery, such as climbing ladders and moving heavy items.
“I have also been told that I no longer snore all the time,” Barbara, now age 67, says with a smile.
We asked the grandmother what advice she might offer other people who are 60+ and facing health issues related to obesity.
“That’s an easy one—do you want to see your grandchildren grow up?”
Are you ready to learn more about a bariatric weight loss solution?
Begin by visiting Where Do I Start? and attend Prime Surgicare’s next New Patient Seminar with supportive family and friends to learn more about weight loss surgery.
Call us at 732-982-2002 to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Togbe or Dr. Sowemimo.
During your visit, you can discuss the weight loss surgery operations, check your BMI and understand more clearly how significant weight loss can lessen or resolve many health issues.