Before I had weight loss surgery, I was taking medication for various health issues. My doctor had me on a statin drug to control high cholesterol, Metformin for high blood sugar, plus Atenolol and Ramipril to combat high blood pressure. The day after my surgery, my bariatric surgeon told me to stop taking the statin and Metformin. I did so, but continued to monitor my blood glucose level at home. The fasting number kept dropping.
Throughout the last year, I’ve had blood tests several times. We watched while the overall cholesterol number began to decrease. As my weight went down and my exercise increased, we saw the ratio of good to bad cholesterol weight heavily in favor of the good.
In mid-December, I saw my primary care physician. She evaluated everything and we decided we would try taking me off of the two meds for the high blood pressure. I was to check my pressure a couple of days a week at home and see her again in a month.
That visit happened today. In the office, my blood pressure numbers were so good that the nurse checked me twice just to be sure. I showed my doctor my log from the last five or so weeks. The numbers didn’t lie. She told me I could stay off the meds and that I didn’t have to see her again until December for my annual visit!
I am now off of all of my meds. Pharmaceutical freedom!
It’s amazing that the co-morbidities have resolved so beautifully when I’m still overweight. I’m not sure why this happens. I’ll have to ask my surgeon again when I see him on Friday for my one year “surgiversary”.
When all is said and done, the why doesn’t matter. It’s only important that it’s happened. I’m treating myself with diet and exercise and, clearly, it’s working!
Weighty Matters 
Thanks so much, Everyone!
Fabulous news, Mary. You’ve worked hard to get to this point, so kudos to you!
That is so terrific! If nothing else says that what you are doing is having a positive affect on your health, that does. And your lifespan is being increased as well! I’m so happy for you!
So awesome!!! My husband also had co-morbidities and was off all of his medicines as his weight dropped & his diet & exercise improved.
I know that better lifestyles, what you eat, how much you exercise, etc., will help combat the co-morbidities. But those co-morbidities often exacerbate obesity as much as obesity exacerbates them. I think often if you have the co-morbidities, it makes it harder to lose weight.
One of the things that can be a blessing with bariatric surgery is that it helps break that vicious reinforcing cycle. It helps you vastly reduce your calorie intake to a point where your body is forced to give up the pounds, and then if you make the commitment to eat healthfully and move with intent on top of that, the major kick start gains speed.
If there was no other benefit to the surgery for EITHER of us, just Himself no longer having high blood pressure, diabetes or high cholesterol and being able to go medication free was enough to justify the surgery. Because now I will have him in my life for so much longer, and with so much better quality of life.
I am so very, very happy for you!!!!
Wow! That’s fantastic. When all is said and done, a number is just a number. But how you feel and these medical indications are the real prize for all of your hard work.
Mary, That is the most wonderful news. Congratulations!