azsenior

If you are considering WLS, please don't let age deter you! More and more we senior citizens are doing it. Medicare is currently investigating the possibility of approving the VSG. I predict that they will approve it in March and when they do, the floodgates will open! I am five days post-op and feel good. Not a lot of stamina, but I just had major surgery. No complications. Off the metformin and byetta and one BP med. I imagine that I will have days when I question why I did this, but so far, so good. .

Got my PCP clearance yesterday. All tests were completed and insurance approval obtained so now just waiting on a date. I know that Banner Bariatrics had about 30 people ahead of me that they were scheduling for September so I may get pushed into October. They had told me they have a challenge in getting OR time for their surgery-ready cohort of patients. Really ready to get to the pre-op diet!

I had gastric sleeve on October 18, 2011. My highest weight had been 295, but had settled in at about 270. Lost some in my pre-op program just because I knew I was going to be weighed and monitored every month. Anyway at surgery, I weighed 236. Hearing about all the phenomenal losses after surgery, I had planned to hit 199 by Christmas, New Years, at the latest. I was not remembering that I had already dropped an initial 30 plus pounds. Anyway, I was very compliant, but was not even close to my 199 by the holidays! I didn't set a new time for reaching Onederland, but just kept plugging. Since December, I did start a great exercise program of five days a week at the YMCA and voila, this morning I hit 199.2. It is just such a psychological victory for me. In actuality, it is only my half-way mark to my ultimate goal, but it feels much bigger than that. It is clearly a marathon, not a sprint, but I am so grateful to be on this journey.

I have the same frustration. Was looking forward to keeping all my records in one place with myfitnesspal.com. It is great for the food, weight and cardio, but I am finding that it is very limited in the strength training area. I do a triceps pull-down and the low-row which are not in their database. I have resorted to keeping a little notebook with me. Was trying to avoid having to do that!.

I had the sleeve on 10/18 and have lost 56 pounds total. I need to lose another 80. Recently joined the local YMCA where I am doing Water aerobics five times a week. Started doing the circuit weights also, but am wondering how that compares to the other weight machines and/or free weights. I am only at the level of "punching in the 3 or 4" on the circuit station. How do I record the amount of weight for this? Is the circuit the best use of my time for resistance training?

Wow, this has been so helpful to read. I have lost 52 pounds and went to a function recently where I saw people I had not seen for a long time and two of them said, "Have you had the surgery yet?" I was initially crushed until I had a good long talk with myself. Guess I did a version of slapping myself and saying "Snap out of it!" I know what the scale says. I know that I just cleaned out my closet and have gone from 24, 26 and 28 to 1x and 18. I know that I can bend over and tie my shoes. I know that my WL surgeon tells me that I have lost 35% of my excess weight. I know that I am off all diabetes meds and one BP med, etc. etc., etc. I love what all the responders have said here. I needed to hear it also so I am very grateful for you putting up this post. It is so curious that the reactions can be so different. I know that there have been times when I did not say something when I thought folks had lost weight. Sometimes it feels like a personal, off-bounds kind of observation. Inherent in it is a comment that they were less than optimum before, which is not what I really think, but will they think that? I recently started a Water aerobics class and I am always a few steps behind everybody else and looking at my neighbor. The instructor, who herself was once 230 pounds, reminds us all that this is our time and just concentrate on our own workout. I am trying to care less about the approval of others, but it is hard when we have done so much work and it appears that some folks have no clue.

Thank you so much for sharing that blog. Cannot wait to get the next stage so I can try some of those things.

Hey RR, Glad my words were encouraging. I have not weighed myself yet and am deliberating as to when. Considering doing it on my surgi-versary on Tuesday. I still feel somewhat bloated from the gas and I am afraid the number will set me off. I have not had one bit of reflux since the surgery. I have had reflux for years, even when I was average size. I have taken nexium for years and it keeps it controlled. So, I am continuing with that. I do have a small hiatal hernia but my surgeon felt it was too small to mess with. So far, so good. I agree---"meant to be" Keep us posted! [

I crave vegetables. The day of surgery I was craving asparagus and brussel sprouts, things I might have once or twice a year! When I was in the grocery store yesterday, the tomatoes looked soooo good. I am not a vegetarian and find this unusual. I think what I am craving is variety and stronger tastes. Less than a week out and still on full liquids.

Sleeved on Tuesday. My bra and waistband feel tight and uncomfortable from the bloating. Hope it goes down soon. Having a lot of gas so I am hopeful. I am not having a problem with the Protein. Usually have 2 cups of the unjury chicken Soup and that gives me 40 right there. Then all I need is two shakes for 20 grams each and I am at my 80. I make my shakes with a cup of skim milk so they are not so much to drink. Also, the skim milk has 9 grams in each cup. I have not tried it yet, but I have some unflavored Protein powder that I can put on yogurt or sugar free pudding. I have not heard about a shot. Sounds like you are doing great!

Yukon, I think we are at about the same stage. I, too, love the unjury chicken broth. I think I could easily drink four of those and get my Protein in each day. This morning I had a scoop of chocolate with skim milk and it went down so easily that followed it with a scoop of strawberry with a cup of skim milk. It went down ok, but then I had the runs so can't do that again. Working on a 24 oz container of Water and crystal light. Am going to try some yogurt with unflavored protein for lunch. I do the chewable Vitamins and they are not so bad. I do have some crushable meds in sugar free pudding each morning. So far, so good with that. We will just get better with each day!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I was sleeved on Tuesday and this is my first full day at home. I feel a lot worse than I did yesterday in the hospital. I am trying to get the liquids down, but a few seconds after I swallow I get a knot of pain in my stomach. Did take a walk around the block and felt better, but I am so tired. Expected to sleep so well in my own bed, but I tossed and turned the night away. Your post gives me hope that it gets better each day. Just have to stay patient.

My surgery is scheduled for noon tomorrow, Tuesday, Arizona time. I am ready to get this show on the road. Tired of the two week fast. My hospital, Banner Gateway, in Mesa, AZ has internet so I will take my little netbook and give you all an update when possible. Good luck to everybody!

Surgery in three days and you better believe I have anxiety and apprehension! I am starting to think, "Whoa, do I really want to to do thing?" I come down on the side of YES!!!!! I have already lost 42 pounds and I feel so gooood. Can only imagine what it will be like to hit the 100 pound loss that I want. I have had three other major surgeries, but they were not elective so while I had anxiety and apprehension, I knew I had to do it . Think that is what makes this so different, but I believe that is why it is so important. We are making a conscious decision to do something for US. Many of us are "caretaker" personalities who have focused too much on others and it feels awkward to focus on ourselves!

I am now into my second week of the pre-op trying to shrink that liver before my 10/18 surgery! I don't mind the fast so much except I do have moments when I feel very weak. I think the shakes will be so much better with skim milk! My treat is V-8. We are allowed 12 oz/day, but a couple of days when I felt especially I weak have had double that. That is my only "cheat". Trying to get things lined up for when I am in the hospital. Got some meals ready for my son (senior in HS) and tomorrow I am getting a pedicure. Also getting a perm today. Don't want to be worrying about my hair in the first couple of post-op weeks. Also, given how damaging surgery can be to hair, I figured it would be better to do this pre-op! I think I am ready. A little scared, a little worried. Binging has been a ritual. How much will I miss it? I have already lost about 30 pounds since February so I am trying to think about how great losing 100 more will feel. This is a big investment in MYSELF and I am ready to make it!

I am in the second week of pre-op and discovered Muscle Milk at CVS when I could not get home for a shake. At 20 g of Protein and 100 calories, I was able to have 2 for a meal. I liked the chocolate best. quote name='PenguinLover' timestamp='1315960190' post='207446'] Yea I love the banana flavored one and I like the vanilla one too <3 Yum! I'm glad you found one you like! Im on day 8 of my 14 day pre op diet and I've been stomaching the Premier Protein from costco, i like it warm rather then cold lol

Greetings all. I am a 65 year old woman living in Mesa, Arizona who is in the second month of a three month preoperative period. Medicare will not cover the sleeve and because I have a short torso creating a "belt line" I am not a candidate for lap RNY. Age and scar tissue make an open RNY out of the question. Guess I am saying that I come to the Realize Lap Band by default, not by choice since I need to lose around 100 pounds. I am looking forward to learning from all of you!

I have Aetna Medicare Advantage and have been approved for the sleeve on 10/18. My understanding is that Medicare denied it, but Aetna approved it.

I can't wait to fly and not use the extender, get in a boat without thinking I will tip it over, and cross my legs!

On top of it all, I would have peed my pants!

Hi Hopeful, Just got a date today of October 18. I will be having my surgery at Banner Gateway Hospital in Mesa, Arizona with Dr. Al Chen. I am on a search for the best Protein powder for me. Not sure what my goal weight should be yet. Does your surgeon require a 2 week pre-op liquid diet? Do you know the size of the bougie? Do you have a good support system? We have great monthly classes in nutrition, exercise and psychological and I am grateful for supportive family and friends. Look forward to heading on over to the loser's bench with you! Judy

Love hearing your upbeat personal story! I hope to replicate it in every way. Stay tuned.

So glad to hear from you, Hopeful Spirit. My angiogram showed absolutely no blockages or even plaque build-up so I am good to go. The Cath Lab nurse told me that the stress tests are false positive 80% of the time! I am having my surgery through Banner Bariatric Center in Mesa, Arizona. Their chief surgeon will not even look at someone over 65, so my surgeon will be Al Chen, a younger, but experienced surgeon. They have wonderful nutritional, psychological and exercise support services. I suspect that I will be an October sleeve as well. Let's stay in touch! Judy