krosmon

I am 72 and about 150 lbs. overweight. I originally had a consultation scheduled for Dr. Aileen Takahashi but she couldn't see me until 9/26. Her clerk told me to call back and they would try to get me in earlier if there were any cancellations. I called 3 more times, and today, she said there were no more cancellations, but there is a new doctor coming on staff on 8/18, and they can get me in on 8/25 if I would like to talk to him and see if he can work on someone my age. So, I said okay. He is young and I haven't seen any testimonials about his work so am a bit nervous. Right now, he is at a hospital very close to my residence, but my referral is for a hospital about 20 miles away and that's where he will be working. So, we'll see how he is. If worse comes to worse, I may try a Mexican surgeon if he doesn't work out. But my insurance will pay for him whereas I have to pay for anything out of the area.

Steve, Congratulations!!! Now you are on the downward path. I have such a long time to wait. Still waiting for my first appointment with the surgeon. They were supposed to get back to me yesterday to see if they could move it up, but nothing, of course. It was my birthday so I could care less. But I want to get mine over with. Please keep us up to date with how you're doing. Mexico is an option that I may look into if this surgeon doesn't pan out. Take care.

Hi. I'll be 72 this week and am waiting for my first appointment with my surgeon. It is scheduled for 9/26 but they say they will move it up when there is a cancellation. I have about 150 lbs to lose so hope she can do it. I was turned down for the band about 2-1/2 years ago by another surgeon who also told me that if he was to do the RNY, it would be very, very risky, so I said no thanks. I heard he didn't want to operate on anyone who was over 65. I, too, am single with 2 sons and 4 grandkids, all teenagers. Just me and my pup. I hope to have this done in time to take a cruise or two next year. Any weight off would feel so good as it is so hard to move at this weight.

Congratulations on your new banding. I can hardly wait to join you. Starbucks has a new Protein drink. I tried it today - banana and chocolate made with whey - about 250 calories. Not cheap but it was pretty tasty. I think I could live on that for a few days before or after my banding. 21 grams of protein. They have another one - banana and mango which may be sweeter. About the same amount of calories and protein. Keep posting so we who haven't been lucky enough to get our bands yet can see how well you're doing.

Avery, I get upset when I run into people who think the only reason for the weight problem is a lack of willpower. I have had people tell me I should lose weight as my weight makes them nervous. I have had children turn to their moms and ask, is that lady going to have a baby? I was already in my 50's. When I lost the big weight and was starting to put it back on, one of my co-workers rushed into the restaurant where I was having lunch with friends to say, I heard you had lost lots of weight. Oh, you're fat again. And left. I had a boss who would be so attentive when I was losing that 80 lbs a few years ago, but once it started back up, wouldn't even speak to me again. Someone told me he thinks people who gain like I did are losers and he didn't deal with losers. Even my mother scoffed at my attempts to lose. So, I live alone and right now, have no friends - I've been in my home for 26 years and have probably had company a dozen times, and most of them were my younger son and family. I hate living like this, but until I have the surgery, all I can do is try to watch what I eat. I put myself back on low carb - no bread, sugar or starchy foods. And the weight just sits there. Until you walk in my shoes, you have no idea what this is like. So, I just keep on keeping. Good things will happen sooner or later. Take care. So glad you started this thread.

I know exactly where you're coming from. About 20 years ago, I was on the Diet Center program where you reported to one of their counselors every day - lost 110 lbs in 9 months, kept it off an hour and a half, and gained 130 lbs back the following 9 months. I can remember the frustration of not being able to control my appetite and everyone being so disappointed in the fact I was gaining it all back. About 10 years ago, I went on a low carb diet and lost 80 lbs but after a few months, that came back plus some. Then I had gallbladder surgery as all this losing and gaining messed up my body. I have tried to lose again many times, but my body goes into a state of panic. Now, I am waiting to talk to my surgeon about the lap band - I was turned down for this about 3 years ago by another surgeon due to my age and the scar tissue from the gallbladder surgery, but my current doctor seems to think this surgeon can do this for me. When you lose and gain large amounts like we have, your metabolism gets destroyed and makes it that much harder to lose. I have tried every diet I can think of but about 10 lbs is all I can manage on my own. I wish you all the success in the world with your surgery and know that you will be so much happier once it is done and you are on your way back to a normal weight.

Susanna, Congratulations on your successful banding. So far, I am the oldest on the boards - I will be 72 in about 2 weeks. About 3 years ago, the doctor I had then suggested I have this done, but the surgeon said he couldn't do the banding - only the open surgery - and it would be very risky, so I said, no thanks. In the meantime, he retired and I have a new doctor and insurance, and he has referred me to another surgeon. I am waiting for my first appointment to see he she will do the surgery. Good luck on your future journey.

I was turned down for this surgery a couple years ago by a surgeon who refused to do the lapband and said he could do the open gastric surgery, but it would be very risky. I said, no thanks, and left. I also heard he doesn't like to work on anyone over 65 years old and I was older than that. My new and current PP suggested recently suggested another surgeon and hospital. I contacted them and they sent me a questionnaire to fill out and scheduled my first appointment on 9/26, but will move it up if an opening occurs. I am almost 72 years young with 150 lbs to lose so hope it will happen this time. I was recently diagnosed as pre-diabetic and also have hypothyroid disease so losing will be slow. I love to travel and take cruises, but it is so hard when you can't walk very far - even getting to the dining room was a problem on one of my last cruises. And forget going places with the family - they don't like to be held back because I can't walk far so I don't get to go. I have some good years left and would love to be able to move and take full advantage of them. I don't want the open surgeries as I've had enough of them in my life, and the mortality rate and rate of problems afterwards is too great, let alone gaining the weight back because the stomach expands. I don't think so. Are there any seniors on line who have had this done? And if so, how are you doing?

Thank you for the quick responses. I greatly appreciate the encouragement. I am now doing my own low carb. I lost about 4 lbs. on Atkins but everything stopped. So, I started on South Beach, lost about 8 lbs., and it stopped again. So now, I just cut out all bread and starchy foods and pretty much stick to Protein, cheese and veggies, and I think I have dropped another lb or 2. But when the hunger hits, or I get tempted, it goes back on. Anne, I have a cruise coming up in February, which may get cancelled if they decide to do the operation about then, which I suspect will be about when it should happen - too bad as I cruised with most of this group last February and most of this group will be on this one. But the only time I got off the ship was in Mazatlan, walked about 6 bloicks with a friend and almost died until I got back on the ship. Not a fun way to go. Thank goodness he is patient with me - we cruised up the Pacific Coast about 18 months ago and he and I slowly walked through Butchart Gardens then - again, I could hardly wait to get back and lay down. I have more cruises booked, but if the weight doesn't come off, no way will I do them. Take care and hope to talk to y'all soon.

Thanks for your quick reply, Doddie. I looked at the over 70 thread, but it doesn't seem to have much activity. So thought I'd join your group. I have a doctor - my first appointment is 9/26 so I have a while to wait to see her. If she agrees to do the surgery, my HMO or Medicare should go for it, hopefully. I sent the questionnaire back last week as soon as I got it, but the scheduling clerk is on vacation this week, so I am to call on Monday to see if they can move my appointment up. All I can think of is how great it will be to be rid of even some of this weight. I enjoy travelling but it is so uncomfortable to fly, or walk - but I still go when I can.

Hi. I am a newbie to this forum. I will be 72 in two weeks and am hoping that the surgeon I was referred to will do my banding. I had been referred to another surgeon a couple years ago, but he wouldn't do the banding - just wanted to do an open surgery and I don't like the risks - he said it would be very risky but he would do it. I was also working at the time and knew I didn't want to take the time off to recouperate. Now, I am retired but still don't want the risk of an open surgery. So glad to find an active forum for people over 60 who have been banded. I know this is the best way for me to go. I have 150 lbs. to lose and have tried every diet I can think of - the weight came off but came back on with even more weight. Now it doesn't want to budge, no matter how hard I try. Hope to talk to others who are on this same road to success!!