KS123

Anyone else out there just getting started in their mid 40s? I keep reading most people doing this are younger.

I am nearly done with insurance required diet and will attend surgeon seminar on Monday. I've done LOTS of research and have read books and I believe I am educated on risks and benefits of each option. I'm leaning toward sleeve mainly because no foreign object inside me and no hassle with fills. My husband and my mom are convinced band is best since it can be adjusted and mom is not convinced I won't stretch out and regain long term with sleeve. Has anyone else agonized over choice of surgery to get? No doubt I need one or the other. I'm not on the fence to do this but a little confused my best option. Do most surgeons eventually try to help each person custom fit this decision for them?

I heard this the other day and I love this as an ultimate goal: Eat when we have to and what we should; not when we want to and what tasted good! Wow what a concept huh?

Force him to attend a seminar for the surgery options? Make sure the seminar explains obesity as a disease that once obese your body's set point makes it nearly impossible to lose and SUSTAIN weight loss or ever get to a healthy weight. And how the surgery will reset your set point from day one down to a healthy weight in which the body can cope and be satisfied from the small portions. I am still doing my nutrition supervised diet and prob 5 more months before surgery. My husband said he supported me all along but since he never has had a weight issue (he has other issues trust me), he didn't get it either why I couldn't just eat one healthy meal a day and do some moderate exercising. I learned soooo much about this set point concept when I attended my seminar earlier this month and it finally clicked for me! I plan to make my hubby (even though he doesn't want to) go to that same seminar one of these next few months just for his education. Maybe consider doing that???

Oh my that's a tough situation. I would trust the medical experts and from what I've learned your weight loss can be very good with either sleeve or bypass. I personally am not sure which I'll choose but I have time to decide. I think this may be your worst phase and there's better health for you post op. It should fix your apnea at least ????. Good luck!

I'm in the same boat. I knew my insurance required the 6 months. I tried to get them to count my recent months doing Weight Watchers but since I didn't see my PCP each month it will not count. That really bummed me out. So I have my first appointment with the bariatric dietician/nutritionist this coming Monday. I'm probably looking at September for soonest possible surgery. I am weaning off diet soda now - have gone from about 5-6 every day to only about 1-3 a week right now. Drinking lots of water (never did that before) and experimenting w different protein drinks. I hope these 6 months go fast!!!

@@losing_the_band everything you say backs up what my research keeps telling me and is my fear. The thought of lifetime of new habits with the sleeve seems hard but doable and most of all healthy. A lifetime of dealing with regurgitation and pain from food sticking in pouch sounds unhealthy and worrying about long term complications down the road - who needs that! Since I first posted this I have been to my surgeons seminar and read a lot more. Definitely leaning toward sleeve now. HAVE RULED OUT LAP BAND FOR SURE BY NOW. Even curious about RNY when at first I didn't ever think I would go that extreme. But I can't argue with the long term statistics which are best and longest historical records of sustainability with bypass. So now my question should be sleeve or bypass? I love it that insurance and surgeons will let me choose. Just hope I choose the one I can succeed and live with the side effects for the next 40+ years while still on this Earth! Thanks to everyone providing this amazing blog conversation. I love the honesty with real people in the real world trying to help each other. I plan to lean on you all for years to come. ????????❤️

I plan on it ????????????????

I still do not know but my primary doctor is working with me and documenting his support during those 4 months. And I meet with his nutritionist this Friday to start my other 2 months. Praying it works out.

Hey did you find out yet if they'll count your time at weight watchers?

I am nearly done with insurance required diet and will attend surgeon seminar on Monday. I've done LOTS of research and have read books and I believe I am educated on risks and benefits of each option. I'm leaning toward sleeve mainly because no foreign object inside me and no hassle with fills. My husband and my mom are convinced band is best since it can be adjusted and mom is not convinced I won't stretch out and regain long term with sleeve. Has anyone else agonized over choice of surgery to get? No doubt I need one or the other. I'm not on the fence to do this but a little confused my best option. Do most surgeons eventually try to help each person custom fit this decision for them?

I'm in a similar boat. I now have my PCP support and his recommendation. My insurance also requires 6 months dr supervised diet. They will also accept Weight Watchers if I have my stamps and doctor support to do WW. I had 4 months of WW April - Aug last year and we're trying to get it to count. Then he wants me to see his nutritionist for 2 months and focus on some of the new eating rules now. Meaning quitting diet soda, fast food, and sweets. Getting used to protein first now (and water) during this 2 month period. I think this is a good plan. Good luck and let's keep moving in our new right direction.

Not only do I like your feedback but I love your tag name @shrinkingmom. ????????????. And I respect your advice as a nurse. I saw my PCP this morning and he's on board with my plan which is my first step officially. He's not a bariatric specialist of course (which means he has no biases) and he told me he thinks sleeve is the new standard and he's seen several people find ways to cheat the band and later want to convert to another option. That was very confirming for me. I appreciate everyone's feedback! Now excited for surgeon seminar this coming Monday night!!!

@@NikkiDoc THANK YOU for that feedback.

@JaimieLogical of course everything is true and what my research says also and my reasons for leaning toward sleeve are similar to yours. Thanks for article on stretching of sleeve. I think my mom is afraid of the unknown and she has a few friends with LB (each with limited success I might add) so she leans that way. But I'm a grown up and will do what my gut tells me is best for me ( no pun intended lol)

Thank you for the inspiration. Just starting pre op process so I live for these stories!

My insurance has assigned me a case worker "advocate". I have my first phone interview tomorrow. I already know I meet all the requirements on paper except a recent 6 month Dr supervised diet. It makes me wonder if there are the "right" things to say in this meeting and any taboo things to say. I did have recent 4 months with WW before I gave up (again) - it sure would be great if I could use that plus a dr recommendation to count for the 6 month diet requirement. Advise anyone?

Wow I am really encouraged to hear it works for us at our age. I'm just getting the ball rolling with insurance approval. Can't wait to be healthy!

Hi everyone. I'm 45 years old, 5'8" and pushing my highest weight ever at 295. BMI 44. I was a thin and active child and teen. After college I started a sedentary job and had a baby a year after that. Gained 60 pounds while pregnant and that was 20 years ago! Over last 20 years I steadily and slowly have gone up on the scale. I have done many diets over years with only small early losses but weight always finds me again plus some. My father died at age 43 from a sudden heart attack. At that time I was only 23 and was still at a healthy weight but now that I am obese and older than he was it is a severe fear of mine. In fact I have always had anxiety anytime my heart rate goes up even from daily things like climbing stairs or vacuuming the house. This is probably one reason I don't exercise. Anyway my mom had a few friends that have had some success with Lap Band and she has begged me to consider it but I've kept thinking no way my insurance would ever pay for it. Well recently I called my insurance and they WILL cover it if I meet all their requirements. I do meet them all now except the recent 6 months doctor supervised diet. I did WW within last year but dang it I only lasted 4 months that time before I gave up! My insurance assigned me a case worker advocate and I have my first phone interview on Monday afternoon. I also have a physical scheduled for next Friday with my PCP because I am clueless of my cholesterol or blood sugar. And I will ask for his support and recommendation as well. I have done a lot of research online and read a couple eBooks and I'm actually leaning toward vertical sleeve now as opposed to Lap Band. It seems to have better long term results and fewer long term complications after getting past the initial surgery and leak test. Plus the foreign object inside me forever w LB kind of freaks me out. My husband supports me but has never had a weight issue so he doesn't get why it has to come to this for me. Nobody besides my hubby and mom know yet that I'm considering this. Not even my son yet. Anyway that's my story. Journey about to take off.

Anyone else out there just getting started in their mid 40s? I keep reading most people doing this are younger.