kalaipahoa

I'd like to join. Never done this before but could use some incentive. I posted to the spread sheet. How do we report our weekly losses?

Hello Betty Jo, I had LapBand Surgery last June at the age of 60. Doctor told me sometimes it takes a little longer for older people to lose the weight, but you can do it. He said as long as I was healthy enough to have the surgery he has no age restrictions. I would say go for it. I still have a long way to go, but have lost 90 pounds and feel a lot better and having fun wearing clothes I have had hidden in the closet for years.

My new addiction is knitting. I can't say it's buying yarn is less expensive than food, but at least it doesn't end up on my hips! My house is beginning to look like a scarf factory ....

I was banded at the end of June at the age of 60. I chose to get the LapBand to help me live long enough to retire. High blood pressure, sleep apnea, arthritis, blood sugar creeping up all indicated to me that either I wasn't going to make it or if I did I would be miserable. Over the years I found that I was becoming less and less active because it just hurt too much to move around, plus I was becoming less social as I was so embarassed by the way I looked. I have a long way to go, but have lost 76 pounds so far and am beginning to get my life back. Gaining, losing, gaining, losing - with the LapBand I feel like once I get the weight off I will never go back to that embarrased hermit-like person again.:thumbup:

I was banded in June 2008 at the age of 60. I was told my weight loss would be slower than younger people due to my age and exercise level. I am now 5 months out and have lost 76 pounds. I am not able to exercise due to severe arthritis of the knees...walk with a cane...and have a desk job. I imagine the next 5 months won't be as productive in the weight loss arena, however, each pound in the right direction is a pound I don't have to carry around for the rest of my life. I think a lot of your success depends on your ability to follow the band rules.:wink2:

Wow, lots of honesty here! My reason were: 1. To be able to play the guitar again without my books getting in the way. Either had to shrink the boobs or grow longer arms..... 2. To be able to live the lifestyle I used to. Lots of sailing and messing about on boats until I found I couldn't get on and off boat anymore. 3. To not feel like I wanted to hide when I saw someone I knew who hadn't seen me in years...how many class reunions did I skip. 4. Bottom line...to stay alive.

Tyr Elations for the Glucosamine. It is a liquid suppliment that contains Glucosamine, Condroiton. I was taking Flex-a-min and switched to this after my surgery. It seems to be helping the arthritis in my knees. When I wasn't taking anything my knees got much worse very fast. I also use a pill crusher that I got at the pharmacy for the pills that have to be crushed. Much easier than wacking with a knife or spoon. Good luck!

Vegas I would wonder if the metal snap button you are talking about could be a stick on pad from some type of monitor. When I had my EKG done I found a round patch with a metal snap on it under my left breast when I got home. My port is just below the largest incision about an inch.

Noran, I have to take three blood pressure medications. The first thing I did was consult with my PCP who changed my perscriptions to pills that are not time release. I bought a pill crusher at the pharmacy and crush the pills and then take them with applesauce. They still taste yucky, but are tolerable. If the quinine pills are not time release, you might try this method. My hope is that soon I will not have to take the blood pressure medicine. I can tell you that having to deal with crushing the pills is a good incentive to continue with the weight loss to be able to be medication free.

Checked into the hospital at 5:30 AM on June 27. Went into surgery at about 8 AM. Back in recovery by 9 AM. Went home by 12:30 PM same day. I had no nausea, just a very sore stomach.:thumbup:

Hello Everyone. I was banded on June 27th in Olympia, WA. Everything went very smoothly. Checked into the hospital at 5:30 AM-Surgery around 8 AM and in the car and on the way home by 12:30 PM. Still very sore, especially in the port area, but trying to get up and walk around as much as possible. Have been sleeping in my recliner chair as I am afraid if I lay down I won't be able to get up by myself. The journey has begun!:thumbs_up: I can't thank the support groups enough as I have had no unexpected surprises. Kalaipahoa

Hello Everyone...I am being banded on June 27th in Olympia, Wa. I work in a school and wanted to wait until our summer break. Last day of school - June 25th - one day to wait and then off I go. Like everyone I am on a roller coaster ride of elation and fear. I am trying hard not to get too much into the "last meal" syndrome until I start my pre-op liquid diet. I will look forward to watching everyones progress and soon be experiencing the same thing instead of just reading about it.

Thanks for the inspiration Gayle. I am where you started and knowing someone has been this successful give me hope. Another Gayle

I have been lurking around this forum for several months and have never posted before. I am so glad to see other people in my age group talking about thier experiences. I am 60 and it seems that many of the people on this forum are much younger. If this option had been available when I was younger I probably would have taken this path and lived a much happier life. I have been overweight most of my life, but was fairly fit and able to do most things I wasnted to do. My weight was more of a self-esteem issue than it was a physical limitation. Now I find I have arthritis in my knees so bad I have to walk with a cane. I have sleep apnea, high blood pressure and am pre-diabetic. My husband is 70 and I feel like I am dragging him down because he has slowed his life style down to match mine. (which at the moment is at a snail pace) I don't want to go and do things like I used to because I just feel so old and tired. My insurance company refuses to even discuss WLS, so I am going to be self pay. I can't afford the surgery, so my parents (both in their 90's) have offered to pay for the surgery for me. Thier comment was that they probably won't live much longer and the money will be mine anyway and there is nothing they would rather spend their money on than seeing me be healthy. I have some large guilt issues in talking the money as I feel that at my age I should be able to pay my own way, but I know this is the only way I will be able to afford the surgery. I feel like I should be taking care of them instead of vice-versa. My surgeon has told me that due to my age the losing will probably be slower and that I probably won't be able to lose all of the weight but I can make my life better. I haven't told many people that I am considering the surgery because I just feel that at this stage of my life I should have been able to control my eating and health issues. I am also fearful that I will fail and look like an idiot. My surgery is scheduled for June 27th after school is out for the summer, so I will have a long stretch off work to give me a running start on success. I am just wondering what thought process you all went trhough to justify taking the risks at our age. I am thinking the risk of all the weight related complications are probably greater than the surgery risks. Thanks for letting me vent and I look forward to following this group and finding support from people who are in it for the health issues and not to fit into a barbie doll dress.:cursing: kalaipahoa@lyahoo.com