NancyLeeIL

Hi! Well, I am SO glad to find that the forum had a group by age....not that we all can't relate to weight issues no matter what age...but...sometimes things are age specific...so it's good to know you are all out there! OK, well I am just starting on this journey. Kinda. My doc mentioned WLS to me two years ago and I dismissed it but continued to do research on it. Now I'm ready. This is my question...one I'm thinking that some of you "pondered" also...prior to your decision. I went last night to the initial "informational" meeting the hospital I'll be having it done has...and they present essentially three types of weight loss surgery options. The Band, Gastric Bypass, and Sleeve...and the pros and cons. And it appeared via the statistics (and what I've read elsewhere) that the risk correlates with weight lost. Meaning the lap band has the least risk...but the weight loss isn't as complete (statistic wise). That "on average" most people (all age groups) lost 50 % of their weight with the band (and maintained it) versus a much higher percentage with the bypass (of weight loss and maintained). What are your thoughts on this? My question revolves more around a being in your "fifties" issue than the procedures themselves. My BMI is somewhere between 49 and 50....which health wise is pretty deadly. So far I take meds for hypertension and am "prediabetic". Is weight loss in your 50's slower? I've read people on here who've lost a lot of weight relatively quickly (i.e. within a year) and other's who are really struggling with weight loss due to age? At our "age" is it better to drop the weight more quickly (i.e. via bypass) to do all you can to give yourself the best chance at health...and not be too paranoid about complications? (i.e. bypass versus lap). I know it's a personal decision what risks each person is willing to take, I really just wanted to hear how you guys came to the decisions you made for our age. Thanks for reading and for any answers. Peace, Nancy

I'm just at the stage of exploring this surgery. I'm going to a meeting tonight for a local doc who does the surgery and they want you to bring your insurance card. This is my question. Has anyone LOST their insurance because an approval for the lapband was submitted? I would "assume" that if they (the insurance co) is asked for approval they now know your BMI is high, etc. Is it like car insurance, where an insurance company can choose to drop you after an accident? Hubby and I own a small business and there are just three of us on the policy. It was hard to GET insurance in the first place that we could afford...and I did lie about how much I weighed because I discovered if I told the truth no one would insure me. I was told my weight (5'2" - 275#) but me in the same category as a cancer or AIDS patient and I was repeatedly denied (I'm 53 yrs old by the way). Just wondering if it is an issue with insurances...since they seem so focused on dropping people that "cost" them $ etc. My only co-morbidity (at this point) is hypertension controlled with meds. Thanks for any info or experience. Nancy