Am I too old?

[Bklynike 0]

I was just banded this past Monday on my 56th birthday. I call it my rebirthday. You are never too old to get healthier and feel better. Go for it, it will be the best gift you can give yourself. Good luck.

[maries 0]

getting banded tomorrow and turned 55 in april. lost 19 lbs pre-op and changed eating habits dramatically -- already feel 10 years younger. age is just a number!!! good luck and good health to you.

[LinKo 0]

You are all so encouraging and upbeat. Thank you all so much!! I haven't even lost weight yet and you're making me feel young!

[LinKo 0]

You are all so encouraging and upbeat. Thank you all so much!! I haven't even lost weight yet and you're making me feel young!

[Froggie D 1]

That's great Froggie D! And Happy Birthday!!!

One quick question...where do I start? Do you know of a thread that will walk me through the steps to get this done?

My first step was to call my insurance and find out what was required and then talk to my primary doctor. My insurance walked me through getting a surgeon who met my insurance requirements. I went to a seminar and followed what they required. They called my insurance and they worked together.

Along the way, I was on this site every night reading and posting questions. There was no one thread that told me everything. I asked for a mentor and have had two really kind and helpful people who private messaged and emailed me. I learned so much here. People have been very supportive for the most part. I went back and read old posts on many things. By the time I actually saw my surgeon and the dietician, I had a pretty good idea of where I was headed and what to expect.

I was required to do a psychological consult with testing, a dietary consult, a pulmonary consult as I have asthma, and a cardiology consult as I have high blood pressure. Some people have to have an upper GI or scope, a sleep study (I am already on a C-pap machine) and various other studies. I had what was required by my insurance (giving proof of a structured diet plan with failure to lose weight) but some have to do a 6 months supervised diet with their primary doc.

Be prepared to jump through a lot of hoops and be patient. Every insurance plan is different. It is long and stressful getting approved, but it can be done and it is so worth it.

Good luck with your journey. If you would like to ask more questions or I can help in any way, feel free to Private Message me. I would be happy to share.

We are all in this together!

[Astrasmom 1]

Hi everyone,

I've been looking into this surgery for quite awhile. I was going to check into it previously, but thought I'd try losing on my own again. After trying (again) many of the same diets, I've come to the conclusion I need this tool to help me do it. I recently turned 57 and am wondering what the maximum age is that they will do lap-band® surgery. If I have to go through the whole process of getting insurance to agree to it, the 6-month pre op program, etc., I'll be close to 58 when I have the surgery. Can it still be done?

Also, I've had gallbladder surgery and have a 10" scar as well as a drain scar. Has anyone heard of this being an issue for laparoscopic surgery? I'm wondering about scar tissue.

I'm just so sick of myself, I don't even like to leave the house anymore. I'm embarrassed and humiliated.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you.

Linda

There was a lady in my seminar that was 85 years young and getting the Lapband surgery done.

[ardelia 41]

I went to an information session and the one man there was very interested in having the surgery. The doc told him he was too old at 70. The doctor did say that this was his own guideline and that other doctors might be willing to operate on him.

[LinKo 0]

Thank you all for the great information.

Just called my insurance company to find out that there's a "bariatric exclusion" on my policy! Guess that rules out insurance paying for it.

Now, on to checking into self-pay.

[Will_B_Healthy 0]

Tough luck on the insurance. Greedy bastards those insurance companies!

I got the same setback when my insurance through work gave me the thumbs down due to the same "bariatric exclusion"; when I called to get an explanation I finished my conversation with, "Thanks for the death sentence." And I was sincere.

I was truly bummed out for some time after that. No way could I burden my family with another debt ($12K) even if it meant saving my life. What a fool I was.

I won't bore you with the details but within six months everything changed to the good. Double insurance and both covered the surgery. Another hiccup or two but I got through the minefield and you can too.

Don't give up easily. It is a really simple calculation. Figure the banding will extend the length and value of your life, allowing you to pay off the debt plus enjoy living again. It is an investment in you. Go for it.

[HAL380 0]

67 Here and being banded this thursday. Good luck to you.

Hal

[btrieger 21]

Tough luck on the insurance. Greedy bastards those insurance companies!

It's not the insurance company exactly. Your employer chooses what the plan will include and exclude.

[AllegrasGramma 0]

Lots of self-pay folks fly to Colorado and have Dr. Kirshenbaum do their surgery and fills. His cost, all inclusive is just under 10k. His fills are free for the first three months and then $30 each.

Good luck!

[Will_B_Healthy 0]

Somehow I knew someone would rush in to prop up the bastards! No surprise!

[tinksmom 0]

If it is an employer exclusion you might get facts on how obesity costs the company money and production through sick days, disability, treatments for other conditions it causes etc...and ask that they reconsider their exclusion. Company plans change all the time and a new year could bring different conditions. You might also look for an alternative plan if your company has options, or even consider a different job entirely based on benefits. Or use an oblique approach...have them check for a hiatal hernia...they'll pay for that surgery and it is possible that you can select a lap-band surgeon to do it and pay for the extra surgery yourself.

[Will_B_Healthy 0]

Way to go TinksMom. There are some super Gorilla tactics in your response.