My five-year journey to gastric sleeve surgery is about to be over

[GAHUNTER 17]

My primary care MD told me five years ago that, in his opinion, I needed bariatric surgery. I was 6-1, and 325 pounds, and had just been diagnosed with Type II diabetes.. The trouble was, my insurance would not pay for the surgery, and being a home builder at the time (remember, this was during the Great Recession), I could not afford to self pay.

At that time, I started looking at alternatives: Mexico, India, medical studies (plication), et al. None of them worked for me for one reason or another, however there was one solution -- if I were willing to wait a little while -- Medicare! I was 60 when I stared looking, and in just a short five years would be eligible for Medicare, which covers bariatric surgery in my state.

Well, that time has passed rather quickly, and in just one month I will be 65! I attended the requisite "seminar" earlier this year, where I was pretty much told that vertical sleeve gastrectomy was most likely the most effective choice for me. I have already purchased a Medigap supplemental policy, and in just nine days have my first surgical consult with my Surgeon. I think we are shooting for surgery sometime around the end of January or the first of February -- AND I CAN'T WAIT!

The last five years has been costly to me in terms of my physical heath. My diabetes is well controlled, however my sleep apnea has progressed to a point where I get almost no sleep at night. I have developed osteoarthritis in my knees, and it has progressed to the point that I am close to being totally incapacitated, only being able to walk about 50 feet before my knees give out. I need two new knees, but my orthopedist claimed that, at my current weight, it would be a waste of time and money. My back hurts all the time; my neck hurts all the time; my feet hurt all the time; and I just plain feel like, well, you know!

BTW, I now weigh 355 pounds, which puts my BMI at 46-plus!

We tried other weight loss programs through my primary care doctor, (Medifast, three different medications) that all failed. In fact, one of them sent me to the hospital ER when my blood pressure crashed. I am convinced that the sleeve is my last/best solution!

I look forward to sharing each step of my journey on these pages, and, hopefully will soon have some positive results to share, however, I would be interested in hearing from folks in my age group who had the surgery later in life and what special challenges I am likely to face as a result of my age.

Here's Hoping!

[BeagleLover 1,020]

@@GAHUNTER, congratulations on sticking it out and being resolved to make this change!. I will also be 65 in around a month. I was sleeved near the end of last September. The only problem I had early on was that I forgot that I couldn't eat and drink at the same sitting and felt uncomfortable. Other than that, I followed the advice given and haven't had any other issues.

[NoMoBand 278]

Hope all goes well for you this time around. You will find that the wait will be worth it once it's done. I couldn't be happier with the sleeve. I had lapband 5 years ago and just got revised to sleeve. What a difference! Good luck to you. jake

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

sleeve is my last/best solution!

@@GAHUNTER

your patience/waiting 5 years for something you wanted and needed is very commendable

you knew there was a light at the end of "that" tunnel and you waited "patiently"??

good for you

there are age specific boards

one is for 60s

check it out

http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/411-age-specific-gastric-sleeve-surgery-support-groups/

you referred a couple of times that "we" etc

are you having the sleeve at the same time with your wife, SO, family member??

inquiring minds want to know

sorry for all your health issues - knees, sleep apnea, walking, diabetes etc

i have been there done that, most other people also were/now in same position

as you loose weight you will "probably" decrease some med dosages

or completely get rid of meds

many of your physical problems should also improve

read and absorb as much info as you can from these boards

there are good books to read

IE WLS for dummies

more helpful "for dummies too!!

check out books, and UTube - wealth of info out "there"

learn what to expect pre-op and post-op

ask your questions, work with the search button on top right hand corner

after you read/listen to other people's suggestion, experience, "words of wisdom"

at the end of the day ALWAYS listen to the words of your NUT

support is always wonderful to have

if you are having WLS the same time as someone else, that's great

you can support each other and help each other

this special b'day of 65 is a very appropriate way to start your new healthier, happier, longer life

good luck dude

speedy recovery

kathy

[GAHUNTER 17]

The "we" in this case refers to my medical professionals and myself. Even though my wife needs WLS, it is a lot more problematic for her since she is in cronic atrial fibrillation and on blood thinners. She has suffered one stroke already due to appendix removal (fortunately with very minimal permanent damage), and even though it can be done, the risks are just not worth it.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Congratulations on your patience and perseverance. It is great to hear that you didn't give up. That commitment will serve you well throughout this process.

Keep us posted on your journey.

[GAHUNTER 17]

Alright then. I had my first pre-surgical appointment yesterday with Dr. Christopher Hart of Atlanta Bariatrics Center. At that time he told me that I was a candidate for either procedure (Sleeve or Bypass) due to my BMI of 46.6., however, he thinks I will respond well to vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and that would be his procedure of choice (I'm male, and 50 pounds of my excess weight is "new" weight, put on in the last five years.). He thinks he can get me down to around 225 pounds, if I do my part.

However, there is one little glitch that could upset the apple cart: I have very bad reflux, and depending its cause, it could nix the sleeve idea and cause me to have to have the full roux-en-y bypass. For this reason, I am to have an upper G.I. done at Emory Johns Creek Hospital early next month. Hopefully, the test will determine that my reflux is caused by an hiatal hernia, which can be repaired at the time of the sleeve surgery.

I am very impressed with Dr. Hart's support staff and facilitators. They spent a lot of time with me walking me through the process I must complete in order to get surgical approval from Medicare (psych evaluation: cardiac clearance; letters of support from primary care MD, orthopedic surgeon, cardiologist, etc.), and provided me a list of providers for each specialist. Dr. Hart himself, is a little stoic -- kind of like Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller's Day Off -- but that is no problem, as long as he is as competent a surgeon as his reputation says he is.

If we really push it, I could get the surgery as early as late December, however middle January is more realistic, and more desirable for many personal reasons dealing with the holiday season.

Looks like I'm on my way!

[GAHUNTER 17]

Okay, I'm scheduled out for all my pre-op approval appointments: seeing my primary care physician for letter listing co-morbids tomorrow; got pre-surgical dietitian appointment next Monday; psychologist screening the week after next; seeing my cardiologist for surgical approval on the 20th; group session for bariatric patients on the 18th; and, upper GI, pulmonary tests, and blood work scheduled for December 7th at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.

After that we wait for insurance approval, and then .... surgery!

Edited November 4, 2015 by GAHUNTER

[Dub 9,922]

Sounds really good. Things are progressing along for you.

I wish you the best of luck and know that you'll benefit greatly.

As a side note.....have you had time to do much deer hunting this year ?

I've pretty much given up on the chance to go this year....didn't even buy a hunting license. That's going to change next year. Hoping to have more time and certainly more energy to go.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Good for you being persistent and patient. I hope all goes well for you! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[GAHUNTER 17]

Sounds really good. Things are progressing along for you.

As a side note.....have you had time to do much deer hunting this year ?

I've pretty much given up on the chance to go this year....didn't even buy a hunting license. That's going to change next year. Hoping to have more time and certainly more energy to go.

Actually, I've only been hunting a couple of times. My knees are so bad now that I can't get to the areas on my property that I really need to access. I've seen a few smaller bucks and several does, but not one I wanted to shoot. As I've gotten older, I've gotten less and less mad at the deer, and almost always let the smaller bucks and does walk. In my 50 years of deer hunting, I've killed over a 100 deer and the "need" to shoot just any legal has long since passed with my youth. I'll probably take one for the freezer later on, but if I don't, that's fine too.

Now duck hunting is another matter. That's my true passion and I'm planning at trip to Arkansas after Christmas. Currently, I'm out of duck meat in the freezer, something I hope to remedy soon. I'm addicted to duck poppers!!!