Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot

[pj_txlady 0]

Looks like we have at least 2 going in for their big days this week - Dianne on Monday and Orea on Wednesday. If I am forgetting anyone else I apologize - memory, you know. It's an exciting week for you and I am just a teensy bit envious right now. I'll be happy when all my waiting is over. However, I know I'll be nervous, too. You just don't make a life change like this without some concern. I congratulate you both - and all the rest of the bandpeople around here. You are great!

Joann....what are you waiting on? Will you get your date soon? My surgery is Aug. 4th....9 more days !! :thumbup: I have lost 8 lbs since Monday on my pre-op diet. My diet is great, I am able to eat 3 meals a day. High Protein, low carb.

I hope you won't be waiting too long. :confused2:

[PangeaOne 0]

Oh God! I am 70 and researching lapband to reduce my weight and reduce my diabetes which both are out of control! I went to an informational meeting and was told the doctors have done lapband on people as old as 73. I am otherwise in good health. I will begin attending support groups to learn more as to whether this may be a tool to controling my weight and dabetes.

[angelshere 0]

Good luck to the new bandsters. I also second the wish that you have as easy a time of it as I did. Pangea, I don't know if you have a doctor like Dr. Rehnke in your area, but if you do, I know he could help you. The weight loss is not so rapid for us older gals (well, at least for me), but it is relatively effortless and I am off of 14 meds after a 43 pound weight loss. Even though I have a long way to go, I am glad I have the band and I know I will lose the rest of the weight, in time. Best to all,

Nancy

[Elayne 0]

PangeaOne -

How exciting.

I saw on one site that LPS was done on people "up to 55"

Yuk!

I guess that was one surgeon's preference.

I also have Diabetes type 2 and my numbers are rising.

I'm not on meds for that yet - but probably will be shortly. :crying:

angelshere -

I listed all my meds and dosages for reference for my upcoming consult.

I was astounded and disgusted.

I've heard so many happy responses from people who dropped many meds after surgery.

I hope I'm as lucky! :thumbup:

[angelshere 0]

Honestly, before my band, I think I was on a fast road to an early death. The band has saved my life. While I still have serious arthritis and shot kneecaps (that will some day require surgery), the pain is minimal now and tolerable. The high blood pressure is totally gone. I never got diabetes (by a miracle, as I was at 327+ pounds and gaining), so thankfully that is no longer a threat. Along with all the superficial benefits of looking better and feeling better, the serious health improvements are so very worth this process, even if there might be complications. I know I was lucky, but I followed my doctor's orders to the letter (I was afraid not to, as I knew this is my last chance to ever get healthy). For those of you who are worried, just choose a doctor you trust and do what he says; you will be fine!

As a postscript, I must add that I have a dear friend who has so many health issues that my (our) doctor had to do a lap RNY. She was in intensive care one night, in the hospital a few days, and has lost over 26 pounds so far and feels like $1M! Her surgery was July 18. To contrast that, I have another friend, who is very shy and does not divulge any information to anyone, so we don't even know the name of her doctor. This person had an open RNY (fewer health issues than dear friend) a few weeks before my band (mid-May); many of us urged her to get a second opinion or at least talk to other doctors. She said her doctor was a friend and she trusted him. God bless her, but she was in intensive care for a few weeks after surgery, an induced coma for over a month and is now in her second rehabilitative hospital since leaving the surgical hospital. She will not be able to return to teaching any earlier than January (if ever). She is in our prayers and we hope she has a full recovery. This post has gone on too long, but I guess what I am trying to say is this: if you are considering WLS, do your research, talk to everyone, read everything, meet and confer with several doctors, and then make your decision. It is your body and your life and not every doctor is the best for everyone, even if he (or she) is very likable and personable. I only wish each person finds the ideal and most appropriate doctor and solution for her own life and has a successful and healthy conclusion.

Best to all,

Nancy

Edited July 26, 2008 by angelshere

[JoannMarie 0]

Joann....what are you waiting on? Will you get your date soon? My surgery is Aug. 4th....9 more days !! :crying: I have lost 8 lbs since Monday on my pre-op diet. My diet is great, I am able to eat 3 meals a day. High Protein, low carb.

I hope you won't be waiting too long. :confused2:

I wish I wasn't waiting! I'm ready to go NOW! However --- I'm a Medicare patient - which is not a bad thing at all, because they do recognize the value of WLS and cover the surgeries. You have to use a "Center of Excellence", also not bad because they are well regulated, but it can slow the process. I have found a couple COE's in this area and have been working with them to get this done. I have been to seminars, completed all the paperwork, PCP referral, medical records, psych evaluation, nutrition, etc. I have to get a sleep study done - should be able to get that scheduled early next week - and have a surgeon consultation appointment for Sept. 3. I am hoping I will get a date set for surgery soon after that appointment. Bariatric coordinator told me I should be on the schedule by mid-fall. I sure hope so.

Meanwhile, I am living vicariously through all of you at LBT!!:thumbup:

[angelshere 0]

Joann: my dear friend is also a medicare patient and nearly went nuts with all the requirements, records, studies, tests and waiting! The good news is that she is now thrilled, doing so well and losing weight faster than anybody ever hoped she would. Try to keep busy and be patient; you will do really well once it happens, and then things happen fast!

Nancy

[MaryD 0]

First of all, I am excited for Dianne and Orea! My surgery is right behind yours - August 6th, so please keep me posted. Also, I have fibromyalgia as well as osteoarthritis. Are there any fibro patients out there who have benefitted from banding? I'd like to hear from you.

Edited July 26, 2008 by MaryD
spelling error

[JoannMarie 0]

Oh God! I am 70 and researching lapband to reduce my weight and reduce my diabetes which both are out of control! I went to an informational meeting and was told the doctors have done lapband on people as old as 73. I am otherwise in good health. I will begin attending support groups to learn more as to whether this may be a tool to controling my weight and dabetes.

Pangea,

Be sure to ask the bariatric facility you have been working with if they are a Center of Excellence - in order to have Medicare coverage, they have to have that designation. If they are not a COE, Medicare website has a page that helps you find a COE in your area. I'm probably telling you something you already know - apologize if that is the case - but it's easy to spend a lot of time talking to people at facilities that aren't covered. One of the facilities I spent some time with is a COE, but they are newly accredited, and have not yet received a billing number from MC. I would love to go there - very impressed with them - but my first contact with them was in early March and they still have not received their final okay. I'm not waiting when there are other options in the area.

Good luck in your search!

[Great2BThin 5]

Amen! to what Nancy said about doing research. I had to be self pay so could go anywhere. It was very tempting to go to the best price and there is a very inexpensive dr in town that many folks fly here for. But I had to go with what was comfortable for me. I chose a Center of Excellence because I liked what that meant, could research the dr's record even. He wasn't the cheapest dr. but, though I am prejudice, I did choose the best, and by the best, he was the best for me, my needs and desires in a surgeon. He may not be the best for the next person which is why research is so important. I have nothing against the cheaper dr. in town, but just knew when I met my surgeon and staff he was the one for me. And now that I have my gall bladder issue he will also take care of it. He will do general surgeries on his bariatric patients. At the time I was researching that didn't mean so much to me as I figured that wouldn't be me, but here I am 6 weeks later and am so glad I don't have to go to a new surgeon for this procedure. And they have been so great in handling my questions about it etc.

Good luck to the upcoming bandsters! And Joann I hope you get that date soon!

[JoannMarie 0]

First of all, I am excited for Dianne and Orea! My surgery is right behind yours - August 6th, so please keep me posted. Also, I have fibromyalgia as well as osteoarthritis. Are there any fibro patients out there who have benefitted from banding? I'd like to hear from you.

MaryD,

I would also like to hear from those patients. I have a combination of these two maladies and often can't tell if the pain today is from the osteoarthritis or the fibromyalgia... I know LB and weight loss will help the arthritis, and hope it will be effective with the fibro, too.

[Cathrine Ray 0]

:thumbup::confused_smile:I'm also over 50 and my Band date is Aug. 1st 2008 I read something about BP what is BP? It has something to do with eating or it coming back up I think... Someone fill me in please..

[angelshere 0]

When I use BP, I mean blood pressure. Before the band, mine was 200+ over 120 (ridiculously high) and it took tons of meds to get it down. Thank goodness that is now in the past!

Nancy

[Luv2scuba 0]

Good luck Orea and Dianne! Can't wait to join you!

Not much new here. Have emailed a surgeon's office for some info, just waiting for that. Monday I'm calling my PCP to make an appt. to talk to him about it. I did a diet history today for the last 6 years.

Anything else i should be doing?

Pat

[pj_txlady 0]

Good luck to the new bandsters. I also second the wish that you have as easy a time of it as I did. Pangea, I don't know if you have a doctor like Dr. Rehnke in your area, but if you do, I know he could help you. The weight loss is not so rapid for us older gals (well, at least for me), but it is relatively effortless and I am off of 14 meds after a 43 pound weight loss. Even though I have a long way to go, I am glad I have the band and I know I will lose the rest of the weight, in time. Best to all,

Nancy

Wow...that is great, being off your meds. I am so hoping for that. I take a bp medicine, and celebrex. Premarin I will always take. Celebrex is for my lower back, but with the weight loss, hoping I won't need it anymore. WTG on your weight loss!! :tt2: