Bjc1227

The pre-op diet is optional, so I'm planning on one week of Protein drink for lunch and a light supper. Next Tuesday I see the surgeon and nutritionist for my pre-op visit, then I'm good to go. I'm more anxious about the weather turning bad than I am about surgery.

Thank you. I have been looking forward to this all year.

I spoke with Lillian today. She called Trigon BC/BS on Friday and they approved surgery. I'm scheduled for surgery on February 25, 2013. Finally. I thought that year would never end.

BeckySue, I hope things finally worked out for you.

I found out today that I'll be banded on February 25th. I'm so excited. It was the first date offered and I jumped on it.

I am so sorry BeckySue! I love Dr M Trahan. I understand insurance companies are denying lapband surgeries due to failure rate. I don't know if that is 100% true. Roses

Roses, I can't say I trust insurance companies. They no doubt think they might save some money by denying surgeries. Our health is not high on their list of priorities. lol. Just me spouting off.

I also like Dr. Trahan and Lillian. I hope to put my future in their hands shortly.

Everyone, have a great Thanksgiving.

Bonnie

Hi Bonnie

Just wanted to drop you a note. The insurance denied me <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

doctor's office heard from Aetna. I can't understand why I am 5'3" 215 pounds' date=' pre diabetic, elevated blood pressure and high cholesterol . I did the six months and only lost a few pounds ( but didn't gain) and was denied. We are waiting for the letter to find out why so we can appeal it. I am heart broken and have been so upset since I heard. Dr. Trahans nurse told me not to give up hope so I'm trying not to.

Hope things are going well on your journey. I'll let you know if we get the appeal.

Becky[/quote']

Becky,

I'm sorry to hear they denied you. The woman that I work with who had surgery last year in October. She was also denied and had to send a letter of appeal. That seems to be fairly common. I asked Lillian about it and she said not to worry. Still, I am a worrier.

Don't get discouraged. The insurance company just wants to save money. If you give up, they are ahead for a little, until you start having other health issues.

The woman I work with has 10 more pounds to go. She started at 234 @ 5'1". She looks so good in her size 10 pants. We can do it too. February 1 can't come fast enough for me.

Good luck. I'm rooting for you.

Bonnie

Hello it's been a while <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I finished my six months and all the required tests. All has been turned over to Dr. Trahans office. And Lillian(the nurse at Trahans. Office) has contacted the insurance and I'm just waiting to hear if I am approved.. I hope things are going well for you I'm sure your anxious for your year to be over. I know six months almost drove me crazy.

Becky,

It's good to hear from you. I hope the insurance gives you a speedy "Yes," and all goes well. I have faith in Dr. Trahan's skill as a surgeon. I'll be thinking of you.

My year before surgery is going quickly. I never thought I would be able to say that. There are people I've spoken with recently who are as far along in their year as I am and still not sure. I can't say that I had one moment of doubt about going forward with the surgery. I get all my tests completed the first week of January. I'll be very busy with the holidays and traveling until then, so it will fly by.

Keep me posted on your progress when you can. I'm excited for you.

Bonnie

Hi BJC1227!

Start my pre op diet on Friday and will have my surgery on October 19th. I am both excited and scared...lol Lots of butterflies in my tummy !

I understand the butterflies. If you are comfortable with your doctor and he has a good reputation, you should be fine. I hope it all goes well. I'll be thinking of you.

I got my band at age 60. Prior to deciding on banding I tried hypnosis' date=' which helped me to lose a whopping 9 lb, which I regained. My all time high weight was 290. I'm now about 209, so have lost 81 lb with my band, but it has been slow going. The first year, I lost about 60 lb, maintained for a year and started losing again after having my band unfilled in June. One thing I can say is that I have a very different outlook on food and eating. It's about getting my Protein in, avoiding troublesome foods and babying my stomach. I have developed scar tissue under the band, around my stomach, so am very restricted. I only had 3.5cc in my 11 cc band, so was not overly focused on fills...I had two. 3cc at 3 months post op and .5cc at 9 months post op. I'm currently having issues with reflux, so taking a PPI first thing in the morning and mid afternoon on an empty stomach, which is helping me. VSG is a great option for many over 60, since there's no bypass involved and no follow up. Should I revise, it will be to VSG. I'm grateful for the weight loss, but concerned that I might have to have another surgery. Good luck to you![/quote']

Wow! 81 pounds is great, even if it does seem slow. We've always heard that a slow loss is better for you. Supposedly your skin sags less, but I don't know if that applies to those of us over 60. I'm sorry you're having reflux problems. I hope your doctor is able to help you resolve this. Good luck and keep us posted.

My surgery is getting closer..lol

I go for pre op on Tuesday morning <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I thought I'd ask if you'd had your surgery. Keep us updated. I'm excited for you.

I was banded last Sept' date=' and its a journey. You remember how you feel about the weight that you had before and when it comes off you feel so much better. I know that is my story.

I was 59 and know that heading into the rest of my life wouldn't be easy at my weight. I watched my Dad and Father in law both die from complications from Diabetis. It was so upsetting that I didn't want to be like that. My husbandn is no over weight, but he is following my lead in this journey.

It helps to have someone on your side working with you, that what I have found. He has given up a lot of foods he likes for me. There are bumps in the road, eating out, social occasions. You will have to plan fo r those, but you can do this. I have lost 55 pounds.

If you want to write me and ask questions I wouldn't mind.

I live in Washington State. Not sure where you live. Time zone stuff.

Let me know how you are doing.

Most of all GOOD HEALTH[/quote']

Congratulations Kmkurtz. I'm in the home stretch (4 months) before surgery, doing everything required to meet the insurance requirements. I've been excited about the lapband surgery for over a year and I am ready.

Seeing everyone else's success has kept me going. I look forward to reporting my progress. That 55 pound weight loss would look so good on me. I might like shopping for clothes again. Thank you for letting me try it out.

I'm also hoping to get off some meds after weight loss. It is about good health more than anything.

Good luck to you in this adventure.

Bonnie

Good luck to you in this adventure.

Bonnie

I want to tell you I have been there and its hard to wait for the day of surgery. I also had to wait for the insurance company to get the ok. They still didn't pay for the surgery' date=' I did it out of pocket. Its been the best thing I could of done for my health. I feel so much better and able to do so much more.

I hope that your surgery date comes soon and you are on the best journey of your life time.

Karen[/quote']

Thank you Karen. This wait has gone faster than I thought it would. I'm almost there. I know the surgery will be worth it all. I still want to buy a bike next year and I have a kayak to dust off and put on the lake. I'm not ready for the rocker yet.

Take care.

Bonnie

Hi 61ers..hope everyone is doing well. I am struggling here in Jacksonville a bit. I had a serious gym injury the end of July and therefore most of the fill had to be removed from my band and all exercise was stopped(concussion and whiplash). I am still empty and still without exercise so I am a bit down - but not in the weight department. I have put on about 3-5 pounds (won't get on the scale) and trying not to be too hard on myself. This will pass. I see the doctor on Friday and hopefully he will begin putting fill back in the band (or wire my jaws shut - don't care. Going to physical therapy 2-3 days per week to get better so things are starting to feel somewhat better.. Anyway' date=' I haven't been on this site in a bit and I really miss you guys ! You are my strength! I know that sounds wierd and very dependent but that is just the way it is. When I read about your pitfalls and your successes I get re-charged and get myself excited once again.. Thank you..Hope everyone is having a good day and hanging in there. When you post - you never know what an impact you may be making on someone else - thanks guys !!!

Melinda in Florida[/quote']

It's good to see you Melinda. I had wondered what you were up to.

I'm sorry to hear you had an injury, at the gym no less. Remember, do not watch the weight lifters while you are trying to work out.

I hope you will be feeling better soon.

I have 4 months to go for my approval. I am ready now.

Take care.

Bonnie

Very inspiring stories from our seniors on the forum. Keep up the stories and all your good work.

Best wishes

Thanks Rojasanoll. I must correct you though. We aren't seniors yet. We are just more mature.

Take care.

I have been reading all the posts in this thread and it is very encouraging to see that people my age (61) do well with the lap band.

I go for my pre op on Tuesday and start my pre op diet in two weeks. Surgery is October 19th.

My goal right now is to lose 108 lbs. but that isnt written in stone. I expect it will change as I continue on this journey.

Looking forward to being banded!

This is exciting news and I'm very happy for you. The time before surgery will fly by. Good luck to you. Let us know how you're doing.

I belonged to Eharmony myself with nothing. You are correct dating is dating I think that due to my weight I did not want to be rejected so I stayed away from really trying I guess men have to see us as great people as we are but that was not working with me. So i am going to continue to read and get the support from you'll thanks

Rejection is very difficult to accept, time and again. People claim not to be shallow but they're preferance in a slim partner. I reached a point of deciding it just didn't seem worth putting myself through it. The answer seems to be, since the world will not change for me, I have to change for it.

Marci, you also look great.

Thanks for your response Marci. That is a wonderful story. You found a good man. Thank you for sharing.

I did have a couple dates from Plenty of Fish. They were nice people. I paid for eHarmony for at least a year and never had a date. I had a couple dates from Match. I have taken breaks here and there, but I keep looking.

Vstall, it's good to know I'm not alone out here. I have belonged to several dating sites over the years. I don't know that one is better than the other. Often you see the same men on several sites. Right now I am talking with a man who is 51, and has lost over 100 lbs., with another 80 lbs. to go. He understands the issues. I expect we'll meet in about a month, but there are no guarantees. He is very nice but things don't always work out, plus he is very long-distance.

Let's try to keep up on this. You can count on me to encourage unless I think you're doing something that's bad for you. Good luck.

This may seem like a strange question at this age. I've been divorced for about 8 years and I would like to find someone to share my next 20 years. I've dated a few times but most single men, no matter their age, are looking for women who are not obese. I'm assuming my dates didn't work out because of my weight. I would rather not think it's just me.

Has anyone had Lapband surgery and gone on to date and find a partner?

Did you share right away that you'd had lapband surgery, or wait until you were comfortably into the relationship?

Does it even matter?

I tend to look at possibilities pretty far ahead, more like prematurely. I could have asked this in the forum for all age but dating seems to become harder as we get older, if I'm not mistaken. We're closer to retirement. There are more health issues to take into consideration. Some men also prefer to date younger women. While I don't plan on competing with 40 and 50 year olds, I hope there are men looking for women close to their own age.

Bonnie

Timeformyself, great news. Stay calm. Breath deep. It will go well. In no time you will be telling us how great you feel.

bjc1227 - OK' date=' you asked how long it took me to loose my weight,. I lost 104 pounds in 12 months. Some of that 104 I had to loose twice (regain) I have between 35-40 pounds to go and it is going much slower now due to an accident. I can't exercise right now and that is a big reason. I have all my hair and my nails and yes, hanging skin - well, I figure my days a a swimsuit model are over anyway - soooowhat !. At least the poundage is gone and so is the high blood pressure and all my other blood tests have improved greatly (I never was diabetic thank goodness). The knees are 100% better and so are my ankles. As for my buddy TS Issac - he dropped about 8-10 inches of rain on us yesterday with minor flooding - lights stayed on and no trees down. Today, sunny, muggy, light breeze and puddles everywhere...

At our age, the weight does not come off as fast, but it didn't get their fast either. As for the M&M's hey, I like carmel hard candies - I think our hormones or lack thereof is to blame for some of that and so be it. If I don't reach my goal - OK - at least I lost most of it and I feel better, look better and I am better so OK ! I hope that helps answer some of your questions. I was banded 7-7-11 at 268 lbs and I am 5'3". Now , Still 5'3" and 164 lbs. I'll be 61 in a couple of weeks. Have a great week..

Melinda in Florida[/quote']

Melinda, you're doing so well. Seeing numbers like that keep me focused. Just 5 more months of this waiting. I know the weight won't come off overnight but my feet will be happier with every pound lost.

I hope your weather is improving and glad you were spared the worst of it. Stay safe.

At last weigh in I was at 207' date=' I started at 247 (2010) had a total knee and lost weight now I am at 207. When I had the Tummy Tuck I was 218, I went from a size 22 to a 16 with the lapband, and the 16 was fitting nice, but stomach was starting to hang lower with the weight lost even with the body wraps I was putting on. Also wearing them in the summer was HOT........My weight loss has been very slow, compared to the others I see on here, but I also had a lot of medical issues that prevented me from working out now my 16 are real lose due to the stomach being gone. Now, I am in full swing I can walk good knee, no stomach hurting my back I could not even ride a bike sitting down with my stomach with it hanging low. I will be putting the pictures up soon, just learning how to do it, and hoping they wont gross anyone out. I don't care how long it takes now I really feel good about myself, and I work out walking and Zumba (60 and over) three times a week. I just need to stop craving the sweets and the tummy tuck was not bad my knee was worse I could deal with the stomach pain just bent over, and the pumps in my theighs hurt.[/quote']

vstall6046, thank you for sharing. Going from a size 22 to a 16 is great. Health issues can get in the way but it sounds like you're doing well now, and slow weight loss is better in the long run. I've hard good things about Zumba. I am tempted to give it a try. The classes are full of 20 somethings but I need the exercise. Don't worry about your pictures. I'm sure you look better than you think. I'm still trying not to look at the pictures of me from my daughter's wedding. I keep wondering when I got so big, but I know the answer. Keep up the good work.

kll724 and short & chunky, I hope the storm bypasses you both. I have to say, I get nervous when the wind blows at 10 mph. I have lots of trees and when the smallest twig hits the roof it sounds like the whole tree has come down. Be safe.

Wow it is so nice to see and hear people like me discuss this issues. I will be 60 in a couple of months and yes it has been a process with all the medical issues that I have had but just reading the remarks have given me hope. I have tried to talk with others but just seeing a group in the 60 is great. Does any one crave sweets? How has it been with your fills? I just had one and again had problems' date=' but not as bad. Have stareted to work out more also feel great. Also just had a Tummy Tuck in june 5 2012 and feel real good.[/quote']

I'm glad you found us. It's wonderful to see the success of the younger people but I think as we mature, we have different issues, like gravity working against us. My downfall is chocolate, especially in the the form of M&M's. I am working on that addiction. How are you doing from the tummy tuck? I hope you're healing well. Do you mind my asking how much weight you lost and the time frame? I have about 100 lbs. to take off and I want it gone yesterday. I know it will take time and work.