Bjc1227

I just posted on the intro forum but now found this one. I am 61 years old and just beginning research on getting banded. I feared I was too old. My mind is very young but my body feels old and hurting. I am a Type 2 diabetic - well controlled with pills' date=', take high blood pressure meds, and both knees hurt badly. I want to play with my grandchildren. Right now my insurance company is saying they won't pay for the procedure....but I am going to keep at them and have my docs contact them . Hope it works. Any advice with insurance companies would be appreciated. So glad I dound this group![/quote']

Diane, my insurance company is Anthem of Virginia. I have to wait a year but they are paying all of the surgery except $125 copay. I'll be 62 by the time I have the operation but I'm half way there. I thought about it for a long time and finally decided to get off my duff and do something. A woman I work with has been inspirational. She had surgery last October and has lost around 60 lbs, and looks fantastic. So far my knees are still good but I know if I gained anymore weight they would start giving out. Right now I'm on blood pressure meds and Fluid pills. I'm told that loosing weight will improve both situations. I hope so.

Good luck. I hope you find a good insurance company that will cover the Lap Band. Let me know how things go.

Bonnie

I just posted on the intro forum but now found this one. I am 61 years old and just beginning research on getting banded. I feared I was too old. My mind is very young but my body feels old and hurting. I am a Type 2 diabetic - well controlled with pills' date=', take high blood pressure meds, and both knees hurt badly. I want to play with my grandchildren. Right now my insurance company is saying they won't pay for the procedure....but I am going to keep at them and have my docs contact them . Hope it works. Any advice with insurance companies would be appreciated. So glad I dound this group![/quote']

Diane, I have Anthem through work, and though they are making me wait a year, they are covering the surgery. I am past the half-way point and I will be 62 by the time I have the operation. My blood pressure had been right on the edge and finally went over, so I'm not on meds for it. Fortunately, my knees are good but they won't last if I put on anymore weight.

I work with a woman who had her surgery just under a year ago and she has done beautifully. She's also in her early 60s. After seeing how well she did, I started investigating my options.

Good luck and let me know how you're doing.

Bonnie

I had my appt. with PCP on Friday Dr. Trahan's office sent him a letter with all the required test he needed to do on me, and detailed information on what he needs to include in his notes for the insurance to cover the surgery. I. Go Tuesday for a blood test testing everything He also needs to do a EKG and I needed to have a mammogram. I have appt. with Rita Smith the nutritionist for the first viisit and Christy for metal health evaluation on June 14th. Also Dr. Trahan's nurse said I need to keep detailed records of what I eat on myfitnesspal.com and try not to go over 1400 calories a day and exercise at least 30 min. 3 to 5 times a week. I have to print that off from myfitnesspal every time I go to PCP and give it to him to put in his records.

Do you have specific requirements you have to do in this year you had to wait for surgery?

Beckysue, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Anthem's requirements for my year were to join a weight loss program for a year. I choose Weight Watchers online. I only have to show the invoice where I paid to join. (I get half that back from the insurance.) I have to talk to the Life Coach counselor twice a month for a year. I'm thru the first 6 months. It's gone faster then I thought it would.

I'm going to wait till January to finish up my lab work and EKG for Trehan. I've done everything else. My mammogram is in 2 weeks.

I hope things are going smoothly there.

Bonnie - you crack me up - glad you weren't expecting a hot chick to pop out of this band thing. I will share this. I work at a large State University and today, I am wearing a skort (size 12 proudly said) and it is kind of short. Well, I have received compliments all days about my legs and how skinny I am getting. WOO HOO..skinny and my name in the same sentence - wow, I thought that ship had sailed but I guess not. So I may be too old to hot in in swim suit, but apparently I can still wear a short skirt ! I loved the 60's and min skirts ! hehehehe

Have a great weekend.

Melinda in Florida

Thank you Melinda. I love that you are able to wear short skirts now. Woohoo is right.

In the 8 years I've been divorced I've dated a few guys here and there and finally decided to take a break. Men in general don't care for overweight women, plus I was always self-concious about my weight. I don't think losing weight is any guarantee of finding the right man for me but it might at least help.

Maybe I will some day raise my hems above my calfs.

Yeah Karen,

You are doing awesome and your story is an inspiration to use older banders.

I think maintaining is a big part of the success, hope I do as well as you!

I missed this yesterday. Your 50 lbs. loss is fantastic. You are probably feeling like a new woman.

I wish I could have a do over also but the ex would object to footing the bill a second time around just so I can have good pictures. Maybe my daughter would consider Photoshopping me in at a later date. Oh well, it was a beautiful day and the weight is what it is. I can't change what's past but I can change me.

Hello Folks' date=' today is my 64th birthday! I can't say that I am the happiest I have eve been, but I am content. I am not the smallest I have ever been as an adult, but I am good with my size and weight. I can wear minis if I so choose, mostly my skorts and culottes are above my knees, but my dresses are at knee length. If I wear longer dresses, I feel "frumpy". I have lost 100 lbs and have maintained for about 1 year. I had surgery on Oct 30, 2009. I chose lapband because I was the fattest lady I knew! I have since referred 3 others to my lapband surgeon! Good luck to all and best wishes for our futures! Karen[/quote']

Sorry I'm late but Happy Birthday. I also want to congratulate you on your lose of 100 lbs. I hope to get there one day. I've just past my 6 month wait for surgery. I thought those first months would drag but now they are gone it didn't seem long at all.

I knew I weighed too much for my height, but I never thought I looked bad until we got the pictures back from my daughter's wedding last August. I was horrified when I saw the pictures with me. I had definitly been in denial for a long time. No more.

Very discouraging! I didn't really even tell my PCP until she received some labwork that was abnormal from my pre-op testing. When she asked me about it' date=' and commented on such a thorough work-up, I explained that I had it done as part of the WLS program and that I was getting the lap band. She was both excited and curious. She's relatively new and wasn't completely "up" on bariatric surgery. I've seen her once since surgery, and I had lost 35 lbs, and she was SO happy.

If this doctor is an important part of your care, I would either 1) sit and talk with her, let her know that this was an important choice you made for yourself and would appreciate her support, or 2) give her one last try before switching.

I've worked along side doctors for the past 8 years and the one thing that I've learned are doctors are people too. They come in a wide variety, but you should never be afraid to speak up to your physician. You've essentially put them in charge of your care, and your opinion deserves the right to be heard.[/quote']

I do plan to see the endocronogist in 4 months and see if we are communicating better. At that point I will have put in 10 months and I will expect her to be supportive. It was not a snap decision that I will change without very good reason.

It's good to hear that your PCP was so supportive. They should all be like that.

This thread has helped me - thanks everyone who has posted.

I had my second meeting with my surgeon last night. (7:00pm meeting) The previous meeting with him' date=' I didn't know what procedure I wanted and he talked me into a sleeve. This meeting I let him know I had been doing lots of research and had decided the sleeve was too drastic for me and I had decided to have the Band. His jaw hit the desk and he spent the next 5 minutes telling me what I mistake I was making. The Band doesn't work; I clean up so many messes; weight loss is only temporary and very slow; at least 40% of all bands need revision surgery at some stage ...BLAH BLAH BLAH !!! Then he said "But I'll do it if you really want me to". I came away from the meeting disillusioned, upset and confused.

I have decided I need to find another surgeon; and am sooo disappointed I have wasted so much money on my appointments thus far - AND so much time !!! But; I really cannot progress with a surgeon who doesn't believe in the procedure I want. Do you think I am crazy changing surgeon at this late stage? I am booked in for 16th August.

What do you think?

Regards

Kiwi.[/quote']

I'm glad to hear this thread has helped you. I don't think you would be crazy to change surgeons if you don't feel this one is right for you. I think a part of your success is having a doctor that you trust and that you communicate well with. You're going to have to see this surgeon for a long time after the surgery.

When I was looking for a surgeon, I first decided that I wanted the least invasive. I started with so many miles from my home and narrowed it to the city. I found the hospital that I have history with had a bariatric team. I found that they had informational meetings for free. I decided at the meeting that I liked the surgeon. He was through in covering the options and the risks. I knew before I left that day that I was going forward with this. During my one-on-one with the surgeon I asked which procedure he was most comfortable doing. He said he did the LapBand more often and his patients seemed to have a greater success than with the other band (Realize).

That's my saga. What ever you decide, good luck. You can do this.

I had a Dr that I switched from when I started the process because she was always a bit rude. I had tried other insurance program weight loss options (where you speak with someone at insurance as a coach and see a dietician and Dr) and she was totally unreceptive and cold. I figured I would get her out of the way first thing.

I am also talking to an insurance coach on the phone twice a month. That took a little getting used to but she has warmed up a bit. I can't say I've gotten anything out of it but it is required.

I had an interesting experience last week. I went to my endocrinologist for a follow up on my thyroid. This was my third visit to her, as my doctors keep moving or retiring. We were almost at the end of the appointment and she told me that I need to lose weight. I agreed and told her that the last time I saw her I had mentioned that I was in the waiting period for Lap Band Surgery. Apparently she didn't make note of it and did not seem to understand. She started lecturing me on losing weight the natural way and I just needed to try harder. She told me that all surgery is risky.

My insurance requires a year waiting period before surgery and I am doing everything I am suppose to do. My PCP is onboard and even asked me if I'd thought about surgery before I could tell him that I'd gone to an informational meeting. After his positive reaction, I was very surprised at the endocrinologist's very negative reaction.

I think in writing this I've decided to see her on my next follow-up and if she is still opposed to the surgery, I will find another doctor. If I had been seeing her for years and trusted her opinion, I'd be more inclined to listen to her. I'm 6 months into my year and I have spoken to the surgeon, the nutritionist and the counselor. I know the risks, and what to expect. I'm not about to turn back now without a really good reason.

Has anyone else run into negative reactions like this from your doctors? What did you end up doing?

Bonnie - I hope that your approval is moving right along and soon you will have a surgery date. I am 60 1/2 and had my band 7/7/11. I have lost 98 pounds and I feel fantastic. My doc says that older patients follow the rules better and are often more successful. In our case' date=' we are really doing it for health reason and not because we would look hot in a new swim suit. Walk, follow the directions of your doctor and best of luck. Stay in touch on this site - it is grat support and answers questions either your doctor won't answer or you forget to ask.

Take care and enjoy the ride..

Melinda in Florida[/quote']

Thank you Melinda. My goal is to be healthy. I'd like not to be embarrassed in a bathing suit but at 61, hot is for dreamers. Lol. Thankfully, I am realistic.

You do what works best for you. Your banding is between you and your doctor. Best of luck.

It took 2 days for my approval. I didn't send them all the detailed information. just a list And the dates. I wrote them a nice one page letter explaining how it woulf change my life while saving them money.

Have you had your surgery yet?

It took 2 days for my approval. I didn't send them all the detailed information. just a list And the dates. I wrote them a nice one page letter explaining how it woulf change my life while saving them money.

That's great. Congratulations and thank you for posting. I can't wait to get to that point.

I have been seeing spider veins around my ankles and on the outside of my knees. I haven't worn a skirt in so long. I was kind of looking forward to it. When I reach my goal I'll probably be too happy to worry about a few veins.

I am working now to make mental health appt. with Christy Riebeling and am waiting for a call back from the nutritionist. I go Friday to primary dr. For my first visit for six month supervised weight loss and to start doing required blood work' date=' EKG and whatever else they ask for it's like a second job <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

Becky, have you had your appointments with the nutritionist and the counselor yet? I hope you're well. Your six months should fly by.

Hi Bjc' date='

I am 58 and today is my one month bandaversary. I too wish I had done this much sooner.

I have found my self raising my 6 year old grandson and knew I had to do something to keep up with him and still be around until he gets out of high school.

I started my process last August and had my surgery April 25th.

Good luck to you and all of us seniors.[/quote']

Grandma3, congratulations on your one month bandaversary. These months ahead should be exciting to you. I wish you great success. At 58, you're still young.

I was 61 1/2 when got my band. It will be 3 years this Oct. I lost 100 lbs and could not be happier! I don't take blood pressure meds' date=' I don't have arthritis bothering my right knee any more so I can walk everyday for at least 40 mins. I feel better than I did for many years. WW is great, but I, like you, gained all losses back and never met goal. You can meet goal with lapband!!Good move for us seniors! (my surgeon, has had his lapband for 7 years), he is a senior too, and very proud of me. Karen[/quote']

Congratulations of your lose of 100 lbs. That is fantastic. You're walking 2 miles or more?

My plan is to also lose 100 lbs. I know I can do it too. I can't wait to cut back on meds and I expect my asthma will no longer bother me. So much to look forward to.

I was thinking, I don't think I'd feel comfortable saying it's another type of surgery. I seems better to just say you're having surgery and if anyone asks tell them it's personal. From there they can think what they want. Why should we have to lie to satisfy busy bodies.

I told my boss from the very beginning, when I started looking into the possibility of having the surgery. She has been very supportive and even went with me to my informational meeting. She is at her ideal weight but, like all women, complains about a few extra pounds. I'm looking forward to keeping up with her when we have to walk to meetings.

When I decided to tell my sister, I wasn't sure of the reaction I'd get. She is always the big sister and doesn't hesitate to give me advice. She has offered to spend time with me around the operation, though she will have to take time off and fly here. My daughter told me that she was proud of me for taking the step. She has also offered to spend time with me after surgery. I'm not sure I'm going to need all this sitting but it sure is good having people around that care.

I have shared with a few close friends, my sister and my daughter. A couple friends wanted to discuss the dangers and horror stories they'd heard about but they have moved past that. One friend at work was banded in Sept. 11, and has been a great inspiration. One friend said, "Well, if it makes you feel better about yourself." I had to explain that I feel good about myself already. I like me, but I don't like being fat and unhealthy. My health is what is important. I know that some people will talk and there is a grapevine, at work and in town, that spreads news quickly. I'm not going to worry about opinions of people I don't care about.

Wow, that's scary. I don't know if you can print out the online journals. You would think when they say do this, they wouldn't sneak new things in on you. lol. I can't say that I trust insurance companies though.

I want so much to get a Harley as in my younger days....but my wife will either leave me or have me committed for sure.

I'm gonna do some surfing this summer' date=' I have 2 boards the kids left behind.

[/quote']

Don't give your wife reason to commit you. I'm sure she wants to keep you around for a long time. Have fun surfing.

Dr. Trahan sent my primary dr. a letter requesting blood work' date=' EKG and over all health check. I would be so frustrated if I had to wait a year. I have already done almost a year of weight watchers and that won't count as my supervised weight loss [/quote']

I've done WW off and on for years and look forward to never paying them again. I do have an appointment with my PCP in July, so I can check with him them about any tests that are needed. lol. I'm not good with waiting.

Bonnie