I am looking to talk with others in their 50's that either are trying to be banded or already have the band. I am a 54 year old lady in Houston Texas. I am a self pay and just trying to get cardiologist approval at this time. I would like to hear back from others in this age group. If you are in Texas even better!!! Thanks

PB Dove. Glad to read your post. I attended the nutrition class on yesterday but will not be banded until 4-25-11. Glad to read your post because I was about to unsubscribe to this topic. So many of the responses are negative in that the banders aren't happy with the results or they have had complications. By advising not to give up I saw a ray of sunshine.

What is IBD? Irritable Bowel Disease?

What did you mean by not telling anyone except your spouses? Have you received put downs from "friends" thinking you should have lost more or that you shouldn't have had the procedure done?

The people I have told don't know each other.

I've asked my brother to take me for the same day surgery. He has agreed but hasn't asked me what it is for. I guess he knows in the end I'll have to tell him.

Yes, IBD I have ulcerative colitis. A big headache. I guess unless you intend to tell everyone right up front, I wouldn't tell anyone. Because as you go on, you tell this one, not that one, and you forget who you told, and you don't know who told whom. No one really even mentioned my weight loss until I reached 50lbs.....I remember when I hit 35lbs, I couldn't believe no one noticed. Could you imagine if you lost that much and no one noticed? But it seems 50 was the magic number. Some people asked me point blank if I had surgery.....and I couldn't lie, because I felt that eventually they'd hear the truth, as time went on. So, it would be my recommendation, and my friends, either tell no one, or everyone. My mother thought it was OK to tell everyone, people I hardly knew, annoyed me. But other people feel differently, they tell everyone, but keep in mind, if you tell people, like people you work with or friends, and you go out to a restaurant or at a party with food, people look to see what you're eating. I personally feel like I'm lying when people ask me how I lost so much weight. Before I had the surgery, and if someone said they lost 50-100lbs, I'd give them the third degree, not that I was thinking they had surgery, I just wanted to know how they did it, hoping I could do the same. Did they eat a certain food, do a special exercise, something different that I had done over the years. So now people think I did something they couldn't do, and they feel bad, but if you tell them you had surgery, then they might not feel like their losers, know what I mean? Telling your brother is safe enough, usually men don't talk much, and if you tell him not to say anything, as a man, he likely wont'... Sexist, I know.

Good luck, if you pay attention to the quailty of value of the food you eat, you will succed. Always have good food choices in the house, Soup, yogurt, cheese, veggies, milk, getting enough Protein is an issue. It seems that bad things go down easy and good things are harder, big surprise, right?! LOL So help making good choices easier by having the good things in the house and not having the bad things there.........less temptation......you'll do fine, best of luck.

Hi. I was just banded March 8th. I am 50 and have the following health conditions: diabetes, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. I also had SVT years ago and had oblation and I see a cardiologist on a regular basis. It has only been 2 1/2 weeks but I am down 20 lbs and feel so much better. Glucose levels are down, blood pressure is down, and sleep apnea has significantly improved (I will need to be retested but I slept the first 2 weeks without CPAP which I could never have done previously). My primary care approved the surgery. I wish you the best in your journey. It IS a journey. : ) The food selections go from liquid for 2 weeks to pureed for 2 weeks to pretty much whatever you want that doesn't bother your stomach. I am at the pureed stage, but have found that if I chew everything well enough there has been no issue and I have not needed to actually puree all foods. It is a life changing decision and I have 3 more weeks before I will get the first fill, but it is well worth it. If you know it is the right decision for yourself, then go for it. It is a personal experience for each person. I have been attending the support group in my area and have met some great people who are all succeeding with this which keeps me motivated. Good luck!

I am 52 and was banded 3 years ago at 49. It's fantastic, and my life is so much better. I realized the other day that I haven't dieted in 3 years! My whole life has been self deprevasion and guilt for eating the wrong things. Losing the same 20 lbs year after year. I stopped losing weight after about a year and a half. I have more to go, so I'm thinking of dieting now. But if I don't lose any more I'm fine. Blood pressure is normal, no more sleep apnea, no chance of diabetes, I have energy. Go for it!

50 and in Houston Banded Dec 2009- it is struggle with hormones and mood swings. I am doing it slowly and don't mind that. I have the best support system with my surgeon and his staff. No regrets. Good Luck.