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fifties and pre-op surgery support



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Hi , I am 58 and probably looking at a june surgery date (or sooner) and I would love to correspond with someone in this same time frame and around the same age, I also want to hear from those who have had their surgery around my age and how things are going. I am so worried about the hair loss so I will have my pretty wig waiting if the need comes up. I worry more about long term side effects than immediate side effects. I have a wonderful dr. and team and I get so excited about the future then I am on the fence again. I have a friend who had it done and she says all of these feelings are common, but they go away. My son-in-law was banded in Feb. and it has been some struggle but he seems to be fine and is now back at work. As far as the sagging skin people talk about , Spanx are wonderful. I won't have PS. Looking forward to hearing from all of you.

I was banded in June 2008 and have lost about 90 pounds wtih 40-50 to go. I know you were looking for a lap band buddy to go through this with you, but I just wanted to drop a line of encouragement! I still have a ways to go and have had other personal and health issues that have slowed my progress down, but I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A MINUTE! Congrats on your decision! Hope to see less of you soon! :)

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I was banded in June 2008 and have lost about 90 pounds wtih 40-50 to go. I know you were looking for a lap band buddy to go through this with you' date=' but I just wanted to drop a line of encouragement! I still have a ways to go and have had other personal and health issues that have slowed my progress down, but I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IN A MINUTE! Congrats on your decision! Hope to see less of you soon! :)[/quote']

Sounds like you are doing great. I was banded 2 years ago and have lost 70 lbs. I go next week to get another fill to get thse last 20 off. I also love my band and being a normal size again

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Hello, I am sure that I am not much help in answering your questions but, I was banded on Thursday. I am a 57 year old woman. I decided that now is the time to do it while I can still get my "stuff" together and look good and get some exercise. I guess we can follow the progress of each other. I am hoping to at least feel like my old self by next week!!

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Hello, I am sure that I am not much help in answering your questions but, I was banded on Thursday. I am a 57 year old woman. I decided that now is the time to do it while I can still get my "stuff" together and look good and get some exercise. I guess we can follow the progress of each other. I am hoping to at least feel like my old self by next week!!

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Hi. So happy to see forum for women in fifties. I am 55, will be banded tomorrow. Am pretty nervous, but desperate to use band as tool to restart second half of my life. Have 95 lbs to lose (my goal, not my doctor's) so I stop feeling like an old woman, and have more confidence in my life. I too have an incredible husband, so lucky there. I just cannot imagine how I will fill the space food has taken up in my life, but am determined to try. Would love to hear positive stories from other 50+ women.

Best wishes!

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Best of luck on your surgery. I had my surgery two years ago and and have never regretted it. The amazing part of my journey is my how I feel about food and eating now. Before I totally loved eating and the comfort I received from it. Now, eating is not a joy anymore, because it can be very uncomfortable with my band restrictions.

Now I eat because I have to, not just for the joy of it. To be a " normal" size and healthy is worth it. I am off of bp meds and 70 lbs less. I love it!!!

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Hi! thanks so much for replying. Had my surgery yesterday and i feel pretty good. You were on BP meds and got off - I'm on BP meds now and would love to get off - how did that happen for you?

Anyway, what awesome results you had! Hooray for you - yes, I'm really looking forward to changing my life and to being me.

Thanks again, you made my day.

Best wishes,

Anna

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I'm so glad your surgery went well. I guess it liquids for a couple weeks now but that passes so fast My blood pressure had been elevated because of my alcohol abuse and weight. I had stopped drinking a year before my surgery and combined with the weight loss, my doctor stopped me from taking them right before my surgery date. Now it remains normal and I am blessed it does.

Take it easy and start digging out your smaller clothes, you will need them before you know it.

Terri

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Hey!! Went to the seminar tonight' date=' it was very informative. One of the first questions about the insurance though was answered by the physician "That insurance does not cover bariatric surgery" I about started crying there!!!! since it was my insurance, until I heard, "Unless you work for the hospital, they just started covering bariatric surgery in January for hospital employees". Whew!! It felt like a sign. Then there was the question of a Cancer diagnosis. 4 years out for my surgery/chemo. That was okay, as long as my oncologist says it is okay. I can't think of any reason why not, my last CT scans and blood work were clear. So now I am just waiting for the office to call me and let me know times and dates of pre-op tests. I dragged my husband along, while he does not really care about my size (and luckily, my silicone "girls") ***I know, I am really lucky in the husband department*** He realizes that I am very unhappy about my wieght, and health status, so he is very supportive. I warned him that I might be very "anti-cooking" for awhile and his response was "just make sure there is something for me to fix, and I can cook for myself" **what a doll!!!!! So I will post when I have some new dates/information etc. I feel that this site will be a big help, espeically with those that are having the procedure around the same time. Also, a friend from work is going to be going through this at the same time.

One question I have, tell or not to tell. Co-workers, extended family etc. What do you think? I only need to take off one week of work, it is summer, no big deal. What is the response from people, helpful or not? Let me know opinions please!!

Hey, should I do a picture "pre-op diet" or after the 2 weeks? Which weight should I use for the ticker tape? (once I figure out how to get it onto this site). <img src='http://cdn.lapbandtalk.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />[/quote']

Hi, the weight on the preop visit(when you start the liquids) that's when you need your pic too!

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Hello everyone! I'm going to be fifty in a few weeks. WIll be having surgery in the early summer I believe. My hubby had the route n y bariatric surgery and lost a whole person. I wanted to go for the less extreme and not have to travel to the big city for appointments. I understand the sense of loss I will experience when I have the surgery--I remember my husbands sad face as he sat down in a restaurant with me the second-sixth month. Now though he is happy and healthy--I call him the Shar pae butt, as things are really saggy (I'm prepared for this--we can be saggy together now!). I'm glad to hear that the Hair loss should be temporary, that is a good thing. I do have a friend who wears wigs and you couldn't even tell, they look beautiful on her, so I can do that too (except I have a really big head, hope they have my size :rolleyes: . I look forward to hearing your stories and helping each other hold up through the trials. Best of luck and loss!

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I have very fine hair but eniugh of it,,,,and although I was 50 at the time of surgery I didn't experience e any loss. I did however take Biotin for the first year so I dont know if it was the Biotin or genetics that let me keep my hair.< /p>

As for the sags... I just had my Tummy Tuck and breast aug/lift a about 11 days ago... Something. I never thought I would do.... So far loving the results!!!

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Reading through this thread is the first I've seen anything on Hair loss. Is it just a side effect for us 50 year old's?

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Just had my surg 12-12-12 and have lost 50 lbs and no hair loss yet. I take Biotin daily not sure if it helps but makes me think it does!! Lol. I'm 56 and have done great so far!

Sent from my iPad using LapBandTalk

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    • LeighaTR

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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