I'm getting banded on June 21st and was wondering if there are any others who are over 50 and have had the Lap Band process. My doctor said I didn't need to be on any special diet before my surgery, but I have been eating healthier anyway due to husbands heart problems. I know my road will be different from most due to leg nerve damage and back problems. Any tips anyone could pass on to me? I would love to hear from you. I'm excited and scared.

Was 48 when I was banded. 51 now. You're never too old!

Hi,

I am 53 yrs old, with similar leg and back problems. I was banded on April 20th and have lost 19 lbs so far. I lost 11 before surgery. It is very hard for me to exercise, but I have been walking on my treadmill for 5 min a day. Now, I know that doesn't sound like much, but for me it is a lot. I will try to continue to up my time as time goes on, and as my back and leg allow. I also had 2 brainstem strokes at 49, so I feel I am doing great. Getting the lap band was the best thing I have ever done for myself. You will not regret it!!! Good luck to you!!!!

I was 53 when I was banded. Had back surgery in 2004 (L3, L4, L5 fusion), and I have spinal stenosis. Tragic, huh? NOT! Thanks to the weight I have lost with the lapband I walk 2.5 miles every morning before work and 3 miles on the weekend. I would walk farther ... but my life is too busy, I don't have the time!

Once you have had the surgery you might wish you had done it sooner ... but you won't stay in that thought too long because your life will be moving so fast you won't have time to think about all the "iffa, coulda, woulda, shouldas" -- you will be living life like it's GOLDEN!

This is the best thing I have ever done for myself and I don't regret it one bit ... and being 55 now doesn't make it any less fantastic!

Oh ... just for a moment, let me get real -- I am a slow loser. A lot of that is due to the fact that I cannot do strenuous exercise because of back surgery, spinal stenosis, etc. But, when I started this journey in June 2009 I was wearing a size 26, I am now wearing a size 14 -- and still losing. I am 5'8" so a 14 looks pretty good on the old girl. So, yes, your journey may be different from some but it will be very similar to a lot of others -- like me. Either way, success is on the horizon.

All the best to you on your journey!

~Fran

I'm almost 58. The band is working great for me. You can do it.

Dave

Hello,

Perhaps we can stay in touch. Im 53 and am scheduled to be banded on 7/12. I am very excited about this also. There seem to be a wide variety of ages on this board. I'm sure you will hear from some of them soon. I have 2 artificial knees which makes certain exercises difficult for me as my knee replacements weren't totally successful. So I know what you mean about your back. Add me as a friend. Hope all works out well for you, sure it will.

K

I'm 56 and have 2 artificial Knees. I make it a habit to walk unassisted, and I walk around the block 3x a week. That's my exercise.

We go out every now and then, and were all over the place, but the Hubbies knees are starting to hurt. So I guess he will be seeing the Dr. for the knees wearing out. (USE TO BE A TRUCK DRIVER, SO ALOT OF UP, AND DOWN.)

I have been banded a while 10/31/2006. So almost 5 years. This is my second time around with the Band (HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH) and I am so glad to be on the Band Wagon. It takes pressure off the knees, feel better all the way around, and me and larrypdot will someday both get a new pair of suspenders LOL Just Kidding Larry. Although he was wise to make the suggestion. Just a idea of what you can look forward to in the future of weight loss.

Good Health to you, Shirley.

I'm getting banded on June 21st and was wondering if there are any others who are over 50 and have had the Lap Band process. My doctor said I didn't need to be on any special diet before my surgery, but I have been eating healthier anyway due to husbands heart problems. I know my road will be different from most due to leg nerve damage and back problems. Any tips anyone could pass on to me? I would love to hear from you. I'm excited and scared.

Shirley:

I'm over 50 too and was banded 6 months ago. It's the best thing I've ever done for myself! I lost about 12 pounds before surgery and about 44 since. Some days are easier than others and the first 6 weeks are tough! Hang in there and you will see the rewards! I would highly recommend the following website for great food ideas: www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com

Good luck with your journey!

Yes I am 54 and was banded last month!!!! No problems so far!

Hi, I am 61 10/12. They never winked at me when I went through all the preparations. I have been on blood pressure meds since about 1986. Now I'm on three different meds and it is getting harder to control. I had surgery Wed. 5/25/2011 so I don't know much about how it will work yet. I am looking forward to being healthier.

The only time my age was mentioned is when I had to stay in recovery three hours rather than one hour and they told my friend I was doing fine considering my age.

Hi, I am 61 10/12. They never winked at me when I went through all the preparations. I have been on blood pressure meds since about 1986. Now I'm on three different meds and it is getting harder to control. I had surgery Wed. 5/25/2011 so I don't know much about how it will work yet. I am looking forward to being healthier.

The only time my age was mentioned is when I had to stay in recovery three hours rather than one hour and they told my friend I was doing fine considering my age.

Sounds like you are doing great. I'm on high blood pressure meds also, I think about 20 years. I am required to stay over night in the hospital when I have to procedure done, but the doctor has everyone do that. I was planning on having the surgery earlier, but my husband went and had a heart attack, so I had to postpone it until June. He is doing great, but what a wake-up call. I have lost about 10 pounds since I have been cooking healthier for us both. Please keep me posted on how you are doing, okay. Thanks for the reply, makes me less nervous.

Linda

I'm 56 and have 2 artificial Knees. I make it a habit to walk unassisted, and I walk around the block 3x a week. That's my exercise.

We go out every now and then, and were all over the place, but the Hubbies knees are starting to hurt. So I guess he will be seeing the Dr. for the knees wearing out. (USE TO BE A TRUCK DRIVER, SO ALOT OF UP, AND DOWN.)

I have been banded a while 10/31/2006. So almost 5 years. This is my second time around with the Band (HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH) and I am so glad to be on the Band Wagon. It takes pressure off the knees, feel better all the way around, and me and larrypdot will someday both get a new pair of suspenders LOL Just Kidding Larry. Although he was wise to make the suggestion. Just a idea of what you can look forward to in the future of weight loss.

Good Health to you, Shirley.

Why did you have to banded twice? I am 54. Had my surgery and can't stop eating so obviously the band hasn't done me any good, so could you tell me why you were banded again. Perhaps it could help me.

Thanks

I am 54 and would love to have the lap band surgery. I actually pursued it almost 2 years ago. Jumped through all the hoops and all my surgeon & I were waiting on was the final okay from the insurance company. Two weeks before I thought I would be having surgery, they sent a letter denying me because they felt my health issues related to obesity could be treated without surgery. By then I was eating better & exercising (as recommended by my surgeon) and had lost 30 lbs, and was feeling better psychologically. Instead of appealing the decision, I let it drop, thinking I could do the weight loss on my own. I have regretted it ever since. I wish I would have appealed it and argued with them til the end. I have maintained my 30 lb weight loss but in the last 1 1/2 years, haven't lost any more. Starting April 1st, my insurance company no longer covers weight loss surgery. My only option is to pay out of pocket. Not a cheap venture but something I am seriously considering because I don't want to waste the rest of my life regretting it. It is scary to face surgery, but I figure the fear is easier than the way I feel every day when I look in the mirror. Good luck.

Why did you have to banded twice? I am 54. Had my surgery and can't stop eating so obviously the band hasn't done me any good, so could you tell me why you were banded again. Perhaps it could help me.

Thanks

The Dr. thought he BLEW MY BAND, he over filled my band. He deflated me, and wouldn't take care of me. So I had to get Ins., we moved up north, and I had to find another surgeon. That was not easy. No Doctor wants to touch someone else's garbage... I found a Dr. that was trained by my original Surgeon,,, .

That was a shock, but he took me under his wing, and the process started. They checked the band it was fine. So he started to fill it and it was fine they put Epoxy in it in case there was a leak.

In that whole time3 yrs. I almost regained it all back. So now it's back to the beginning, and starting all over again. That's how this is my second time around.

Nothing major happened, just the Dr. thought he blew it. It was bad aftercare.

He is Chief Surgeon of HENRY FORD BARIATRICS.

Excellent surgeon, I would even give 5* for his work. But his aftercare,,,, a student could do better.

Hope this helps. Fills help a lot !

Shirley.

I am 54 and would love to have the lap band surgery. I actually pursued it almost 2 years ago. Jumped through all the hoops and all my surgeon & I were waiting on was the final okay from the insurance company. Two weeks before I thought I would be having surgery, they sent a letter denying me because they felt my health issues related to obesity could be treated without surgery. By then I was eating better & exercising (as recommended by my surgeon) and had lost 30 lbs, and was feeling better psychologically. Instead of appealing the decision, I let it drop, thinking I could do the weight loss on my own. I have regretted it ever since. I wish I would have appealed it and argued with them til the end. I have maintained my 30 lb weight loss but in the last 1 1/2 years, haven't lost any more. Starting April 1st, my insurance company no longer covers weight loss surgery. My only option is to pay out of pocket. Not a cheap venture but something I am seriously considering because I don't want to waste the rest of my life regretting it. It is scary to face surgery, but I figure the fear is easier than the way I feel every day when I look in the mirror. Good luck.

It sounds like you know what you want. You will find a way to do it. Don't give up.