Little late to worry about it since I am having my operation Monday but I can't help but notice that this forum is dead!

The Lap Band Over 70 forum is alive and well.

Hope I haven't made the wrong decision! Not second guessing, just making a statement.

I will post again when I'm up and conscious!

http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/297872-adventures-of-the-old-lady-and-her-sleeve/

HevnB... I'm glad to see this. A good friend of mine is mid-70's and he wants the sleeve. Please DO follow up post-op to share your story. You might be heaven-bound, but not getting there just yet. Good luck and many prayers for your surgery on Monday.

Oh, the sleeve has fewer complications. You are likely more progressive than folks in that other forum. :-)

Edited February 16, 201412 yr by Dr-Patient

PS: I'm looking at handouts and literature I received at the Obesity Week medical conference last Nov. Previously, many centers cut off WLS at age 65-70. But now, due to marked decrease in co-morbidities (other conditions like HBP, diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, etc), most centers are more likely to do the surgery to alleviate those conditions. BMI also a factor, if favorable

For some patients, heart disease down 56%, type 2 DM down 92%(!!!) and cancer down 60%.

Again, good for you.

Yes, yes go for it. I'm 73 and had surgery May 2013. There are only a few of us out here possibly because docs seem to have an aversion to operating on people over 65. Since I've lost weight I can truly say that 73 is the new 63. Good luck. You will be fine. Please keep in touch.

Thanks all for the encouragement - I needed that!

Magtart - Thanks for the link to Chris1142's story,

Dr-Patient - Thanks for the prayers. I will try my best to keep you posted. I hope your friend goes for it. Did you read the link that magtart posted? Great story!

npwoman ..... I like the "73 is the new 63"!

Wonder where all the men are on Bariatic Pal? This reminds me of the Weight Watcher meetings I use to attend - 85% women! Of course I liked the odds then and I like the odds here! Surrounded by good looking women - what more could a guy want? :-)

You ladies have a blessed day and God willin' I will meet ya'll here next week.

Edited February 16, 201412 yr by Hevnbound

Hevenbound,

Hope your surgery went well. I will be very interested on your recovery, etc. I am 69 (so close enough) and will be having a band to sleeve revision on March 3. My surgeon doesn't seem to think my age will present any unique problems. And we will surely all be healthier after losing our excess weight.

Keep us informed. And thanks for being our trailblazer!

Karen W

Little late to worry about it since I am having my operation Monday but I can't help but notice that this forum is dead!

The Lap Band Over 70 forum is alive and well.

Hope I haven't made the wrong decision! Not second guessing, just making a statement.

I will post again when I'm up and conscious!

Hi Hevnbound,

I was glad to see your post...hope your surgery goes well tomorrow. I am 74 and had my surgery on Dec. 26th. My surgeon never once felt my age was a problem; in fact he encouraged me to have the sleeve over the lapband and I am so happy I took his advice. I am diabetic, have high blood pressure, hiatal hernia, sleep apnea and also a breast cancer survivor.

Now, 2 months later, I am on half my diabetic meds, my primary physician has cut my blood pressure med in half and I no longer need the CPAP for the sleep apnea. Also, my surgeon corrected my hiatal hernia during the surgery.

I have not had a moment's regret about this surgery - it is the best thing I ever did for myself, and I'm sure you will feel the same way.

Good luck,

Betty

Well, ..... I'm home and all is well. Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. Although is wasn't a piece of cake, it has so far been a walk-in-the-park with a couple of unexpected rain storms!!! :-). NO! Make that a couple of rain showers!

My experience to this point has really made me feel blessed. I will keep you posted with updates. Let's keep this thread active for the benefits of others our age who would benefit from our experiences.

Congratulations, Hevnbound...now I hope your rain showers will turn out to be sunny days ahead. Good luck!

Hevenbound,

I am so glad your surgery went well, and that you are home. When you can, keep us posted on your recovery process. You are my inspiration! I am 69 and right behind you. Not just age, but my

surgery is scheduled for March 3. Had my pre-op appointment with surgeon today. Everything is on track. One more appointment at hospital next week to meet with anesthesiologist. Have never done that in advance in my previous surgeries, but a Medicare requirement, I think. In theory, and according to the patient advocate (insurance specialist) at the surgeon's office, Medicare is paying for my complete band to sleeve revision. At least I "tick all the boxes." Medicare doesn't

actually approve things in advance, but the supervisor got involved and they say Medicare should

pay. My surgeon doesn't quite believe it. Neither do I, but at this point, I am counting on them for at least band removal.

Hope all is going well. As a fellow senior, I look forward to sharing this experience with you and other seniors. We rock!!

Karen W

Karen - with an attitude like yours, you will do well! I would imagine a revision as you are going to have must be a little more invasive than just having the sleeve? All this means is that your pain issue might be a little worse? Just speculating here. So, after saying that I can say that I have apparently been an exception to the rule according to my surgeon. I have had no pain, no pain medicine, no nausea, etc! The only problem so far was my very raw throat. A raw throat is common after surgery because of the breathing tube they insert (I think that is what it was). It did a job on me. It was so bad that I literally did not sleep Monday night. I have sleep Apnea and because of my inflamed throat, the CPap machine wouldn't function properly on exhale - my throat would close up as the air blew across my throat! Hard to explain but bottom line, I was not able to sleep. The fact that I couldn't sleep on my side made the problem worse. I am not complaining however since that is really the only "hiccup" I had.

Meeting with your anesthesiologist is a good opportunity to discuss any fears you may have and to tell him in detail any issues you may have such as a bad reaction to anesthesia, sleeping/breathing problems, etc. PLUS, discuss the raw throat issue!!

I am somewhat anal when it comes to Doctors orders - I follow the instructions to the letter. I was on a liquid diet for 4 weeks pre- surgery and never cheated. As a result I lost almost 40 pounds before I had surgery. When I tell you this, I am not bragging, I am saying that perhaps that made a big difference in my body's ability to tolerate surgery as well as it did. Post surgery will be no exception - I will follow the Doc's and the Nut's directions. Three days out, I have had no problem with my new/old stomach. I sip, take plenty of time and pay attention to what my stomach tells me. I continue to be serenaded by my stomach and bowels talking to me ... WOW! My wife thought it was thundering one time!! LOL

That's all I have. I feel blessed. Sure I followed the doctor's orders (after all, he has done over 800 sleeve surgeries)!! However ... I don't discount the prayers sent up for me! I asked everyone I knew and some I didn't to pray for me! I will be praying for you, Karen. Let us hear from you. Truly, you sound like a fun person with a great attitude and that will take you a long ways. Sam

Edited February 21, 201412 yr by Hevnbound

Hi Im 3 weeks post opp and had a band fitted 6 years ago which failed so now have sleeve (Im 70!!!) Hoping for great things this time. Glad to hear Im not the only 70 year old good luck to all the golden oldies X

SLEEVED AT 72 AND AGE WAS NOT AN ISSUE. SLEEVED ON 6/10/14

My surgeon has operated on several patients over 70.

And I'm almost 69.

No problemos here at all. (Am only 19 days post-op, but am doing great.)

Sleeved in March,70 years old,also had hernia repair have loss,85lbs ,betty

Has been hard for me ,but worth it having support from my family helps