Hello, VSGers. I'm a 68 year old woman who's been heavy (and fighting it hard) all my life. In the last few years, I ran out of steam to fight it, but wasn't ready to live in my recliner. For the first time I heard about the sleeve and started investigating it.

And now, a year later I feel like my VSG journey is finally starting. I'm sure everyone here can relate when I say that it feels like the journey to this point has taken for bloody ever.

Last July (2013) I attended an introductory lecture. And now, eleven months later, I've accomplished:

* My primary care physician's approval

* Selected a surgeon (100 miles away from home)

* Submittal of all medical records (from two PCPs) to surgeon's office

* Insurance pre-approval (Medicare and Medicare supplemental)

* Psychiatric interview, exams and approval

* Behavior educational seminar

* Initial meeting with surgeon

* Pencil and paper VSG / WLS knowledge exam

All the above has taken (gasp!) seven months.

Next comes:

* Nutritionist appointment and some hoops (not sure what) and approval for surgery

* Exercise appointment and some hoops (not sure what) and approval for surgery

* Final insurance approval

* Meet with surgeon to schedule surgery

* Two week liquid Protein diet (to shrink liver)

* Surgery

At this point, I'm hoping that two months from now I will have been sleeved.

Onward and downward!

P.S. I weigh a hair under 240 pounds and have some very sore knees. Other than that, I'm in pretty good shape. Just ready to get my life back. (Sorry not to be very original.)

Good luck! You're the same age as my mom...she tried to tell me the other day that she thought she was too old to have VSG (or any WLS)...I tried to tell you're never too old to take control of your health.

No worries about originality...a lot of people here have similar stories and have been in similar circumstances. Your story is still unique to you

Agreed - never too old. I'm 65 and 8 months out. Best decision I ever made!

Hello, I just turned 65 and just starting this journey. I have lots of appointments scheduled for the next two weeks. I'm in my second month of a three month supervised diet. I haven't done well on the diet, though. I am still wavering on the surgery, but I don't know why. Just scared, I guess. I have been obese and morbidly obese all my life. I am really tired of not being able to do things. I hope your journey goes well and you are able to meet your goal, whatever that is.

Mardi

Best of luck to you.

I'm 53 and it took me a little over a year for the whole process. Now I am getting sleeved in less than 36 HOURS. The last couple of months of the process zoom by.

Thanks to everyone who's posted here. I really do appreciate it. I definitely don't think that I'm "too old" for VSG at all. After all, 68 is the new 48. Right?

In any event, with luck there's a lot more life to be lived -- places to go, people to meet, loving to be loved, and adventures to be had.

It's just very hard trying to do it while dragging my 240 pound a** behind me.

I'm sure that the night before surgery I may be freaking out. But I'm going on record here right now and saying that I think that my undergoing a VSG will be one of the smartest, bravest, most sensible things I've done in a long time.