Anyone older than me?

[RestlessMonkey 7]

DaneQ8@hotmail.com....

I was SO obese that my Tricare standard insurance approved me in under 48 hours. I didn't need comorbidities etc. I was good to go! I'm not 100% up on fatty livers since I didn't realize I had one until my 1st surgery when the doc, on 8/11, couldn't place my band because of mine! I will tell you what I know...visceral fat (around organs, and mostly in our torsos of course) is really hard on us...super obese people store fat there and in the liver. If left unchecked it can lead to liver disease...cirrhosis It is in fact called NALD...or "Non-alcoholic liver disease" I think as the liver becomes more clogged with fat, its function diminishes. I wasn't at that stage (thank god) but did have a large thickened liver. I followed an Atkins type diet but very low cal, too...600 cal a day average, VERY low fat, high proten. I did that for 5 1/2 weeks and lost 32 pounds. Apparently I lost much of that as visceral fat .... that gut fat around my organs and in my liver. On 8/29 my liver had shrunk sufficiently for the doc to move it out of the way and place my band. They did blood work which, I'm sure (although I didn't discuss w/my surgeon) showed elevated liver enzymes, so he knew I had a fatty liver. I had an abdominal ultrasound but that didn't show him how THICK and immovable my liver was...so he didn't know that until he "went in". As motivation to stick to a diet, coming to in recovery and being told "You didn't get the band, dear, your liver was too fat" is right up there at the top of the heap! I cried about 2 seconds and then got determined.

SO if you are VERY obese, like me, (more than double what you should weigh) then your approval will be fast. If your doc tells you to follow a preop diet, do it TO THE LETTER! Learn from me! LOL

[MartiXLardy 0]

Restless Monkey,

That is so inspriational to all... You go girl. I learned allot just now and thank you for sharing. I wish you all the luck and I will (try) and be as tenacious and inspiring to others as you have been for us.

Sincerely,

MartiXLardy

[RestlessMonkey 7]

MartiXlardy....THANK YOU! :tt1:

I think a lot of us "baby boomers" are alike...do NOT try to hold us back. I get so much from the posters here, it's nice to know I can help, too! Your sweet words made my day!

[navywife65 0]

I was 62 when I had mine done and the only problem I had were the gas bubbles and I thought I was going to die, have plenty of Gas X Strips and take them all the time. Haven't had a problem except my ports went bad and I had to have them replaced twice, but that was a piece of cake, very little pain and in a couple of days I was fine. Have lost 80 pounds so far. So go for it you are a young thing compared to me.

[mnn2501 0]

I'm 52 so not older but close and weigh a whole lot more than you do even after losing 50# in 6 months. I had not problems with being banded, bounced right back. Could have went back to work a day or 2 after, but took off 2 weeks cause my wife was being banded 10 days after me and cause I had the time off coming.

[daydreamer1 0]

hi cleos mom i am 68 will be 69 in july. i went to the three hr. class last night thinking t would be the oldest one there. but to my supprise most of the people there was all in there 50 or older.

[LynnN 0]

Yes, I'm older than dirt (65), and I anticipated a problem being accepted as a surgery candidate because of it. My surgeon said he would prefer the Lap-Band over gastric by-pass due to my age and his anticipation of my healing abilities. I'm fine with that decision! I just need a tool to help me learn and adopt new eating habbits! I can lose weight (I've lost 100 pounds on three different occassions in my lifetime, but then go back to my old habits of over-eating. I just LOVE to eat! No binging, don't care for sweets, just give me another plate of food and I'm happy. I eat so fast that I've consumed a ton of food before my brain can tell me I've over-done it. My most difficult learning curve is going to involve chewing long enough to mush the food...and s l o w i n g down!

I will be scheduled for surgery in October, and I will NOT allow my age to delay my healing! I CAN do this!!! We can all do this together!

[susieca 0]

You will do fine. I am One week out and just stopped taking my meds. I feel great because of the weight I am losing. If you just stick with what the doc tells you, get plenty of rest, you will do fine. I am 52 and I can't believe how much better my feet and knees feel for the weight I lost before and now after surgery. Just keep your eye on the goal ahead and keep reminding yourself it will be all worth it!

susan

[MartiXLardy 0]

Hi Bandsters,

I am on cloud nine.... I had my first visit to the doctors since Sept 3rd banding and have lost 14 lbs... I cannot believe I've lost that much in 2 weeks... My self esteem is off the chart already and confidence...

I now have to prepare for my first fill.... Sept 30th. I'm scared to death :tongue2: :scared2:as I learned for the next two weeks how IMPORTANT it is to eat tiny bites and very slow... It will definately be a challenge for me as I'm like "older than dirt Lynn" ... I have always eaten way to fast and to much... Please keep me in your prayers as I do all my Band Girls and Guys...

Thanks,

MartiXLardy

[susieca 0]

Hey Marti!

It sounds like you are doing great! Congrats on the 14 pounds. I have lost about 18 counting my pre-surgery diet! I am one week out of surgery and feeling great! I have learned from another bandster to put my fork down between bites. It is harder to eat slow, I am having trouble with drinking slowly, I have always been a gulper! By the way I am from Stockton, now living in the midwest! Good luck to you on your fill!

Susan