Age 65 and 90 BMI! Please Help!!!!

Hi~ I posted this on the main board and it was suggested I post here too. Thank you! My Mom has been battling her weight her entire life. She will turn 65 this yr and will qualify for Medicaid. She has always blown off surgery with thoughts of fear ("I will die if I get on the operating table") and denial ("I am not *that* bad"). My Mom is at the point where she can hardly move. She is getting her foot ulcer back (last time it took over a yr to get rid of) and probably has every cormorbidity known to man. My sister (who is her full time care taker) finally broke down and told my mom that she just couldn't do it any more and wanted to put her in a home. And my Mom agreed to the surgery. Questions~ Is it me, or is it something short of a miracle that my mom can be that old and that heavy???? Have you ever heard of a 65 yr old woman weighing 450 (the weight my Mom admits to... could be a good 100 lbs over) lbs (at 5'0)???? From reading (lurking on) this site.... I am under the impression that she will have a difficult time finding a surgeon willing to do her surgery due to her BMI and her age. Does that seem to be correct? Will she have a problem being approved by Medicaid??? I would be sincerely grateful to hear any success stories of older folks at that weight having surgery. In all of my time lurking on this site I don't think I've seen anybody who is close to that age and weight go through surgery. The thought of losing my Mom is scary, but honestly I feel like I lost her 10+ yrs ago. When we come to visit (with her grand kids) she can't even hold a 10 minute conversation without having to lay down and sleep. It would mean the absolute world to me to get my Mom "back". Please help me! Feel free to e-mail me at home too [email protected] . Thank you!

Your such a great daughter for trying to help your mom. Yes its possible for her to be 5'0 and 450 lbs. at her age. I was 29 and 450 lbs. at 5'4. I have read others say that most surgeons wont do wls on patients over 62. That don't mean that theres not a surgeon out there that will. I suggest looking up surgeons in your area and calling them. Ask them what age do they stop preforming the surgery. Ask these same questions on your state board since every state has different rules when it comes to Medicaid. Also try posting on the age 50 and older board. You sound like your really willing to help her get this surgery. Call around, go to different boards and ask questions til you find answers. I hope and pray everything works out for her. Kay

I agree with Kay. Keep calling and asking around until you get your answers. I have heard of surgeons that go as high as 70 years old now, specifically one in NJ. I think it is awesome you are helping your mom out this way. Best wishes and good luck. Hugs, Ruth 416/342/Healthy

I remember hearing about a doctor in TX who operates on SMO folks. I wish I could remember his name. You might try posting on the TX board, too. Kix

Thank you Kay, Ruth, and Kix for responding. I hope in a few months that my Mom will be on here posting about her WL success story. Your stoires are very uplifiting and encouraging. TY!

My doc, Eric Wilson is in Houston. He does RNY Lap on larger patients using robotic surgical tools. I had to get under 500 before he would do surgery. I don't know about the age issue. Texas MediCAID does not cover WLS at all, but MediCARE might cover it.

Hi...I'm not that age but I think my doctors office does "elderly" patients. They are Surgical Specialist of LA. Their website is (whyweight.com). I know a lot of people don't like to travel, but I also know many who do for the surgery. I know in different support groups I've met people in their 60s and one lady was 70 I think. I don't know if they had insurance, or paid for it cash...but I know my doctor (Dr. Lavin) is more concerned w/ getting people to a healthier life, than so much of the other things. As for Medicaid, from what I hear it is very hard to get approved w/ Medicaid. However, w/ this surgery, persistance is the key. Good luck and God bless.

I don't know his name, but I have read more than once that an outstanding wls surgeon who does difficult patients in right there in Wichita Falls. I know they do a large number of surgeries there and have much experience. However, I don't think he does LapBands, which is the least risky of all the surgeries. I myself am 61 yrs. old, 5'2", 350 lbs., several co-morbs.......my cardiologist got tired of trying to keep me alive, I guess, and asked me to investigate wls. I did, and came thru the surgery wonderfully - not so much as a gas pain. (I had a LapBand). My surgeon is very experienced and never hesitated because of my age or size.....seemed to think it was a non-issue. Dr. Richard Benavides. His clinic is on Beltline in Dallas but he operates one day a week in Decatur, which is not far from you. The Wise Regional Health Center there l there has another surgeon who is very experienced and they do many wls every week (I think his name is Stewart).