Over 50 and 0ver 50

OK, it took me a while to find this part of the forum.  I posted on the main board, and then found "over 50 bmi" but couldn't find this......had to think too hard to find the thingy that had me scroll down......woe is me the over 50 lady who still has computer challenges.....

So, I am a 54 year old woman, with osteo arthritis, belong to Kaiser (a large HMO) and I'm about 290 lbs, 5'2" and really need this surgery.  Besides the usual health reasons, I need a knee replacement and they won't do one until I lose at least 70 lbs.  I can't exercise anymore, as my knee is bone on bone, and I fell and tore ligaments a couple weeks back.....so I am majorly out of luck. 

I would like to hear how surgery was for the over 50 crowd, any special problems ? Any great suggestions ? I just got my PCP to refer me to the obesity clinic, and have a date for the first informational meeting -- 4/22/10.  I don't think this is going to be a quick process.....looks like it takes many months to (crawl) jump through their hoops.....including a 12 week class that I have no idea when it will begin ! 

So, I have time to fully think about and work on myself for this life changing surgery. 

Andi

Welcome Andi. Glad you found us..alot of great people to identify with.

I just turned 60 in January, had my RNY surgery March of 2009. I've lost 105-107 lbs and very close to goal. I am also Kaiser, had surgery at Richmond CA. It seems every Kaiser facility has their own program and protocol.  From start to finish, I only had to wait 5 months to surgery.  Biggest obstacle was losing the weight required before surgery but I was determined and got my 30lbs off in the 5 months. Richmond didn't require the 12 week class thing but I understand most of the faciities in sourthern Calif do have that requirement.  I have been very fortunate that I my journey has been remarkable while being uneventful LOL  Surgery was a breeze, returned to work after a self-imposed 'vacation' of 3 wks (could have returned after 10days), been blessed with complication-free recovery and 1 year post op.

My only advice to you as a fellow-kaiser patient...be persistent and be your own advocate!  Let Kaiser know you will take any cancellation (if you can be ready at the drop of a hat...several of my support group friends got their surgery dates moved up because they could take a short-notice cancellation). As we get closer to warmer weather, look into a gym or the YMCA and find a water arobic class.  A friend of mine has the same issues with his knees and he swears by the water exercise.

This is a great forum with a good group of knowledgeable people. Advice and support seem to be given freely and often ;-)  Hope we can help you and share your journey with you...I wish you well!
Nancy aka Sunray

Thank you for your response !  My PCP is very supportive, and has been my doc for the lst 5 years.  I have had Kaiser for years and know the drill well, I am also a social worker so the advocacy comes naturally !!!  I am so glad to find people of my age group that had a positive outcome.  I appreciate the advice about telling them that I will take a cancellation date -- I had not thought of that aspect. And although work might not appreciate it, gotta do what ya gotta do !!! 

Thank  you ! Andi

While each Kaiser has it's own protocol as I stated before, please PM me if I can be of any help in answering questions specific to Kaiser.  I look forward to sharing my journey with you..and hope to hear from you again. ^_^
Nancy aka Sunray

Am Canadian but was 58 and 60.8bmi... was the best thing I ever did for myself... was waiting for knee replacement and although I haven't had one I am so much better with the weight loss that I am now procrastinating on that one.. we'll see.
Sheri

Hi Andi and welcome!

I "lost" the group atter the first time I found it and accidentally discovered it again in a group by group search and I'm glad I did!  I don't know why this group isn't easier to find in the group listings!  But I really feel "to home" here.  :)

I was 54 and weighed about the same as you when I had my surgery in April 2009.  I have to say it saved my life too!  Not only did I have collapsed arches and bulging disks, I also had diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a whole lot of other problems.  I couldn't exercise either because of pain and no matter how far back I cut on my food consumption, the weight just didn't come off.  Now, my diabetes is in remission, blood pressure and cholesterol are under control without medication, disks aren't bulging out that much anymore and I can walk!!  I've been going for longer and longer walks in the neighborhood.

In terms of recovery, I don't think I had any special problems--no more than usual in the younger age group.  The first few weeks were rough but that's true of any abdominal surgery.    The main thing is ... listen to your body's signals for hunger, for feeling full and for feeling tired.  The other is to make sure to drink enough water.

Right now you're in the discovery phase.  The best advice is to learn as much as you can now.  What are the different options?  What fits your needs best?  What changes will you need to make in your eating/diet after surgery?  That kind of stuff you'll be able to get at the informational meeting but then it's also important to research it all online too.  Talk with people who have had the different surgeries and find out what it's like afterwards.  The more you know now the more successful you'll be later.

Best wishes to you, Andi, and keep us posted.  We're here for you!

Cassie

Welcome Andi!  I'm 58 and started with a BMI of 54.  I'm also 5'2" and started at 306.  I had VSG 4 1/2 weeks ago.  My only "complaint" is generalized weakness.  I know that I had major surgery, but I'm impatient and have always been a strong person, so this kind of ticks me off. LOL  On the "up" side, I've lost 39 pounds.  I haven't taken my arthritis medicine since a week before surgery.  Actually, since it's an NSAID, I can't take it any more. But the good news is I haven't needed it! That's something else you need to know.  NSAIDS are a no-no since they are hard on the stomach.

I started the journey planning to get lapband but after much research, I decided VSG was a better fit for me.  I had to self pay, as my insurance only covers lap band and RNY.

With all WLS you will have to meet certain requirements and go through some testing.  Just remember that this is for your own well being and to have the safest surgery possible.   You have lots of time to do some of your own research before you attend the seminar .  That way, you can go prepared to ask questions.  I would suggest you go to each of the WLS forums: Lap Band, VSG, RNY and DS and read, read, read.  You'll learn a lot there.  Another good place to go is the Revision forum.  You'll find there people *****vised from one type of surgery to another.  You'll get a better idea of "failure" issues with the different WLS. 

As you'll learn, WLS is a tool to help us in our effort to lose the weight and ultimately keep it off.  WLS doesn't "cure" head hunger, food cravings, emotional eating or choices of foods we eat.  You're on your own in those areas!   You will have challenges along the way, but your tool will help you with those challenges. 

Good luck to you!

Wanda

Andi welcome,

 I am a firm believer in "we find things when we most need  them." I'm glad you found us. I would like to encourage you to read the profiles of people here. You will hear your own story told in slightly different ways. I had LAP RNY in 2005 at age 55. I am 5'3" and weighed 377 lbs. I  was blessed with no complications, just a few minor adjustments as I am one of those "have to try it myself" people. I tried to eat crackers and peanut butter at 3 wks post op. . . Not a good idea! I thought I'd really screwed things up as I could barely get sips of water down for 3 hours. I did survive and tried to follow my surgeon's advice better from then on.

My doctor did replace both of my knees when I weighed 330 lbs. He said it was a quality of life issue. I'm sure the recovery would have been easier with weight gone, but I survived and have never regretted that decision either. I am now free of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stress incontinence. sleep apnea and the machine!, I can walk for 4 miles quite easily. I exercise 4-5 days per week at a local gym. I lost 190 lbs over 2 years. I let my exercise slide and gained back 20 lbs which I am now determined to get back off. I am not tiny, probably never will be, but I can now go and do anything I want to. I travel extensively, hold my grandbabies on a lap that I didn't even have 5 yrs ago and enjoy living life fully once again.

Welcome to this medical miracle. It's a miracle that requires a lot of you also, but well worth it. Jump in and participate fully in the forum. We become family to one another. I've had the pleasure of meeting many of these women and one man(Hi George!) in person during my travels.

I kept a profile for a couple of years. I really should update it. Also I believe those before/after pictures are really important. Taking measurements even when you don't see the lbs dropping will remind you that your surgery is still working. I've gone on long enough so I'll get out of here. Again, welcome!

Welcome Andi - you've found the best place to be, even though I'm usually a "lurker" and don't contribute often, the people here are very welcoming and wonderful, and you can get the support that you need for just about anything you might be looking for.
I was 51 went I started this journey, almost 52 when I finally had it, and now I'm almost a year out and I must say that even though I have faced some complications, I am so glad that I made the choice to have RNY and that I'm now able to live the kind of life that I had been missing out on for so very long.
Most people sail through WLS without any problem at all, some run into a few bumps in the road, but all in all, that will hold true with any surgical procedure one may have. 
The most reassuring thing that I can tell you right now is that over the next several months, you will be put through a battery of tests to make sure that you are in the best health that you can possibly be in for this journey that you're about to embark on.  This is one of the reasons "why" it takes so long - it is overwhelming at times with all that one must go through in preparation for this surgery.  This is a BIG surgery, with BIG changes.  But, it is so worth the time and effort and in all honesty, at least for me, I was kept so busy with not only all the testing, but with nutritional and exercise classes, that the time went by rather fast.
I wish you luck.  You will do fine.  We may have a few more "special needs" because of our age, but nothing that they aren't already familiar with and more than capable of handling.

Thank you to each of you *****sponded !  I have been researching this on my own for the last several weeks, while at home, with my leg immobilized !  Thank goodness my dd let me borrow her laptop, or I wouldn't have been able to sit at my computer desk! 

I hope and pray that this will be a new beginning for me - one that will allow me to do the things I did 15 years ago and before that even.....hiking in the mountains, long walks with the dog, disneyland with out the mobility scooter.  I know that I will have to have the knee repacement(s) but if I could lose significant weight, and get new knees, WOW would I be set !!!! 

I will continue to post here, it feels "right" --- and continue to read archieves for more information. 

Again, my thanks.