63 Year Old Man: 'Year of Action'!

After reading about the procedures, the radical process of full gastric bypass and the sleeve seem - at this point - too extreme. Had Abrasion arthroplasty of the knee and already off from work three months. Taking more extreme time off would be unfair to my peers. That said, if after going through the process now, this is going to be 'The Year of Action' friend my health. I've had a couple friends that hadn't gone the last step of skin removal. Read possibly that skin with the exercise, may not be as bad with lap band. Economics also important, and, the surgeon's office will check all that out. Thus, lap band not as radical. Thank you.

Thanks for sharing. I totally understand your reasoning. For me, I wanted some permanent like the sleeve and I didn't want to have to deal with the filling/emptying of the port. But everyone has different goals.

The issues with skin, is less the type of procedure and more about how much you have to lose. Really, anything over 100lbs and most people will need the excise skin surgically removed, But if you have less to lose, and you work out regularly, then hopefully you will be able to tone it up!

Please do keep us updated with your progress!

HI Michael, Read your entire profile today. Thanks for sharing. I see you are struggling with which procedure to choose. I want to share my sister's experience with the band. She got it several years ago and did great for the first 4 months. She is 5'3" and weighed almost 300 lbs. She lost about 65 lbs in those four months and then her employer changed the insurance coverage and the new company did not cover her band fills. She could not afford to pay for them herself so she has only had two more fills since then and sad to say she is gaining again. She is also having some problems and suspects the band has slipped and needs surgery again to explore what is going on but again the new ins. co. considers this a weight loss issue and refuses to pay. Just something to think about if you choose the band. I know the sleeve is more restricting, but I for one need that permanence so I don't end up back where I started. I also like the idea that the sleeve will remove the part of my stomach that produces the grehlin hunger hormone so I won't feel like I'm starving while getting to my goal weight. I can battle the hunger for 3-4 months but any longer than that and I have never been successful in keeping with a diet. The sleeve procedure won't force me to eat healthy but it forces me to eat MUCH less and if it curbs hunger too, then I feel it is a tool that will help me get results faster and hopefully be an incentive to make the lifestyle changes I need to make. I am attending weight management classes where we talk about the HEAD issues as well as the food choices and the importance of identifying my food issues and emotional issues so I can recognize my triggers and make healthier choices. I pray this is preparing me as I implement new strategies and habits so I will be successful. I need a permanent solution and the sleeve offers that without the absorption problems. Please know I am NOT judging your decision, but be sure to ask your bariatric specialist what he recommends for someone with the amount of weight you need to lose and what the long term effects are with the band; and also what he charges for band fills if you had to pay for it yourself. My sister now wishes she had gone with the sleeve procedure. I wish you the best whichever you ultimately decide upon and know we support you here at real self and are here whenever you need us. So excited for you and your journey!

Afternoon Chatty Cathy. Thank you VERY MUCH. I'm now leaning towards the Sleeve. Like you well said, the lapband (my original choice for years of research) has too much maintenance. Also, never would of thought about insurance changing. The fills and unfills, more office visits. Like you said and my bariatric coordinator and surgeon stated as well, any goes wrong, another operation, and, another possible operation. Like you, the permanence I important. Granted more radical, but, if taking part or majority of the stomach and those hormones, all the better. The 'Y' surgery too extreme for me. Everything seems to flow in an out. Do, malabsorbant or malnutrition. Not for me. The Sleeve being restrictive, I a great tool. Have you had surgery, or, also in the process of leading up to surgery. I had the pysch evaluation yesterday: tonight an Informative Session and Thursday a Group Support Session, I to ironically this one hosted by my surgeon and coordinator. Let's stay in touch. Michael. Again, thank you for your insight

I am in process also. I was preparing to get the band right after my sister got hers and she was doing so well and then my husband fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma a month, in the hospital 7 months and has been in two ninety day residential rehabilitation programs. He is now home and doing much better but will be disabled the rest of his life unless the Lord chooses to work a miracle in his brain and recreate brain tissue that was damaged from the fall. Needless to say this postponed my surgery. Now that life has returned to a "degree of normalcy", it is time for me to get healthy so I will be around for many years to care for him. I do not want to precede him in death and him to be a burden to our daughters. I want to be as healthy as possible and outlive him. I will complete my insurance requirements in late May and hopefully get the approval for mid June for surgery. I am doing everything I know to do to insure this is successful, from educating myself, changing my lifestyle and preparing for post-op so everything will be in place to make the transition and the journey to the new me as uncomplicated and successful as possible. I have begun to put together a notebook of recipes with foods for each stage following surgery and a cookbook of recipes to get to and maintain goal when I "arrive" at that weight. I have always enjoyed cooking and like trying new recipes - they are just going to be healthy ones now! Well, need to get out side and walk - it's a beautiful day in Houston today!