How does a 54 y/o know which kind of WLS to have???

Welcome!
I got the lapband in 2007. Got to my sweet spot with 3 fills. Lost 125 pounds. I LOVED my band. Some things I absolutely could not eat: bread, rice, pasta, I learned to eat right and work my band.
The short version....in 2009 I got gallbladder cancer. Went through 2 surgeries still banded with no problems. Then I got an infection, the doc had to unfill my band. Went through chemo, radiation and then more chemo. Could eat anything and I did. Had quite a regain. Had to wait til I was done with all my treatment to get a fill. Got about 12 fills and unfills. Never got it right! Finally got a leak in my tubing. Debated between having the port and tubing replaced or getting the sleeve. Last Sept. I decided on a sleeve. I am very unhappy with it! Had to go back and have it tweaked. I can still pretty much eat anything, just only 1 cup at a time. I don't feel satisfied for more than 2 hours at a time! I was told the sleeve had about the same success rate as the RNY. I have not found that to be true!.
I agree with everyone. You have to do lots of research and make your own decision. Talk to your doctors. Talk to others who have had different surgeries. Do your psych eval, see your nutritionist. Then decide what you feel will work for you. Good luck! This is a great forum with folks with experience with every type of WLS.

Your story is amazing. I am the clinical operations manager of a University cancer center in the midwest. I have seen many women have WLS surgery after surviving cancer, especially breast cancer, but i do not recall hearing a story like yours.

You have a huge spirit!!! You dealt with your weight issues, then you faced cancer head on. That is amazing. Cancer patients are the most amazing people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I have met 1000's and they all make me humble.

It's a pleasure knowing your story. God Bless you.

Sharon

Thanks, Sharon. I feel very lucky that apparently the adenosquamous cancer was still just in my gallbladder. It had not broken through to the liver.

I was gonna wait to have my gallbladder out when I turned 65 and let medicare and my med sup pay for it. But then my Mom died very suddenly (within 3 weeks of being diagnosed with small cell lung cancer). So I decided to use some of the money she left me to take care of the gallstones that had been bothering me. She saved my life! Dr. said it had been growing about a year and if I had waited even a month longer it probably would have spread!

My Sis is a 10 year breast cancer survivor. We both feel absolutely normal and our cancers are just a dim memory. Although mine was just 2 years ago.

It must be very hard to work with cancer patients. So many of them don't survive! I applaud you for being there for so many!

Oh, your story gets better. To hear you had the gallbladder because your mom was able to still be your mom and take care of you even after she passed is the best part of the entire story. My mom passed in November. I was her care-giver and I miss her so much. She was my best friend. She begged me before she died to have the WLS. I am so confident I am making the right decision to go thru with this very big drastic step to lose this weight. I feel like she is my guardian angel.

It's not hard to work with cancer patients. Cancer patients are living their lives in the moment. It is a beautiful thing to watch. It's hard to lose some of them. I have a wall in my office of all the patients I have loved and lost. Everyone of them make me smile when I think of them.

Sharon

 I am another RNY vet. In Feb of 2005, at age 55, I weighed in at 377 lbs and I am 5'3". My advice would be to research, talk to your doctor and give it a lot of thought. Only you can decide which surgery is best for you. I knew that I needed something permanent and I've never regretted it. At one point I had lost almost 200 lbs. I have regained 30 lbs which I am not proud of. However I am still oh so much happier and healthier than I was 7 years ago. I live a full life and would do it again in a heartbeat.  This is a for the rest of your life change. My head is still messed up when it comes to food so for me the 'RNY helps me by not allowing me to eat too much at one time.  I would encourage you to read profiles, get to know us and ask a lot of questions. You certainly are not too old. I feel younger now than I did 20 years ago! Best wishes.

 Hi there,
I was 49 when I had my RNY.  I originally wanted the lap band, but realized that I would still abuse sugar and fats if I had that.  I needed consequences if I strayed from my food plan.  I lost 120 pounds, but regained after a relapse with alcoholism.  I have been sober for two years now, and am slowly losing again.  I am limited as to what I can do as far as exercise is concerned due to physical limitations right now.  

My sister had the lap band done in June 2010, and she has not lost anything, because she does not exercise, nor does she follow the food plan for WLS.  She was afraid to get the RNY, because she has had blood clots.  It's a shame.

Hugs,
Trish