I'm "only" 50 lbs overweight and considering the sleeve, 61 yrs old and...

Looking for any help by someone with a similar experience to mine. I'm 61 years old, been some kind of overweight most of my life. I'm a 61 year old female, high triglycerides and cholesterol for 25-30 years.  Diabetic controlled with metformin for about 4-5 years. Now I have high blood pressure and take lorsartran for that. Got to a doctor about 2 years ago who diagnosed me with under active thyroid, low hormones, etc and I'm on synthroid, progesterone and a patch for that. I had a total hip replacement about a year ago and will need another one soon.  I am seriously considering the gastric sleeve.  One of my best friends had it two years ago to lose 100 pounds and she has done quite well. I have recently learned that my co-morbidities make my 50 pounds and BMI of 31 more likely to be considered for surgery.   I feel even if I lost 30 lbs on my own, my stretched out stomach would be waiting for me to fill it back up:-)!   Any help is appreciated. Thanks. 

I think the sleeve would be a very good choice.  Things are much easier with the weight off. My lower back thanks me every day. 

Welcome to the lightweight board!  : )

--gina

I was your age when I had my RNY but I had 100lbs to lose.  I also had a list of co-morbidities and now, arthritis is my only remaining one.  I am off all my meds except Prilosec which I will probably stay on for life.  I have my life back.  It didn't fix my knee and I still ended up with a knee replacement but I'm sure recovery was easier 100lbs lighter.

If you are ready to lose it and keep it off, you can do it with any surgery.  You can also eat your way around any surgery.  But at least you have a fighting chance once you have surgery.  And we are here to support you!!!

Welcome aboard!!!

Sounds like a great idea to me! Though in the US it is unlikely that insurance will pay for it. They'll pay for a lap band at that BMI but not a sleeve. But a lap band is just asking for trouble eventually IMO. By 10 years out, the vast majority of people have lost theirs due to mechanic failure and you don't have to be having a second surgery at 70.

I was self-pay for my sleeve and it was the best 17,000 I ever spent.

I was going to say the same thing.  Getting insurance to pay for a sleeve could be an uphill battle.  If you are able to self pay then you may be able to get an American surgeon to do the surgery but you may have better luck in another country, with the added bonus of it costing less, as well in many cases.

Personally, I think the sleeve is a great surgery for lightweights.  My own feeling is that you want the least invasive procedure that you can get away with.  At only 50 lbs overweight it's likely that your metabolism isn't that messed up and a purely restrictive procedure would do the job.

They don't advertise it but most US surgeons will do WLS on BMIs of 30 and up if there are co-morbidities. That's the standard in most of the rest of the world and they recognize that.

Welcome to the lightweight board.

A sleeve is an excellent option.

I only had 68 lbs to lose but the sleeve was NOT an option for me at the time as it was not covered by Medicare until July 2011 and my surgery was Jan 2011. I decided on the DS which has the sleeve stomach. BTW, I am 60 this year.

I had the sleeve 19 weeks ago...i am 57.  Ins did not pay..i am a lightweight lol...had 40 lds to loose...tried everything..and like u had back.and thyroid issues.....i have lost 22 lds to date..its slow but its coming off...lost ten in two weeks,,,12 since then..but thats ok....i am doing it while vacationing...eating out ,all at my own pace,,when im away i may only loose an 1/8 ld that week when home maybe 1.5 lds that week..but thats ok...Ive lost enough so far that I look better feel better and my cholesterol meds are no longer needed i have 18!left  it could take a year thats ok...ill take even  2 lds a month,,,in the end I wont be obese thats what I needed to accomplished. There are some sad times,,,I miss enjoying food...it is now a worry at times...I cant eat more then A few bites of anything,,,,or I get sick or feel like I may get sick...for me when home its easy...Protien shakes..yogurt..quacomoli..hummus...eat very small like every 3 hrs...but when out with people get odd looks at how little i eat.  Haven't told anyone...my excuse south beach.  People are now noticing the weight loss,,,but all in all at this point I believe it was worth it.

Error was to read 10 weeks

Hi 

I just read your post..I just turned 60 and I am having revision surgery in a couple of weeks (lapband in and the company went bankrupt 3 weeks later)....

I am 5'2" HW 238 CW 215 just looking for others that had surgery close to 60

Kerri