Question:
My mother is 48 and her PCP feels that she is to old for WLS. Any thoughts?
I have my 1st appointment with the WLS surgeon in January and my mother has been giving it some though as well. She went to PCP the other day and she told her that she felt that she was too old for the surgery (she is 48). Any thoughts? — Trisch B. (posted on November 3, 2000)
November 3, 2000
I'm 54 and had open RNY (distal) three weeks ago without problems. My
surgeon operates on many people in their 60s. I suggest your mother do some
research and show it to her PCP. She is certainly NOT too old!
— Linda B.
November 3, 2000
Have your Mother concider a new PCP. I had my surgery four months ago, at
age 53. I feel better than I have felt in years and years. I am greatful I
can live the rest of my life without the morbid obesity I endured during
the first part of my life.
— Bobbie W.
November 3, 2000
Tell your mother for me to check her PCP's medical credentials. No
accredited medical school could possibly teach that 48 is "too
old" for surgery--or much else, for that matter. I had a laporascopic
RNY on July 13, 2000. I was back at work in two weeks. I've lost 45
pounds and feel great. No complications. I'm 53 years old. I'm not
saying that this surgery or any other poses no risk. Unless there is some
other life-threatening factor you haven't mentioned, I am saying that the
risks of morbid obesity outweigh the risks of an RNY. Pun intended. And
that's not an opinion. It's a fact. You can get the statistics yourself.
A consensus development conference of the National Institutes of Health
came to that conclusion in the early 90's and the statistical evidence has
increased considerably since then. Good luck to you and your mother.
— Julianne C.
November 3, 2000
48 too old???? Nonsense! I will be 58 in February and had an Open RNY
8/29/00. So far I have lost 58 pounds and I feel great! Get another PCP
if you must!! --Libby
— Libby B.
November 3, 2000
My surgeon says you need to be 15 to 70.
— Cindy H.
November 3, 2000
I heard Dr. Wittigrove (from Alvarado clinic) say the 'average' weight loss
patient is female age 43. Sounds like it is time for your Mom to find a
new PCP. I've sometimes heard age 55 as a limit, but never for people in
their 40's. I was a kidney donor several years ago and they take donors up
to age 55. Weight loss surgery is a cake walk in comparison to having a
kidney removed.
We need to understand there are many uninformed PCP's out there when it
comes to weight loss surgery (it makes me wonder what other newer medical
treatments they might not know about). I'd find another PCP.
My new PCP is in a clinic where there are many young doctors. She's in her
30's. At first I was hesitant about her age. But she and the other
doctor's I've seen at the clinci all know about gastric bypass surgery and
are very supportive of it. So it sounds like it might be time for your Mom
to find a new PCP.
— Jennifer L.
November 3, 2000
I'm 57, had it done last Jan., and if I had had it done much sooner, I
don't think it would have worked on me as well as it has.
As it was, my PCP believes it saved my life (even though he is against the
surgery, in general). I'm off insulin and so many other drugs, that I lost
count-I think between 18-25 drugs a day for diabetes, high blood pressure,
fluid retention, arthritis and panic disorder. Advise mom to get a new
doctor, one who is current in treatments for the morbidly obese.
— rosemary H.
November 3, 2000
Well lets see I had my surgery Aug.24,2000 at the ripe old age of 49. I
had three drs. all for it. And I am down 52 lbs and getting around great.
It depends on you mothers condition. I have friends that were older then
myself that went thro. and has done great. Your mother needs to figurer out
on her own whatt she wants and go for it. Dealing with this surgery with a
good outlook helps alot.I was ready and very tried of feeling old. But we
have alot of living to do after 48 right? Good luck to your mother.
— Cathy B.
November 3, 2000
I am 46......soon to be 47. I am nine weeks out from my open RNY. I had
the surgery to help me remain active and vigourous. 48 is a number. Age is
about attitude and motivation and desire and determination. I came through
the surgery in a relatively easy fashion. You mother is in the prime of
her life right now. She needs to find a doctor who realizes that 48 is only
half way through life these days.
— Nanette T.
November 3, 2000
Baloney !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell your Mom to find another PCP
— Barbra F.
November 3, 2000
Trisch,
I'm 60 yrs. old and my wls took place on august 7,2000. I have lost approx
50 lbs. (havent weighed lately) I had many medical problems; diabetes,high
blood pressure, back problems, stent was placed in my right coronary artery
one mo. before wls. I did have some difficulties while in the hospital but
made it ok. I'm off insulin & many of my pills. Its a slow process
recuperating but worth it.
Hope this helps you a little.
— LYNDA W.
November 3, 2000
Hi, I read your question and had to respond. I am now 2 1/2 weeks post-op
& I was 59 years old in August. When I met a surgeon in Dallas 1 1/2
years ago he stated they generally do not perform this on persons beyond
age 60. My surgeon in San Antonio told me that I was just on the cusp of
not having it done because of my age. I would invite you to discuss this
further w/the doctor, even better another surgeon. I WAS told that the
surgery is a little riskier at later age, that I would lose weight slower,
heal slower and perhaps lose less than someone similar who was younger, but
I had nothing to lose but my life and it had turned out great for me thus
far. Wishing you great luck and please let me know how it turns out. Thom
— Thom C.
November 3, 2000
Trisch, I am a 49 year old female. I am 5 weeks post-op and doing pretty
good now. My surgeon was Dr. Margaret Inman. She performs WLS at St.
Vincents Hospital in Carmel,Indiana. I am very pleased with her performance
and follow up care. I think your mother will have good results, just keep
looking.Some surgeons use a cut off age of 60 .Good luck,Suzy
— Suzanne W.
November 3, 2000
That is crazy! I am 48 and scheduled for 11/27. Your mother deserves to
enjoy her life and who is he to say she is "over the hill?" and
shouldn't have this done? I would definitely find another pcp and bid him
goodbye. Does he feel she would be too old to have heart surgery or some
other life saving procedure? Phooey to this doc!!
— [Anonymous]
November 3, 2000
Good Lordy, have Mercy!!!! 48 is too old????? I'm 48 and had surgery in
July of this year. I'm now down 60 pounds. Tell your mom that 48 is just
right!
— Dallas D.
November 3, 2000
I think you'll find a lot of us 40 somethings....If they're like me they
have hit "mid life crisis" and have decided we are not going put
up with this "fat" crap any longer...as you can tell I'm real
excited and my surgery is Jan 30th...I can't wait.
— Debora H.
November 3, 2000
Her pcp needs to get a life. I am 42 and have lost 115 pound. I am post
op 1 yr I work with the surgeon who did my surgery and see his people post
op while they are in the hospital to give then support and I have seen
people up to 64 yrs old.
— debbie P.
November 4, 2000
I think that depends on the person. I had my surgery four days after my
50th birthday. I have inlarged heart, high blood pressure and conjestive
heart failure. I was never told that I was too old.
— Jacquelyn P.
November 4, 2000
Hi Trisch I think the pcp is too old for the surgery...your mother is
just right. cj timko...48 years old...8 months post...-93#
— cj T.
November 5, 2000
Maybe your mother should find a new PCP!!! There have been people older
than her who have had WLS. Good luck to you and your mother!!!
— SnowWhiteDove459
November 5, 2000
Trish!
That PCP is full of you know what!!! I'm 57 and had WLS Wed., got home
yesterday and feeling terrific!!! I've even heard of people 70 having it
done!! My own PCP wouldn't hear of me having it!! Old grouch! And he's as
big around as he is tall!!! Can't wait to go see him with a box of
chocolates and tell him "here...I can't have, don't want, and don't
MISS these...'cuz look at me! I've had WLS and a brand new life!" I'm
gonna talk straight turkey to him and give him a piece of my mind. I'm no
longer intimidated by him or his 'education'! You tell your mom to email
me. I'll tell her what she's too old for...she's too old to have her first
drink at age 21, too old to vote for the first time at 21, too old ride the
little kiddie cars at the fair, and too old for a passifier but NOT TOO OLD
FOR WLS!!! So there!! AT 48 her life is just beginning! Wish I'd known of
this 9 years ago!! I'd like to talk to your mom!!!
Much love, Lacy!
— Lacy G.
November 5, 2000
In my opinion she certainly isn't too old, I am 62 and can't wait to have
mine done. My PCP would have a fit, but fortunately I don't need his
referal or approval! Took a while to find a surgeon I felt comfortable with
that would take me as a patient. Age is a state of mind anyway and I
refuse to ever be an old poop.
— Ruth Ellen M.
November 7, 2000
I just had WLS and I am a 52 soon to be 53 year old woman and so far have
had no problem.
— Pat B.
November 8, 2000
I am 49 years young and am scheduled for my by pass on January 15,2001. My
doctor was also against the procedure but I asked him to refer me to the
surgeon just so I could ask some questions etc. Once I was at the
surgeons, that was all I needed. He was for the surgery and my insurance
approved it in 4 days. Good Luck
— marlene R.
May 19, 2003
I am going to be 50 in August and have discussed this surgery with my
physician. She is all for it because I have high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and we have heart problems in our family. I have started having
problems with mobility that is directly connected to my weight, I have
issues with shortness of breath and also sleeping issues. I wake up in the
morning feeling like I had never went to sleep. My general health is good
and this will only be the 2nd surgery I have ever had. With having the
comorbids, it is to my advantage.
— Lynna L.
May 19, 2003
Hi... I am 52 (53 in July) and had surgery in April 02 and have lost 118#
and am doing super. I would urge her to be persistent and seek out a
really good surgeon with a good follow-up program. Stay persistent also
with the PCP. I am blessed in that my PCP is the one who first approached
me on this but I blew her off and then one day decided to consider it.
Best move I've ever made. My health is excellent, off of 5 meds including
heart meds. Went from a 32/34 to an 18-20 and still losing though slower
now. My best to you.
— AJC750
May 19, 2003
48 too old? What nonsense! I was 49 when I had the surgery in Oct. 2001.
I'm 51 now, down to 139 lbs from 304 and haven't felt this good since I was
25! Where are you located? The surgeons at Mt. Sinai in NYC will operate on
patients up to age 60.
— dantevolta
May 19, 2003
48! AMAZING! I'm 42.. I had my surgery when I was 41.. I'm sure you'll
find many people who had this surgery in their 50's around here. That's
nonsense, chronological age really is a bad way to gauge anything.
— Lisa C.
May 19, 2003
OK, I'm known for my bluntness, so get ready......Your mom's PCP thinks, at
48, she's too old to have surgery?! Tell her (the PCP, that is) she's too
STUPID to be a DOCTOR!!! ----Joyce C, 3.5 months post-open RNY, -60 lbs,
40 years old and almost "too old" for surgery--geez, looks like I
just about made it!
— Joyce C.
December 11, 2003
I work with a 59 year old woman who just got the surgery done about 2 weeks
ago at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.I'm scheduled for a consult myself in
April but I'm 27
— Jaime P.
December 11, 2003
I just turned 51 in November, and I was concerned about my age and surgery.
When I posed this fear to my PCP he chuckled and said no, I was not too old
for the surgery. Perhaps your mom could consider a different PCP? Or tell
the PCP that she wants a surgical consult with a second opinion regarding
her age. 48 is NOT old.
— charl
December 11, 2003
time for a NEW PCP, my surgeon does folks in their 60s, Just saw a postie
friend the other day she is 64, had surgery just over a year ago. Is at
goal and honestly is a knock out. Her PCP is out of touch, better to get a
new one who is better informed.
— bob-haller
December 11, 2003
Tell her to get another doctor, I am 49 and had surgery on Nov 6 my sister
is 56 and had her on Nov 11. We are both doing fine. Our doctor has done
the surgery on over 60 year olds. I would not tell her to wait either this
surgery has done wonders for me!!
— Helen M.
December 12, 2003
Balony! I was 67 years 8 months old when I had surgery. Twenty-two months
later I am down 120 lbs and all my lab work is fabulous and my dexascans
are excellent. No more HBP, my arthritis has decresed, I can walk again
and climb stairs -- Question: Too old for what? Is this age
discrimination? Nina in Maine
— [Deactivated Member]
December 17, 2003
Go for it honey, I am 47 and the dr says that it is a great time for me to
have it done. She says that we do really good because we know what we want
and willing to work at it.
Also your mom is a young women don't let her get stuke thinking that she
isn't. Tell her to go be it baby. Peggy
— Peggy R.
January 22, 2004
I'm 52 and having open rny on Jan. 29, 2004. I don't think 48 is too old
for this surgery. Forty Eight is still relatively young and lots of years
yet. It just may take a little longer for recovery since we're not very
young, and I'm sure what kind of condition she's in plus co-morbidities
that she has.
— Barbara S.
January 22, 2004
Ahh that PCP just isnt supportive tell her to find a new one. I know a
bunch of healthy happy posties in their 60s. My surgeon will d them in
their 70s if they are healthy enough to survive surgery. 48 geez I am 46:(
— bob-haller
March 5, 2004
That is ridiculous. I am 56 years old. I had GBS 11 mos. ago. The age I
have seen as the cut off is 65. But many things go into the decision of the
surgeon as to whether the pt. is a good candidate for surgery. If the PCP
is just going by age if it were me I would get a new Dr. Preferably one who
is more open minded and would refer me for GBS. Whiyhc as it turned out in
my case was probably life saving surgery. Not cosmetic as some PCP's think.
I would like to go back to the pre-resiquites necessary for this
surgery.Really any major surgery. When a pt. goes under general anesthesia
there are many organs and systems that are affected. I had to have a Echo
on my heart. The heart has to be strong enough, the heart muscle not to
thick(which alot of us have if we are overweight)and that we do not have
Angina or something. Then I had to have a sleep study. Many overweight pts.
have "sleep apnea". If the pt. does have that then they may not
be able to keeping breathing under anesthesia or come out of the anesthesia
properly. I had to meet with the dietician. In my case I met with the VA
dietician for 5 mos. prior to surgery. The pt. has to have a psychiatric
clearance. They want to make sure the expectations after surgery are
reasonable. I had a chest X-ray and a battery of blood tests. If all these
tests go well then you still aren't there yet. It is still the surgeon's
decision. I at least didn't have to worry with is. approval. I am a veteran
and had my surgery at a VA hospital. But that was problem in itself. My VA
in Seattle no longer does the surgery.The one in Portland Or. doesn't now.
But 3 years ago they did. I was referred there.I had the evaluation aappt.
I was accepted. But the evaluation was done by the surgical resident. The
Attending(staff) Surgeon hadn't seen me or my file yet. I am a recovering
addict. I had at that point been on Methadone for over a yr. I I have now
been on methadone for over 4 years.That is clean.The methadone is not an
illicit drug. It was 2 dasy before my surgery. The nurse called me and said
the Dr. had to cancel my surgery. I finally got it out of her that he
didn't operate on addicts.Recovering or not.
He doesn't think they can make the behaviroal changes. I said that was
ridiculous. That I had made more behavioral changes in the last year than
maybe any of the pt.s he had seen beofre. She said forget it he wasn't
going to do it. So I had to find my own VA hospital. Well one that was
still doing the surgery and would accept out of area pts. I found only
2(and I called 20 of them).One in FLa. and one in San Francisco. The Dr.
in Fla. had only done about a dozen surgeries. The Dr. in S.F has beeen
doing these for years. My Dr. in Seattle said she prefered the S.F. Dr. She
was right. I have lost about 165# so far. About 30 more to go.Then I go
back for the "Tummy Tuck" and Breast reduction/lift. I know I
have rambled here. That you really didn't ask for all this information.But
I wanted to show you that your Mom is not too old.In my opinion anyway.That
if she wants this badly enough she will keep persuing it. I also wanted you
to see that maybe the Dr. is not just considering her age. But again if he
is and it were me I would keep looking.I wish you and your Mom good success
on your surgeries. I am now starting a new life. I feel so much better is
it just unbelievable. Cindy
— Cindy B.
August 4, 2005
Get another PCP! That is absurd.
— KPConley
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