Sleeve surgery and old age

[Justjoe]

Well, after a lifetime of fad diets and increasingly more serious health issues, I've made up my mind that
I want to get this weight off and improve the odds of having a few more years on this planet. My surgery is scheduled for June. In preparing for surgery, I've been going to some support group meetings and I've noticed in all the meetings that I've been to that I am by far the oldest person there.

I'll be turning 65 a few months after my surgery with retirement on the horizon.I have stage 4 renal failure and one of my biggest fears is that I will end up on dialysis as my retirement gift. While I hope the sleeve will postpone that dreaded event, I have to admit that my age and kidney issues make me a little nervous.

As an informal survey, what is the typical age for gastric sleeve surgery and were there any serious medical conditions to further complicate things?

I apologize if I'm overstepping here. I know both questions are can be sensitive to some people. My mother is 95 and still won't tell her age.

Happy New Year to all.

Joe
64,
Stage 4 kidney failure
5'10" and pushing 300lbs.

[lvman]

Your my motivation, it don't stop until...you give up

[Ann2]

Welcome, you spring chicken.

I turned 69 in December and was sleeved in August when I was 68.

I did great during and after surgery and am doing even better and expect to continue on doing magnificently. No complications. I've never even thrown up once. I did have to have my gallbladder out 4 weeks post-op, but I did great recovering from that, too.

At 21 weeks post-op, I've lost 66 pounds total, 47 pounds since surgery, and have 19 to go before I reach goal.

I've been on this board for longer than a year, and I can see zero correlation between age and how people do post-op or benefit from the surgery. I do have a bias that our age cohort does very well because we're so experienced at dealing with tough stuff earlier in our lives. We have dieted our asses off all our lives prior to WLS and really want the benefits for ourselves so badly.

[Small Car]

Hi Joe, welcome to the group. I am 59 years old and got the sleeve bc my weight had been causing me some serious breathing issues and, like you, I want my older years to be as healthy as possible. I am 2 months out from surgery and, like Ann2 said, recovery has been very easy. I have lost 50 pounds since I started this process. The loosing has been a little slow since surgery but I have gone way down in size. I work out a lot and I feel 20 years younger. I haven't had breathing problems since I began loosing weight. I am so happy I have done this. Best of luck to you.

[Justjoe]

Thanks Ann! WLS at 68... There is a lot of truth to the saying that women are the stronger sex
Congratulations on your journey. I hope all those young-ins here can appreciate the courage and fortitude it takes for us Seniors to make this trip.

Joe

[Dawnrogers7]

I don't mind telling my age anymore. I know I don't look or feel it now. I was 54 and just turned 55 last month. I had some pretty major medical problems before surgery and all the serious ones are gone. After having the surgery and experiencing the life I have now, I believe I would do it whenever the opportunity presented itself. I wish I could have had it done earlier but it obviously wasn't in the cards yet. I was very close to having gastric bypass surgery five years ago and instead I ended up ditching the guy I was with. Then I didn't have the money to get it done.

Fast forward five years and after doing a lot of research I found I would probably be better off in the long run by getting sleeved.
When I had the money, I took the first opportunity available to have the procedure done. It was about two weeks after the money was together and I flew to Mexico by myself. I haven't looked back since. I wanted this so much and I was more than ready. I think a positive attitude and a desire to feel better physically and mentally plus the side benefit of looking better were the main things I really needed to succeed. Of course I had to heal first (not bad at all) and follow all my after care and dietary instructions carefully.

When you get closer to your surgery date there are some wonderful threads posted that can give you a lot of good advice on how to prepare for surgery. And of course you can always ask your forum friends for tips.

Good luck with your new journey!

[Aquajog]

Just joe , I am 63 years young ! Eleven months sleeved and I feel and look younger than I have In years.
I am a diabetic but have not had to take medication since surgery.. I have a 36 year old son who is a kidney transplant.
My kidney functions are impaired . That was one of te deciding factor in having the surgery..
I have no regrets but you do need to be motivated to work with the sleeve that includes following a diet of protein and fluids as well as adding activity .
Good luck!

[Kodi's Mom]

Hi. I was 56 when I had the surgery last April. I had a very easy time through the surgery and recovery. I have now lost 144 lbs.
There was a 72 year young lady who went into the surgery using a wheel chair and she is now mobile without even the use of a cane.
I fully believe, as long as you are medically cleared for surgery, it is more a case of attitude than the surgery itself.
God bless you on your journey.

[Ann2]

There was a 72 year young lady who went into the surgery using a wheel chair and she is now mobile without even the use of a cane.

That is AWESOME!

I asked my bariatric surgeon (who's also one of the city's most highly respected general surgeons) why he decided to add bariatric surgery to his specialties. He said, very passionately, "Because of all the surgeries I do this is the kind of surgery that MOST changes people's lives!"

Then he went on to tell me about several of his patients and how their lives have completely changed. One of them was a 400+pound man who pre-op could walk only very slowly and with crutches. That man is now a runner and runs half-marathons. (I really thought when my surgeon was telling me that story that he was going to cry!)

This is life-changing stuff.

[Amay]

Hello. I am 67 and having surgery 6/19. We could be of good support to each other if you like

[AnnieG]

Hello. I am 67 and having surgery 6/19. We could be of good support to each other if you like

I was 65...still am till next month. But sleeved 10/2017. I've gone from 17 meds a day to 4. It's a good thing