A place for bandsters in their 60's

phyllser · 02-29-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David's Girl

Phyll--your pictures look wonderful!

Thank you! I appreciate the compliment!

I have just gotten my referral from my from my internist and I am going to an orientation meeting on March 6th.

I have been trying to lose weight for about 15 years. At first it was 10 lbs or so, now it is 70 lbs.

Five years ago I had an abdominal blood clot and when they tried to heparinize me I hemorrhaged and had to have 14 units of blood and packed cells. I was in the hospital for 31 days. My kidneys began to fail, I got a couple of strange infections and was extremely sick and on morphine when I got home. Slowly, slowly I started to recover. I had an hematoma the size of a basketball in my abdomen which didn't absorb for almost three years. Of course I was very out of shape and depressed.

Almost exactly one year later, when I had just started to feel better, I fainted for an unknown reason and fell down 13 steps and landed on my head on the concrete. I had a brain bleed and lost a lot of my memory.

Needless to say I have grown even more depressed and out of shape. I have gained 45 more pounds. I'm to the point where of course none of my clothes fit and I don't want to buy "fat" clothes, so I either wear almost the same thing every time I go out or, I don't get dressed at all and spend most of my time in bed reading and watching TV.

My family is very exasperated with me. They don't understand my memory loss very well and they are disgusted with how "I have let myself go!"

I will be very happy to hear from any and all of you and thank you so much.

Hi,
Well, if your family is so down on you and critical, why in the world do they not support your decision to do something to help yourself?? They don't make a lot of sense do they? They should be happy that you are taking charge and planning action that will help you improve your quality of life. And that will help with the depression, also. I commend your decision! Have they paid enough attention to even understand what this surgery is all about? Have you been to any support group meetings in your area yet? Maybe if they attended with you, or maybe take one of them to the orientation seminar, they'd understand more and be more supportive.

sfeiner · 02-29-2008, 05:17 PM

Hi Davids girl......I'm thinking you may have a problem with depression that needs to be addressed. I think about 75% of us over weight ppl are on anti-depressants. As far as family support, some have it, some don't. It's nice if you do, but not necessary. This is something you have do do for yourself. Follow Phyll's advice. Best wishes to you. If you don't mind I'll say a prayer for you.

bimby · 03-27-2008, 08:00 PM

Hi everyone. I have just joined the group and am so glad to see pp my age here. I worried that I am to old for this, except that I need to loose for my asthma, heart, acid reflux disease. I had no idea that there was this many of us young pp that had it done. I go for the 2 day workshop next week and will have my band the end of April. I know it has to be a big change in eating habits, but I want to do this so bad so I can enjoy retirement with hubby. We sold everything and bought a camper and we have visited most states and want to finish til we have visited every state. Its our time to have fun. I want to feel like hiking and walking and not just sitting because I cant breath. Its so good to hear all talk about how much better they feel. It encourages me. I look forward to talking with you all.

wishin4 · 03-27-2008, 09:25 PM

Welcome Bimby, You'll love this forum. I was just banded yesterday and I am looking so forward to getting in shape again and feeling good. This forum has helped me so much. Any questions I have had always seem to come up here and get answered.
Kathy

phyllser · 03-27-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimby

Hi everyone. I have just joined the group and am so glad to see pp my age here. I worried that I am to old for this, except that I need to loose for my asthma, heart, acid reflux disease. I had no idea that there was this many of us young pp that had it done. I go for the 2 day workshop next week and will have my band the end of April. I know it has to be a big change in eating habits, but I want to do this so bad so I can enjoy retirement with hubby. We sold everything and bought a camper and we have visited most states and want to finish til we have visited every state. Its our time to have fun. I want to feel like hiking and walking and not just sitting because I cant breath. Its so good to hear all talk about how much better they feel. It encourages me. I look forward to talking with you all.

Welcome!!

We are RVers also. We are just about to end our winter in the Palm Springs area and head home to WA state. Would love to hear more about where you've been.

bimby · 03-28-2008, 09:52 AM

Hi Brian, I am 62 and before I checked out this website I thot I may be too old to do this, but my doc said there are old young pp. Young is in the mind and heart. He said he has seen pp in the 40s and 50s that their health has aged them well beyond there years. I think you are young at heart to want to improve your health as it seems most of keenagers here want to do. Good luck. Gloria

bimby · 03-28-2008, 09:58 AM

Wow, its nice to meet a fellow rver. We love this life. We have been to your state a couple of times, on our way to alaska and once when we went on canadian railroad trip. The most beautiful part of your state is a lake we saw as we came over the mountain coming back east. The apple orchards and the fertile east side of the cascades is so lovely. We are planning to go back out west to the canyonlands and yosemite in June or July as soon as I get my band where it needs to be. How have u been doing since u were banded?

bimby · 03-28-2008, 10:00 AM

How did the surgery go for you?

bimby · 03-28-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wishin4

Welcome Bimby, You'll love this forum. I was just banded yesterday and I am looking so forward to getting in shape again and feeling good. This forum has helped me so much. Any questions I have had always seem to come up here and get answered.
Kathy

Hi are you from Eugene Oregon?

bimby · 03-28-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilene62

Welcome. I'll be 63 in a few weeks (I can't believe it). Banded in June 07 and am losing slowly, about a pound a week, but it adds up. My blood pressure is normal (116/64) without meds and I no longer use a cane for my arthritic knee. So you have things to look forward to. You're making a good start with exercise. Keep it up and the best of luck to you.

Hi Irene, a pound a week is great. thats 52 in a year. we didnt put it on overnite and we wont get if off overnite. good work. keep it up

phyllser · 03-28-2008, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimby

Wow, its nice to meet a fellow rver. We love this life. We have been to your state a couple of times, on our way to alaska and once when we went on canadian railroad trip. The most beautiful part of your state is a lake we saw as we came over the mountain coming back east. The apple orchards and the fertile east side of the cascades is so lovely. We are planning to go back out west to the canyonlands and yosemite in June or July as soon as I get my band where it needs to be. How have u been doing since u were banded?

I was a little nervous about taking off in the RV just a little more than three months after my surgery. I was afraid I'd need a "fill" and have to fly home or find a place down here to have it done. But, I've done fine... weight loss has slowed down the past two months, but I'm down about 25 lb since we left, a total of a little over 70 lb since I started this journey. I go in on the 14th of next month... as soon as we get back to WA.

bimby · 03-28-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makemelean

Dear Foxygramma I am 62 and had my surgery 11 21 06 in Balt Md. I have had 3 fills from Feb 07 until June 07 and I do not even feel like I had surgery I have only lost12 lbs. and I also have hypothyroidism and feel like I dont burn any calories at all, I am very disappointed with this and see and hear of so many sucesses that I feel like a total failure. I hope it is very different for you and you are sucessful. sincerely makemelean

Hi. Dont give up, keep working with ur doc and have you tried eating low carb. I had a customer that wasnt loosing and she was eating the junk food she loved because her amount was limited she thought it wouldnt matter, but it does. Hope you start getting results soon.

bimby · 03-28-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phyllser

I was a little nervous about taking off in the RV just a little more than three months after my surgery. I was afraid I'd need a "fill" and have to fly home or find a place down here to have it done. But, I've done fine... weight loss has slowed down the past two months, but I'm down about 25 lb since we left, a total of a little over 70 lb since I started this journey. I go in on the 14th of next month... as soon as we get back to WA.

I have the same fears. We work with koa campgrounds and are planning to go work with grand canyon koa later but I dont know how long to wait. I have my surgery the end of April

wishin4 · 03-28-2008, 02:17 PM

Hi Phyllser,
We live in Roseburg, OR and spent 6 weeks in Arizona and Nevada from December to Feb in our RV. I wasn't banded then and wondered what it would be like to be away from the security net of the drs ofc. I would like to be able to leave every winter for a couple of months. Being from Southern California the winters here are hard to take and the sunshine down south is like medicine to me. Where in Palm Springs do you stay? Is it a park or do you have property there? Kathy

wishin4 · 03-28-2008, 02:20 PM

Hi Bimby,
I had my surgery in Eugene, OR but I live about 70 miles away in Roseburg which is south of there. We moved here 5 1/2 years ago after retiring. We love it here. Except the winters. I am used to sunshine and there aren't that many sunny days here in the winter. But when it shines here, it is gloriously beautiful. Kathy