Question:
What options are available to someone with a BMI of 35?
I have a BMI of 35 (5'2", 195lbs) but have no health related issues to specially qualify me for traditional surgery. I am in the gray area of being obese but not obese enough for surgery, yet EVERY SINGLE diet, excuse me - weight loss program, I have tried has failed; surgery seems my only option but is not available. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks. — albte01 (posted on March 31, 2006)
March 31, 2006
Hi Teri,
Sorry about your situation. Have you been tested for all of the co-mobids
that can be caused from being obese? High Blood pressure, sleep apnea,
diabetes, PCOS, etc... I didn't think I had anything wrong with me for
year, besides being obese, but now I know I've had sleep apena, and High
blood pressure for quite sometime. Just to be sure I would be tested. I was
like you at one point 5'"1 189/ now 5'1" 329, so I complete
understand how you feel. Another option might be to self-pay. Or if that's
not an option maybe try talking to your DR. re a RX that might help, I was
on Adipex, and it was helping but it was making my blood pressure extremely
high and I had to quit. Anyways best of luck. Email me if I can be of any
help. Jen
— jlflbf
March 31, 2006
Terri,
You are NOT a candidate for WLS. You need to have a BMI over 40 and at
least 100 lbs over weight. If you took the 195 and lost 100 lbs then you
would be more bones than skin, so personally speaking you should consider a
weight loss program that is in every major city
— Steve Cohen
March 31, 2006
Steve is not entirely correct. The criteria established by the National
Institutes of Health and the American Society for Bariatric Surgery reads
as follows: Namely, patients are candidates if they have a Body Mass Index
over 35 and suffer from any health condition related to obesity. Anyone
with a BMI over 40, regardless of health conditions is a candidate.
-------- So I would take Jennifer's advice and get tested for comorbidites.
Get with your PCP and see what your options are, it's the only way you'll
know if this is an option for you. Good luck.
— kjoy
March 31, 2006
Another possiblity to help qualify is health troubles in your parents
grandparents etc. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholestrol, stroke,
breast and colon cancer just to name a few. anything caused or aggravated
by obesity, its a long list.
— bob-haller
March 31, 2006
Teri, discuss your feelings with your doctor. You are in a grey area, your
doctor can help you weigh the pro's and con's vs your co-morbs. A BMI of
35 will not automatically disqualify you from surgery, but you will need to
have some serious medical issues resulting from obesity. Be sure you have
exhaused ALL other avenues, giving an whole hearted effort before you
consider WLS. It is NOT a quick fix and you will still have to diet/watch
your eating. Only now, it's more serious. Think long and hard about why
you want this surgery.
— RebeccaP
March 31, 2006
Teri,
If it were me - I'd pursue a Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy procedure. There is no
foreign body involved. It gives a great quality of life. It's a quick
surgery!
My surgeon is doing more and more of these for folks who need to lose more
than just a few pounds - right about your BMI range - and folks are
thrilled with the results!
Make sure, if you do pursue this type of surgery, that you find someone who
advocates a small stomach size - my surgeon is doing a 50 cc stomach size
for the Lap SG folks, and they are doing great. Some folks that I've
talked to with larger stomach sizes, are finding a year or so after their
surgery that they've lost very little weight, and are even starting to
regain.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
March 31, 2006
the vsg, the top part of a ds seems most likely suitable if anything for u,
it will remove the ghrenlen glands that produce hunger sensation, reduce
copacity like the banding. but u will most likely will be payin your self,
visit the ds forum, for advice on that.
— walter A.
April 1, 2006
Not to sound repetitive, but having the stomach portion of the DS would be
a great option for you. I'm also lower BMI patient (39.8), but have been
creaping up over the last several years. I WISH I could have done
something 60# ago -- I would have saved myself a lot of emotional and
physical pain! Anyway -- the VSG portion of the DS would leave the stomach
functioning normally and by removing the lower portion of the stomach which
produces the gherlin (hunger hormone)... also you wouldn't have a forgein
body (band) around your stomach. I don't think you are without hope -- but
you will have to investigate self-pay option because your health insurance
would be hard-pressed to cover this for you. Good Luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
April 1, 2006
The DS isnt the only solution. No doubt she can find a surgeon for the lap
band or RNY. Her problem will be getting insurance to pay for it:( I know
some marginal weight pre ops who massaged the numbers to qualify. They
feared for their LIFE because of the troubles their parents had with
diabetes cancer etc. Most folks stand up as tall as they can when getting
their height measured. Now slouch a little can change that BMI number a
LOT. Not saying folks should do this but it does happen. To insurance you
are a number:( For YOU its the only life you got. WLS has definite risks
but so does being MO.
— bob-haller
April 1, 2006
The DS isnt the only solution. No doubt she can find a surgeon for the lap
band or RNY. Her problem will be getting insurance to pay for it:( I know
some marginal weight pre ops who massaged the numbers to qualify. They
feared for their LIFE because of the troubles their parents had with
diabetes cancer etc. Most folks stand up as tall as they can when getting
their height measured. Now slouch a little can change that BMI number a
LOT. Not saying folks should do this but it does happen. To insurance you
are a number:( For YOU its the only life you got. WLS has definite risks
but so does being MO.
— bob-haller
August 4, 2006
I agree on the VSG. That might be your best bet. There are 15 doctors that
I know of who are doing VSG one of them is near me in Michigan. Mark
Pleatman and he is in Bloomfield Hills.
Good luck.
kp
— kevphill
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