ANYONE ELSE'S BMI TOO HIGH???

HI EVERYONE WHO IS READING, SO HERE IS THE DEAL I HAVE BEEN APPROVED AS I SAID. BY MY INSURANCE THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY. ONLY NOW MY SURGEON DECIDED TO RESIGN TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE SURGERY AND NOW I HAVE HAD TO SEARCH FOR A NEW ONE. WHICH I DID I FOUND ONE ONLY HE WON'T DO THE SURGERY OR EVEN SEE ME UNTIL I LOSE 50 LBS BECAUSE HE SAYS MY BMI IS WAY TOO HIGH TO DO THE SURGERY. I NEED HELP FROM ANYONE IN MY AREA THAT HAS HAD THE SURGERY WITH A BMI THAT IS HIGH MINE IS 69 I KNOW ITS WAY TOO HIGH BUT IF I COULD LOSE THE WEIGHT I WOULDN'T NEED THE SURGERY RIGHT?? RIGHT. PLEASE HELP ANYONE IN THE ILLINOIS,MISSOURI,KENTUCKY, INDIANA, AREA PLEASE HELP ME THANK YOU...... MIRICALES NEEDED!!

Carrie, MANY surgeons require you to lose SOME WEIGHT prior to surgery -- for your own safety and to reduce the risks associated with major surgery. I haven't yet met someone going through this process who wasn't required to follow some sort of diet leading up to surgery. Some people even have to go on full liquids before they can have surgery. I'm sorry I don't have a better response for you.. but I think you're going to find that any surgeon you go to is going to require you to lose SOME weight or at least follow a diet that will reduce the size of your liver leading up to surgery. I recognize the logic behind "if I could lose weight, I wouldn't need surgery"... and there's often more to it than just "losing weight" -- it shows a commitment to a difficult eating plan. It's not EASY on this side of the operating table.. and making a short term commitment -- like losing 50 or 30 or 20 pounds -- is part of that. Don't lose hope.. but you may need to prepare yourself to just knuckle down and do it (even though you know it wouldn't LAST doing it the traditional way .. you still need to do it). Good luck! Stef

I would keep looking for another surgeon. My surgeon Did NOT require me to lose weight before surgery. There have been many posts on the main board about that, and there is no evidence that losing weight before surgery is going to shrink your liver (or whatever risks they say). I am not a doctor and never really did research why some doctors want people to lose weight prior to WLS. Dr. Franzites (sp) in Evanston is an excellent doctor (although I didn't see him), so maybe check him out. Good luck. Tricia

Carrie, my BMI is 66 and my surgeon has even done surgery on people bigger than us. He is doctor Ray in Bloomington Indiana and he doesnt require you to lose weight before surgery. I am having the lap band but i think he also does RNY. WHat kind were you wanting?? Good luck and any more ?? about him i will be glad to answer.

Frantzides at Northwestern can do you LAP, most likely! He's the master.....

Hi Carrie Sorry that you have not heard from me sooner, but I have had to work over the past couple of days. These 12 hous shifts are killing me, but they are paying the bills. I was hoping that you would have found someone by now. I do know that Tricare will only cover open RNY. ((((((HUGS)))))) Dawn

Carrie, Don't dispair!! Like Kathy, I have Dr. F for my surgeon. He routinely does lap RNY on high BMI patients. In fact, I've seen his stats and his average BMI is 50 (as opposed to most surgeons who average out around 40). AND, if you've read my profile, you know that I think Dr. F is the best. The only problem with Dr. F is that he's out of network for all insurance providers so you'd be responsible for his full fee. I'm lucky in that I have 70 or 80% out of network reimbursement so if my insurance approves I'll at least get something back. Good luck and don't dispair. San

Carrie, Don't dispair!! Like Kathy, I have Dr. F for my surgeon. He routinely does lap RNY on high BMI patients. In fact, I've seen his stats and his average BMI is 50 (as opposed to most surgeons who average out around 40). AND, if you've read my profile, you know that I think Dr. F is the best. The only problem with Dr. F is that he's out of network for all insurance providers so you'd be responsible for his full fee. I'm lucky in that I have 70 or 80% out of network reimbursement so if my insurance approves I'll at least get something back. Good luck and don't dispair. San

think you are close to St Louis-try New Start, 1-800-245-1431-- Good Luck

Dr. Eric Vaughn did my surgery - he is with the Barix Center in near Rockford, IL. I don't know if he has a weight limit but I never heard him talk about one. Sherrill