Low BMI but obese need help with decision are there others out there

I have read everything here for a while. Are there any people who can email me who had a low bmi going in to the surgery. I mean I have lost and gained weight for 22 years. I just want a chance to feel good about myself. I would like to hear from any one else who had low bmi's but still had lots of weight to lose 50 lbs is alot. I have lost 3o gained 35 you know the drill. Please its just as bad for a person like myself as it is for the higher bmi people. I use diet pills to not eat, but they don't work, i have done all the diets. THis is what I want...I just need to know there are others like me. thanks

Lisa, There are many people here with varing BMI's. Ones journey is no more validated than the next. If you have a problem with weight than you have a problem with weight regardless of your BMI. I was a lot larger so I can't help you in that regard, but my advice is that you should research this tons!! And then research it some more. The surgery is wonderful, but it is not for everyone. It had it good sides and it has it bad sides to varing degrees and there is no garantee what degree you will get until after you have had surgery. Even your doctor can't tell you how your body will react to this surgery. Just like the diet pills this surgery will not keep you from eating. I can eat cheese curls and tootsie rolls all day long and gain my weight back if I want. Just because I now have a small stomach, does not mean that I can't fill it with bad things. It will NOT stop you from being hungry ever again. It will NOT stop you from eating all sugar. Some people can tolerate any level of sugar. You can and people do everyday "outeat" their pouch. In my OPINION, this surgery is for those people of ANY size that have no other choice. We have tried everything else and we have no where else to turn. We are ready to make the life changes necessary to make this surgery work because this is the only way left to regain our lives and livelyhood. I was willing to take the risks and side effects of this surgery and live with them because my other choice at 425 pounds was dying. You have to decide if the risks and side effects are worth it to you to rid yourself of your weight. I hope this helps Cheryl

Lisa, Many surgeons will do a LapBand on patients with a low BMI. Insurance wont cover it, but you can get loans to selfpay.

Been there done that just like you! Yes, I too spent about 22 years going up and down on the weight roller coaster. It has been a living nightmare. I have really had a very, very rough time with my weight. I am at the lower end of the BMI. 41. I haven't had this BMI the entire 22 years. Only recently have I been this heavy. But you know what I couldn't handle going on one more diet. I thought I was going to go insane! So at 42 I decided to have the gastric bypass surgery. I just had the surgery 2 weeks ago. I will let you know whether it was worth it in about a year and a half. My current hight is 5'3 and I weighed 230 two weeks ago. The surgery itself went well for me. So far no complications. They say binge eaters will get the most benefit because with binge eating one can't eat large portions of food at once after surgery. Grazers will have the most difficulty. I hope this helps you. E-mail me if you have any other questions or concerns. Melanie