Kind of stupid question

Is there such thing as being " too big" for Roux En Y surgery? If so how big is too big?

i don't know if there is a such thing as being too big. but i do know that the bigger you are, the much higher your risks are.

Some doctors will have a weight limit because of the surgery table, and some doctors will have a BMI limit because they, for whatever reason, don't feel comfortable working in someone any larger.  If you are very large many surgeons will not do the surgery laparoscopically, but it just depends on the doctor.  You may have a longer or more restricted pre-op diet, or a physician prescribed diet like optifast in order to lose enough weight for surgery.  Most surgeons seem to want to work with you to get you as ready as possibly for surgery, and there may be additional testing requirements and things like IVC filters placed as a precaution.  It also probably depends on your overall health whether tbe surgeon feels that operating is too risky at that weight.  My advice would be to talk to several surgeons and make sure that they are very experienced and have handled a significant number of larger patients, and see what they say.  Best of luck! Jenn

Hi. I had the DS done. With that type of WLS if the patient is too big they will sometimes do the first part of the DS which is the gastric sleeve. Then when the person has. Lost 100 pounds or so they will the do the secind part of 0the operation which is the by pass.

My HMO originally tried to deny me surgery, saying I was too fat.  I hired an attorney (a useless one, but somehow, in spite of his incompetence, I won my appeal).  In fairness, around the time I won my appeal, my HMO changed its WLS program significantly, hiring a medical director to run the bariatric program.  I worked with him and my WLS surgeon to lose weight prior to surgery (at the surgeon's request, saying I'd have fewer complications at a lower weight). I started out at 530 and lost down to 407 by surgery day (that's 123 lbs in six months).  My WLS surgeon wanted me to lose 10%, which I did on Optifast in a matter of a couple of weeks.  I hadn't even started my program's required 10 weeks of WLS classes, so I stayed on the Optifast until surgery. I will say I'm glad I lost that weight before surgery.  My surgery was so uneventful, it was practically boring.  I was able to have lap RNY instead of open. The surgeon was worried I'd have complications due to prior respiratory issues, but I sailed right through surgery and had no complications at all.  I was in the hospital two days. Being asked to lose weight prior to having WLS sucks.  I had total faith in my surgeon, and when he said I needed to lose weight so surgery would be less risky, I trusted that what he told me was true. In my case, he was right. Kix

Ok cause honestly I just checked my BMI and it's pretty high. Im almost embarred to say it but what the heck we're all here for the same reason right! it's 65. Im really kinda getting discouraged, seems like everytime I figure out one part of the puzzle another appears.

HEY LISA,         DONT GET DISCOURAGED..... YOU WILL FIND ALOT OF US AROUND HERE STARTED OUT AT VERY HIGH BMI'S..... I WAS 68.1. JUST DO YOUR BEST TO LOSE WHAT YOU CAN BEFORE SURGERY... I CANT SIT HERE AND TELL YA I DONE THE BEST IN THAT DEPARTMENT BUT I GAVE IT MY ALL....YOU WILL DO SO MUCH BETTER THE MORE YOU LOSE.  SO KICK BUTT WITH THAT AND YOU WILL BE SAILING ON TO LOSERSVILLE SOON..... HUGS MARGE

Lisa, we don't do shame in this forum!  There isn't possibly anything you could tell us that someone here hasn't either experienced it directly or can relate to it. My BMI when I started my WLS journey was 88+, and like Dunny, I think it was in the 70s on the day I had surgery. Don't get discouraged, just keep walking that path until you reach your destination! Kix

I had a BMI of almost 65....mine was 64 point something (dont' remember what the point something was)...the point is...that we were all fat arses....and thank God through surgery we're fat asses no longer.....mostly now we're just droopy arses....or wrinkley arses....lol. Just start the prosess ....the DS was the BEST thing I ever did for myself.  I didn't make my whole life better....(just being honest)....I had this image in my mind that all skinny people were happy and their lives were perfect....well that isn't true.  But the DS did help me lose almost 300 lbs in less then 2 years......and eat really well while doing it.  Find a surgeon that is willing to take your case, try to find one that won't make you do a supervised diet if your insurance company won't pay for it....mine did my surgery 2 months after my consultation (actually more like 1 1/2 months).  Hope that helps Scott

Lisa, I had open RNY with a starting BMI of 69.  My surgeon recommended trying to lose some weight before surgery but it wasn't mandatory. I think it depends on your general health, age and surgeon preference. Good luck to you. Jeanne