HELP!!!! BMI over 80 (last resort!)

Hi everyone. I am new here and am coming to this site as a last resort. I am 22 years old and weigh right at 600lbs. I'm having a hard time finding a surgeon who has any experience operating on people of my size. In March I was diagnosed with SVT, which is a heart condition caused by my weight. I am way too young to be worrying about dying because of my size! If anyone knows of any surgeons in and around Kentucky please help me!! This is my last resort before completely giving up! Danni Kentucky

Danni, I live in Maryland. I want to welcome you to the over 50 BMI board and I want you to hold tight. There are some people on this board who have lost an amazing amount of weight starting pretty near or more then at where you are. So don't give up we are here to help and encourage you. You are so young and that is on your side. What kind of insurance to you have? Have you investigated the kind of weight loss surgery you would like to pursue? Do you have a supportive primary care physician? Is your family supportive. It is a holiday weekend and some of our members are not at their usual routine postings so you may not get a lot of responses till Monday. But don't let that discourage you. Please ask all your questions about anything. We are not a shy group and want to help. HUGS to you Danni.

Hi Danni, I can't recommend anyone in KY but I wanted to let you know that there is definitely hope with a BMI over 80 - I started at 84 I think, and there are other people on here who started very high too.  I am also young (29) and I wish I had the surgery earlier honestly.  I was thinking about it at 22, and then about 90 lbs and 6 years later I decided it was my last resort too.  Don't give up!  If you are like me, you will have to go on a diet before surgery - some people are put on medically supervised diets for insurance, or diets like optifast and medifast to lose a bunch of weight in order to make surgery safer.  I have a friend at around 550 (bmi 92 I think) who is having surgery in Jan - they are doing some unusual things because of her weight, like inserting the breathing tube through her neck in to her throat, but they are doing the surgery (and leaving her on a ventilator for several days).  I can ask her what surgeon she is using, but it wouldn't be someone in KY - honestly at the moment I can't recall what state she is in, but I think her surgeon is in TN.  I wish you all the best and know that as soon as people are back from the holiday, there will be a lot of responses for you. 

Welcome!  I was a little less than what you weigh now, when I had the surgery on 9/10/07.  So don't give up hope.  I had to go to alot of surgeons before I found one, who is 2 hours away from my house.  You have to keep searching. 

You might also want to post your message on the Kentucky boards if you haven't done so already.  Someone there might have your answer.

Good Luck.

Hi Danni, Welcome to the boards.  I can't help you with surgeons in your area.  Someone suggested posting on the Kentucky board.  Also contact your insurance company they might be able to help guide you.  Also, perhaps a teaching hospital, I say that because I am in Phillie and we have many teaching hospitals here.  I am so happy that you have made a major decision in your life to improve the quality of it.  I have socks that are older than you are, lol, you have your whole future ahead of you and this is the best step you will make.  I am not going to sugar coat it, it is not going to be easy. but you can do it if you really want it.   Hang around the boards to get more information about the real life after surgery.  Good luck in finding your surgeon.  Please keep us posted on your progress.   You can do this. Jeanne    

Good thing I was wearing my Poise pad when I read the socks comment!

I'm no spring chicken either! 

Hi Danni!

I'm new here myself. I'm a pushy sort of girl - I didn't bother to introduce myself, I just started posting - LOL!

Welcome to both of us. I'm excited to be here! 

In my case, my surgical choices were dependent on my insurance. BCBS Oregon required me to go to a Center of Excellence. Oregon has 3, and I am looking at both that are closest to me. I agree that teaching hospitals are also a good place to look. 

 

Patty 

Welcome to you also, Patty,

There is something to be said about us not being so spring chickens, we are full of wisdom,after all if we were chickens and have managed not to be dinner for someone at this point we are doing something right.

GBS is a very serious decision one that mentally we need to be prepared for.  I really wish that this wonderful technology was available when I was younger, however, I don't know if I was mentally prepared at that time.

Good luck to us all in our journey and to you newbies.

 

 

Jeanne

HEY DANNIE, WELCOME TO THE BEST MESSAGE BOARD AROUND.... YOU HAVE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR SUPPORT AND QUESTIONS... GET WITH YOUR INSURANCE PROVIDER FIRST AND GO FROM THERE... THEY ALL HAVE CERTAIN CRAP THEY WANT YA TO DO LOL... CANT YOU TELL IVE BEEN THERE DONE THAT>? LOL JUST REMEMBER THAT AS THE OTHER POSTERS SAY... ITS NOT AN EASY ROAD TAKEN AND WONT BE ALWAYS ROSES BUT JEEZ WHAT CAN I NOT SAY ABOUT IT... IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE IF DO WAS IS EXPECTED OF YOU.... YOU WILL GET SO MUCH OUT OF IT..... JUST DONT GIVE UP... MOST OF US OUT HERE STARTED OUT ON THE HIGHER END OF THE BMI. SO JUST FIND A DR AND START READING AND READING AND DID I MENTION READING UP ON EVERYTHING YOU CAN SO YOU CAN BE A SMART COOKIE (SUGAR FEE OF CORSE LOL)WHEN THE TIME COMES.... WE WILL BE HERE FOR YA.... HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU....  HUGS MARGE

Hi, Danni, and welcome to the BMI Over 50 board!  You are in the right place for support and encouragement on this journey.  The other posters have given you great suggestions about where to start - talk to your PCP and your insurer; they should be able to help identify surgeons within your coverage plan.   This will not be an easy journey - you will hit bumps in the road, we all did - but it will be worth it.  Keep your spirits up and take the first steps toward a new, healthier you!   Kellie