man weighs over 700 lbs needs help

Definitely check with the larger local hospitals.  If they receive any federal funding or are a non-profit hospital, they should have a "charity care" program in place to help people who are lower income, don't have insurance, etc.  It works on a sliding scale and they will need to provide proof of income.  Also, the hospital may be able to put him in contact with a Dr to help him if he agrees to be a teaching subject.  I know that him weighing that much is very entombing, I had a good friend who is very short, around 5 foot and she was 450, and her Dr. made her lose weight before he would even consider operating on her to prove her commitment to the process.  She had a lot of trouble walking, so she started out really slowly, for example, maybe she could walk to the bathroom and back 3 times today, 4 times tomorrow, and keep progressing, eventually she would go to the mall and walk around there, etc.  Please encourage him to visit us online and if nothing else, we can be his cheering team!!!  I'll keep him in my prayers and wish that he finds someone willing to help him out. 

I hope he makes his way here
I also know that once you lose your mobility your metabilism slows down and turns everything you get to fat
Eating is so much more than just consuming calories
it is a social activity and so much more
I hope he checks out the Duodenal Switch if he comes around, it has had much success with the SMO and will allow him to continue to eat more than other alternative surgeries.

What a sad story! I'm glad you are reaching out to him and trying to help.
    Unfortunately, I don't know of any programs that would provide him with wls, but hopefully he will qualify for Medicare in the not too distant future. In the meantime, he can research all the different surgeries available, and I hope he will come to OH and research the duodenal switch. It has the highest percentage excess weight loss and best maintainence of that weight loss of any wls, and for someone with so much excess weight to lose, it's the most likely to get him closest to a normal weight. It also has the best resolution of comorbidities (and I bet he has some).
     Once he has Medicare, he can seek out a surgeon who will accept him as a patient and accept Medicare, but doing his research now will speed up the process once he does have coverage. And also, whatever exercise he can do not, even if it's "sit and be fit" type stuff, can only improve his health and lower his surgical risks.

Larra

PS if you are in touch with this gentleman and if he would like some information about the DS, just send me a pm and I will gladly provide some articles about it.

thanks so much.. I have offered him to come to this web site.. he knows his way around a computer so I am hopeing he will. I will keep you in mind nad send him your way for the info... thanks

This breaks my heart, because a little over 4 months ago I was in his position. I was rapidly approaching 700 lbs & my mobility was becoming very limited; not to mention I had insurance that had an exclusion for weight loss surgery.

Then, by a true blessing from God, I was given a miracle. Now, less than 4 months since my DS, I've dropped 117 lbs.

Has he thought of financing the surgery? I know Dr. Husted has operated on patients larger than him & in most cases he doesn't require pre-op weight loss, because he understands SMO & it's limitations. I'll be praying for this gentleman and I hope & pray he finds a way to have surgery.

As for wha****erwench said, I agree with someone above me who posted that weight gain is much more than calorie consumption. Obesity is also directly related to metabolism, which is why the DS has worked wonders for me. I was gaining weight with each passing day & I did not have an enabler by no means. In fact, the comment was often made that I ate so much less than my co-workers & friends, and everyone complained that I was a slow eater. Some people have issues other than just over eating and shouldn't be stereotyped into the "fat because I eat too much" category... society does enough of that! [/soapbox]

I am just so concerned about him. He is so nice and pleasant to talk to. His wife is really doing lal she can for him.. she cooks without salt and he eats good food. But you are right he cant move very much so he is really trapped..
as for Waterwrench she has an opionion and she has that right. Unless you have been in a Super morbidly obese position it is hard to understand.
She is right that there are many enablers out there but we all have them not just overly obese people..
He still deserves the compasion and help to get out of the situation he is in.. So I am going to try to continue to encourage him to get onto this web site..
Thanks for your thoughts/
keep praying fro him.

Has he thought about the University of Chicago Medical Center. This is a teaching hospital. I would look into contacting Dr. Alverdy's office.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the tip I will pass it on to him..