Surgery at over 500 pounds?

Did anyone go into surgery weighing over 500 pounds? I can't find a whole lot of people and so I am a little freaked out. The good news is all my blood work is normal and I am considered healthy. The only issues I have are my knees that are deteriorating but I can still walk (sometimes it has to be with a cane). But otherwise I am grateful for my health. I am "young" which I am told helps as well (I'm 33, 34 in a few months). Anyhow if someone could put my mind to ease it would be appreciated. I talk to the surgeon on Wednesday and it is on my list of questions.

I wasn't over 500, but have three friends who were, and I was actually at your same BMI when I had my surgery three months ago.

First, the BMI is usually considered over weight, per se.  When I started my journey, my BMI was over 74.  I was told to get my BMI under 70 to be able to get my surgical date scheduled.  This was also due to my activity level and tests being passed (EKG, Stress Test, etc).  The weight is an issue, but overall health is considered at the same time. 

From your age and description of the only health issue, I think you will get good news from your surgeon.  Distribution of your fat (how thick your belly is) also will be considered whether it is laproscopic or open surgery.  The three friends over 500 (one female was well above 600) all had their surgeries laproscopic - so I hope that gives you some more positive feedback.

Maybe this will help buoy your spirits, I sure hope so!  For me, when I was no longer able to get around the way I was accustomed, I decided I needed surgical intervention.  It is a long journey, but you are already on the path!  Hang in there & stay positive!

Brenda  : )~

I started out at 496 and I had to lose 80 lbs before a surgeon would operate. If they require you to lose weight just don't feel defeated. It took me about 9 months and it was basically a diet I put together to be liveable. If u have questions you can always message me.

I was at 432 when I first went to the info session about surgery. I've had to lose down to a bmi of 60 to be operated on at the hospital of my choice. Otherwise I would have had to go to tufts in boston. Good luck and health.

I was 468lbs when I had my surgery. I have heard of other people being over 500 at support group.

Good Luck to you.

Hiya, I had laprascopic bypass surgery on 1/19/2011. On the 17th of January at the pre op orientaion meeting I weighed 585.5 LBS on the surgeon's scale. I am 5'8" 41 years old and have comorbidities. When I first decided to go for the surgery I weighed 622 on that scale. From the time that I started the process, I had to get some money together so this delayed the surgery. I went from 622 to 544 back to 585.5. I have pre insulin resistance, high blood pressure, I walk with a cane but cannot walk far. Mostly I am homebound and it sucks. After surgery I went to My first Post op meeting with my surgeon and I weighed 537, this was on 2/8/2011. Since then I have not been able to weigh so I do not know what I weigh now but I do see some parts of Me are smaller. I can't say that you will have no complications, I hope You do not , but they are a possability. On 2/10/2011 I had to go to the hospital and spent 3 days. I had a bleed somewhere that a drug I take made worse. It required 4 units of plasma and 3 units of whole blood to get My hemocrit up to 30. I had several attacks of gout, now that I am not drinking 100 ounces or more of fluid and with the severs weight loss the gout has came back, sometimes it really hurts to walk. Before surgery , My surgeon had Me go to a cardiologist and a pulmonologist, to get my heart and lungs checked, they are normal. Before I saw this post , I thought it was so rare that someone of My size or bigger have had the surgery, My surgeon told me He did operate on one man that was one pound heavier that I was at My highest.
My weight and how I look have made Me not put a pic of how I am now on any profiles, I use a pic from when I was around 20. I hope this helps You , if You have any questions or anything feel free to reply to this post or send me a message. Corey

Hello Girlie!!   Is 580 enough for you?  When I had my surgery I weighed 580.  My heaviest weight was 611.  I was 39 years old and like you I was healthy and my only issue were my knees.  They feel a lot better these days. 

Back then they did not require you to loss weight before the WLS, but many plans require it nowadays which is a good thing too.  My doctors told me he wished he had made me lose 40 to 50 pounds prior to surgery.  They do it now.  I have seen some of the newbies lose almost 100 pounds before surgery.  My biggest recommendation to you is to follow your surgeons instructions to the tee.  Make sure your program is a Center of Excellence also.  If not accredited as a Center of Excellence I would look for surgeon who is.  Since you weight over 500 pounds you need the support before and well after surgery also to insure the best outcome after surgery. Check out my profile page.  It has been a journey.  Go back to March of last year when I recommitted to myself.  

Don't let your size worry you?  If you have a good surgeon you will do good.  It took me a while to find a surgeon willing to do my surgery.  Thank goodness I lived in a Chicago.  I did not know once you go over 400 people did not want to do the surgery.  So I had one surgeon refuse to do my surgery.  I almost gave up on it but the following year I regrouped and found another surgeon who believed in me. 

Keep us posted and let me know if you have any questions.  I would also like to invite you to myfitnesspal.com where I log my food and exercise daily.  Congrats on making the choice to change your life. 

I weighed 541 at my initial consult and the doc made me lose 41 before I could schedule my.  I was able to get down 50 before surgery and my procedure was laproscopic.  I'm almost 2 months post op and down 120 pounds since Nov 2010.  The only change I wish I could make was having the surgery much sooner.  Not everyday is easy, but in the end it will be worth it.:)

I was 597 at my first weigh in, lost down to 540 the day of surgery. It is not as uncommon as you might think. I had my surgery done laproscopically and did not have any complications. Going thru childbirth was much worse than the surgery! At least they give you pain killers LOL You are young, I was 38 when I had my surgery done. At this point i have lost over half of my body weight. You can do it...and be successful! I agree, make sure your hospital is a center of excellence. This was the best thing (besides having my son) that I have done in life. I feel amazing...every day is like being a kid all over again.

Best of luck to you!!!!

Hello. I really appreciate all of you responding. Since I have met with the surgeon and heard from all of you my mind is more at ease. My surgeon successfully performed surgery on someone with a BMI of 99! Crazy I know! I am young and I have no health problems as of yet.

I am not cleared for surgery due to the internist saying I'm not physically fit for surgery because I was honest and said I am not doing a whole lot for exercising (at the time). I am doing more now (20 minutes per day on the bike plus about 20-30 minutes of doing weights or the resistance band) and I am joining a gym so I can do water aerobics BUT were any of you physically active? I can't imagine many of you were if you were near or above 500 pounds. I can barely walk/stand and I'm sure there were a few of you in the same situation. I know it is best for me to be physically active and get my heart strong but I'm just curious.