New and Curious

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here and am just starting to understand how this new chapter of my life is going to work. I have my consultation on 2/15, and since I'm a teacher, I hope to have the surgery this summer.

My BMI is exactly 50, and I have some questions about how that might have a different effect on my surgery than those wth a lower BMI. If there is a thread about this that I missed, feel free to point me in that direction. Do people with a BMI over 50 typically have to wait longer than others? Are there different options available to us?

I want to be so successful and to find the healthy person inside of me, so I'm super excited to find these forums.

Hi Eliza

This forum is pretty quiet. I would encourage you to check in on it though as we do have a weekly weigh in but you'll find the surgery specific or the general discussion board far more active. There are local forums too which may or may not be active depending on where you live. If you can find your local group and it's active that will be the best place to find answers on wait time. If it's not and you know what surgery you are having then I would post your questions on that specific forum.  

I'm two months post op so by no means an expert but I've never heard of someones BMI impacting wait times. Your BMI can effect what surgery options are available to you but that is at higher numbers than yours, I've not heard of that being the case for someone at your BMI.  

These forums are an incredibly valuable tool and there is so much to be gained by being here at every stage of the process. Dive in and read, read, read. Good luck with everything going forward!!

Christine

Hi and welcome!! My starting BMI was about 53. How that impacts your surgery really depends on your insurance. I know my insurance didn't require comorbidities at my BMI. And I didn't have to do the 6 months nutritional counseling thing I see a lot speak about. I was 6 weeks from consult to surgery-- atypical. 

Your BMI may have the doc encouraging a particular type of surgery. Learn about all of them- DS, RNY and sleeve. I initially wanted DS because if my high BMI/its success rate- but am glad the doc thought that wasn't necessary in my case. 

A highjer BMI may require more pre-op tests to ensure your healthy enough for surgery- that's stanadard. Read the various boards here-- you'll learn a lot. 

My surgical BMI was in the 70's and I didn't have to wait long at all.

Sometimes we might have to wait longer for unrelated reasons.  It took months to get some of my clearances for surgery, not due to BMI, but due to the fact specialists have agonizingly long waits.

The best option for us is the duodenal switch, as that has the highest rate of weight loss and best effectiveness long-term.  Having said that, many high BMI people have also been greatly successful with the sleeve and the bypass.  In the end, a lot of that success is up to us.  Read stories, both good and bad, about all the procedures.

One thing I suggest to everyone is to start counseling now.  Many wait until post-op, however having unbiased and objective support during the process was fabulous for me.  It helped me so much to have someone who understood my fear and frustration.  It also helps tremendously now over a year out.

How did your consultation go?

My BMI was 53 when I started the process. I had to jump through hoops for my insurance company, but nothing extra because of my BMI (I had to do a six month supervised diet and attend classes).

I am a teacher and did not get everything done until September, but I did not put off my surgery. I wanted it done ASAP. I missed 2 weeks of school, but my students survived without me.