Could they say no after seeing me?

I am a little nervous about getting my hopes up for surgery. I have done the BMI calculator with my stats and I meet that requirement. The problem is, I don't look (at least not in my eyes) like I weigh as much as I do. I'm shaped like an apple (I don't remember what "morph" I'm classified as) and I carry all of my weight in my mid to upper section. I had one doctor tell me that, genetically, I was built to be big. That pissed me off, but I can remember being at my smallest (high 100s), looking fit,  but still being classified as overweight. Just for reference, my stats are:

height- 5'8.5"

weight- fluctuates between 270lbs-260lbs

For a visual image comparison..."The Rock", Dwayne Johnson is around 220.

Recently, someone told me that I look like the actress who played "precious".

I know the numbers aren't good and I have the obesity related high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, and sleep apnea...but I'm still afraid that the way that my body carries the weight may make the doctor hesitate to give me the surgery. Maybe I'm a little delusional about how this weight looks on me, but my military years fighting the weight program programmed me to not think as much of the number on the scale, but more on the measurements of the body. I'm just wondering if my body fat vs. muscle rate will hurt me.

As long as your BMI is above 35 WITH comorbids (the sleep apnea, diabetes, etc all qualify) or 40 or above without comorbids, you qualify for weight loss surgery by NIH and Medicare standards.

However, your surgeon may not WANT to do the DS on a lightweight (and yes, you are one of us).

Your BMI at 260 and your height is 39...for reference, mine as of the day I checked into the surgeon's office was 35.2 and no, I did not look that fat...I'm an apple too.

Good luck.

Liz

Off topic, but what is considered a "lightweight"? Is it under a certain BMI?

What is a lightweight? Typically someone who has a BMI of less than 45 or less than 150 lbs to lose...altho we really do not pay attention to details. As long as someone feels comfortable and wants to be a part of the group...come join in the fun.

Lightweight Creed

130! I can't even imagine ever weighing 130 again. Congrats to you.

I was 5'8" and my highest weight was 262.  That put me in a 3x in clothes.

I lost 110 lbs and had some regain.  I wear a size 4/small now. 

It is just a falacy that a lightweight can't benefit from the DS.  It is NOT too strong a surgery for somoeone in my case.  I need the malabsorption every day to help me fight the regain.

~Becky

I know I had psychologically thoughts that I wasn't big enough for WLS. I would look in the mirror and say hey, I look ok. And I was always athletic all the way up into my mid 20s. Well, I would look at pics of me and say"Is that what I look like?' Yep. I am short 5'2 and hitting 240;( I still didn't see it in the mirror....maybe bc I was staring at the same body for the last 15 years. I got used to it.  Now at 190 I look at pics..I can see the difference. I look at my before photos and I cannot believe I was that round...but I was. My bmi was just over 40. The doc still did not hesitate this surgery for me. I am glad he didn't. Even though this is the beginning of my journey I cannot wait to get to goal. I feel better but I still have 70 lbs to go. 

You got precious, I got Rosie D...the talk show host.

You got precious, I got Rosie D...the talk show host.

Mine was Kathy Bates! Thankfully I don't look ANYTHING like her now.

I got Mimi from the Drew Cary show lol

If your numbers and comorbids fall in line qualifying you for surgery,they can't deny you on how  you "look."

GL