RNY surgery and being a Pilot

I don't have an answer, but I just wanted to say good luck! I suspect many of us, when we had so much to lose, didn't dare to dream of such things -- so you may have to dig a bit to get you answer.  But good for you, perusing your dream and not letting your weight get in your way! I don't know you, but I'm already impressed.

I do hope you will come back and let us know what you find out so we have the answer the next time someone comes around.  

Also, I hope you will stick around a while on these boards.  If you decide to take this path, this board is a terrific resource and will really help you prepare for this life changing decision.  

After my RNY I was taking lessons and was planning to get a pilot licence.  At the end I decided I was not really interested that much in flying... To spend that much money and time to get and maintain a pilot licence. 

The only issues that I was aware of was being on antidepressant - like Lexapro.  Also - pain pills for chronic pain - may be a major issue. 

The best would be to approach a doc that does clearance. 

You report good health and may be a candidate for a fairly new surgical procedure called Intragastric Balloon.  (search website mayoclinic.org)  A bariatric coordinator spoke of this procedure at our last weight loss surgery support group meeting saying our local hospital is planning on offering this procedure on a cash basis since insurance companies aren't on board yet.  They hope to keep the cost at about  $7,000 US Dollars.  

Thank you for that. How does it work.  Is it like a lap band. 

It's my understanding that the balloon is something you basically swallow, and then they pump it up so that you have very little room left in your stomach. My doctor's assistant told me that it stays in your stomach for 6 months, and that you are on a 12 month nutrition plan to learn how to eat correctly. After the allotted time, the 'balloon' is deflated and pulled back out of your stomach. It's invasive-free, meaning no surgery. I don't know the details of implementation, but I would assume local anesthesia would be in line for something like this. I saw the balloon in my doc's office, it looks like a breast implant - and apparently is made by the same company 

It works similar to an endoscopy. they knock you out, feed the balloon down and inflate it.

My cousin performs these balloons in Georgia. They seem to be doing well so far.

I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. Let other people be a guinea pig. It only stays in for 6 months, so no one will end up keeping the weight off. And everyone thought the lapband was less invasive too, and it ended up doing horrible, permanent damage.

For $7,000, go to Mexico and get a sleeve.

They have people paying to be the rats. This has unhappiness written all over.