Question:
I'm 18 and my BMI is 35, will I quailify for surgery?
I'm tired of wasting my teenage years away as a cow!! — Courtney W. (posted on April 4, 2001)
April 4, 2001
Hi Courtney, your BMI is borderline for qualifying for insurance to cover.
Combined with your age, I would tend to think that they would want some
serious documentation of previous attempts to lose. My BMI is 39 I am 33
yrs old. I will be having a hard enough time myself. It is not really an
easy process for anyone. With you BMI of 35, you would definitely have to
prove that you had some other co-morbities, meaning diseases or conditions
associated with you weight, like Family history of Congestive Heart
Failure, Osteoarthritis, Stress Incontinence... There are numerous ones.
hopefully all your friends here will help by way of advice. Best wishes!
— Cheryl C.
April 4, 2001
Courtney, Speaking like a major mom--don't call yourself a cow young
lady!!! Now that I'm off my soapbox, I have a co worker who is about 23 and
weighs 260 lbs. She was not approved because she had not had children yet
and she said she don't plan to have them. BC/BS refused to pay. She has
decided not to appeal at this point. But it does not hurt to apply. Every
insurance is different and they may just approve you.
— Jan M.
April 4, 2001
Courtney, it all depends on your insurance, your height in relation to your
weight, and your health problems associated with being morbidly obese. I
had my VBG in 1984 at the age of 16. It worked great for 2 1/2 years, then
I started gaining weight again. I didn't find out until I was 32 that my
staple line had disrupted. My surgeon had retired and my Mom didn't want
to pursue a solution - she viewed it as another failure on my part. So, I
regained every bit of what I lost and nearly 100 more lbs after two
pregnancies. I wish I had the knowledge then to have researched the
solution and gotten the problem fixed. The next 16 years would have been
so different for me if I could have been healthy. I had the RNY in 2000
and have been very successful, thusfar. However, my surgeon was only 60
miles from me back in 1988. You definitely need to research what surgery
is right for you (I don't recommend VBG), a skilled surgeon, and have a
strong support system. I wish you the best and applaud you for wanting to
take control of your life while you are young. Best wishes.
— [Deactivated Member]
April 5, 2001
I would recommend doing a study on as many amos members as possible. Get
our weight preop right before surgery and our bmi, then get our weight and
bmi at age 18, most of us can remember what we were at 18 then look up our
bmi. You can write all the facts on that to support that you are only
going to go up and if you have the surgery now, it gives you an opportunity
to prevent years of pain and increasing obesity. The insurances want to
see things like that. Along with a letter of your seriousness etc....
When they see you have taken effort and really studied especially if you do
a "statistics based on all 20000 AMos members, they know you are not
playing games.
goodluck
— Patricia C.
April 5, 2001
It's disheartening to read your description of yourself; sounds like me
over 40 years ago. But MY DEAR, times have changed! Are you out on your
own or covered by insurance under a parent's policy? Time to hit the
cyberbooks! If you've covered by insurance, find out what the criteria is;
and how to start the process. I have to see a PCP (primary care physician)
first, get a referral then wait for an appt. with the surgeon. Your ins.
may be different. I believe the NIH (National Institutes of Health) has
published standards of what consitutes morbid obesity but I believe each
surgeon sets their own standard in order to CYA (this one you'll have to
figure out yourself :). I wish the database was easier to search,
including the profiles, so that you could put in age, or BMI or whatever
and get an answer. As it is I think you'll have to click thru a lot of
info but you'll learn a lot along the way. But don't just wonder if you
qualify, go to the source and find out for sure. If NO is the answer,
research, research, research! You might like the website
http:www.strongwomen.com Don't give up at this early age...it's time to
learn to pursue your goals and dreams. Go Girlfriend!!
— Lynn E.
April 5, 2001
I think this is a serious problem, first of all I don't think that your age
should hinder you, second I really don't think that you should be approved
for this surgery, I'm really sorry to say, but this surgery is not going to
make you happy. I would advise you to seek professional help. You really
need to realize that you are a worth while person, and you can be happy
just the way you are. I'm afraid that you would be very dissapointed with
the results. Being thin is not all there is to being happy. You need to
learn to love yourself. Also this surgery is being abused widely by being
performed on people that are not heavy enough or at real health risks, and
emotional unstable. I'm really sorry maybe i shouldn't have written this,
but i really believe that you need to be very self aware and emotionally
mature to succeed with this tool. I'm afraid if things keep going the way
that they are the government might put a stop to this type of surgery, or
at least greatly restrict them, maybe they should.
— [Anonymous]
April 5, 2001
First, I agree partially with the first post. This surgery is not a easy
fix. I do think that it is a rather harsh way to say what the
(anonymous)person had to say. If I am not mistaken anyone looking into
this type of surgery has feelings similar to yours. The anonymous person
should not judge you, but support you, maybe some people do abuse this, or
are really not qaulified medically for this surgery. This is what a Dr. is
for, to determine the necessity and qualifications of each person. If
someone who should not qualify for this surgery per standards, gets this
surgery, who's more responsible? The doctor or the patient? I did not go
to medical school, I cannot pretend to know everything, I can only trust
that my Dr. would not recommend something for me,the surgeon agree with it,
if it were not medically necessary. Of course everyone has an valid
opinion, I just feel that everyone has the right to at least learn and try
to become healthier,happier and emotionally stable.
— toscamaddox
July 19, 2001
My insurance...AEtna...will approve you with a BMI of 35+ with comorbids.
I am 36 with a BMI of 35 and am in the process of trying to get approval.
With AEtna, your PCP has to deem it medically necessary. They also want a
detailed report of diets used in the past. From what I have heard, AEtna
is one of the "easier" ones to approved with.
— skymaxjr
July 19, 2001
Three little words for you... DON'T DO IT! Now I know that's not what you
WANT to hear, but trust me.... you haven't tried enough of the weight loss
options out there. Heck, I'm 44 and now at 15 weeks post-op, I WISH I had
tried just one more diet or program before I did this to myself. Yes...
the weight is coming off, but you have NO idea what you have to give up for
the rest of your life. Over and above the foods you will never eat again,
there is the socialization that goes along with 'food' that all of us
'fatties' have grow to embrace. That goes away too. Your life will change
forever in ways you've been praying for, and also in negative ways that you
can't even imagine. If you are SURE that you have tried EVERYTHING to
successfully lose weight and have failed, then proceed with your quest for
the surgery. You'll be in my prayers either way, because if you go through
with this, I guarantee you that you will be remembering this letter
someday.
— [Anonymous]
July 19, 2001
Well the first question is how many 18 year olds loose this much weight and
keep it off permanetely? I think its nearly none, people gain eight
normally as they get older.
I WISH I were 18 again oddly enough I was 220 after high school and am now
310 at 44 years old. All dieting does is add pounds.
Now since your BMI is lower you might consider the lap band. Its safer,
easier, and reversible. Loss isnt as fast or great as a bypass but it has
its advantages.
— bob-haller
Click Here to Return