Question:
has anyone put on 20 or 30lbs to qualify

am 5'4 and 212 have fought the weight issue my entire life can't do it anymore but i feel guilty doing this help    — janis T. (posted on May 21, 2000)

May 21, 2000
Yes! I am gaining weight now to qualify...and it feels so wrong! I wish I didn't have to do this. I see my pcp for my referral on Tuesday, and didn't want to take the chance that she wouldn't refer me, so I have been trying to gain 15 pounds real quick. First call to the surgeons office, a bored receptionist with an attitude told me I would "never" qualify because I wasn't heavy enough. I had lost 109 pounds two years ago, but started gaining it back rapidly six months ago. I haven't gained it all back yet, but it is inevitable if I don't do SOMETHING soon...and I have done everything else...several times. So now I am trying to gain weight so that I qualify to lose it again. The receptionist didn't understand the irony of this. I'd laugh...but I am just too depressed. And I feel pretty yucky too. I can feel my fat cells growing as I sit here, and it feels terrible. Help. I'm so frightened they will tell me I don't qualify. My diabetes and hypertensionand sleep apnea symptoms disappeared when I lost this weight...do I have to get fat enough to have them again or will it be enough that I had them when I was 20 pounds heavier? I might not be above faking some comorbidities if that is what it takes. any suggestions? please?
   — Anne G.

May 21, 2000
Hi, I calcuated your BMI an it is 36.4. Do you have weight related medcial problems (comorbidities)? If so you are considered a candidate for surgery. The general guideslines are that you are considered a candidate for surgery if your BMI is greater than 35 and comorbidities are present. You are also considered a candidate for surgery if you BMI is greater than 40 even if you have no comorbidities. I had surgery and my BMI was around 36. It was truly the best thing I have ever done for myself.
   — Jennifer L.

March 2, 2001
Actually I don't think this answers your question. I am in the same boat that you are in I have a BMI of 38 sometimes it's 39 but I have Sleep Apnea, Hypothyroidism, incredibly large breasts that cause my back to hurt and my knees hurt so bad when I'm trying to sleep that it keeps me awake, when the CPAP machine isn't keeping me awake that is.I have colon problems, depression issues and other things that don't seem to come to mind presently. My appointment with the surgeon is on April 4th and I am nervous that I will only be like exactly 100 lbs over weight or between 95 and 105 and that my insurance won't approve me. Like weight only 95 lbs overweight is so much better than 100 lbs. I mean pleease. Like if I'm only 95 lbs overweight (for 4 years) is o.k but when you hit the 100 whoa, that's a whole different ball park. It's not. I'm still huge and I still NEED this surgery.(Hopefully I'll get the RNY) So anyway, I tend to go off on tangents. Back to the subject at hand.I am nervous about the appt. so I am sort of losing my appetite and a lb. or two. I'm totally freaking out, like they will deny my surgery for a measely 5 lbs. (Which I might add I'm sure I would gain back and double if they deny me, cause then I'll totally be depressed. So to keep the weight from going before my appt. I am eating everything in sight, and I'm having a hard time doing it too. That stinks. Cause I have a total love affair with fattening foods. Essentially my nerves are shot.I keep saying things like I'm not hungry but I have to keep my weight up. And I'm sure anyone who might overhear me would be like "yeah, right, you could do without a meal or two". But I am really scared that I will lower my BMI and I won't get the approval. So what do you do an a case like this?? Does anyone deal with Optimum Choice of Maryland?? I would be interesed in finding out if it's hard to get an appoval from them. The Surgeon's secretary/receptionist said not to worry they will get an approval if they have to take it to the Attorney General himself. Which made me feel good but only for a little while. I guess I just have to wait til I talk to the Surgeon. Wish me luck. I'm sorry I don't have any answers to your question. I will keep you posted with my news. Thanks for letting me vent. Suzie
   — Suzanne E.

July 11, 2004
I have had the same problem as you are having now. I didn't weigh enough, so I started eating everthing and I gained enough to qualify, but then my insurance wouldn't cover it. Now, 1 1/2 years later, I have gained an additional 60 lbs. I have a different insurance company now, but they won't cover it either. I am now looking into AR Rehab to cover surgery, but they say my BMI has to be 55, and mine is only 51. I just can't imagine gaining even more weight to have this done, and be denied yet again. I would only advise this route if you are positive that your insurance will cover you. If not, you will be stuck having to lose even more weight than you need to lose now. Hope this helps!!!
   — Karen L.