Too Big For Surgery?

[kyllfalcon 768]

At a group meeting with my surgeon, he told us that some doctors/hospitals won't operate on the higher bmi patients. He was very proud that he had taken on and had successfully sleeved several such patients.

Self pay was about $18,000.

[Percepied430 3]

Good Luck to you! I was asked to lose 50 pounds before surgery and did it with essentially a liquid diet for 4 weeks. You would be amazed at the weight you can lose doing that. Don't be discouraged. Not to get off topic and if this has been covered elsewhere please just post a link, but I notice a lot of people going to Mexico for this surgery is this simply a cost issue? I fought with insurance companies and the Vocational Rehab witht he state of Florida for almost 10 years to get this done. Finally new employment better insurance payed for the procedure, but only at a baratric center of excellence (Shands Hospital at UF). I am interested why people go international for this. Would it be easier to go to europe for this procedure? I understand that VSG is the standard for WLS there.

[TheNewSusie 471]

Dr. Alvarez is out of a hospital, but which ever surgeon u choose I'm sure will take care of u.

[Beanzilla 14]

Good Luck to you! I was asked to lose 50 pounds before surgery and did it with essentially a liquid diet for 4 weeks. You would be amazed at the weight you can lose doing that. Don't be discouraged. Not to get off topic and if this has been covered elsewhere please just post a link, but I notice a lot of people going to Mexico for this surgery is this simply a cost issue? I fought with insurance companies and the Vocational Rehab witht he state of Florida for almost 10 years to get this done. Finally new employment better insurance payed for the procedure, but only at a baratric center of excellence (Shands Hospital at UF). I am interested why people go international for this. Would it be easier to go to europe for this procedure? I understand that VSG is the standard for WLS there.

My insurance is notorious for denying approval for WLS, and I personally do not have the patience to fight with them. I wish I did, but I don't. It is much cheaper to go to Mexico than to self pay in the US. I've personally known a few people that have done it and were very happy with the whole experience.

[Luwanna 80]

What about Gastric Bypass? From what I read, it seems that sleeving is most appropriate for folks between 35 and 50 BMI. You want surgery, but more than that you want to be safe and LIVE. These protocols are in place for your safety. Check with some other doctors, and see if a different surgery might be more appropriate for you at this time. Just a thought......

[Luwanna 80]

Just read another that said 30-55 BMI. Try the pre-op diet for a month, and you might be able to get to that 55 BMI! Good Luck!!!!!

[Failure 32]

If by any chance Mexico does not work out, feel free to contact me. I just got approved financing for my surgery to be done in the US and if you can afford the payments per month then it's perfect. If you don't have good credit they let you put co-signers in so it's not a huge deal as long as you can pay the monthly repayment. I have recently discovered a lot more US surgeons for bariatric are doing this medical financing thing because it's easier for patients without insurance, or insurance that won't cover it.

[Pookeyism 1,143]

I would have to say you really, really want to lose some before this surgery. Whith that said, however a part of the sleeve's history was acting as a 1st wave of surgery, for people who was so large they could not have the bypass - so I am confused for the people who are being told they are too large.

[Percepied430 3]

I agree I initially was looking ot get a RNY but my doctor said at my size my liver may be too big and he suggested the sleeve and I couldn't be happier!

[DuranFan1969 119]

Thank you, everyone! Right now I'm waiting to hear back about Dr. Garcia. Dr. Alvarez was the one that denied me.

My BMI is 72, and I will do whatever I have to in order to get sleeved.

I started at 473 lbs. and my BMI was 73 and my sleeve is scheduled for June 13th. My doctor put me on a 2 week liquid diet but that's the only restrictions he put on my surgery. I would echo the sentiments above in you may want to look at other surgeon options.

[Beanzilla 14]

So many people are afraid of fat, it's a large (cough) part of the reason why everyone is so big. Some people more than others, and especially true the shorter you are.

I had done a ton of research prior to my decision to get the sleeve, and I was already on a low carb diet, but when I heard about the liver shrinking plan, I moved my efforts up a notch.

Try this out sometime, and see how you feel:

Drop carb sources completely. No bread. No starches. No wheat. No Corn, Nothing plant based.

Eat protein/fat sources and measure your weight on a weekly basis.

I dropped 20 pounds pre-op following this plan. I was never hungry either. Protein and fat fill you up better than carbs do, and there's nothing wrong with natural fats (animal based, and things like coconut oil and butter) - there's a reason so many people follow the paleo diet. It works. Atkins was close, but that diet included things like vegetable oils (other than coconut oil, a big no no) and a few other minor points of contention.

The more you do now prior to surgery, the better.

Fat doesn't kill people. Carbohydrates & sugar kills people.

I am definitely going to try this! Thank you. And thank you to everyone else for the ideas and support.

I am approved to have surgery with Dr. Garcia, but there will be extra fees because there will be extra proceedures, which I completely understand. It also made me feel better that he is taking extra precautions for my safety and well-being. I am going to work to lose as much weight as I can before my surgery date. Weee! Now I'm getting excited!

[Fallenangel2904 494]

What about Gastric Bypass? From what I read, it seems that sleeving is most appropriate for folks between 35 and 50 BMI. You want surgery, but more than that you want to be safe and LIVE. These protocols are in place for your safety. Check with some other doctors, and see if a different surgery might be more appropriate for you at this time. Just a thought......

Actually VSG was originally designed for patients with a higher BMI. It was designed as a 'pre surgery' for high risk patients before having the RNY procedure so they could come down in weight first. From what I've heard from several surgeons RNY is actually tougher to perform on patients with a high BMI then VSG. VSG was designed as a way to effectivly get the patient to a 'safe weight' so they could have RNY. Doctors then began to see that VSG patients were loosing a lot of weight on their own and didn't even need the second surgery so they began introducing it as a stand along surgery. Just a little info

Anyway, to the OP, I really hope you are able to get approved! I'm surprised that at a weight of 420 you would be told you're too big when there have been patients over 500+ who have had VSG with sucess. I think it probably does have more to do with the facility as mentioned. Fingers crossed for you!

[LoriRay 27]

I would think that with your bmi that even if you insurance co. is picky they probably would approve you. Some folks with a bmi over 50 dont have to wait long at all. Just a thought. My out of pocket was just over $1000.00. It took me 7 months to get approved but I didnt have any of the co-morbidities. Once I dig my heels in though it finally came through. I am persistant! Good luck to you

Lori

[Marisa46 7]

My BMI is 69. My surgeon has always been positive. He does insist on a liquid diet (liver shrinking diet his office calls it) before surgery, but he requires that of everyone who has a stable blood sugar. I think it may be that the surgeon you talked to hasn't had the experience or for some other reason isn't competent (confident) doing the surgery for you. Good luck and don't give up.

[Disneytikifan 21]

I was at the upper edge of what anesthesia feels comfortable With for sedation. I lost weight before surgery and have done well post op. I think the limit was a bmi somewhere between 55-60.