Thinking about getting lapband, nervous

[anonemouse 1]

I have been thinking about talking to my doctor about being referred to lapband surgery. My fear is that he will say, "You aren't big enough." It's true that I only weigh around 210. But I am also only 5'3". My BMI is 37 and I am starting to develop health problems. I have PCOS, high cholesterol and triglycerides, exercise-induced asthma, and prediabetes. I have made numerous attempts to lose weight, all with no lasting success.

I see all these posts from people that weighed 300+ pounds when they had surgery, and I really wonder if I am making too much of my weight. And then I think that if I take care of it now, I won't get to that point. I won't have full-blown diabetes or heart disease (both of which are very prominent in my family). I won't have to have a double knee replacement like my mom did. Or triple/quadruple bypasses like my uncle and one of my grandfathers. Or die of a heart attack like my other grandfather.

So yeah, I have no idea what to think. I am caught between thinking this is the best thing that I can do and thinking that I should wait until I weigh more and have worse problems.

[Randi 0]

Laurend,

You should qualify based on your current BMI and the high cholesterol.

[anonemouse 1]

That's what I am hoping the surgeon will say when I get to talk to him. Right now, I have an appointment with my endocrinologist Nov 9, and I will ask him for a referral then.

[Joy Joy 0]

Laurend

My BMI was only below 40 when I went in for my consult. I was 5'1" 210 with no co-morbidities, I was approved in less than two weeks. So it is possible to get approved...don't give up.

[lisah25 3]

So yeah, I have no idea what to think. I am caught between thinking this is the best thing that I can do and thinking that I should wait until I weigh more and have worse problems.

I would pursue it now if I were you. You are already seeing bad effects of being overweight, and if you wait you have less chance, I would think, of reversing them all.

[anonemouse 1]

I was thinking about asking my endocrinologist for a referral when I see him on Nov 9, ut now I am thinking about calling the doctor that I did my medical weight-loss program through (phentermine) and seeing if she will set one up. I have been seeing her longer than I have been seeing the endocrinologist, and she knows that I have been trying to lose weight unsuccessfully.

What do you guys think? Should I call her on Monday or wait until the 9th and see the endocrinologist for a referral?

[ladydi 0]

Lauarend, I would call her now and not wait. After she ok's it you have to go the the seminar and fill out all the paperwork. Then they send in the info to the ins co and you wait about 2 wks for the answer. I went to my seminar on the 23 of july and had my sx on the 21st of Aug. It goes fast once you get everything started.

Waiting until you gain more weight is not smart. It can hurt you with all the medical problems that can arise. The band is a great tool and I am really looking forward to losing my weight. I have only lost 9 lbs so far, but the first couple months are for healing. I get my 2nd fill on Wed and hope I will have restriction and start to lose. Good luck with your discision.

Diane

[Big girl banded 0]

My Bmi was 36 i think, maybe a 35. I was on the edge but have asthma. I am 6ft tall and starting out was 266 (It had been 255 but i gained 10lbs going off some of my meds in the last month before surgery).

My weight and height makes me carry the weight differently. My doc said this is "damage control" ...if i continued gaining as history showed that it was going to get really bad. I decided to it now before it gets that bad.

Alot of the Oct Bandsters seem to have started around the 260 range. It really depends on you and your doc if this is right for you. And you must factor in that someone 300lbs who is 6ft usually has a much different BMI then that of someone who is 5ft. So it isnt all numbers.

Goodluck deciding!