Lap Banders with BMI 50 or higher?

[mrsshmoo8289 5]

I called today to schedule my day-long orientation about WLS (end of March). The woman who helped me commented that I'm at the highest limit where the surgeons like to do Lap Band. She said they've found from experience that Lap Band is less effective at a BMI of 50 or higher. Mine is 50.9. *hides in shame*

I've looked around at a lot of posters here and I don't see anyone who started with as large an amount as me. I'm brokenhearted that I crossed the 300 pound mark back in November. I am fighting hard to get back under, but it's just not working. I log all my food on Sparkpeople, let them do the math so I know I'm in the right ranges...only to fluctuate between 303 and 306. When I saw 306 again just two days ago, I was despondent. I've been hungry for two weeks, fought it to stay in my ranges, and I gain three pounds? What's up with that?

Anyway, I'm wanting to know who started with a BMI of 50 or higher, and wondering how you are doing with it. From my research so far, I prefer Lap Band over the sleeve. I don't want to permanently alter my stomach like that. The woman at the clinic said I could elect to have whichever surgery I wanted, but she just wanted to tell me about their findings. They scared me. If I have to, I'll go on a liquid diet and get under 50%. That's gotta work, right?

I don't want to have WLS and have it not work either. I think I would be beyond despondent then. I need something to work. I've been morbidly obese for 22 years and I hate living in this body.

[gowalking 10,790]

I think you may need to find another surgeon who is more supportive. Take a look at my ticker. I was also a smidge over 50 BMI when I started and look at where I am now. I'm fortunate to have had no issues and great success. I am nearly at goal weight and I had surgery 13 months ago.

And I can say that while this is not easy, the lapband helps me enormously in terms of suppressing my appetite and allowing me the ability to make good food choices and to eat band sized portions.

My primary physician wanted me to get gastric bypass. She said I'd lose 40 lbs. with the band, and that's about it. I'm making her eat her words....and when I see her for my regular followup next week, I'll weigh less than she does.

I understand how sick and tired you are of being morbidly obese. I did tremendous damage to myself by being more than 100 lbs. heavier than I should have been. My life is amazingly better now. From major differences like being mobile when I was barely able to walk, to something as simple as bending over to tie my shoelaces...which I also couldn't do at my heaviest.

Your quality of life will improve immensely so I applaud you for looking into WLS. Again...find a doctor who will support you and you'll do great. Good luck, keep us posted.

Edited February 22, 2014 by gowalking

[SarahRN482 66]

I called today to schedule my day-long orientation about WLS (end of March). The woman who helped me commented that I'm at the highest limit where the surgeons like to do Lap Band. She said they've found from experience that Lap Band is less effective at a BMI of 50 or higher. Mine is 50.9. *hides in shame*

I've looked around at a lot of posters here and I don't see anyone who started with as large an amount as me. I'm brokenhearted that I crossed the 300 pound mark back in November. I am fighting hard to get back under, but it's just not working. I log all my food on Sparkpeople, let them do the math so I know I'm in the right ranges...only to fluctuate between 303 and 306. When I saw 306 again just two days ago, I was despondent. I've been hungry for two weeks, fought it to stay in my ranges, and I gain three pounds? What's up with that?

Anyway, I'm wanting to know who started with a BMI of 50 or higher, and wondering how you are doing with it. From my research so far, I prefer Lap Band over the sleeve. I don't want to permanently alter my stomach like that. The woman at the clinic said I could elect to have whichever surgery I wanted, but she just wanted to tell me about their findings. They scared me. If I have to, I'll go on a liquid diet and get under 50%. That's gotta work, right?

I don't want to have WLS and have it not work either. I think I would be beyond despondent then. I need something to work. I've been morbidly obese for 22 years and I hate living in this body.

My BMI the day I had surgery was 59. At my heaviest (before my pre-op liquid diet) it was 63. I am 5'6" and my highest weight was 407 pounds. My surgeon was hesitant, but confident, and did tell me that I had the highest BMI of any patient he'd ever done lap band on. I had my surgery on Sept. 24th, 2013, and I've lost 75 pounds. My BMI is still not at 50, but I feel 100% better, and my surgeon couldn't be more pleased with my results thus far.

If you are not comfortable with the surgeon you consulted with, seek a second opinion. It could be that that surgeon is not experienced enough nor comfortable enough to operate on someone with a BMI above 50. Good luck!

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

my BMI was 62 and 336 pounds when i had my lap and surgery...i am also 5'1 and was as wide as i am tall haha...my dr wanted me to have the bypass but i chose the and w/plication SO you CAN lose weight and get your health back with the lap band..

Edited February 22, 2014 by ☠carolinagirl☠

[fatty2hottie 57]

My BMI was 61 and I had to lose weight to qualify for the surgery. My surgeon doesn't do the surgery for people with a BMI over 60. I am 5'6 and weighed 382 at my heaviest. After the preop diet I got down to 369 today for my surgery. I don't think starting weight has anything to do with long term success. Does their office follow up with all of their patients long term? If not, I find it hard for them to know for sure what they are claiming.

[TLL 105]

I thought my BMI showed to be 51 or something by the Tanita scale, but for the life of me I suddenly can't find my "bariatric bag" I was keeping everything together in. By generic weight/height calculations it should have been 58ish. My doctor never mentioned my BMI being too high, nor did he recommend me having any other type of bariatric surgery. Although, there's a chance that's because he doesn't (as far as I know) do any other types of weight loss surgeries... lol

I too believe I would at least get a second opinion. It really can't hurt, can it?

[mrsshmoo8289 5]

Thank you, everyone! I was having a hard time finding the higher numbers, so I thought I would just ask here. It's very encouraging to read these replies!

I will wait until the class before I make any decisions about which procedure and the surgeon. After all, this was just the woman who answers the phone and not the surgeon and his nurse practitioner who will be answering a lot of questions. The surgeon does 90% of his surgeries as WLS. He's out of the University of Virginia Medical Center, one of the best teaching hospitals in the country. I feel very comfortable with his qualifications and see that others here have used him (searched him on the surgeon area). Their web page says the two surgeons have extensive experience with the most serious cases, BMI 60+.

A big factor in this is insurance. Because I also work at UVA, the lowest cost option is to use UVA as my medical provider. There is another medical center run by Sentara in town but it would cost me more to use them. They're not out of network, but they're a higher cost. Ultimately, cost is not the greatest factor. This is an investment. But it does make me want to start with UVA and go from there.

I've got The Big books coming on LapBand and also gastric sleeve. Even though I think I prefer the band, I want to make an educated opinion. I figure if I have a lot of knowledge going into the class, I will be able to get the most out of it. Then I can decide whether I need a second opinion or what. I don't think the surgeon lacks skills for operating over 50 BMI. I want to make the best decision for me though.

Thanks again for your replies. I really appreciate it!

Edited February 22, 2014 by mrsshmoo8289

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

Mine was 52.8

[SweetGeorgiaT 23]

How dare she say that to you!!! The first thing the nurse, as well as my surgeon, did once they weighed me and calculated my bmi was to commend me for taking an interest to improve my health. So congratulations and kudos to you for taking the first step! *cue the balloons, streamers, & the band!!!* My starting bmi was 56.2. I'm 5'6". Not once did anyone at the office try to discourage me from having the lap band. As a matter of fact, the nurse was also a lap band patient. She told me she weighed more than I did before she was banded. She's now a little over a year post op, down 100 lbs, & looks FABULOUS! I wouldn't let that negative comment discourage you. Everyone has something to say about all WL surgeries. Talk it over with your surgeon and come to a decision about what's going to work best for YOU. Hope everything goes great for you!