Surgery for someone with no health issues

[LaoDaBeirut 158]

Hi everyone!

I'm strongly considering gastric bypass and have done consultations with 3 surgeons. One told me I qualified for the surgery and approved me and suggested the bypass. Another said surgery was an option and recommended the sleeve. The third said that medically I could qualify but he didn't recommend surgery for me as other than obesity I have no other co-morbidities.

I'm 36, female, 6'1, 410 pounds. My BMI is 54 and has been around this high for at least a decade. I'm one of those "lucky" fat people who don't store fat close to internal organs and so I haven't developed significant health issues. My BP is normal, no diabetes, heart disease high cholesterol, etc. I've managed to have a pretty active lifestyle despite my weight and have been a competitive powerlifter for years.

I want to get the surgery because I'm aware that just because I'm "healthy" now that doesn't mean I will be 5 or 10 years from now. I would also like to do things like fit into airplane seats with ease and not worry about whether I will fit into a chair or break a bed frame. I want to be able to go skydiving and bungee jumping and things I've never been able to do as a big person. I've tried to lose weight before and always gained back whatever I lose.

Has anyone been in a similar position? I was honestly quite surprised by the reaction I got as doctors have been telling me to lose weight for years. Now when I say I do want to do that it's like well maybe don't lose weight this way. My gut feeling is to go forward with the surgery anyway as I want to lose weight for my own reasons but I would love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

[catwoman7 11,214]

yes. I was 373 lbs at 5'6" with no health issues other than arthritis (and being super morbidly obese). Even though I had no major issues at the time, I knew they were probably just around the corner, and I worried that I wouldn't see my 60th birthday without doing something drastic about my weight. How many people do you see over age 60 or 70 who are super morbidly obese? Not many. Plus I was tired of just existing - I wanted my life back again.

I really don't understand that 3rd surgeon you went to. Weighing that much is a huge risk to your health.

as far as surgeons #1 and #2, both are good surgeries. In general, if you have GERD, most surgeons recommend that you go with bypass. If you don't, it' pretty much comes down to personal preference. You'll find people who have had good success with both.

[Recidivist 1,141]

I totally agree with Catwoman (as usual). Just because you have no health issues now doesn't mean you won't later on. A BMI of 54 is not a borderline number, and it's better to deal with your obesity before you start experiencing problems. As you said, you will be able to have a more active lifestyle if you can get to a normal weight. I'm also sure your weight is causing undue stress on your joints, and the sooner you can relieve that they better. I say go with your instinct and have the surgery.

[AZhiker 2,252]

I was always very active ........ until my joints gave out. I have arthritis in both hips, my back, and one knee, since I've already had a knee replacement. Don't wait until your joints are ruined. You never get them back, and although a replacement is great, it is never like your own joint. I was overweight/obese for 50 years. I only wish I had not waited so long to have surgery. I have my active life back now, and have resolved all my co-morbidities, however I can't reverse the cartilage loss and damage to my joints.

Obesity will catch you, sooner or later. I went a long time before I started having the creeping BP, lipids, and borderline glucose. That's called Metabolic Syndrome and sooner or later it will find you. That then develops into diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and a bunch of prescription medications. sleep apnea is another big one. I didn't even know I had it until I had a sleep study and found that my apnea was actually very severe. I was on a cpap machine for a year (wonderful thing, that machine - really!) until I lost the weight and now I don't need it at all.

Get the weight off now! If you are ready to make the dietary and lifestyle changes, do it while you are still young and healthy. You will also have less loose skin if you have it done sooner than later.

[LaoDaBeirut 158]

Thanks everybody. I'm going forward with it. I'm thinking about it as doing it for future me.

[GradyCat 3,695]

Just because you don't have health issues now doesn't mean the excess weight is harming you and will cause health issues later. I'd go ahead with it. Obesity is a medical condition all of itself and doesn't need comorbidities to require surgical intervention.

[ichabodny 59]

Everyone's said pretty much what I would be thinking. I can't even fathom a Dr saying they don't recommend the surgery for someone who will be hitting 40 in four years with a lifetime fighting obesity. Many co-morbidities don't show up until after age 45-50 and then it's too late (take it from one who knows). That a Dr would say that is just too much.

The type of surgery is completely up to you and are Dr. Many people find the highest risks determining their surgery is heart conditions (ruling out bypass) and, more commonly, heartburn or gerd (giving more importance to the after-effect risk in the sleeve) but that is between you and what your medical professional determine.

I did have gerd stage 3 which kind of made it almost a no-brainer and I am very happy with my decision as the surgery took care of almost all of my very serious and [one] life-threatening co-morbidity that didn't show up until a couple years ago (age 48). I was very scared to have the surgery but knew it could mean life-threatening problems in the next 5 years, so I did it and am very, very happy with having my life back.

You should be fine under insurance with just your bmi-no other co-morbidities are necessary to qualify. It's a very big decision but you are correct in the instinct that you can have a much better life and healthier future with either surgery.

[Darktowerdream 420]

On 11/19/2020 at 1:53 PM, LaoDaBeirut said:

I'm strongly considering gastric bypass and have done consultations with 3 surgeons. One told me I qualified for the surgery and approved me and suggested the bypass. Another said surgery was an option and recommended the sleeve. The third said that medically I could qualify but he didn't recommend surgery for me as other than obesity I have no other co-morbidities.

If I were you I would listen to the first surgeon. Honestly BMI being above 40 by itself is qualification for gastric bypass surgery. The fact that it's a lifelong struggle is another factor. I fought like hell to have surgery because even though I have lifelong chronic illness and disability I didn't have enough of what they considered comorbidities to qualify for surgery under my insurance, except for my BMI. I almost didn't think it would happen but I was desperate for the tool of surgery to get my weight under control.

Im pretty sure you have the answer you need already, I just wanted to say- don't let any doctor discourage you from going forward with your journey because you know in your heart you are on the right path.

[newyorklady20 97]

On 11/19/2020 at 1:53 PM, LaoDaBeirut said:

Hi everyone!

I'm strongly considering gastric bypass and have done consultations with 3 surgeons. One told me I qualified for the surgery and approved me and suggested the bypass. Another said surgery was an option and recommended the sleeve. The third said that medically I could qualify but he didn't recommend surgery for me as other than obesity I have no other co-morbidities.

I'm 36, female, 6'1, 410 pounds. My BMI is 54 and has been around this high for at least a decade. I'm one of those "lucky" fat people who don't store fat close to internal organs and so I haven't developed significant health issues. My BP is normal, no diabetes, heart disease high cholesterol, etc. I've managed to have a pretty active lifestyle despite my weight and have been a competitive powerlifter for years.

I want to get the surgery because I'm aware that just because I'm "healthy" now that doesn't mean I will be 5 or 10 years from now. I would also like to do things like fit into airplane seats with ease and not worry about whether I will fit into a chair or break a bed frame. I want to be able to go skydiving and bungee jumping and things I've never been able to do as a big person. I've tried to lose weight before and always gained back whatever I lose.

Has anyone been in a similar position? I was honestly quite surprised by the reaction I got as doctors have been telling me to lose weight for years. Now when I say I do want to do that it's like well maybe don't lose weight this way. My gut feeling is to go forward with the surgery anyway as I want to lose weight for my own reasons but I would love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar situation.

I am in a similar situation! I am 36, have slowly been creeping up in weight through life and I have finally had it having a BMI of 42. However, I knew, and I’m finding out as I do the initial work ups, that I don’t have any other health issues. I don’t take any meds and don’t have any other problems other than my weight. However, that is the reason that I want to have the sleeve done. I’m otherwise healthy now, but if I continue on this path it won’t last forever. And I’ve learned over the years that I am just not successful at losing the weight by myself over time. The yo-yo dieting and losing/regain is going to cause major problems over time!
It’s unfortunate that the surgeons questioned the validity of you requesting this surgery, but you should just know that you know yourself and your needs best and you should stick with your instincts. Unless someone outright tells you that you shouldn’t because it’s unsafe or something, advocate for yourself!

[NicolePSU78 0]

Hi,

it looks like you have gotten alot of responses, but I thought I'd add mine to the mix.

I am 42, 5'11 and was at the beginning 334lbs. When I scheduled my first appointment with my dr, they sent out a packet and it specifically pointed out calling my insurance to make sure that bariatric/weight loss stuff was covered. I called my insurance and they asked me if I had diabetes, and I said no. They said without being diabetic, it wouldn't be covered. <Insert tears and breakdown here> I was so frustrated because my first memories are of being fed diet Jello, sugar free kool-aid, things like that, I have always been the chubby kid. I did richard simmons deal a meal, jenny craig, weight watchers, calorie restriction, keto.......i lost some weight, but always gained that but more back.

I called my drs office and asked them if this is true and what other questions I should be asking. I have no 'comorbidities' aside from being morbidly obese and have been obese pretty much my entire life.
I called back and talked to another agent who asked about diabetes again, then about high blood pressure and sleep apnea. I have none of them. Eventually they told me that if the doctor decided that my BMI put me int he morbidly obese category and that I had tried other diets etc and had a long history of being unable to lose weight, they would approve it.

In the end, I had to go through my entire history of what diets/plans/meds I had tried, my weight history, etc and I was approved. I had my bypass surgery on 12/18/2020.

I hope you are able to get it approved because it is frustrating. I know what would be waiting for me if I didn't get this weight off now, all of the comorbidities that they ask about, and i am hopeful that with this tool, I will be able to avoid all that crap.

Best of luck to you and happy holidays <3

[ichabodny 59]

On 11/20/2020 at 4:17 AM, LaoDaBeirut said:

Thanks everybody. I'm going forward with it. I'm thinking about it as doing it for future me.

I was just wondering how you were doing with everything and if you got started. Honestly, I had no co-morbidities either except for NAFLD. For some strange reason, this is not listed as a problem for obesity but it's the reason I went on with the surgery. I was at stage to and very close to NASH-they said I would have maybe 5 years before a transplant if I kept on the way I was going. I was at 296 at the time but was hitting well over 300 every few weeks or so, diet and lose some then add more.

My insurance is AETNA but I did research and every insurance that covers it has the stipulaion of of obesity level over 40 OR co-morbidities. That was the case with mine as well. My Dr was the one that brought it up and started me so it was never a question. I think that part should be fine for you-hoping that was the case and you are going well.

[LaoDaBeirut 158]

I had my surgery 3 weeks ago. I'm not in the USA so the process moves much faster here. So far I'm doing just fine and happy I did it!

[ichabodny 59]

I'm so glad you are doing well and post op!! Keep up with us for everything and Happy holidays!

[qianmij 31]

Aside from your height, I had similar story: 37 years, female, 40+ BMI, no co-morbidities. My insurance covered surgery if I was at least >40 BMI. I wasn’t asked to lose weight prior to surgery due to nothing else to qualify me for coverage. I think it was one of the best decisions I made and spent (2) years thinking about it. Best of luck to you!

[jennlynn69 0]

I am in a similar situation! I am 36, have slowly been creeping up in weight through life and I have finally had it having a BMI of 42. However, I knew, and I’m finding out as I do the initial work ups, that I don’t have any other health issues. I don’t take any meds and don’t have any other problems other than my weight. However, that is the reason that I want to have the sleeve done. I’m otherwise healthy now, but if I continue on this path it won’t last forever. And I’ve learned over the years that I am just not successful at losing the weight by myself over time. The yo-yo dieting and losing/regain is going to cause major problems over time!
It’s unfortunate that the surgeons questioned the validity of you requesting this surgery, but you should just know that you know yourself and your needs best and you should stick with your instincts. Unless someone outright tells you that you shouldn’t because it’s unsafe or something, advocate for yourself!

I'm 39 and in the same situation, my BMI might be a little higher thou! But they recommended the sleeve for me.

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