Am I too small/young to consider Lap-Band?

[mishakal 0]

When I went to the doctor last for a case of bronchitis, I had a huge shock when I stepped on the scale -- 204!!!

I'm 4'11. That gives me a BMI of 41.2.

I've been maintaining at 170-180 for about the last 3-4 years. My highest weight ever was 244 when I was 19 and on birth control pills. When I wasn't in a relationship I decided to just throw them away -- they were costing me money and it wasn't like I was in danger of getting pregnant... my allegedly underactive thyroid got into the normal range within a month of coming off of them. I got down to 145 over a year, then have crept back up.

The thing that changed me from the 170-180 up to this was dislocating my kneecap nearly two years ago. I've had reduced activity -- it still hurts to walk through Wal-Mart.

When I saw the scale go up over 200, I wanted to cry, and not just for physical pain.

I know to some I don't have a huge weight problem. People say I "carry it well". They don't want to offend me, I'm sure. And I even admit it's not as bad as it used to be. But I'm terrified.

My mother had gastric bypass at 265 lbs, she now weighs 120 but has had major complications -- says she doesn't regret it a bit tho. Four of her cousins had it.

My paternal grandmother should have had it, but at the time Medicaid didn't cover it. She died in a nursing home at 62, weighing 600 lbs needing double knee replacements but too heavy for them to do them.

I don't want to live that life.

I don't know if I have severe comorbidities because I've not checked. I haven't had a cholesterol test, sleep study, EKG, anything else like that -- almost too afraid to. I do have asthma and my knee, but I have Aetna insurance and I know those don't qualify.

But am I crazy to be thinking about the Lap-Band when I'm only 29 and only a 41.2 BMI? (If the pre-surgical diet takes me down much, and it doesn't take much at 4'11, I might not meet Aetna's qualifications for the surgery from what I can see....)

[ksill18 0]

well i have Aetna and they covered my surgery with the only co-morbidity of sleep apnea. my BMI at time of surgery was 40.1. I wish you luck and you should go for it!!! good luck!!!

[Mrs. Bubba 0]

My opinion is that you are not too young.... I wish I could have had a band when I was 29 instead of spending the last 27 years being fat and miserable most of the time... Go for it and get healthy so you can live your life instead of watching it pass you by.... Best of luck...... Julie

[jazie 0]

I have Aetna also. Mine paid but it was a rather lenghty process. Had to do the 6 month visits with pcp, show I had been going to a gym and trying to lose. But it is well worth the wait. Just don't get too impatient. When you finally get it, you should love it.

jazie

[TQUAD64 9]

If you believe you need medical assistance to address your health issue, which is your weight, then contact your doctor.

Your BMI is not healthy at all and does qualify for the majority of insurances for WLS.

Being 29 years of age would not effect your qualifying. I would contact my insurance company as well to determine what my WLS benefits are or are not.

Just as a side note, by the time I was approved by my insurance for the band procedure my BMI was around 40.1 or something close to that. I never went below 40.

Good luck!

[HeatherO 7]

I don't think you are too small . . . your BMI is over 40 so you are carrying too much weight for your frame. It doesn't matter if you are 4 foot or 7 foot tall, you would certainly qualify. People are getting banded in their teens as well, so 29 is not a bad age to get a new lease on life.

This might be the best thing you ever end up doing for yourself. I am also relatively short at 5 '3, had a BMI of close to 40 and I am now in a normal BMI range. My health is phenomenol and have not regrets.

[MirandaK 0]

You are not to young. I was 27 and had a BMI of 41. I have a family much like yours where the vast majority of the wowen in my family are obese. I refused to live like that another day. I wanted to be able to enjoy my children and was not doing that then. I was to big to get out and enjoy playing with them. Not only am I happier but I can see the differance in them from having me do more with them. I would not change it for anything else. Insurance covered mine. Good Luck...

[ShalomToAll 0]

I don't think you are too young or too small. Why wait for the problems to increase? Many LB patients later say that they wish they had done it sooner! I say look into it! Best of luck.

[ValJean 6]

I, too, come from a family with a long history of obesity. I got my band in January, am 29 years old (will be 30 in two days!) and am so happy I made the decision to do it now—like so many, I wish I had done it sooner!

Good luck to you!

Valerie