BMI is above 50...not sure if dr will approve for surgery

Stewy929 · 10-22-2008, 03:39 PM

Hey everyone...thought I would see if anyone had a situation like mine. When meeting with the nutrionist last week he told me my BMI was high 57. He told me that my dr might not do the surgery because they like to have your BMI below 50. All of my test results were great...blood work was fine..he said my liver level was a little elevated that was it. I go to see my surgeron Next Thursday 10/30. The nutrionist has put me on an 1500 Calorie diet that I am sticking to like glue and the weight is coming off. Im so scared my surgeon is going to tell me I have to wait until my BMI is below 50. I will be so disappointed. I have been waiting a long time for this surgery. I'm getting married in Aug and we want to have a family. Anyone gone through this?

Mrs. Bubba · 10-22-2008, 03:56 PM

My BMI was 58.8 at my initial appointment. No one said anything about this being a stopping point, only they did try to convince me to do gastric bypass instead. I think they figured that with this amount of pounds to lose I should go for the quick loss, but when I gave my reasons for wanting LB that was it... they were on board and everything has gone well... I hope you have good luck with your meeting with the surgeon. Julie

maguirre67 · 10-22-2008, 04:19 PM

my friends bmi was high they just put her on diet said she had to lose x amount of weight before surgery

MicheleK · 10-22-2008, 05:35 PM

Mine is 53, my doc hasn't said a word and I'm scheduled for Nov. 13th. He does want me to do an ultra-low carb diet for 10 days pre-op to shrink my liver.

illinoishusker · 10-22-2008, 07:15 PM

My BMI is over 50 and I was approved. Surgery for me is Friday.

Good luck!

polly558 · 10-23-2008, 07:40 PM

My BMI is also over 50 and the doc told me that in order to allow him as much room as possible to place the band I would have a diet of protein shakes twice a day and a healthy choice meal 1 meal a day. The shrink my liver. That way he will have more room to negotiate around in my abdominal cavity. He wants me on that eating program for 1 month pre op.

Florida Pete · 10-23-2008, 09:04 PM

In January of this year my BMI was just over 60. Since then I have lost 20 lbs and brought my BMI down just a few points and am still at 58. My surgeon knows that my BMI is as high as it is and has instructed me to do the liver shrinking diet for 3 weeks prior to my surgery. Again like others to make sure there was enough room to get around the stomach.

Good luck to all those having surgery soon and good luck to you with your meeting with your surgeon.

MISS.SUSAN · 10-24-2008, 02:56 PM

My doc told me i had to loose 8lbs to get below 50 and i will be on a liquid diet (not clear) for one week (which i am happy to hear) prior to surgery. and of course my insurance requires me to be on the 6 month diet crap! so time is on my side! i hope next spring comes fast! hopefully this time next year i will feel a lot less back pain!

adamsmom · 10-24-2008, 10:13 PM

get a new surgeon. I am still shopping for a surgeon. I did not get a good feeling about the one covered by my medical group, so i changed medical groups and Pcp. I have to wait to Nov. 1st to start the stupid 6-month diet garbage--all it's for is to put off and discourage people--nothing to do with what's best for the patint. hang in there.

Stewy929 · 10-30-2008, 03:23 PM

Well just wanted to give everyone an update.....I got my surgery date!!!!! WOOOHOOO! It's Dec 4. My dr wants me to do the preop diet for a month to really shrink my liver and to get my BMI to 53. Also I have lost 8 lbs on the 1500 Calorie diet. She was excited about that. I know this preop diet for a month is gonna stink but I know it will all be worth it in the end.