Question:
How do I know I am a good canidate?
my BMI is only 30.4. Is this good enough. I get cronic back pain. It is very hard for me to bend my knees due to all the weight. Also I am extremely depressed. I also choke in my sleep. Can someone help. — lbenavides1010 (posted on January 5, 2006)
January 5, 2006
Usually you have to be 100lbs over your normal weight. Your bmi should be
around 30-40 and over. Of course you could be not that much over weight etc
and have a lot of medical problems due to your being overweight and still
qualify. I was way over 100lbs overweight and had a bmi of 55. Different
Dr's require different requirements.
Hugs!
— Angelfirewithwings
January 5, 2006
Your question is vague, bmi 30, is does not meet standards, and you dont
list comorbids. you hint possibly apnea, osteoporiis,and depression. your
bmi would typically would need to be 35 with 2 conditions. you need to be
dianosed. I suspect that having apnea treated, (apnea causes weight gain)
,depressions does also, you may not require surgery, You may have diabetes.
Which surgery to consider would be influeced by the results of your health
status.
blindly speaking, health workup, resolve the sleep issue, mental issues.
supervised diet which is mandatory and see where your weigh is 6 months
from now. not just diet alone. the sleep issue is a major issue that
affect weight and depression. been there.
— walter A.
January 5, 2006
With your BMI only being 30.4, you may be required to be at least 100
pounds over your ideal body weight. Also, the things you have listed are
called comorbitities. That may also help. I suggest that you speak with
your family doc, and see what he/she says. Also, speak with a surgeon. Best
of luck to you.
— kizie23
January 5, 2006
Hi Lisa,
As the others have suggested, your BMI normally has to be at least 35 with
co-morbidities and 40 without. Please see your family doctor and ask to be
but on a weight reduction plan for six months. This is not a waste of time
as the majority of insurance coverages require a supervised weight loss
plan documented for 26 weeks. If you loose some weight-Great! That may
help with the depression and sleep apnea. If not, you have completed the
longest requirement in obtaining coverage for your surgery. Where do you
live and which insurance coverage do you have? We may be able to offer
other insight with this information.
Peace,
Susan
— vavet1963
January 6, 2006
Lisa, the only one who can really answer your question is a surgeon. You
can call and talk to the surgeon's nurse perhaps and see but this is a
medical decision you need to discuss with professionals.
— Tuxedo Katz
January 6, 2006
You should get a sleep apnea test to see if you have that (it causes
chosking while sleeping). Also a psychiatric evaluation (for depression),
and maybe an evaluation by an exercise physiologist. If you have those
conditions, they are called "co-morbidities, and you may qualify.
Check with your insurance company for their guidelines. Get the sleep
apnea taken care of- this past year a sports figure (I can recal who
right now) died from it!!!
— Novashannon
January 6, 2006
Currently, the National Institute of Health guidelines suggest obesity
surgery should only be offerred to patients with BMIs 35-40 with comorbid
illness, or greater than 40 without. Therefore, most insurance companies
follow these same guidelines. There is considerable evidence, however,
that surgery for patients at lower BMI (30-34.9) with comorbid illness that
can be cured or markedly improved by substantial and sustained weight loss,
may be warranted. Persons with these lower BMIs may have more success than
higher BMI patients with nonsurgical weight loss methods. You should seek
out a surgeon in your area (we are in Suffolk, NY) to discuss the matter
further, realizing of course that insurance carriers will likely not pay
for the surgery.
M.Brackman, MD
— Dr. Brackman
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