BMI 34

Have people had Gastric Sleeve with a BMI of 34? My bloodwork shows I am right on the border of Diabetes 2 but the surgeon I chose in PA won't do it.  Has any one had that experience or had the surgery with numbers similar to these and were were you able to go?  Thanks.

I am 34, my doctor said he would do it no problem:)  Although I will be self pay.  Try the lightweights board as well, I live in California. 

Could you tell me what the lightweight boards are? and also what doctor in CA if you don't mind me asking?  The problem with the west coast is the pre-op visits.  I live in PA and cannot afford to be going to CA and back several times as I know my insurance won't be covering this :-(  Thanks for your reply.  Are the lightweight boards on here?

Yes, to find the  light weights board go to forums then scroll to the bottom click where it says  SEE ALL then you will find it there.  Dr.David Oliak is my doc but I am sure you can find one closer on the light weights board. My doc did a few blogs on VSG for lower BMI patients you may find interesting.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/wls_lightweights/

If you're self pay anyway, why not go to Mexico?  They'll do a sleeve on someone with a 34 BMI.  I had my surgery with Dr. Alvarez at Endobariatrics, and he's good.  I've also heard good things about Dr. Aceves. 

Good, I was looking for someone who had actually gone to Dr. Alverez because I have read a lot about him but I wasn't sure because it made me a little nervous to go to Mexico.  Were you nervous they didn't do any pre-op work weeks before just to make sure you qualify?  It is clean?  Did you feel nervous or do the nurses and dr's explain everything in depth to you? How many people are there getting it done as well as you? How is recovery? Sorry for all the questions.  I have been approved to go to him but wanted to talk to someone who had because so many people say don't go out of country ?! Any advice, guidance you could give me would be wonderful.  Thanks :-)

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I missed your reply to me.  I did have to submit a health history before I went and follow a two week pre-op diet, but not having all the same pre-op requirements as everyone else didn't bother me.  This was my eleventh surgery, and I never needed to meet with a nutritionist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, sleep specialist, or endocrinologist before any of the others.  Why should I need all those tests before this surgery?

The facility was clean, and they explained everything before the surgery.  I got a series of fourteen e-mails with PDFs, Word docs, and embedded videos explaining everything, then when I got there I met with Dr. Alvarez one-on-one before the surgery. They also gave me hard copies of everything before I left and had the nurse go over it again to make sure I really understood the post-op requirements and medications.  I got follow up e-mails making sure I'd made it home ok, and reminding me every time I was supposed to move a food stage.  Also, they give you your prescriptions.  You don't have to find a pharmacy to fill them.

Dr. Alvarez does three surgeries a day.  The day I went, there was one other American and one local patient.  All the surgeries were in the morning.  The recovery in the hospital was easy.  It was very similar to having my gallbladder out.  Once I got home, I had a hard time meeting my fluid and protein goals, but I was able to get enough not to need to go in for IV fluids.  I did find warm liquids easier to swallow, so I recommend stocking up on broth, herbal teas, and I really liked the unjury chicken soup flavor.  Make sure you ask for wheelchair assistance at the airport.  You're not going to be up to trekking between terminals and lugging a carry on.

I did find I was tired for a couple of weeks after the surgery, which surprised me because that wasn't true of my other surgeries.  I think it was from being below my calorie and protein goals, and it went away once I was able to get more in.

Do you have insurance, and if so, what does it cover and what are the requirements? Would it make sense to see another surgeon?

I lost so much weight pre-op I barely squeaked through with a BMI of 35 plus three co-morbidities.

Insurance requirements are BMI of 40 or 35 with comorbs.  Being on the border of two criteria without crossing it is going to be a tough sell unless you're paying out of pocket.