Question:
BMI is 42 but no comorbidities; am I crazy for doing this while I'm healthy???
— Patti S. (posted on November 11, 2002)
November 11, 2002
No, I don't think so. Being healthy will help you ALOT during
surgery...and the longer you weight, the bigger you might get, and the more
unhealthy you will become.
I can't think of a better time to have the surgery.
— thekatinthehat
November 11, 2002
I don't think so, either. Why wait til the organs are shutting down? You
don't know which will go first, and how that will raise your risk rate?
And will you need gallbladder, hystie, bladder repair or WHAT first? My
thinking is this: if you're morbid, those organs are doomed, anyway. And
if you gotta have surgery, you might as well have THIS one. And, of
course, no bias here at all, right?
— vitalady
November 11, 2002
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
— Laureen59
November 11, 2002
I think this IS the time to do it. When I went for all my appointments
leading up to my surgery, the Doctors said that it was good that I was
doing this now, before I developed problems. That way I would have a much
better time of recovery and it would increase my chances of a complication
free surgery. If you are going to do it, now is the best time.
— beryl
November 11, 2002
Hey! my bmi was 41 when i had the surgery done. i didn't have any health
problems, and other than being overweight, i was considered very healthy.
i was still approved for the surgery and since have lost 51 pounds. i
think this is the time to do it, before anything is wrong. lap rny 9/30/02
— Christine C.
November 11, 2002
ohmygod, this is SOOOOO how I felt. But then, all of a sudden, I developed
severe gallstones, and realized that the weight WAS hurting me, despite the
fact that my cholesterol and blood pressure were always low, and that I was
always active. I started seriously researching with a BMI of 43....and had
surgery 3 weeks ago today. Even until the day of surgery I was scared that
I was throwing away a pretty good life....but so far, so great. You'll be
fine...and this is the best thing you can do for yourself.
— Tamara K.
November 11, 2002
Hi Patty! I had lap RNY on 2/26/02, I was a slightly higher weight than
you - 274 with a BMI of 44. I was in the same boat, so to speak - no
comorbities, just slight depression, very active, no problems whatsoever.
BUT - I see my father who is obese dealing with some health issues now that
he's 60, my mom, who is just overweight, dealing with health issues that
may be hereditary. The *best* way for me to be proactive about my health
was to lose the weight. My doctor said, "I'll see you now, at 30 for
colds, and in 10 years for aches and pains in your joints. You're being
smart." This was my gift to myself when I turned 30 - to loose the
weight, get healthier than I've ever been. And that's what's happened.
I'm down to 179, a size 12/14 (oh my GOD!) and feel great. Have my
surgeon's ok to try for a pregnancy, which I'm sure will be a bit easier
the second time around with 100 lbs less on my body! Be proactive, if you
want to loosethe weight, and meet the criteria for surgery, then I say go
for it. I had a very easy recovery, was back to work in 1 1/2 weeks, in
part due to my excellent health beforehand. Any questions, please email me
- good luck with this! You'll make the best decision for you. =) Sarah
— Sarah C.
November 11, 2002
I'm not sure how a BMI of 42 is healthy, but I'm not a physician. I do
know that - from my research, no one with a BMI of 42 will remain
"healthy" for long. Comorbidities will begin to show up and they
will be the issues that will make you at greater risk for trouble during
surgery. If you have the opportunity and no-comorbidities is the only
thing holding you back - GO FOR IT!!! It will be the best thing you ever
did for yourself!!
— Scarlett A.
November 11, 2002
Are you crazy? Depends on perception. When I decided to have this surgery
my BMI was 42. I was so tired of feeling tired, short of breath, and just
YUCK! So, I have completed the surgery, almost 7 weeks ago, but I feel
good now.
You are the only one that matters, do this for you. If you want to wait
until you get comorbidities then that's your choice.
— Rachel W.
November 11, 2002
I think you will find many people who are about the same size as you and
having surgery.
Are we crazy? That is why we get a psych evaluation!
Just kidding.
Seriously though, I too have a bmi of 42 and I really thought I felt fine
with no issues or morbidities other than just being tired of being fat.
Once I started reading the profiles of others and kept saying,
"Oh,yeah, me too!" I soon realized that though I am not YET very
ill I do have joint pains (my knees hurt when I go up and down the stairs),
I have shortness of breath (same stairs), my back hurts all the time and I
am socially and emotionally retarded by my weight (I have been depressed on
and off and I just don't like going out anymore).
I will tell you the two medical facts that pushed me over the edge into
feeling that I am doing the exactly right thing. 1)As a morbidly obese
person you have a death rate that is 15, yes 15 times higher than your
peers and
2)Blood clots are a complication of morbid obesity not surgery (though you
are at a slightly higher risk after surgery based on the fact that you are
in a prone position)Plus you never know what pre-op testing might find. My
surgeon said that I would have to lose about 50 pounds before I could stop
worrying about blood clots all together!
That did it for me!
Good luck to you and I really think that the more you read the more
comfortable you will become with your decision:)
— Carol S.
November 11, 2002
Hi, Patti/ I too had a bmi of 42 when I had surgery 9/27/01/ I was also
healthy w/no co morbidities other than my weight/ I am now at my Dr.'s goal
weight and just 8 lbs from my own personal weight/ I am a size 6-8 and
love it! I feel great,and I feel that I have prevented tremendous amount
of health problems. I feel that we have an awesome opportunity to stay
healthy and be happier/ I am so grateful that I have reached my goal, and
now I finally feel that I can move forward with my life now that the weight
issue is over for good! This decision has to be yours (and GOD's) alone/ I
will be praying for you/ I wish you the best / Patti Meadows e-mail:
[email protected]
— peppermintp
November 11, 2002
I had a BMI of 44 when I had surgery. In spite of some health problems I
still felt quite good most of the time. I still did things with my family,
etc. One of the most amazing things I discovered while in the losing
process was that I could actually feel so much better than I did prior to
surgery. I never thought I felt that bad but, then again, I never dreamed
I could feel so much better but I do!!! If you've tried everything else
and know in your heart of hearts that WLS is the only thing that's going to
work for you then I think it's wise to proceed while you're still healthy.
It will make the journey alot easier. Best wishes to you!!
— ronascott
November 11, 2002
I am not sure anymore what my BMI was in the beginning (DAMN that felt good
to say) but I started at 260 and 5 '4. I did not have any co morbid that I
thought was attributed to be mo until I learned what they were. i had
joint pain, gerds, hemmrroids. So those are majorally minor compared to
what others have had. I did have the surgery, I am 8 months on the 22nd of
Nov. I have lost 87 lbs. Right now I am on a platuea (sp?) But I do know
why that is. I need to get back on schedule. Halloween did a treat on me.
I didn't gain but I didn't loose either. I feel really good. and today
my husband told me I look damn good so I have no regrets.
— Chris9672
November 11, 2002
In my honest opinion, you would be wise to do it before you develop health
problems. The more you weigh and the more health problems you have, the
riskier surgery of any kind is. I had a BMI of 56.7 and had high
cholesterol and joint problems. I wish I could have done it before I got
that large - but I couldn't and now I am just thankful that I was able to
not only prolong my live, but make the quality of life so much better.
Open RNY 11/29/01 -158 pounds
— Patty_Butler
November 11, 2002
Well, I too was a "lightweight" (BMI 40/255lbs at 5'6" when
I had surgery on 4/4) and I struggled with these exact feelings, but one
thing that cinched it for me was the very real fact that I would have kept
gaining until I was eventually over 300lbs. This I know for sure. So I
did it not only to lose the 100lbs. I need to, but to prevent gaining even
more. And do you know what? It worked for me. Good luck in whatever you
decide. PS. One other moment of clarity for me - I went to a WLS support
group and was crying, feeling like a failure that I had to resort to this,
and this woman said that according to the NIH, once you reach over 100lbs.
only 5 % are able to take - and keep - their excess weight off. This kind
of clinched it for me too...
— rebeccamayhew
November 12, 2002
The question is how long will you stay healthy if you continue to be MO?
The don't call it MORBIDLY obese for nothing! Even though I had stopped
dieting, my weight was inching up and up. I could have the surgery while
healthy and remain healthy or wait until I was sick and then risk dying on
the table (not to mention the extra wear & tear on my body). HMMMMM. A
pretty easy decision if you ask me. Look at my before and after pics. Which
one is healthy? Which one is more active? Which one looks like she will be
around at 70, 80, and beyond? When I was pregnant, it only took a gain of
25 pounds to cause gestational diabetes. Why risk it? I could have gained
25 pounds in a heartbeat!
— ctyst
November 12, 2002
I had no co-morbidities with a BMI of 44. As explained to me, I was a
healthy fat person but within 10 years I would have high blood pressure or
diabetes or some other co-morbidity. It wasn't worth the risk. Besides I
was tired of being fat!!
— Patty H.
November 12, 2002
Doctors from institutions such as the National Institute of Health,
American Society for Bariatric Surgeons, insurance companies, CDC, etc. set
up the criteria to qualify for this surgery. If you meet these criteria,
then don't doubt yourself. You are scared and nervous and that is
understandable. If YOU feel ready for the surgery, that's what counts. I
had a bmi of 40 when I had this surgery and all my comorbids, except one,
are completely GONE. All my doctors say this is the best thing I could
have done for my health. Go for it.
— cjabates
November 12, 2002
If you really want to do it, do it now because your chances of encountering
serious problems with the surgery are smaller since you are young and
healthy.
— cddgo
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