I have a low BMI, but several medical conditions. I am barely 25 with a 34 bmi, but have horribly GERD (which has already caused damage to the esophagus), sleep apnea, fibromyalgia, supra-ventricular tachycardia, and I had a mild heart attack. I've had trouble with my weight for a while, but in October of last year I began to gain it quickly. Once that happened my period stopped. Hasn't come back. I'm a short person (5 ft even) and it pretty much all focuses on my stomach. My cardiologist recommended me for weight loss surgery saying I needed to lose weight since I have to much stress on my heart. I'm being referred to Dr. Kenneth Warnock in Wichita Falls, Texas. I have Tricare, so I'm still a bit concerned that even with my medical stuff, they wont approve the actual surgery. Has anyone been in a similar situation before?

I don't have TriCare but I know that for Aetna a BMI of 35 and a qualifying co-morbity could get you qualified. Sleep apnea was one. Diabetes was another. I don't recall heart disease being one but it seems logical that it would be. It seems if your doctor wants this and you want this there should be a way to make it happen. And I know people say "no! don't gain weight to get the surgery"... but being 5'1/2" myself I know that it doesn't take much weight to bump that BMI up. I'm just sayin.