Hi, I am Kelly from Knoxville, TN and am new here. I wondered if there are any out there in this general area that can help me. I am new in my research and am finding I may not be a good candidate. This is VERY disappointing to me. I am 42., in general good health (this may be bad :-) and am 5'4" and 212 lbs. This puts my BMI at about 37 or so. I have been told many doctors won't consider me for surgery since I am under he 40 BMI and hte only other "problem" I have is chronic lower back pain which is made much worse by my weight. I actually have trouble walking, using the restroom, etc. from the back pain. I have been told losing at least 50-70 pounds is the best way to ease my back pain but I can't really exercise because of the pain!! All other weight loss plans have failed on me. Has anyone had this experience or known of this, etc. and can give me some guidance. I don't want to give up looking. I really appreciate your support in my search.

Kelly

Dear Kellyhutch, I would pursue another Dr. I feel we have to be our own best advocate. Find a Dr. who is wise enough to know that staying at that BMI can intruduce you to many more problems. You have a lot of life ahead of you, Im fifty and got banded today. It took me several months to get to this point. The best advice I have is to ask you primary care Dr. for a weight loss program and start being weighed each month. Even if you dont loose wieght you will have a history documented for your insurance. Most of them require 6 mo or more. I have faith in you to succeed because you have the desire already. Do not give up pursuing good health. You are worth it!! You will need a history of weight loss attempts no matter which Dr. you find to help you so.... use the Dr you have now even if he doesnt suppord banding and take those records to the Dr that you find to support you! Thats what I would do, ultimately its all your choice. Best Wishes!

Kelly, I am from Sweetwater TN about half way between Knoxville and Chattanooga and I used Dr. Walter Rose at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, have you checked there with them? They are a group of surgeons who specialize in weightloss surgery. I would keep pursuing the dream, because there is surely a doc who believes that you need it and could refer you and write a letter of recommendation for you. What type insurance do you have? Do they cover WLS (weight loss surgery)? Good Luck and God bless you!

Kelli, is Mexico an absolute NO for you? For some people it is. My BMI is 34 and I'm hoping to had Dr. Kuri do my surgery in Jan. I have very similar stats as yours. Although in MN/WI the bariatric surgeons will definitely look at someone with a 35-40 BMI - that have other problems related to their wgt - ie: your back pain. Don't be so sure that you could not be approved. Google bariatric surgeons in your area and do the research.

Since I've decided that this is the way for me to finally be free - I've researched at least 8 hours per day and that's a low estimate - and I work full time and take care of my mom from Fri.-Sun. I'm only saying this to tell you that you have to do your homework to see if it's right and/or possible for you.

Now - go get to it!

Patti

Snoring/Sleep Apnea? Shortness of breath? Arthritis?/pain in weight bearing joints? Irregular menstrual cycles? All of these count.

Definitely get a second opinion.

:]

Don't give up trying. Have you tried a Google search on bariatric surgeons in your area? Someone here mentioned Mexico. I too have checked into that and found a Dr. Rumbaut who has his own website, but if you do this you will need to find a Dr. to do your fills unless you can go to Mexico each time. Do you have insurance for this? Just a few thoughts. Good luck!!!!!!!!

I've spent a good part of my post baby adult life at a BMI of around 32-33 and always enjoyed good health, even if I was not a fashion plate I felt I looked OK. But recent years and a third baby at 35 saw my weight jump to about BMI 35-37 (depending on the month, lol and where in the whole diet lose gain cycle I was). I tell you what, I really felt that last little bit of weight. I started up having chronic ankle problems much like you describe with your weight, knowing weightloss and exercise would help it but being unable to do what I wanted because any weightbearing exercise just made it worse. I saw lapbanding as my only real option, I had become too fat to go it alone, but not so fat that my goal was simply so far away as to be hopeless (in my mind).

I'm blessed that I'm in Australia where banding people from BMI 30 is not unusual. But if I were you I'd shop around to find someone who really understands that the problems dont magically start when you reach a BMI of 40 and that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Hi there....

I'll throw my two cents in the pot......

I am going to mexico to dr. rumbaut because I am overweight, but in good health so the insurance company wouldn't pay for it.

I have lined up fills at a place called Fill Center USA. The website is fillcenterusa.com they have locations all over.

Okay I am 23 and i am 5 3 and weigh 213 and have been told by 2 docs that I quailify. Keep looking not that your doctor is wrong but who may find dierent opinions else where. I understand I am incredible uncomfortalbe the weight that I am and doctors should understand that you are too!!!!