anyone here start with a bmi under 40?

nesstg · December 4, 2005

Hi! I had a BMI of 32. My family history is horrible and I knew where I was headed if I didn't get my weight under control. I went to Mexico and Dr.Ortiz. It is the best thing I've ever done for MYSELF! I'm down to 192lbs. now and I had my surgery on Aug.19 of this year. I haven't had to have a fill yet, I still have a lot of restriction without it. But I really watch what I eat and I exercise a lot. Good luck!

theresa2mum · December 4, 2005

Hi Bruce. I know it's different in America. (I'm in Australia) I had a BMI of 37 with some pretty heavy overeating before the surgeon's appointment as I thought you needed a higher BMI.

Anyway mine was 37 with absolutely no co-morbidities. I was going to exaggerate my snoring lol but it was never an issue. I made a joke to hubby that I clearly LOOKED fat enough lmao. Private health insurance and medicare cover most of it here and you don't need to 'battle' like you guys seem to.

Good luck and don't let a low BMI stop you.

Jax · December 4, 2005

I was banded in Europe with a BMI of 35. I had a hiatal hernia and other minor related issues. One surgeon I went to turned me down and offered the BIB balloon but I knew that would be no better than the last extreme diet I had been on as the balloon must come out after 6 months. The problem there was that he had mis-weighed me and was looking at a number 10kilos less than reality. Anyway, that's in the past and I contacted many surgeons who accepted me for banding.

I wouldn't encourage everyone with a weight problem to have this operation; it's surgery afterall and it's not a magic wand treatment. It should only be considered as a last resort - where, without it, the alternative is sickness and a general downward spiral for the years ahead.

Your situation sounds simialr to mine in that you are at that last resort stage but I just wanted to balance the scales for anyone who maybe thinking of banding purely for aesthetic reasons.

Best wishes and good luck.

Bandster Brad · December 4, 2005

Hi, I was at 40.2 So just above the line. However, co-morbidities would have been close enough even if the weight wasn't there. Since the time of my surgery a little over 6 months ago, I had a chronic cough that went away, my BP is now normal (was very high) and I can breathe and sleep. I have been thinking the last several days - if I had to give something up in order to keep my band, I would literally give up everything I own, except my relationship with my family and with God, in order to get the band. It has been that valuable.

I look at my old photos and note how tired I was, and I note how fantastic I feel now, and it is just the most amazing thing.

Good luck, and best, Brad