<p>Hello everybody. I'm looking for people who had a BMI of less than 35 before surgery. I'm 5'6" and 207. I aready have Diabetes, high blood pressure, high Colestoral and hypothyroidism. I have lost about 10 lbs since the Doctor put me on meds but the weight loss seems to have stopped. I ask my doctor about having lap band surgery, her answer was I'm not fat enough. I then ask what I can do to get off all these pills she has me on, her answer was to lose 60-70 pounds and become a vegan. Now I have been trying for most of my life to lose weight, how does she think I'm going to do it this time? I feel like Humpty Dumpty.<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/help.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Help" smilieid="256" class="inlineimg" /> I just want some help. I have yoyo'd up and down from 180 to 220 for almost 20 years now ( since the birth of my first child) Has anybody out there have any words of wisdom for me other than push my self away from the table?</p>

i hope someone responds to your questions because i am in the same boat. i only need to lose 50 pounds. most people would tell me i'm crazy to do this, but i'm at my wit's end. i can't help but believe that i would be successful with only 50 pounds to lose, but maybe not. good luck to you -- and me!!!!

i Hear That If Your Bmi Is At Least 35 With Comorbidities Such As Diabetes, Hypertension, High Blood Pressure Etc. That The Insurance Will Consider It. I Have A Bmi Of 37 And Am Diabetic, And I Have Already Undergone Most Of The Pre Op Tests. I Am Meeting W/the Surgeon Next Week, And Waiting For Ins. Approval. Hopefully A Surgery Date Isn't That Far Away. Best Of Luck To You.

sweety

<p>Hello everybody. I'm looking for people who had a BMI of less than 35 before surgery. I'm 5'6" and 207. I aready have Diabetes, high blood pressure, high Colestoral and hypothyroidism. I have lost about 10 lbs since the Doctor put me on meds but the weight loss seems to have stopped. I ask my doctor about having lap band surgery, her answer was I'm not fat enough. I then ask what I can do to get off all these pills she has me on, her answer was to lose 60-70 pounds and become a vegan. Now I have been trying for most of my life to lose weight, how does she think I'm going to do it this time? I feel like Humpty Dumpty.<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/help.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Help" smilieid="256" class="inlineimg" /> I just want some help. I have yoyo'd up and down from 180 to 220 for almost 20 years now ( since the birth of my first child) Has anybody out there have any words of wisdom for me other than push my self away from the table?</p>

Hi

There are lots of lower BMI bandsters around... I was banded June 1st 2007 with a BMI 31... first time I saw doctor I was 34 however :-)

Check out this thread for all the info you'll ever need...

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f17/lower-bmi-bandsters-26697/

Good luck

Hey there

I'm booked in for surgery in 3 weeks and my current (and highest BMI) is 34. Theres lots of research out there saying that a BMI of 32-35 is possible with co-morbidities.

I live in New Zealand however so that may make things different! Its costing me NZ$15,000 which is about US$12,000 (no insurance companies cover for this in my country). And there are only 3 surgeons in New Zealand who do the Lap-Band!

Do lots of research on the internet. Talk to your doctor. Don't take NO for an answer. I was told NO by my general doctor so I approached the surgeon and he said YES!

I was right at 35 when I went to the seminar so I stopped dieting and by the day I saw the doctor my BMI was 36.9 and since I have comorbidities and my family history is really bad (obesity,diabetes, heart problems to mention a few) I was ok by my doctor. Insurance did not cover it.

You should be able to be approved for surgery since you have complications directly related to the weight issues. I can't believe your

Dr. said those things to you. Don't they realize that if you could loose 50 or 60 pounds you would have done it already? My BMI is 36 but I have some pre-diabetic things going on and high cholestrol so I am just waiting for my appointment next week and hopefully a date in August. Good luck to you and don't give up!

<p>Hello everybody. I'm looking for people who had a BMI of less than 35 before surgery. I'm 5'6" and 207. I aready have Diabetes, high blood pressure, high Colestoral and hypothyroidism. I have lost about 10 lbs since the Doctor put me on meds but the weight loss seems to have stopped. I ask my doctor about having lap band surgery, her answer was I'm not fat enough. I then ask what I can do to get off all these pills she has me on, her answer was to lose 60-70 pounds and become a vegan. Now I have been trying for most of my life to lose weight, how does she think I'm going to do it this time? I feel like Humpty Dumpty.<img src="http://www.LapBandTalk.com/images/smilies/help.gif" border="0" alt="" title="Help" smilieid="256" class="inlineimg" /> I just want some help. I have yoyo'd up and down from 180 to 220 for almost 20 years now ( since the birth of my first child) Has anybody out there have any words of wisdom for me other than push my self away from the table?</p>

I hear your frustration. I'm so tired of hearing the Dr. tell me to lose weight to get my PCOS under control...it is what makes me GAIN weight. I spent 6 months working out 4-6x a week for 1.5-2.0 hours a day and dieting and journalling my food. I lost 10 lbs! That's it! I'm tired of this fight, but the only alternative is to let it go and watch my health deteriorate! I got the lapband because I have a hard time staying on a diet for LONG periods of time especially when it comes to family get togethers so after 6 LONG months of dieting I can easily blow it in a long weekend and put 5-6 of it back on. This is forcing me to stay honest and to keep plodding ahead. You've come to the right place for support and understanding.

The breaking point is 35, however like some posted it is different in different areas. I was like Mystic, I started at 35 and then it went up through my application process. It took me 6 months to go through the process with my surgical group I selected. I live in Virginia. My insurance, fed BCBS, approved it based on all my health problems in addition to the bmi, which is required if below 40. My doctor did not feel I was appropriate for bypass at all, but was a good candidate for band. I really see on this site, more banders with a start BMI of 42 and less. I would go for it. I did not want to pay myself. if that is not an issue, you most likely will find someone to do it.

Good Luck.

Hi Renee,

I too have yo-yo dieted for more than 20 years. I have ignored my Dr. and went to Laspband seminars and They will do it. YOu don't have to have your Dr. permission,If you have the money. Good luck

hi everyone,i have the same problem.my bmi is only 28,but i really want this operation,it's a depression i have for 10 years,it's the only way to get out.so i though about getting fatter and lying about my weight so the doctor will operate me.i know someone who did this and the doctor believed her,so it's the best i can do.i've some photos around here with the scarves and i was wondering how they look after 1 year or so.does anyone have photos with the scarves after some time?

Hi Crystal

I can understand how you feel but unfortunately with a BMI of 28 you may well struggle to find a surgeon to do it! I also know someone who gained 10kgs (22lbs) just so they could have the surgery (self pay) and haven't regretted their decision for one second but it does seem very extreme and sad that one would have to go to these measures... personally with the way I've struggled with yo-yo dieting all my life I just don't think I could do that... luckily I was fat enough :-)

Good luck

Hi, I was banded on 26th May 2007 with a BMI of 30.7. I have lost 18 pounds since & will have to wait for my first fill end of July to get any restriction.

I didnt think my consultant would agree to do it but he did.

Please bear in mind I am a self pay & it has cost 8000 which has included all fills, diet plan, advice & 24 hour bariatric nurse assistance for a year.

yeah I think my BMI was 27 so I know how you felt.I went to dr kuri in tijuana and was a selfpay-honestly I think money talks more so in mexico-they have lower judgments-he wanted me to be happy with myself not what everyone else thinks I should be happy with-i liked my surgeon and feel he was qualified.good luck

Thanks everybody for responding! I am even more convinced that this is what I need to do. My family has been very supportive, my sister is even planing to go with me to have it done too. I have had several people tell me I'm beautiful just the way I am (they've never seen me naked!) and others tell me to just have some will power and push myself away from the table. I'm really glad I found this site, just wish I'd found it before I ask for other peoples input. I think I would have just kept it to close family members. Debbie and I have been checking into going to India for the surgery - medical tourism. Have any of you had yours done there or know of anybody that has? We are both selfpay and it looks like it will cost around $7500 roundtrip all enclusive. I just don't want to sacrifice my health to save money. I found a clinic here that will do it but they want $15,000 plus pre-op test and fills. So a vacation to India sound pretty good. Thanks for being here!, Renee

thanks everybody for your advices.my bmi is 28 at 80 kg(i don't know how many pounds),i am planing on having the surgery in december when i will probably gain some weight because of the food from the hollydays and i will tell my surgeon that i am on diet and that i've lost a few,that i was fatter,etc.basicly i will be telling many lies.my problem is serious,but usually surgeons don't understand the emotional impact,i am have an obssesion for 10 years,i need to loose 25 kg.i hope i will convince a surgeon,i will do my best and i will keep trying.