Hi everyone,

I am booked for my surgery for the end of March and I am second guessing because I am LOW BMI (<35). My weight has never the less contributed to painful joints and difficulty starting an exercise program. I am also completely hopeless with "Diets" - as soon as I think of the word I gain 5 pounds.

Please tell me what you think - is this a worthwhile journey if you are low BMI???

I think having surgery is a personal decision. Of course there are risks involved, and only you know if they are worth it for you and your circumstances. I had a BMI of 40 and for me the risks were well worth the rewards I've gotten (including no more foot/ankle/knee pain)

I see you have Dr. Ariel Ortiz listed as your surgeon. I went to OCC in 2013 and couldn't have asked for better care or an easier recovery. Your coordinator and/or any of the OCC doctors and staff should be able to help with any questions, but feel free to PM me if you'd like.

I also wanted to say I LOVE your username. Mine (Kindle) is my horse's name and I know no one is happier with my 100 pound loss than she is! One of my favorite NSVs was being able to hop up onto her back effortlessly, without needing find a stump or rock to climb on. The other was having an excuse to buy a new saddle cause my skinny little butt no longer fit in my huge 19" saddle.

35 is a perfectly valid BMI for WLS, especially if you have other weight-related health issues. Even most insurance companies that cover WLS will cover someone with a BMI of 35 if they have at least two other comorbidities, and you KNOW how much insurance companies resist shelling out money for surgery. Even if you don't have two comorbidities now, remaining at such a high BMI or gaining more weight could lead to them down the road.

I was a low BMI patient and have had great success with the VSG surgery. The weight came off easily and I maintain my current weight with no problem. Life is much happier without the constant nagging issue of weight and food swimming around in my head. However, it hasn't come without lots of personal sacrifice. You've got to put a lot of thought into the long-term changes that you will need to make in order to do this healthily and successfully. I've seen people of all starting BMI's do this the right way and the wrong way. People can either treat WLS as a band-aid to their weight problem OR a powerful tool which helps make real lifestyle changes.

Thank you all for the replys...when I think of the alternative of cancelling and living with my self-loathing (as far as weight goes), I really remember why I'm doing this.

Don't second guess my BMI was much lower and several others that were with me were. I have struggled and had to work hard to stay at my goal weight. I'm hoping this will help me to get there and stay there. I had surgery in Mexico with Dr. Covarrubias at A lighter me on Wednesday and had a great experience. It's well worth it.

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I agree - my BMI was 33, and my only health problem was with my knees, but I knew that if I kept it up and didn't get the weight off, worse things were coming. I lost 11lb preop and have lost 19lb in the 5 weeks since. (30lb since 2/1). One issue: with a lower BMI, you may have some good habits already - I already had a good schedule at the gym and was "fit but fat." I couldn't work out for a month while healing from surgery and really felt it - walking isn't the same as a good workout for me. I started back to the gym sort of early, but am still working back up to my fitness level preservers.

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My bmi was low to start. Long story short: With VSG, I lost 50 lbs (my goal) in 4 months. I am so much happier on a million levels not having to stress about my weight and to not constantly be fighting my urge to eat. I was so sick of dieting. It never worked long term. My marriage is better. I am in the best shape of my life (I work out like a maniac now, because it is so much easier!). I had never worn anything smaller than a size 10 (I was a size 14-16 before surgery). Today I thought I tried on a size 6 jeans and realized they were a size 4! They fit! I could write a book about how my life has only changed for the better. For me, I was only getting bigger, and I nipped that in the bud. Good luck with your decision!

Thank you everyone for your inspiring messages !

I am 5.3ft and weigh 14.5 st , BMI 36.

I suffer with osteoporosis in my spine, sciatica in my legs and asthma.

I have been told by my doctor that he believes I have ultra sensitive airways. There fore I am forever catching one thing or other and end up taking steroids which battles with my weight fluctuation. This I believe puts pressure on my back and legs. I am suffering from depression at the moment as this is a constant battle with my weight. I never want to leave the house as I don't have clothes to fit or feel good about myself .

But I am afraid of the risks of surgery and the drastic change in my lifestyle but would love to be able to wear my real clothes again and not just somethin to cover my frumpy body.

Please can you advise me.

I am looking to pay for it myself in Europe. Looking at Brussels or Prague ?

Hope you don't mind me bombarding you ?

Many thanks Oasis

Edited April 7, 201610 yr by Oasis

Hi everyone,

I am booked for my surgery for the end of March and I am second guessing because I am LOW BMI (<35). My weight has never the less contributed to painful joints and difficulty starting an exercise program. I am also completely hopeless with "Diets" - as soon as I think of the word I gain 5 pounds.

Please tell me what you think - is this a worthwhile journey if you are low BMI???

I was a BMI of 30 (barely) and had it done in June 2012. My size 18 jeans were getting tight and nothing I did at the age of 54 made a dent in the loss. Started out at 172 and hit 98 pounds from June to January. The 98 pounds was way too thin so I upped my calorie intake and got to 105. I gained 10 last year when I got on some thyroid meds so I stopped those and the gain stopped. Sticking to 115 now and happy with that. I wear a 1 - 4 jean depending on the cut and brand.

Hi Sue

Did you go in the thyroid meds to put weight on or was it medicinal ? I have thought what if I lose too much weight and start looking gaunt in the face ?

It must be a lovely feeling to be able to wear nice clothes again ?

Oasis

Hi everyone,

I am booked for my surgery for the end of March and I am second guessing because I am LOW BMI (<35). My weight has never the less contributed to painful joints and difficulty starting an exercise program. I am also completely hopeless with "Diets" - as soon as I think of the word I gain 5 pounds.

Please tell me what you think - is this a worthwhile journey if you are low BMI???

Hey Weight_of_my_horses_back

Call Bill, He will help guide you by doing the skype with the Dr. You didn't put much info in example height weight for us to begin to help but who are we i've been told so many times OMG you dont need surgery your tall you carry it well arrggg that pisses me off the most i dont want to carry it well i dont want to carry it at ALL..

Call Bill

Good Luck

I was just over 40. I'm a tall man and carried my weight pretty good (learned that over decades of being overweight). I'm so glad I did it. I'll toot my own horn and say I look damn good! I could never have done this without it - I tried for years.

I will say that I got comments from other much larger patients at the hospital. They kept saying "you don't look like you need this!" I kept thanking, "do I need to wait until I've got one foot in the grave like you before I do something?" Like most people I felt a lot of shame about my weight and this criticism wasn't easy to hear, but in hindsight IDGAF. I feel great, I look great, and I can enjoy the rest of my life without obesity ruining everything I want to do!

Hi everyone,

I am booked for my surgery for the end of March and I am second guessing because I am LOW BMI (<35). My weight has never the less contributed to painful joints and difficulty starting an exercise program. I am also completely hopeless with "Diets" - as soon as I think of the word I gain 5 pounds.

Please tell me what you think - is this a worthwhile journey if you are low BMI???

I just had my surgery on the 16th.i too have a low bmi.i was wondering the same thing but i did it rather 120 then 210

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