Hi everyone! feels weird because I have been following your threads for some time but never dared "come out".

I live in Europe (uk) and have decided to get banded. was initially accepted by a surgeon in Belgium but 2 weeks before surgery, his team decided i was not obese enough! as if being a little bit obese as opposed to very obese makes any difference to ones quality of life and self esteem. Anyway, wondering if anyone knows of any surgeon who would be ok with low BMI. have 29-30 but on the way up (as usual) and would like to end it right here and now.I am willing to travel anywhere.

please help me... I am sure you all know how I feel - on the brink of tears each and every day.

Middlegirl:frown:

If you are self pay then it is elective surgery. AND, I believe that in the UK medicine is socialized. Consequently, the low BMI denial. She is denied because she does not meet some bureaucrats concept of medical necessity. And, just because one surgeon wont do it does not mean it is the wrong thing to do.

I would hate to see her try and gain weight just to qualify as so many people have done. You can find posts right here on LBT that talk about people wanting to weigh with weights on their ankles or change in their pockets.

There are also other posters here on LBT that have gone to Greece or Belgium or other places to get their band because different countries have different restrictions that are based on cost rather then necessity. Ultimately, I would recommend her staying closer to home but she should know that their is hope.

let's just alert the FDA, that surgeons are performing the lapband on morbidly obese & obese individuals vs only SMO. better yet - contact band manufacturers & slap them on the wrist for selling bands to those same surgeons. ((laughing))

the insurance companies pick and select what comorbities they will include to be covered for the band. only the most severe ones are part of that package, so if your in a "maybe/sorta" bad spot medically....the ins company holds your cards.

nothing unethical of a dr/surgeon making a well educated diagnosis that a band is a proper tool for some.

let's just alert the FDA, that surgeons are performing the lapband on morbidly obese & obese individuals vs only SMO. better yet - contact band manufacturers & slap them on the wrist for selling bands to those same surgeons. ((laughing))

LOL

the insurance companies pick and select what comorbities they will include to be covered for the band. only the most severe ones are part of that package, so if your in a "maybe/sorta" bad spot medically....the ins company holds your cards.

nothing unethical of a dr/surgeon making a well educated diagnosis that a band is a proper tool for some.

Very well said. I wish I had had the money to do this sooner. Only I know how this (being over weight) has negatively impacted my life. AND, since I was not 100 pounds over weight for so long this was not an option for me until now. However, if I could have done this when I was 80 pounds over weight the last 3 years would have been so much better for me.

By the way, you are my hero. I think we are both about the same hight and about the same starting weight. I think I weigh a bit more than you did when you started. If I do half as well as you I will be jumping for joy.