LOW BMI BANDING: Am i crazy?

[NYUBoi21]

Hey everyone,

I am a 25 year old male from New York. I weigh, as of today, 228 pounds and have a BMI of 33. Two months ago I went for several lap-band consultations, at which time my BMI was a 36 (weight was 246 I believe). I since gave Optifast a 5th try, and went down to 220, and then up to the weight I am at now. During all this I went through the hoops to get Lap-band approved. I wasn

[snowbird]

NYU,

Only you can decide whether the lap-band is right for you. However, at the ripe old age of 53 I certainly wish I could have taken this step when I was your age, instead of struggling unsuccessfully with my weight throughout my life. I have been yo-yo-ing for the past 30 years, and as I have gotten older I have found that when I regain the weight, it all goes to the most unhealthy spots, around my abdomen. I have lost 60 to 70 pounds on three separate occasions, only to gain it all back. Sometimes I could keep most of it off for two or three years, but eventually, it all comes back and more. It's a common story around here. I have a BMI of 35, which is just borderline for what my insurance will pay for, but my doctor says my "effective" BMI is higher because of where I carry the extra pounds. I'm active, ride my bike about 10 miles a day, and don't have a lot of health problems (YET) from my weight. I too have friends that tell me I'm not big enough for weight loss surgery, but I know different. My husband and I are both scheduled to be banded October 10.

I have acid reflux too, and my doctor wants to do an upper g.i. endoscopy now, since he says they often find pre-cancerous changes in the esophagus after two or three years of reflux. I just had a friend die of esophageal cancer earlier this year, so that scares me a lot when I think about it. I know when I lose weight the reflux goes away, then comes back along with the weight gain. If the band can get me off that roller coaster, then bring it on! Death is something that can happen if you don't get the band, too.

It's true that bread and pasta often give you problems with a band. They tend to turn to a glutinous mass in your stomach, and if you continue to eat them after you are banded, there is a decent chance you will spend some time with your head in a toilet. However, there's also a decent chance you will desire them less after a few of the above-mentioned puking episodes.

As for waiting until you are 30, why? So you can have five more years of stressing your body and health, feeling bad about yourself, missing out on the things you say you missed out on in the past 5 years? The greatest thing about the band is that it is removable, so if you change your mind later, you can go back to being unbanded. Sure, you would have spent a chunk of change by then, but at least you would know whether the band is right for you.

Of course you are most interested in the cosmetic changes your weight loss will bring. Heck, it's pretty appealing even at my age! And beyond looking better, the self-confidence and self-approval that come with weight loss can be even more attractive. But what makes me happiest when I look at my daughter, who at age 26 has lost 100 pounds with the band, is knowing that the chances are now much reduced that I will outlive her.

[AmberLam]

Paul,

Thank you for posting such a great topic. I am 28 and will be banded on 8/20 by Dr. Ortiz. I think that everyone does LB for their own reasons. For me personally, I'm 70/30. 70% cosmetic and 30% for my health. Does that make me a bad person? I don't think so.. I know how society deems the obese and would prefer to not be stared at and ridiculed like a freak. As of now, I don't have any co-morbidity's.... YET! But I'm sure they will creep up on me just as all this weight did. I would like to have kids someday and it is a fear of mine that I wont be able to play with them. That is if I can even get pregnant as weight effects that too.

I think that many on this forum have done the yo-yo thing, me included. I am hoping the LB will prevent this from happening by becoming my long term solution for a longer life as a "normal" person.

Which ever you choose, good luck to you!

Amber

[FurEllie]

Honestly, I wish I had done this sooner. Heck, I would have loved to have been banded at my goal weight

You sound like you have a good head on your shoulders and you know what you're getting into. Of course all surgery is dangerous. So is driving a car. We take little risks every day!

Make sure you research the doctor completely, best of luck and keep us up to date!!

BTW, I had no health issues besides high cholesterol (which everyone on my mother's side of the family has, even the skinny folk) so mine was pretty much done for cosmetic reasons too.

[angelav]

Hey everyone,

I am a 25 year old male from New York. I weigh, as of today, 228 pounds and have a BMI of 33. Two months ago I went for several lap-band consultations, at which time my BMI was a 36 (weight was 246 I believe). I since gave Optifast a 5th try, and went down to 220, and then up to the weight I am at now. During all this I went through the hoops to get Lap-band approved. I wasn

[angelav]

Life is about choices and sometimes these choices shoudln't be influenced by anyone good or bad.Let this be your decision.However if you want to hear other low banders experience here it goes: I am 36 with two children.I bounced back with diet and exercise after my first child but after my second nothing worked. I tried everything you mentioned plus some.

I had a bmi of 36 before surgery standing at 5'2 200lbs.Surgery was done 4/9/07 and now I am 150 with a bmi of 128.I feel great. Someone actually said I dont remember what you looked like before. At first people would comment on how much I lost but after a certain point you blend in with everyone else and your weight loss is not a big issue anymore. I love it. I shop in non plus size stores,and no matter what people say there is prejudice against overwieght people.I really know now because how diffrently I am treated.God bless you no matter what you decide.

[blacdimin]

[Hi NYU

My name is Brandy and I have had mixed reviews just like you. I barely made the BMI of 40 and I have no current medial conditions that I know of. I am scheduled for November and I have come to the ultimate decision that this would be my own personal plight. I told 2 people and based on their feed back I decided that I would not seek out anymore friends or families advice. That ultimately it was my decision and my life so I am going with whats in my heart. I am 5ft 9 and 272lbs because I am built very solid and wear it well (if there is such a thing as wearing 272lbs well). To look at me most people would be shocked to learn my weight because most people say I pegged you to be 220 or 230 maximum. So of course when I told a close friend of mine she called me an extremest "oh come on develop more discipline and lose about 50 pounds you don't need a major operation such as this" she even said "this kind of operation is for people with hundreds of pounds to lose you are taking the easy way out and in the process making a very risky decision" Ok I have been researching for almost 6 months and have spoken to a few people who have had LB, easy way out, I dont think so. I tried to shake off her comments and look deeper within and ask if there was some truth to what she had said but ultimately my answer was no. I still felt I was making the right choice.

Then the 2nd person I told was my boyfriend who had the same comments as she had. You are beautiful the way you are, it's to risky, alter your eating habits a bit I think you can do something about those few extra pounds on your own. (few extra pounds was his exact words, that funny a few is 5-10) Ok so at this point I am feeling like no one is behind me whole heartedly. The 2 people I have told are in the nay pile and in the yay pile there is only me. So I made the decision not to convince my friends and love ones that this is a good decision but instead to just go with what feels right in my heart. I have decided that this will be my private journey.

PS I did tell my supervisor at work becuase I will be needing to use a lot of my personal days for pre-surgery screening, and a few days off after surgery. I told him for that reason and that reason only. In other words I was not looking for his approval or disapproval. Guess what he instanly became my own little cheering squad. That shocked me but made me feel really good at the same time. We sat down in his office and talked for almost an hour he congradulated me, wished me well and offered an ear if I needed to talk as I get closer to my surgery day and even after. So you see Others opinions may feel very relavent but in the end it is your opinion that counts the most. It is at this time that you should do some soul searching and make the decision that is right for you.