Newbie - Am I a candidate for WL surgery?

[Cov86]

Grr I just wrote a really long post and it disappeared when I clicked submit!

Hi all, I'm a newbie so please be gentle.

I'm male, late 20s with a BMI of about 35. I have no diabetes, slightly raised blood pressure (untreated) and I suffer chronic back and joint pain.

My back story is this: I've been overweight all my life and aged 18 my weight peaked at 34st / 476lb (BMI 56). Over a 2 year period I got my weight down to just under 17st / 238lb by doing weight watchers online and exercising a lot. I then had a ton of plastic surgery to remove the loose skin and got on with my life.

However over the last few years my weight has crept back up to 21st / 294lb again. For the last 2-3 years I have been fairly stable but with a slight increase each year.

Clearly I know how to lose weight, I still keep a food diary and calorie count (average 3500 per day ) but I cannot seem to get a grip on this. I eat too much as I'm always hungry, I have frequent binges on junk and I'm obsessed by food, food is always on my mind, it is very tiring. I just cannot find the spark that helped me lose weight before.

I'm scared of getting as big as I used to be, I'm angry that the hard work and plastic surgery I had before is going to waste and I think the extra weight is not helping my back or joints (which ironically makes it more difficult to exercise).

I'm thinking of going to the GP to discuss WLS either on the NHS or privately. Am I mad?

 

[los in it]

Hi Cov, and welcome
no your not mad ! I think you such have a chat with your GP as they know your history and how hard you are trying its all going to be down to things like your bmi and whatever your pct tick list is to be able to be placed on its WLS list.
I wish you lots of luck keep us posted on how things go

 

[Cov86]

Hi Cov, and welcome
no your not mad ! I think you such have a chat with your GP as they know your history and how hard you are trying its all going to be down to things like your bmi and whatever your pct tick list is to be able to be placed on its WLS list.
I wish you lots of luck keep us posted on how things go

Hi, thanks.

I will chat with the GP. I have no idea what my local hospital rules are on this type of surgery but I suspect I would have to be significantly fatter than I am to get it on NHS.

I have to say the terminology is a bit confusing - bands, sleeves, bypasses, balloons, etc. I'm wondering if paying for a private consultation would be a good way just to get some basic information?

 

[los in it]

Hi Cov, yes you could go ahead and pay for a private chat and have the various methods explained but you could with a little bit of research visit your own PCT website and see if they have anything on the types of WLS they support and what each one is about then see which one you think applies to you
im sure that somewhere on this site you may come across what each one means or try Google (others available! )
good luck in your search

 

[Jan1973]

Hi Cov

Not sure if you would be interested. There is a support group wt cov university hospital on the second wednesday of each month, for people wanting weight loss surgery and those who have had it. Im myself was sleeved on the 5th july. Best thing ive ever done. Im in Rugby if you want to chat. Joan

 

[HelenAngelfish]

You may be accepted based on your weight loss history.

I was once 32st, got down to 18st 7lb, then went back up to 26st 7lb - That was enough to get me approved.

Go to your GP! Good luck xx

 

[Cov86]

You may be accepted based on your weight loss history.

I was once 32st, got down to 18st 7lb, then went back up to 26st 7lb - That was enough to get me approved.

Go to your GP! Good luck xx

That is good to know, thanks. Private prices are a bit .

 

[HelenAngelfish]

That is good to know, thanks. Private prices are a bit .

I know!! I was going to pay, I was refused twice under Bucks PCT, then I moved to London and was refereed to St Marys in Paddington - 7 months later I have a sleeve xx

 

[Mazza]

Hi Cov, and welcome
no your not mad ! I think you such have a chat with your GP as they know your history and how hard you are trying its all going to be down to things like your bmi and whatever your pct tick list is to be able to be placed on its WLS list.
I wish you lots of luck keep us posted on how things go

PCT's are no more los in it, they went last year Coventry's criteria for funding was particularly strict. They were:

BMI over 45 with type 2 diabetes or BMI over 50 with comorbidities which are likely to be improved with weight loss or BMI over 65 without comorbidities. Patients must have failed to achieve or maintain weight loss after one years intensive management in a specialist obesity clinic setting.

Luckily Cov86, things have changed and providing you have an understanding GP, you should at least get referred.

Good luck!