Will they operate?

Yeah I'm prepared for the offer of the Band but it just isn't an option in my opinion. At first I was thinking about the band but then I started researching it and too many factors about it just aren't right for me. A) I have a terrible phobia of needles and literally have panic attacks if I see one anywhere near me so getting them adjusted would be a very difficult process, b) I have heard all the stories about the reflux and people throwing up and I couldn't deal with that too well either, c) I'm planning on going to work/live in Canada end of next year and don't particularly want anything to go wrong/break/slip while I'm overseas. But I guess thats just what I'll need to tell the Dr when I see him and he'll have to make the ultimate decision. Fingers crossed though!

Yes, you are very young - my oldest child is coming up on  20 (ugh, feeling old!)  !!!! The surgeon will be the one who needs to evaluate all of your info - including your young age. One thing i will say is that you probably need to be prepared for the surgeon to offer you a band. My SIL has a BMI of 32, but no family history of anything, really, plus her blood work was ok, and the surgeon (same one as I'm having) was not keen on the sleeve for her, but was happy to go ahead with the band. I'm not saying that's what will happen in your case, but probably something you should be prepared for.

Thanks so much! 
Thats pretty much exactly my case so it's really comforting to hear that the surgeons were still happy to go ahead with yours. I'm just hoping that my age won't be a factor that they weigh in on. My GP said that if I was 40 or over she wouldn't even question me getting it but as I'm only 20 I guess some people would think that I could still lose the weight without surgery so will be interesting as to what this surgeon says. I'm completely on board with getting any tests done and all that if they will consider me, this has actually reminded me to take all my previous things done through my GP with me to the consultation so we could maybe kill two birds with one stone :P

Hi SGK, I am 'low end BMI' for WLS - 33 when  put clothes & heavy jewellery on lol ! So, not right at the bottom, but I was really worried I wouldn't be given the go ahead. I'm like you, in that no one would look at me and think I need WLS, I probably just look a bit overweight - I'm average height (165cm), but broad in the shoulders & size 9.5-10 feet. I carry my weight evenly, so it takes a while for people to notice that I've gained OR lost weight ! I have family history of heart attack & insulin related cancer, and my blood work showed high cholesterol and  high insulin, and I AM clinically obese. These factors - family history and having Metabolic Syndrome (as well as the fact that I'm 46 and have tried every diet under the sun & yo yo'd up & down 25 kg + so many times ) my surgeon said, were enough to warrant the surgery, and , in fact, he said that leaving me as is was a greater risk than that which the surgery poses. I had to see the nurse, dietitian, GP and psychologist in the practice first, but it was always made clear to me that the surgeon would make the ultimate decision, after reviewing the other appointments and blood work. I'm guessing that your surgeon will also look at all of your history and issues. Good luck, let us know how you go :-)

Hey Mazela,

Thanks for the advice! I was hoping to find some people on the 'smaller' end of the BMI scale to see about their experiences. I'm quite tall and have a big build anyway (Big head, feet, wide shoulders etc) So looking at me I just look 'a bit overweight' but I am classed as Obese as per BMI.
But thats really good advise about the consultants, I would maybe end up going to Brisbane if this Dr up here doesn't work out so may looking into that but thanks again!

hi nicki

my weight is 95 kg and bmi depends on which site on the internet you go to .. but basically obese am I.. i am 154 cm tall.(rather than short, lol)

if you have no luck with your dr baxter , go to dr leiw on the gold coast ,, i was also worried i would be rejected, but he said , I was on the lower end of the scale of what his usual pts are , but he would do it .. why not have a couple on consults lined up . In for a penny in for a pound I say... that way , if dr baxter does not want to sleeve you,,instead of waiting a few months to see another dr ,, you may have another lined up in a week or so ,,, iam not sure what you are paying for dr baxter but dr leiw does not offer the " whole package as some do" but he is cheap .. definately the cheapest around  I think. you will need to organise your own dietitican and phycologist though.. you can pay plenty for others to organise it all for you-- handy but you pay

Hi Nickers,

Thanks for your reply, I really appreciate it. 
I'm hoping that this Dr is one of them that is willing to consider me. I have been working with my GP to rule out all previous underlying medical reasons (Had blood tests, seen a naturopath, ECG, checked thyroid, checked for POCS) And was seeing a psychologist on the medicare plan and am going to go back to her again shortly to continue our sessions. So yeah, guess I'll just see what this surgeon thinks. 

I certainly know to make sure to feel comfortable with the surgeon. I've had a previous AWFUL experience with a cosmetic surgeon when I was getting a breast reduction. I didn't feel comfortable with him my first consultation with him and I should have started looking around at that stage but I didn't. He also told me that I needed to lose about 5 kilos before he would even consider operating on me, so I ended up hard core dieting for 4 months, went back to him for my second consolation, had lost plenty of inches but not budged in weight and he basically accused me of not dieting/taking it seriously and said it wasn't good enough and ended up with me in crying and in hysterics (I was 17 at the time mind you). Ended up finding another Doctor who was absolutely fantastic so a Dr I feel comfortable with is certainly high on my list.

Woops deleting doubly post.

Hi sunnygirlkiki, a lot of doctors lower their bmi guidelines to 30 if you have co-morbities and it sounds like you do.   They usually want to see a pretty comprehensive list of weight loss attempts in your history and will get you do a lot of pre-tests such as ECG, xrays and see a few other specialists to get a full picture of your health and what specific risks you may have and make sure you're in the right frame of mind (physician and psychologist are common).  I guess one thing to be aware of is that it's not a cure but just a tool I'm sure your research has already tód you that.  Other health conditions that contribute to weight gain can still an issue and make it difficult to keep the weight off - if having babies is in your future this is something to consider to.  For me - that part of life has gone and menopause is looking so think a bit of regain when it happens is something I will need to be aware off.   

In short, you won't get a clear answer from any doctor till you see them and possibly not till after they do all the tests etc but you have a pretty good chance.  But don't just go with whoever says yes - you need to feel comfortable they have your best interests at heart.

Good luck.

Hi all, (I apologise if this is the wrong place to post this, couldn't find the correct place)

So I'm new to the site and I'm actually really happy I found it because it is helping to answer a lot of my questions and giving me a whole bunch of insight to the sleeve. 

I'm one of those people that has been trying to find a way to reduce my weight for years and years with no solution and it has finally taken it's toll on me mentally (Just recently been diagnosed with depression and social anxiety) and I'm only 20 years old. I've been back and forth to my GP since the beginning of this year trying to get my weight under control and nothing has helped so I've started looking into surgery as an option. My GP isn't really onboard with me going to surgery but I'm at the stage where I'm tired of spending hundreds of dollars and heaps of months struggling to shed off a few kilos only to have it turn out ineffective and put all the weight I just so painstakingly got off come crashing back on. 

I live on the Sunshine Coast Queensland and my GP has said if I'm to go ahead with it she recommends Dr Ian Baxter who does Lap Bands and Sleeves. He currently has a free seminar coming up in October which I'm going to attend and then book a consultation with him. My only question is if I'll be a candidate. Currently I fall into a BMI of roughly about 30/31. I'm 176cm and am about 104kgs (Not sure exactly, the scales aren't my friend at the moment). I do have a past family history of diabetes and a few other medical conditions (I get tested for diabetes quite often as my parents are worried of me developing it as I've had a few signs). At the moment I'm getting really excited about the prospect of a better life, both physically and mentally but I don't want to get my hopes up just to be shut down saying I'm not a candidate. 

I want to get a sleeve for a few reasons. I would like a permanent solution/way of life, the lap band makes me nervous as I can't do needles so getting it fixed and whatnot would be painful for me, I plan on going to Canada end of next year to travel/work and don't want to worry about having the Band mess up or slip or break etc. 

Sorry about the long post/life story, just wanted to get Sleevers pre and post opinions and personal experiences. Also if anybody has gone with Dr Baxter before I would love to hear opinions about him. Thanks guys!