Expert: John Pilcher, MD - 5/11/2008

Question
I have one kidney, GERD, and was recently diagnosed with PCOS.  I am 75 pounds overweight and can not get it off.  I have heard you must be 100 pounds over-weight to have surgery.  Is this true?  And, do my other health conditions disqualify me for a surgical bypass or lap band?

Answer
Brenda,
It is quite likely the weight is causing medical harm in your case, as you appear to know well.  If surgery is done for you, I would lean toward the gastric bypass because it is likely to help you with the GERD and PCOS more than the Band.  There are two remaining questions to answer:

1)  Does it make sense medically to have a gastric bypass, or in other words:  is the risk of surgery LESS THAN the risk of weight over time.  Most likely this is true, but this can only be truly determined by visiting in person with an experienced surgeon.

2)  Will the surgery be covered?  Your weight is in the gray zone, where the answer may be yes or no.  Here also, my advice is to visit in person with an experienced bariatric surgeon - this is certainly worth your time.

You can find a Center of Excellence surgeon in your area by using our national organization website:

www.asmbs.org

Best of luck!
Dr JP