MGB and Severe Asthma?

[Guest guest]

Hi, my name is and I live in Ontario, Canada.

I joined the group a week ago have been voraciously reading all your

informative contributions however I have not seen anything that

specifically refers to my situation. So I would like to ask if anyone

with a similar medical profile to me has been through MGB and what has

their experience been?

This is my story. I am 50 years old and 270 lbs. I weighed 130 lbs at

age 30 but over the last 20 years I have steadily gained at the rate

of 5-10 lbs a year. My weight gain has been usually associated with the

use of prednisone for the treatment of severe persistent asthma. Once

gained, the weight has been impossible to shift because my exercise

induced asthma severely limits my physical activity (walking 20-30 feet

leaves me breathless).

I have had asthma since the age of 2. It is hyper reactive to multiple

environmental allergies and respiratory infections (colds etc). My top

FEV readings are 33% and I take all the meds available ( theodur,

accolate,reactine, ventolin, atrovent,serevvent,flovent and flonase) to

manage daily symptoms and function. I also have free gastric reflux

which exacerbates matters.

I have come to the point ( and age)where the combined affect of my

weight and asthma have dramatically affected my quality of life and I

feel I have to do something before the combination disables me further.

I therefore got a referral to a surgeon and have spent the last four

months going through medical and nutritionist evaluation appointments in

preparation for a conventional gastroplasty. I experienced a big

setback however when my lung specialist advised that he could not

support the proposed surgery because of the high risk due to my already

compromised breathing ability.

I am really hoping that if I can come up with enough reassuring

information on the laproscopic procedure he may support that as an

option for me. This may be my last hope in getting some quality of

life back.

So please if anyone has a similar condition and been through MGB, tell

me your story. Thanks

in Ontario