BMI range for Transplant

[Landy]

I would venture to guess that each tx center may have slightly different views on BMI?

 

[Joanne]

The BMI varies from center to center.
Some will not list a patient until they reach a certain weight.
Others will list you, then encourage you to gain, via whatever means possible.

When I was listed at UNC, I weighed 100 pounds and was 5'5". They wanted me to seriously gain some weight for tx, as the surgery would be difficult and most likely I would lose weight. 30 months later, I weighed 121 pounds - not sure how I did it - well I do, but I did not notice it happening.

After tx surgery was done, I weighed 160 pounds, most of it fluid.
Within 2 months I was losing weight and got down to 85 pounds. So then I could see the reason for encouraging me to gain.

I was diabetic at time of tx, but not on insulin. They put me on Humalog and I could eat anything, whenever I wanted. I quickly gained weight. About 5 years after tx, I had to lose weight, as I was near 170 pounds.

After my sisters death, a hysterectomy and a dedicated workout plan I am still on, I am now at 145. It is an okay weight for me, but always hoping to hit 139 some day.

Ask the center, they may not be driven to get you to a certain weight before listing.

Joanne Schum

 

[Joanne]

The BMI varies from center to center.
Some will not list a patient until they reach a certain weight.
Others will list you, then encourage you to gain, via whatever means possible.

When I was listed at UNC, I weighed 100 pounds and was 5'5". They wanted me to seriously gain some weight for tx, as the surgery would be difficult and most likely I would lose weight. 30 months later, I weighed 121 pounds - not sure how I did it - well I do, but I did not notice it happening.

After tx surgery was done, I weighed 160 pounds, most of it fluid.
Within 2 months I was losing weight and got down to 85 pounds. So then I could see the reason for encouraging me to gain.

I was diabetic at time of tx, but not on insulin. They put me on Humalog and I could eat anything, whenever I wanted. I quickly gained weight. About 5 years after tx, I had to lose weight, as I was near 170 pounds.

After my sisters death, a hysterectomy and a dedicated workout plan I am still on, I am now at 145. It is an okay weight for me, but always hoping to hit 139 some day.

Ask the center, they may not be driven to get you to a certain weight before listing.

Joanne Schum

 

[Joanne]

The BMI varies from center to center.
Some will not list a patient until they reach a certain weight.
Others will list you, then encourage you to gain, via whatever means possible.

When I was listed at UNC, I weighed 100 pounds and was 5'5". They wanted me to seriously gain some weight for tx, as the surgery would be difficult and most likely I would lose weight. 30 months later, I weighed 121 pounds - not sure how I did it - well I do, but I did not notice it happening.

After tx surgery was done, I weighed 160 pounds, most of it fluid.
Within 2 months I was losing weight and got down to 85 pounds. So then I could see the reason for encouraging me to gain.

I was diabetic at time of tx, but not on insulin. They put me on Humalog and I could eat anything, whenever I wanted. I quickly gained weight. About 5 years after tx, I had to lose weight, as I was near 170 pounds.

After my sisters death, a hysterectomy and a dedicated workout plan I am still on, I am now at 145. It is an okay weight for me, but always hoping to hit 139 some day.

Ask the center, they may not be driven to get you to a certain weight before listing.

Joanne Schum

 

[summer732]

I'm not at all sure what my BMI was at the time of transplant, but I know that I only weighed 78 pounds (I'm 4'11''). So I was grossly underweight and this was a large concern for my doctors. After the transplant I dropped down to 72 pounds. At my highest weight after my transplant I was 102. After having pneumonia and severe sinus polyps this fall I'm down to around 96 pounds. I think if I work hard though i can get the other six pounds back!

So really to answer your question, I have no idea what the minimum BMI is for transplant, I just know that mine could not have been very high!

 

[summer732]

I'm not at all sure what my BMI was at the time of transplant, but I know that I only weighed 78 pounds (I'm 4'11''). So I was grossly underweight and this was a large concern for my doctors. After the transplant I dropped down to 72 pounds. At my highest weight after my transplant I was 102. After having pneumonia and severe sinus polyps this fall I'm down to around 96 pounds. I think if I work hard though i can get the other six pounds back!

So really to answer your question, I have no idea what the minimum BMI is for transplant, I just know that mine could not have been very high!

 

[summer732]

I'm not at all sure what my BMI was at the time of transplant, but I know that I only weighed 78 pounds (I'm 4'11''). So I was grossly underweight and this was a large concern for my doctors. After the transplant I dropped down to 72 pounds. At my highest weight after my transplant I was 102. After having pneumonia and severe sinus polyps this fall I'm down to around 96 pounds. I think if I work hard though i can get the other six pounds back!

So really to answer your question, I have no idea what the minimum BMI is for transplant, I just know that mine could not have been very high!