Not sure why doctors think my mom would qualify for gastric bypass surgery or the band? yes she's 350 lbs but she has copd, chf, diabetic with fluids around lungs and her legs swell up a lot due to the fluid . how could she qualify?

Risk either way: As you have stated the risk is significant with the surgery when you have those conditions. The risk of not doing anything is also very great as her weight is straining many organ systems in her body. This is a complicated decision to decide whether the risk is warranted given the outcome. Discuss your concerns with the doctors.

Gastric bypass: Your doctor, along with the surgeon performing the procedure and anesthesiologist will adequately evaluate your mom before taking a decision. Gastric bypass is not an easy surgery it has it's own complications. The doctors will take extreme precautions. May be banding may be less invasive procedure.

Weight loss: All three conditions that you have mentioned would be helped by loosing weight. It seems she cannot do it by doing physical exercise. Her best option becomes surgery.

Why not: All issues made worse w obesity. Band is easiest tolerated surgery. She needs it.

Go for it: Most of her health problems were caused by her obesity, namely chf, diabetes, and she probably also has sleep apnea. So they should improve greatly if she loses weight. We recommend diet and exercise but realistically this is very hard to do, and she has probably tried multiple times. Go for it.

Good case: Needs some tuning, but a great candidate, since most of her problems will resolve with sleeve or bypass. Less benefit with band. She would be one of our typical patients.