bariatric/endo advice needed please!

I self funded so not completely up to scratch on NHS system but do know quite a few people have gone down this route - all I would say is be prepared to play the waiting game and you will have to jump through many  hoops before you get accepted for wgt l oss surgery - it can be a very very lengthy process - and it does seem to vary from area to area as to how long the waiting list is - you could in the meantime go onto a forum such as WLSinfo which is more specialised in wgtl oss surgery issues  or see if there are any support groups in your area where you would be able to discuss your queries face to face with those in your area who have experience.  good luck

I understand that co-morbidities such as those you have described will go in your favour with regards to actually getting wgt loss surgery but as to whether they get you to the top of the list any quicker is another matter as everyone who is on the list will be there because they have met the criteria one way or another and  many will also have comorbidities or be a log bigger that you - I am not sure the geographic location of where you live will be a positive either cos there will be a catchment area for each hospital and some people have to travel a long way whereby others not so far - but it will be easier for you to attend appointments and clinics it you live locally - some people do indeed have to wait many yrs to finally be accepted as they are given target weights to lose and often have to have psychiatric assessments plus many sets of criteria - it really is a massive  step - it isn't just a case of having an op and then letting it do all the work - it just is not like that at all - WLSinfo runs local support groups but as to whether is one in your area I could not say however the hosp that performs the surgeries might run it's own support group and you would def get online support via WLSinfo for sure.

it is good that you are doing some research b efore you get your appointments and find out the negatives as well as the positives as all types of wgt loss surgery have then and what is a disadvantage for one person could be an advantage for another and so on and so forth - it is not a magic wand which the media would have you believe and there is a lot of hard work and commitment required on behalf of the patient - it depends on what type of wgt loss surgery you go for and which is best suited to you as to which of the negatives would affect you - for example there is generally no hair loss with a gastric band as it does not work by malnourishment - it is purely restriction - however the wgt loss is slower - the band would be less effective in helping with diabetes than say RNY and of crs your other medical conds would need to be considered as to which of the many types of wgt loss surgery are suitable. The more you can find out the better it will be for you when you get your appointments cos it is better to go there armed with some knowledge. I wouldn't worry too much about pre op diets cos everyone has to do one in order to shrink their liver for the surgery (it makes the surgeon's job simpler) and usually they are the same for each type of op but do vary from hosp to hosp - they are generally only for 2 wks and you can put up with anything for that length of time in order to get the bigger prize of an op that will change your life. Good luck with the endocrinologist - it would be great if they could sort something out for you without the need for surgery at all