Question:
Has anyone out ther been turned down because you didn't lose the amount of weight the
surgeon said to before he would do your surgery? — Jill E. (posted on August 16, 2000)
August 17, 2000
My surgeon had no such requirements of his patients, and he is an
internationally known expert and one of the founders of the lap RNY
approach. My personal opinion, for what it's worth, is that this is an
absurd requirement for any bariatric surgeon to make of any patient who has
struggled with morbid obesity over a period of years or a virtual lifetime.
All of us have proven over and over again that we can lose weight. That
is not the issue at all. The issue is, that for many of us, we are
genetically predisposed to obesity and/or have proven repeated failures at
weight loss maintainence for a multiplicity of reasons. To require
patients to demonstrate pre-op weight loss as some type of "proof of
proper motivation" is only slightly short of sadistic. I suggest that
you research all your available options in the field of bariatric surgeons.
I can assure you that there are many excellent, compassionate, caring, and
informed professionals in this field that will not exact this requirement
of you.
— Diana T.
October 28, 2000
I was told to lose 30 pounds. The reason being is that my doctor preferred
to do the lap if possible. In the meantime, I gained 10 pounds. Result- I
am having an open procedure on November 6th. No big deal. Good Luck!
— mrs.qtip
October 28, 2000
My surgeon was one of the one's that INSISTED that you take of
weight prior to surgery. He schedules 3 office visits, one each month
for 3 months and at each visit you are weighed and EXPECTED to have lost
at least a FEW LBS. If you do not, he will not consider you as a likely
candidate
for the WLS. When I first heard this from him, I was furious!! In fact, I
went looking for
an other surgeon. I just knew I could't take off any weight!! The nerve of
him!! Why in the heck
would I be in his office asking for WLS if I could do it myself, I
thought?? A year later, I still had
not gotten the WLS. The other surgeon I went to see wouldn't take my
insurance as pmt. So, I went home and
decided that I guess I'd never get the surgery! I sat at home for MONTHS
AND ATE!! I was so mad, frustrated
and everything else. I felt hopeless and helpless! Finally, after many
months, I reluctantly went back to the
original surgeon that said I HAD TO LOSE WT prior to surgery. I guess I
came to the conclusion, finally that I really
wanted/needed the surgery and if he was the only one that would do it under
my insurance, or self pay, that I'd better make
a serious attempt to do as he wanted! Today, I am over 3 mo. post op and
have lost 30 lbs pre op (thanks to the surgeon!) and
78 lbs post op. A total of 107 lbs!! I can now see his reason for
insisting on this. He wants to know that the potential patient
is SERIOUS and can display some ability for SELF DISCIPLINE after surgery
by taking off at least a few lbs each visit pre op. Yes, I
know it feels almost impossible to do this, but I sincerely believe, NOW,
that if you truly want the surgery that you will do your very
best to go to ANY LENGTH to make it possible. (please, no flaming). I went
home and made up my mind I WAS GOING TO DO IT. I bought fish, chicken,
turkey, and lots of veggies and fruit plus I had a "Slim Fast"
for lunch each day. I drank lots of water, also. To be honest, I was never
hungry!
Eating all the veggies that you want is very filling a low in calories. I'd
load my plate at dinner w/ veggies and fish and a salad. In the evening,
I'd have a few pretzels w/ a LITTLE low fat cheese, if I was hungry. In a
little over 2 months time, I lost THIRTY POUNDS pre op!!! It really helped
also
w/ the surgery and w/ my total wt loss post op. I am now glad that I gave
myself a head start in my wt loss. The surgeon was RIGHT TOO ABOUT THE SELF
DISCIPLINE
that is required post op. The WLS is only a TOOL that we get. We do indeed
need to also develop a sense of self discipline in our eating and
exercising habits, post op
if we are to have long term weight loss success. So, if your surgeon
insists on some wt loss prior to surgery, please think about it and try to
realize, maybe what he/she
is trying to say, is what my own surgeon was saying. As angry as it makes
you feel, "bite the bullet" and go for it!! YOU CAN DO IT.
WILLINGNESS is the KEY.
— kathy S.
May 25, 2001
The surgeon is not playing games. If you think he is you either need to
educate yourself or get another surgeon. The reason the weight loss is
suggested is for your own good. If you are to have the lap procedure done,
recent weight loss makes the operation more feisable and safe. The weight
loss request has to due with fat around the liver and organ that must be
manuvered around during a LAP procedure. Recent weight loss is seen first
in this area of the body. Your surgeon is not playing games but trying to
insure a good result for you and not having to do an Open procedure instead
of the more favorable LAP procedure as extra fat in the abdomen area can
make a LAP not appropriate as the instruments to the the LAP can only reach
so far. Also the weight loss is likely to make your recovery quicker and
easier. This is their experience having done many surgeries that this
recomendation is favorable. GOod luck with your journey
— [Anonymous]
June 21, 2001
If I were you, I would walk, not run to a new surgeon. This is just plain
ridiculous. If we could lose it on our own, don't they think we would have
done that already. If he can't do the lap due to your weight, then he can
do the open. My surgeon doesn't like to do the lap on people over a
certain weight. He also questions the patients reasons for wanting lap
surgery. The way he explains it is that lap surgery can have just as many
problems as open. The other posters are correct in that this is just a
tool, but the tool will make it easier to stay on a diet so to speak,
because you won't be able to eat as much.
— Terry H.
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