anyone have to lose weight before surgery?

Hi all you Marchers!

I found out a week ago that I'd have to lose 13lbs before my surgery.  That's 3 weeks to lose 13lbs.  I'm down 4 so far.

I started a liquid diet today (even though my surgeon just requires a 25g of fat per day diet) to try and make sure I get these 13lbs off.  I've been told he'll cancel my surgery if I don't get the weight off.

I was wondering if anyone else is in the same boat.  If so, how are you doing so far?


Best wishes to all!

Good luck on your surgery and getting to the goal of 13 lbs.

I'm new to this site and looking for information.  Can I ask you how long it took for you to get approved for the surgery and how many hoops you had to jump through.  I haven't found a surgeon yet or called insurance.  In 2007/2008 I was running through the hoops to have the lap band done and then I stopped b/c I thought I'd try to go on Weigh****chers.  Well that worked for a moment but gained it PLUS after I stopped.  I hit many walls while on WW's and that was very discouraging.

I'd love to hear about the steps you had to take.

Melinda

Hi Melinda,

I can tell you what I had to do, but your situation may be different.  All insurances are different on their requirements.  As of March 3rd it will be one year to the day that I started this process.  (you can read about it in my blog under my profile)

I had to have the following (some insurance required and some the surgeon required):

6 months supervised diet (by a PCP)
Sleep study
lots and lots of bloodwork
EGD scope
3 years of documented weigh-in (I got my GYN to give me those since she always weighs me)
nutritionist appointment
psych eval

I think that's everything.  I was approved by my insurance in 5 days.

All surgeons are also different in how they do this process.  Mine does not give a surgery date until you have insurance approval and all testing done.  I know others who got their surgery date before they even had insurance approval.  It's all up to the surgeon.

Best of luck to you!

Congratulations on your upcoming surgery, I don't have to lose a certain amount before surgery, I am on a pre-op diet, for about 3 weeks prior to surgery and then a liquid diet for 3 days before surgery.  I had to lose 5% of the my body weight to qualify for surgery in the first place and am required to maintain that loss until surgery.  Good luck with your weight loss!

hi i also had to lose 10-30 lbs before they would do the surgery and what i did was walk 2 miles (with hills) in the morning and 2 miles in the evening and lost 10 lbs in about a week and a half. but im also a stay at home mommy right now and i was pushing 2 kids in a stroller :) but it worked and im having my surgery on MONDAY the 2nd! so best of luck to you!

Yes, my insurance required a 6 month physician supervised weight loss program, or 3 months seeing both my PCP and a dietician monthly, and documenting exercise, nutrion, diet, weight, and behavioral modification techniques.  I followed the 3 month cycle, and using the dietician's recommendations, I lost about 26 pounds.  Although my surgeon prefers that you lose SOME weight before surgery, he doesn't really give you a target number of pounds.  Most surgeons would like to see you lose 10% if possible, because it reduces the problem of fatty liver being in the way while they operate.  But... giving you only 3 weeks to lose 13 pounds doesn't seem fair to me!!!

Thanks for the posts.  I was just curious what others were having to do.

I also wanted to clarify and update.  First of all, my surgeon didn't require the 13lbs in just 3 weeks.  He told me I had to lose 13lbs, yes.  However, when I went to his coordinator to schedule surgery, she asked me how long I thought it would take me to get the 13lbs off.  I told her I didn't know and she asked me if I could do it in 3 weeks and I agreed to that.  I could have gotten a later surgery date if I'd wanted to.  So the 3 weeks deal was my choice.  I just didn't want anyone thinking my surgeon was giving me an unfair goal.

Now for the update.  I'm down 7lbs so far!!!!  I've still got about 10 days left and 6lbs to go so I think I'm going to make it.

Here's hoping yo umake your goal weight before your date. Saying prayers for you.
My RNY is on March 2. So excited. I am on full liquids right now. Not fun at all.
Emily

Emily,

Thanks for the prayers.  Prayers for you as well.  How exciting that you've just got a few more days!!! 

Best wishes,

I had to lose weight before they would do surgery on me as well.
I went on the liquid diet for 2 months prior to my surgery.
The only bad thing about that was I got sick of all the foods I was suppose to have after surgery.