Decision Appt.../Any good pre-op diets?

Well I went for my "decision Appt." today at Dr. Pender's Office.  I gained weight back and he was really ticked off.... and didn't really care why I had gained.  He said that he is going to send my insurance info. off for approval and he gave me my 2 weeks pre-op liquid diet but said if I don't drop about 15 lbs he will cancel my Surgery.    I don't know how long it will take it find out if I was approved and get the surgery date........ Does anyone have any diets to loose weight quickly in a short amount of time.... I have tried everything and damn near go into cardiac arrest working out... I am going to try harder and keep pushing but it's like my metabolism is frozen.  Any tips would be helpful... I am really having a hard time with my Pseudotumor cerbri and the meds are not working anymore. Also, was anyone enrolled in the research study that ECU is doing? I was told I will have a filter in my leg to prevent blood clots, did anyone have this and how bad is it? Thanks, Meagan P.S. Man this really is a long journey....

Meagan Was he really that mad?  They told me not to gain either so now im scared...ha but i dont know when my decision appt. is yet.  How much did you gain if you dont mind me asking?  I have most of my test this thursday then my pysch on June 3, forever away...after your test done how long did you have to wait to get a decision visit?  When do you start your liquid diet?  Good luck.  Let me know what happens. Amanda

Hey!! Yeah he seemed really ticked off that I gained 4.5 lbs since I was weighed in November..... however, since I was diagnosed with Pseudotumor I was gaining like 15 a month.... and they could not figure out why.  They thought I had issues with my thyroid but all that came back fine... (it's been a battle)  I have always been over weight but in one year I I gained over 100 lbs.... it's been a mess.. So, 4.5 lbs gained since Nov. and that for me was a good thing but for him it was a big "NO NO" I understand his point of view and I agree but it's really hard. Once you do the labs, nutrition appt, psych appt, they call you in for a decision appt. he sends your insurance stuff off then in 2-7 days you find out if you are approved..... If you are then you go on a 2 week optifast liquid diet.  After that you go in for a History & Physical and then a few days later you have the surgery. SO I guess within in 3-4 weeks after your Decistion Appt.

I did not like the Anesthesiologist!  He was an older man who was very rude and said things in a way that made me feel a little bad.  He was like  "Well we don't put people your size to sleep anymore over at the Surgi Center for Gallbladder maybe you were the one that made us stop putting big people to sleep for Gallbladder surgery.  Yep you were the last one we did like that, people like you are just too big"  He said it kinda mean.... and kept repeating how big I was and how people like me are difficult to work with......etc.etc...  He was bad mouthing other Doctors....  My Mom knew I was upset and very close to walking out..... I just hope NO ONE has to get him because I didn't like him at all.

Can't you call your doc and tell him you want another anesthesiologist.....i wouldn't want that jerk near me.   I would be afraid of someone with that attitude!   As far as the diet, can you start your liquid diet early and just do liquid for breakfast and lunch and salad for dinner.   That may give you a jump start.   I do know when i was on Carnation Instant Breakfast the 14 days before surgery, I actually lost 14 lbs. Good luck, Pam

Thank you I am going to try that starting in the morning.  Thanks for the tip. I did ask his assistant and she made a note. There are a group of them so chances that I would have gotten him were slim.. But he was horrible..... and I wanted to say something but I felt like that would not have been a good idea...

Follow the liquid diet he gives you, you will lose the weight.  They put me on 4 Slim Fast Hi-Proteins a day for 3 weeks prior to surgery.  That's what they did before they switched to Opti-Fast.  I lost 25 pounds in the 3 weeks I was on it.  The first three days was the hardest, I got through it by drinking lots and lots of water and chewing lots and lots of gum.  Don't drink for half an hour before your shake and an hour after it.  That's also good practice for after surgery.  Do what excercise you can, but don't overdo it, that won't help.  I was enrolled in a study at ECU.  I don't know if it's the same one though.  They just asked me a bunch of questions.  There has been virtually no follow up. As far as your anesthesiologist goes, that's just the man that did your interview.  He was hurtful, which wasn't good.  However, there are many anesthesiologists at ECU, you have a good chance of getting someone else.  I had to do the anesthesiologist evaluation twice because of my insurance and saw two different ones.  The one that actually did my surgery was a third one.  The bottom line is that you are the consumer and have every right to request that he not be your doctor. Take care, and if you have any further questions, feel free to email me. Ellen

Cinderellen is correct.  You may request to have or not to have any of the anesthesiologists on staff.   You are the paying customer.  Several years ago I worked in a hospital and knew that one of the anesthesiologists was a drug addict.   When my daughter was scheduled for a tonsillectomy I told the doctor that I did not want that doctor and why.   I was given another doctor and there was no problem.   Good luck on your diet and your surgery.