BUMMED

Well, I'll try to make this as short as possible.  I am posting this here since here is so many of Dr. Walton's patients here.  My nuclear stress test results showed that my left ventricle of my heart (or something like that) is working at 37%.  What the doc said was when the heart contracts, it pumps 55% of the blood out of the heart -- that is what is normal.  Mine, due to congestive heart failure back in 2000, pumps 37% of the blood out when it contracts.  When I went for my last appt on 7/9, I had 16 more lbs to go to get the 10% of my weight off.  Past week to 10 days, I have been really strict and eating about 1 meal at lunch and the rest living off Adkins Low Carb shakes and the Adkins diet bars for snacks.  What I think my scale is, compared to the Weight Wise scale, I was within a couple of lbs of reaching my 16 lbs.  Was so pumped because I knew that I would be at or exceed the 16 pound goal by my 8/13 appt, and have my surgery scheduled.  Well, Wednesday, Brandy called me to tell me they are switching my appt to 8/14, because Dr. Walton wants to see me personally due to my cardiology report.  She said he might want me to lose more weight than just my 10%.  AARRGGHH!!!!  I asked her if she knew how much and she said she didn't know.   My mind is now racing, like it does, and I'm afraid he is going to cancel the surgery altogether or make me lose like 100 lbs or something.  What I am doing now, diet wise, is the strictest I've ever been, but it's definately not something that I could do long term.  The cardiologist said if I would get my weight off, it would help my heart, so my take on it would be lets get this surgery done and let me start getting healthy.  Did anybody else have this problem?  I know I can't be the only patient that he has had without a perfect heart!  Gez, is this ever going to happen?  Thanks for letting me vent.  Michael 

Hi Michael - I am sorry you having some obstacles, but you will overcome this and before you know it, you will have a surgery date! As a patient of Weightwise, all I can tell you is that Dr. Walton will want your health in the best possible shape before surgery - this is for your own safety! If that means lose a little extra weight, then that is what will be required. I was asked to lose 50 to 60 lbs before surgery, I lost 52, and 40 of those were on the agressive plan with one meal a day and supplements for the rest of the day - I know it is tough, but this is major surgery! I for one, consider myself lucky to have a surgeon who took such precautions to be sure that the surgery would be a complete success. Also, being on a pre-op diet helped me immensly post-op!! -Best of luck on your next appointment - you can do this!!

Anna

Sometimes what seems like a roadblock is really a blessing in disguise.  Better to know what you are dealing with than to have problems on the operating table.  Don't let this deter you from putting forth your best effort-it's all going to pay off in the end.

Deb is so right!  There is a reason why Walton is so good with such a low complication rate.  He gets us in the best shape possible before surgery.  Please keep the faith and know that this will happen for you, just on it's own timetable which we don't always like!  

It's possible be may not make you lose more weight.  The best advice to you is to stay pumped up and keep losing as quickly as you have been and put your best foot forward when you see Walton on the 14th.  Walton has lots of experience with patients with heart issues and you must trust in his judgement. 

You'll be on the Loser's Bench before you know it!  I'm already clearing a spot for you!

Kim 

My dear hubby had to have open heart triple bypass surgery after his cardiologist visit.  He wouldn't be alive today if they had not done all the testing they require at Weight Wise.  His cardiologist said it was a miracle I was not a widow as he was a heart attack away from sure death. 

My husband lost 65 pounds prior to having surgery...He was required to lose 45 and then he had the open heart surgery and it was easy to lose more because that surgery reduces your desire to eat.  Most patients lose 20 pounds after open heart surgery.  3 months after his open heart surgery he was able to have his gastric bypass.  He was only 39 when he had the heart surgery and he recovered exceptionally well.  Once he got the cardiac clearance he was in the OR for the gastric bypass.

This is a blessing in disguise for you I am sure.  Just be patient.  Your day will come.  It may be delayed a little but this way you will definitely be assured of a better outcome.  You will be in my thoughts and prayers!   Good luck Michael!!!  Diana

From my own experience, Brandy tends to be less optimistic than Dr Walton and as someone reminded me -- she is not the doctor. I have a bleeding disorder. 2 days before my pre-op appointment Dr Walton called me to tell me he wanted me to see a hematologist before surgery. Brandy called me right back and wanted to cancel my appointment and postpone surgery. I begged her not to as the hematologist worked me in to the next day. She agreed, but was not very optimistic about proceeding. The hematologist cleared me and wrote my prescription for the medication I would need to prevent bleeding. Dr Walton did not cancel or postpone my surgery. I had very little bleeding. 2 weeks later at my post op diet class one of the guys who had surgery around the same time as me told me he had to be reoperated on due to bleeding. That could have been me! Needless to say I am glad Dr Walton took the extra step to protect me.

Gez, you know, this is why I posted this only here.  Ya'll are the greatest.  Thank each one of you for your encouraging words, and your thoughts on Dr. Walton.  I know he is very thorough, and truly wants the best for me with no complications.  I am just about back to my "I am determined to do this no matter what" frame of mind, my positive and faith-filled frame of mind, but not quite yet.     I really am acknowledging and soaking in what ya'll are saying, but at the same time, I thinking, "Blah, blah, blah, whatever", just do the frickin surgery.  I'll get there.  I am just battling old demons.  I posted this on the men's forum, but I am the type of person who wants it now!  I want to be in the place where a few of the men are -- going from almost 500 lbs but are running marathons now, training for an iron man competition, or bicycling in marathons thru the Rockys!  I know they worked SO hard to get where they are, but I want to be there now!  This story sounds really hillbilly, but remember, I was born and raised there in OKC!    Anyway, I bought a banjo a long time ago, before I was married (Saturday is our 28th anniv.), and I practiced for about a month.   Went to a bluegrass festival south of Fort Smith, called "Turkey Track"  (yeah, I know), but it was so great.  (This is another goal -- to get my weight off so I can do stuff like that again)  I got home and started practicing my banjo again, but after a few days, I was so disgusted because I wasn't playing like the guys at the festival, I put it away.  I mean how goofy is that?  Anyway (again) thanks to all of you and for reading my rambling again.  Gez after reading this, makes me wonder if I have ADHD, because.....oh, wow a shiny object.....Michael.