Curious about Pre-op Weight Loss

Robin, this is just my opinion, but I think if I were you I would consult with another doctor.  Would you consider coming into the DFW area for a good doctor?  He doesn't sound like he was too concerned for you.  If he isn't really wanting to do surgery on you because he says he hasn't done the surgery on somone your size I would find a bariactric surgeon who has.  You want to totally trust the surgeon you are using. 

I was not required to lose any specific amount of weight before my surgery by my surgeon or my ins. company. My surgeon only required I do the 10 day pre-op liquid protein diet to lose as much as I could to hopefully shrink my liver to avoid any complications that could arise during surgery from it being fatty. My surgeon and NUT said that with the 10 day pre-op liquid diet, I could potentially lose at least 30 lbs, in which I lost 29 lbs. in those 10 days.

Now when I was calling around to do consults the first time with area surgeons that would accept my insurance, I do remember quite a few of the surgeons staffs telling me that particular surgeon does not operate on people over a certain BMI for several reasons, mainly because of the risks involved with someone that huge. They also explained that alot of times, the hospitals they perform their procedures in do not have the equipment readily on hand to perform on someone of a larger size and those items would have to be ordered and cost extra. For example, most operating tables have a weight limit and if someone who exceeds that weight limit were to get on it, could cause for potential problems. Now this is what I was told by the office staff by several surgeons.

There ARE quite a few surgeons out there who will operate on a person no matter what their size or BMI is and there are plenty of surgeons who do not refer to their patients in the manner yours has refered to you. IMO....I would seek out another surgeon....one who is not so harsh when dealing with his/her patients. Of course, that is just my opinion.

Well said, Mary.  I also think most surgeons are reluctant to use a lap band on people over a certain BMI, prefering to do gastric bypass, thinking it will be more successful for the patient.

Laura

42 years old Laura? Seriously???  I would have never guessed that number. LOL

And you are right about surgeons wanting to do bypass on larger BMI patients for better success. My surgeon encouraged I have the bypass as well, but knew that ultimately, it was my decision and he was going to do whichever procedure I felt comfortable with.

I think I have proved to my surgeon and a few others that the Lap-Band works if you work it, no matter what size you start out at. LOL As long as you are willing to put forth the hard work, you can accomplish your weight loss goals.

You're so funny, Mary.  Yes, I am 42.  You've even seen my wrinkles in person....lol.  Hope to see you at the August support group meeting!!

Laura

I did not have to lose anything before surgery and my insurance did not require a pre-op diet.  My BMI was 45 and I think if it had been over 50 then Dr. Garth would have required me to lose beforehand, but I am not sure since i didn't apply to me.  I lost 14 pounds on my 2-week liquid protein diet.

I would find another surgeon who didn't refer to his patients as "people like you"  How insensitive can you get?

I wasn't required to lose anything before surgery.   I did have to do the 6 month diet for insurance and lost 20 pounds.  Another 12 pounds came off during the pre-op liquid diet.

Thanks to all the input on this subject.  I was mainly curious if it is this one DR or if there are others.  I went through the whol eprocess in AZ and was one week out from surgery when they cancelled it due to issues with the hospital, not concerning me but there Bariatric unit.  There was never an issue with that surgeon and I was 16 pounds heavier than I am now.   So I will either try it on my own or search out another DR. 

Thanks Again for all your words of encouragement.