Does anybody know if their is a certain weight you have to be to do Gastric-By- Pass safely.

   Does any know the weight you have to be to Gastric-By- Pass safely.  My surgeon keeps putting off. For almost a year and a half. 

   My weight is 357 pounds right now.  I was 395, My Surgeon  still keeps saying it is not enough. I did all my prep -work 6 month diet and turned into a year of appointments. Had redo stuff because, It was over a year old. 

   So I.m still waiting.  My surgeon said. He will do the surgery until I get rid of my stomach fat.  Before  He said,He would even think of doing the surgery. that he would not do it untill reach 310 pounds.

  I have been really trying but, Still  can,t lose any weight.  I,m stress,worried, Depressed because, I can,t lose the weight.  I think about losing weight very minute of the day.

   Also has anybody had open Gastric-by- pass surgery.

Your surgeon seems kind of silly to me. I can understand wanting patients to lose some weight beforehand to help shrink liver size, but wow. I would be ticked off if my doc wanted me to lose 80+ pounds BEFORE he would consider weight loss surgery.

Being very overweight (over 400lbs) I chose the Duodenal Switch Surgery. I thought it might have to be open, but my surgeon managed to do it lap. I am glad he did, my healing has gone much smoother. :)

I had to go to a few doctors before I found one who was willing to work with me at my weight. I was 468 at my highest. My doctor was willing to do my surgery if I lost weight because it showed a committment to the plan. He didn't give me a specific number, just wanted to show some loss. I lost 40 lbs and had surgery at 428. He thought he would have to do it open, but was able to do it lap. I was on the table a long time but it definately worked out for the best. Like he told my mom after she waited 5 hours (when they had told her it would only be 2), slow and steady and lap is better than fast and open and dangerous
My surgeon was amazing. I was even a self pay since my insurance does not cover it. He was worried about complications and the costs but we managed it with few problems. I had a pinched nerve from being on the table 5 hours (but I had a hernia fixed, gall bladder removed, and the gastric), but it healed with time and I would do it again without a second thought. I am down 122 lbs (including the 40 preop). Definately the best decision ever made.
Long story short, if you don't feel like your surgeon is listening to you or if you have reservations, check with other doctors. One of the keys to making this work is having a good relationship with your doctor. Your doctor is probably just being really cautious, but I think I would have cried and gotten depressed too if at 468lbs I was told I had to get to 310 before surgery. But you are close, so if you like and trust your doctor, then keep up the good work!!

It is common for doctors to ask patients to lose a certain amount or percentage of weight before surgery (I had to lose 50), but it sounds like your surgeon is just giving you the "run-around".

If I were you- I'd look for another surgeon for your Gastric Bypass- and maybe you can even get it done laproscopically instead of open!!

 My surgeon has done lap gastric bypass on patient over 600lbs.  He wanted me to lose some weight before the surgery but for two purposes - shrink the liver and start establishing healthy eating patterns.  His motto was that if you could lose the weight without the surgery, there would be no need for the surgery.  

My suggestion - surgeon shop and find one that you feel is being genuine with you.

I weighed 354 when I had surgery.  My Dr. didn't give me an amount of weight to lose but wanted me to eat low fat, low calorie the 2 weeks before.  I did pretty good with it but only lost a couple of pounds.  Of course had to fast the day before.  I had no problems at that weight with my surgery.  I know there have been people who have had it with a higher weight.  I would find another surgeon. 

I had my RNY done this past Monday (9/27).  Wound up having a hernia repaired at the same time, all done via lap.  My last weigh-in pre-op was 3 days earlier and I was 360. 

Sounds like your surgeon may be unsure of his own capabilities.  To tell a WLS patient that they need to get rid of their belly fat prior to surgery is a tad ridiculous.

I'm very sorry that you've been getting such a run around.  Personally, if I were you I'd waste no more time with this guy and start interviewing new doctors.

When I went to visit my surgeon I was 355 pounds and he said he could do it lap... Never was there a fear of open ****il the day of surgery when they tell you "If something goes wrong we may do it open").  I did however lose 40 pounds prior to surgery because he said if I shrank my liver small enough that he could do the surgery in 1 incision ... and when I woke up... 1 incision!

If you're in a large enough city I would maybe see about another surgeon... because it seems a bit crazy to ask someone to lose 80/90 pounds before surgery - this is why we are getting the surgery as our last resort..

Good Luck...

I noticed your Dr is from Victoria, Tx.  I had my surgery in Houston with Dr. Nowazarden.  If you want his info, just let me know.  He was amazing!!!

I was at 501 when I first went to see my surgeon. He wanted me to lose about 40 pounds if I could, to shrink my liver and make the possibility of having my surgery done lap would be greater. I went on his diet from hell and ended up losing what he wanted, had my surgery lap and have never looked back. I would definitely be looking for a different surgeon.