Pre op weight loss? does it help?

has anyone tried to lose weight before surgery? Was it helpful in the long run? What was most succesful for you? I am concerned about not gaining before surgery and want to have the best results possible. Thanks

losing any amount of weight is always helpful. what i dont understand is that we are having this surgery to lose all the weight, but they want us to lose some weight on our own first. what the ??????? best wishes, Karen

YES! I wa**** with a double whammy. I had to immediately give up a two pack a day smoking habit and lose weight also. I managed to do both and my doctors are more than pleased. Losing weight removes fat from your liver and starts your life as a weight loss patient. It is difficult, but it can be done. Start drinking low carb protein shakes now and attempt to exercize even if it just a short walk. You will be surprised how effective little things can be. Use splenda or nutrasweet, avoid full sugar sodas at all costs-they pack a whopping 30 to 81 teaspoons of sugar in each one! Get use to drinking water and crystal light type drinks or the no sugar fruit flavored waters. I am sorry to write such a long post, but I am pre-op and cannot wait for my new life to begin. Good luck!

Kathy ! Welcome ! I appreciate your posts, always so full of energy. You will do well in your trek toward surgery, and it will be life changing, you will see. You should come check us out over in Lakewood or Toms River. Seriously.. its a fun group : ) In July we meet Friday July 7th at 7pm Community Hospital Route 37,. Toms River and Thursday July 20th at 7pm Center for Healthy Living (by Kimball Medical Center) in Lakewood, NJ Many of the people on the NJ board come to our meetings, either in Lakewood or Toms River. Many of our group are such as yourself that either are scheduled to have the surgery soon, or are just learning and checking out whether to have the surgery. Your not alone here ... so if you havent came to one of our groups.... Please give it some thought? Have a super duper day Timmy Ray

Hello Mizdevah, I had my surgery 9 months ago. I also was requested to try and lose some weight before surgery. And I felt the same way, "If I could lose the weight on my own I wouldn't need the surgery" However, it was explained to me that losing weight before surgery helps reduce your fatty liver which could "get in the way". I have heard that if a person's liver is too fatty it makes the surgery very difficult and sometimes the surgeon cannot perform the surgery. I hope this helps. Much Love Kimberly

Hello Mizdevah~ I went to the pre op surgical teaching class at Hackensack University Medical Center last night and Sandy, the nurse from the surgical floor we will be at after surgery, who had lap band surgery more than 3 years ago.......(that was a long sentence!) told us that it makes your body stronger to lose weight before the surgery. Exercising is also very important before surgery, it helps to strengthen your heart muscle. The more weight you lose before surgery, the more successful/less complications you may have during/after surgery, also making a quicker recovery. Even 5 pounds can make a difference. Makes sense to me Michelle

its weird I see all these posts that say their dr wants them to loose weight before surgery, my dr didn't say anything to me about it, I want to try though but when would be the best time to start trying to loose weight

Hi Rebecca ! Losing weight is helpful, there are two things.. losing weight and cardio vascular condition. First.. losing weight.. Losing weight lessens the strain, but it also shrinks the liver. Shrinking the liver is important because it lies toward the bottom in front... in front of your lower tummy and its RIGHT in the way. One way used by many surgeons to help do that is a liquid diet 1,2, 3, or 4 weeks before surgery. (it varies by surgeon). If you have the surgery done LAPROSCOPICALLY (also referred to as "lapro") then its especially important. Lapro is when its done in small incisions, or small cut openings in your tummy,... instead of one long incision or cut. Losing weight is important, but before you do anything like that, phone or go see your surgeon and ask. Losing weight for Lapro is often so they can perform it (if your super morbidly obese like I was BEFORE surgery, then they often cant do it laproscopically unless you reduce some). The OTHER important thing is cardio vascular shape. Heart, lungs and wind condition so to speak. If you are having surgery in a month, I would suggest GENTLE exercise, start at 10 minutes a day every third day for a week. Then increase to 15 minutes every other day for a week. Then 20 minutes every other day. Why? Well, the more cardio vascular shape your in, the better the surgery goes for you. Walking is a good gentle exercise. So is walking or wading in a pool, or sitting in a chair using hand weights. ALWAYS.. ALWAYS.. always talk to your doctor FIRST before you start something like exercise before surgery. Your surgeon likely will encourage you... but if you have surgery planned its important to be following the directions YOUR surgeon gives you.. he is the guy in charge. So... some surgeons do the surgery open incision...some do it laproscopic..... it all depends on the surgeon and their training, and what they prefer : ) Godspeed, have a super day Timmy Ray

thanks for the suggestions , I am definitly going to try to lose as much as I can before my Pat 8/21 and surgery 9/12