weight loss before surgery

Hi everyone,      I have a question I know someone can answer. I have been reading a lot of posts and it seems as though you have to go on a liquid diet 1-2 weeks before your surgery ( please correct me if i'm wrong ). I have also read that some surgeons require you to lose weight before your actual surgery. So my question is....Is this a requirement for all WLS patients? I don't see Dr Bertha again until 8/1 for my pre-op class and the only thing he said to me when I saw him for my initial consult was to try to maintain my current weight....meaning don't get any fatter! If anyone knows the answer, please help. I don't want to go in there and have hime tell me that I NEED to lose 25-30 lbs before surgery and then have to rush like a kook to get it off. My surgery is scheduled for 8/21. Or....should I just do it anyway to be on the safe side??? Your comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for all your love, support and good wishes!                              Judy

Hi Judy, I was told at my initial consult not to gain any weight and to try to lose 10 lbs. before surgery as it helps the liver and I'm not totally sure but something to do with softening the stomach by losing, whereas gaining makes it harden. . .  just what I remember from my own consult at the end of May.  I think that's why some doctors require a liquid diet pre-op, but if Dr. Bertha didn't mention it, I would not worry much, but don't gain as he suggested.  Good luck.

Every surgeon has their own way of doing things.  Some doc's require a 2 week pre surgery diet others do a week and like mine did.... i did liquids 2 days before surgery.  Im sure all doc's will tell ya not to gain anymore weight before surgery.  If ya have any concerns call the office im sure they will answer all of your questions.. good luck in your journey!  Christine

My surgeon required nothing pre op. Every surgeon is different, call your if you are unsure of the pre op process. Best of luck.

My surgeon asked me to maintain. I gained 30 lbs. DONT ASK! LOL> However, my friend is going to the same surgeon and she has a fatty liver, so she's on a liquid diet for 2 weeks.   Depends on you and your body. Call your surgeon and ask to make sure.

hi judy like everyone before me said -- each surgeon is different -- i didn't have to do anything before surgery and my husband didn't have to do anything before surgery -- the reasoning behind losing weight before surgery is because of the liver -- they have to move the liver to get it out of the way and they don't want all that extra fat on it to possibly have a complication  just follow your surgeons specific set of rules and you will be fine :)  the hardest part for us after surgery was learning HOW to eat -- not WHAT to eat :)  take care roberta

I just came back from the pre-op class for Dr. Bertha.  I was supposed to have RNY on the 30th but found out that they have to repair my hernia first and then 6 weeks later have the RNY.  I was a little disappointed but it is what it is.  What they said about the 2 week diet is that their practice is very individualized.  Some people are required to lose a few pounds prior to surgery and some are not. I know he told me at my consult that they will cancel a surgery if a patient has gained a lot of weight between their last pre-op visit and the surgery.   With regard to the pre-op liquid diet, if you have not had a significant weight gain since your last visit you will not have to do a two week liquid diet. There was no one in the class I was at that had to do a 2 week diet.  Just clear liquids the day before surgery.  If you have maintained your weight or lost since your consult you should not have to worry about a 2 week liquid diet.  Good luck to you.

Hi, if your surgeon said to maintain your current weight, then that's what you do, and of course, if you feel like losing some it couldn't hurt anything.  I'm so upset with my doctors nutritionist because she said that I had to lose 31 lbs in a month, and something to the affect that if I didn't, I could die on the table!?!?!?!?!  Nice Right?!?!?!?!  I don't know.  I've already lost 13 lbs of it, and will continue to try to lose more before my surgery on July 24th.  Good Luck to you =)

Hi, On April 28th, my first consult - I was handed a 1200 calorie diet to start as soon as I left the office. Talk about shocker, but then I thunk- if I am serious about surgery- I needed to get serious about making changes that will help me thru the RNY & recovery.

Since April 28th, my total weight loss to date is 45 pounds.....surgery was 6/21. I was lucky & got moved up and am today 3 weeks post-op. I logged every morsel daily  on fitday.com. I don't think anyone threatening a certain weight loss by a certain date will help anyone succeed. I did not have to do a liquid pre-op. He was pleased with my weight loss and just said, "Keep doing what you have been doing." Just remember, every bit of exercise pre-op, or pound lost makes your surgery easier to handle. good luck all, Bernadette