PURPOSE of physician supervised diet

ok. i just got my first appointment coming up on 6/18/11
i found out i will have to do 6 months physician supervised diet.
i'm wondering....what for? am i too heavy? is my bmi too high? would it be too high of a risk? or is it just that long of a waiting list to actually get an appointment....


what do you guys who have been through it know?
THANKS!!

I start my 6 month supervised diet this month. I have to do it because its one of the hoops my insurance requires me to jump through for approval. The way I see it any weight I lose in the 6 month can only help to make the surgery easier on myself and the doctor. I will gladly jump through any hoop to have this surgery to be a healthier happier me for myself and my son.

Oh yes, I agree. Not to mention all the other lovely little tests we  get to be put through. Do you have details on the diet or is it just...go diet and come weigh in. LOL I hate all this not knowing. I don't think I will be able to sleep much until the 18th. sheesh!

Lori is right.....it is usually mandated by the insurance company.  It can't hurt though and the heavier a person is the more diffiuclt the surgery will be for the doctor to do.  It is also more difficult for the patient to recover from and they more apt to have complications ......so any weight you lose is a bonus for you.

makes sense especially in the case of your liver.  i suppose it would also prove just how comitted you are to this process, huh?

Well, I am ending an 8-month supervised diet, so I can sympathize. (Insurance required at least six months with monthly check-ins and clinic required at least three months. After approval I stuck with the diet which made it 8 months long.) First, the more weight you lose, the better before the surgery. The easier it will be for the surgeon, the smaller your liver will be, the better you will heal, the stronger your immunity. Even a small amount of weight loss can make a big difference. 

There is also a non-physical component, and that is to prove that you can commit to a life-style change - a long term one that shows that you are likely to be a success after surgery. If you cannot demonstrate that you can successfully make changes and follow a diet for six months (and go to regular appointments, follow specific directions, see improved labwork, etc.) then you are a poor candidate for the surgery.

In my case I worked with a nutritionist to create a diet plan, kept an eating journal, improved my vitamin deficiencies, etc. Some people are put on a low carb diet, others are encouraged to follow a specific weight loss program - it really depends on what your insurance or doctor's office requires.

It makes it seem like a very long time - but lots of times you can get an appointment with your surgeon, go through the other steps for your preapproval (cardiac screening, psych evaluation/counseling, sleep study, a specific amount/percentage of weight loss, a gazillion rounds of labwork, get insurance approval, etc.) so you can accomplish a lot of things during the same time period.

It is also nice to take the time to make sure for yourself that you are ready - research, talk to lots of people, go to support group, learn more about the type of foods and supplements you will need, make some basic lifestyle and eating changes that will make post-op life easier (like not drinking with meals, actually chewing food) etc.  I think in addition to allowing you to get your head around the idea, it has helped with my friends and family ease into accepting my decision as well.

 I have just completed my medically supervised weight loss program and i am very thankful i did it, i have lost a total of 50 lbs in 6 months!  you will find that the time will go by quickly.  not only will it make the surgery go easier, it will nto be nearly as hard to trasition to your new way eating and your new way of life.  good luck to you.

My insurance didn't require a 6 month diet but my dr required 12 support/education sessions before seeing the Dr.  Ended up being about the same thing.  We also did a 4 week Optifast diet before surgery.  Although it did delay surgery, it was all very positive because I felt very prepared, mentally and physically for the surgery and major change in my life.

One of my insurances..medicaid, requires a 6 month wm. appt's.
I completed I started in dec 2010 and completed early may. my papers were submitted and insurance responded in 11 days. i am now on a pending hold with the insurance. had to take h. pylori test and it came back positive. currently taking antibiotics and will retest for hp test around the 24th this month. test comes back negative, my results will be resubmitted july5th and i should here from the insurance by july 26th or before. the insurance coordinator says that it's a good chance she will hear from the insurance co. around the 12th.

My 6 month appts....check weight,blood pressure and was asked a couple of questions about rny. surgeon did not require me to lose weight during this time. I do know that i will be placed on a 2 week pre-op liq. diet. 3-4 shakes and 1 meal per day. Will have surgery august when approved. t

last night i started second guessing myself. i suppose it's the anxiety of waiting for the first appointment.i'm not stessing the 6 months or the diet or the combo of both. I suppose i don'twantthe doc to say...you must lose X amount of weight or you don't get surgery. i don't know...my mind has been all over the place lately.

@ 2nd chance chick..i like your idea for rewards...every 15 pounds your buying yourself shoes? that's awesome!!