Question:
Is there a pre-op diet for gastric bypass?

I want to have gastric bypass surgery, I've heard that you have to be on a spacific diet that you have to be on for six months prior to the surgery, I was wondering if that is true & if I could get the requirerments for it.    — JMerth (posted on March 31, 2007)

March 31, 2007
Hi -- Normally the 6 month diet you are reading about is a requirement from your insurance company and not the surgeon. Most surgeons do require you to go on a liquid diet prior to surgery. The length of that liquid diet seems to range 2 weeks to just a few days prior. Check with you insurance company and surgeon to see exactally what you will need to do. Good Luck Michele
   — michelemcd

March 31, 2007
Jennifer, My insurance comapny required 6 month supervised physician weight loss program. Now whether or not your surgeon will require a liquid diet 2 weeks before surgery is another thing. Some bypass surgeons require it some don't -- the one I had didn't --just 24 hours before surgery was clear liquids and we had to drink this drink that cleans your stomach out -- I had to drink it at noon that day and still do the liquid diet for the remainder of the day -- after midnight -- nothing unless you had meds to take the next morning.
   — the7thdean

March 31, 2007
Jennifer... the insurance company wants to see that you have tried the conventional weight loss programs. If you have already gone to WW, Jenny Craig, LA Weight Loss, you get the idea, you can use your past experiences as long as you have the proof.. Sometimes it is a matter of going to the place and getting your records, some just take your word for it. The surgeon will also want to see that you have tried these and how successful you were in the past. They want to be sure that you have the discipline to stay on a diet and exercise program. They have a vested interest in having you do well with the surgery. Your success will be their best advertisement. Good luck....
   — Kari_K

March 31, 2007
Again, it all depends on what the insurance company wants. I didn't have to be on one. At my initial consultation with my surgeon, I met with the nutritionist and we spoke about my eating and dieting history. She needed this information for the insurance company. She worked out an eating plan for me and when I went back the next month, I had gained a few pounds....she tweaked the plan and I started to lose slowly until surgery. I knew it was important to shrink my liver right before surgery but the doctor didn't have a pre-op diet requirement. He didn't want me to gain anymore weight...of course I am a lightweight and I'm sure it was on an individual basis. Whatever you do prior to surgery is always beneficial healthwise!
   — Sheri A.

April 1, 2007
Hi Jennifer. Every surgeon is different. My surgeon required just a few days on a liquid type diet, just juice or something liquid and clear so that there were no food particles in my intestines when she did the re-routing. Some do the liquid diet or a diet to prove to the patient/surgeon that you will follow a plan, some do it to soften the liver to make the surgery simplier to do for both patient and surgeon. Some do nothing. It depends on your weight, health and surgeon. So, you need to follow what they say. Now the 6 month thing? That is sometimes an insurance requirement to be on a diet 6 months prior to surgery, to again prove that you are willing to attack a life change. Find out what your rules are for your surgeon and your insurance company. if you think you are doing something for your surgeon and it turns out to be an insurance requirement, you may need different documentation, so know what you are up against, and keep your records clear. We are responsible for our own health, so know the rules of the game and play fair! Take care, Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

April 1, 2007
the best thing for you to do is 1) call the insurance company and ask them specifically -will they cover the surgery and if so what do they require for approval, because all are different, AND 2) the next thing to do is see your primary care md and get them to set you up a consultation with the surgeon of your choice and when you go for that visit with the surgeon ASK THE INSURANCE SPECIALIST at the surgeon's office, from their experience with your insurance company what do you need to do to be approved. MY STORY: i called the insurance company first and asked them what they needed and they told me they did not require the 6 mo of documented wt loss attempt, but then once i had all my pre-op stuff (GB ultrasound, EGD, and psych.eval) completed and was ready for the surgery the insurance man at UVA told me that i needed the 6 mo documentation from my primary md. i explained to him that the insurance company (PCHP) told me specifically that i did not need that and he said "well the problem is: they tell you that you don't need it, but when i submit all your stuff for approval they will not approve it until you have the documentation." so needless to say, i was very,very, very mad. now i am going through with the process and will be finished in july, but it was a major delay. so be sure to check with BOTH the insurance company as well as the insurance specialist at the surgeon's office. good luck, it's a long process, but from what i understand it is all well worth it! Holly
   — RNlvnCARSON

April 3, 2007
Hello, I had to do a 6 month diet. I started the whole process on May 31, 2006 with my surgeons office. I went to their referred PCP on June 1, 2006 and went on a diet of low fat, low carb, with restrictions on drinking plenty of water and no soda, no sweets, etc. It was due to my insurance company's requirement that I had to do this diet. I had my surgery on December 8, 2006 so it took 6 months and 7 days for the entire process start to finish. The time went by so quick. I also had to do nutritionist visit, psychologist, sleep study, etc and get bloodwork done. i was being treated for high blood pressure (by the primary doc--he was an internal med dr) and was given to me when I went to my surgeons office visit the first time. I didnt lose any weight and my whole story is documented on my profile--click on the oldest month in the archive and all of the history is there. Its been a great thrill for me to go thru the process, it gave me time to get my exercise program perfected and to get all of my junk food eating out of the way. I knew once I had WLS, that I refused to be in that battle with food again so I got all of that out of the way. I didnt do too bad, just a few splurges here and there because I did have to weigh in once a month and my doctor did not like to see a gain--even 2 pounds. So, check with your insurance company-I documented this all in my profile. Get all of your research done and start doing what you will need to have done now, ask a million questions, read profiles here, go to support group meetings, etc so that you will be the most prepared. I'm glad I did. Good luck to you and if you have any more questions, please ask. Angela
   — A Q.