Question:
lightweight and weight loss

I am having RNY surgery in December. I am considered a lightweight. I have to go on a liquid diet for a week before surgery and I'm afraid if I lose to much weight they won't do my surgery. I would be pretty upset because I have been waiting almost a year to have this surgery done. I thought I read that if you lose weight they will not stop your surgery. I hope I'm right.    — cuppaloopy (posted on November 23, 2009)

November 23, 2009
You will lose some weight on this liquid diet but it will not prevent your surgery. They need you to lose some so that your liver is reduced in size so the surgery goes smoother. Also, remember, if you could lose weight by liquid diets you know that once you stop the liquids you will gain the weight back plus some--thus the reason for the surgery to begin with. You will be great!
   — Kathy Thomas

November 23, 2009
I too was not considered morbidly obese. I am 5'4" and weighed 210 on the day of my surgery (11-3-09). I will tell you it fixed my reflux immdeiately and also my sleep apnea is all but gone. I am not sure weight is the overall determining factor when they allow you to get this suregery. Health is as much a part of it.
   — 87768776

November 23, 2009
Barbara I had the same concern. When I asked my surgeons office about it I was told the weight they submit to the insurance company would be the the weight I was at when I first started the program. The best thing to do is to ask your surgeon what their policy is. Good luck!
   — Caribou ME

November 23, 2009
If you have approval already for the surgery from your insurance company then any weightloss prior to it should not cause them to cancel your surgery. (as per what was stated earlier) The insurance company criteria was met when they approved you, now it is in the surgeon's hands.
   — Kathleen O.

November 24, 2009
I too am considered a lightweight. They told me the insurance goes off of the heavier weight when you weren't actively trying to lose. They don't go by your day of surgery date. I was 240 at the beginning of all this (I'm 5'3) and now I'm at 219 (start my liquid diet in a week). So they will still do your surgery. My surgeon wants me on the liquid diet for 2 weeks to shrink the liver since it can get in the way of surgery if it is large. (It holds on to lots of fat around it). The liquid diet forces it to use the fat on and around it so it will shrink.
   — eyeflirt4fun

November 25, 2009
I too have a low BMI and was concerned about this but they told me they will monitor this very closely and will be giving me extra servings of the shakes so that while i'm doing liquid, i will be getting more calories than others who have more to lose. So breathe!!! LOL
   — born2bfit

November 25, 2009
Oh and also, to contradict a previous poster -- i was told by my clinic that yes, they will cancel you all the way up until the day of surgery when you way in if your BMI falls below 35. That is why the clinic is so careful to make sure that even on the liquid diet you are getting enough calories.
   — born2bfit