Question:
Surgery Date Scheduled, SCARED will gain before surgery.

Part of me having surgery was a manditory pre-surgery weightloss of 30-40 pounds. I called my doctor and told him i've made it to 25 pounds lost. He said we would go ahead and schedule my surgery and all that jazz. So I'm schedule for March 4th. I'm Just SO Scared when i go into my pre-op appointment next week (about a week away). That I will be even an ounce over the 25 pounds and he will cancel my surgery. I've been crying for hours. I just dont like i can handle the rejections. I'm going through alot in my personal life. I'm a wife of a deployed soldier. I am commited to my surgery and have killed myself to lose weight. Just so worried I will get so close and have this taken away from me. Please help with any suggestions to reduce my weight more. I would feel safer If I could loose another 5-10 before next week LOL. Linda    — Navada L. (posted on February 20, 2008)


February 20, 2008
I can't specifically answer your question, but I want to give you words of encouragement. You have done a terrific job losing the 25 pounds thus far. Please don't get down on yourself and keep your chin up. Try to be careful of what you are eating during this stage and try to take a walk when you are feeling bad. It will give you something to do to take your mind off of it, will release endorphins that end up making you feel better, and will help burn calories. My husband is active duty air force and we have spent lots of time apart, so I understand where you are coming from with your husband being gone. They are a great support and comfort when they are home, but there absence makes life difficult. I will also tell you that as a wife of a deployed soldier, you have displayed braveness and determination more than most women will ever know. You are doing great and will make it through this.
   — fluphystuph

February 20, 2008
I have never heard of a specific number for the weight loss. My understanding was to do a low to no fat diet so your liver shrinks. Did you have to do the ketosis diet? I lost 20LBS in 1 week on that diet. no carbs at all 4 oz of lean meat , chicken fish. or ham or turkey lunch meat. 1 cup of chicken broth at every meal and all the water you want. crystal light too. Unsweetened iced tea. Dont get depressed. This is a good thing and you will do it. Cut out all the bad carbs, no whites. sugar flour etc... and excersice as much as you can. Just think what your going to look like when your going to look like when your husband comes home.
   — Joanc

February 20, 2008
Linda, What I would do is what I had to do for my Dr. prior to surgery. Go on a liquid diet for the next week. Get some protein drinks and drink about 4 per day and eat 1 cup of fresh veggies in the late afternoon. Drink 64 oz. of water a day and believe me - you'll loose. And, I really didn't get hungry! Try it. You'll be surprised. And, God bless you and keep you in His arms as you go through this. Also, may God grant safety to your husband as he fights for our freedom. C. Garber
   — Caroline Garber

February 20, 2008
I was in your spot a couple of months ago. Scared that I hadn't lost the 20 or so pounds that I was told to lose. Instead I lost about 5 pounds BUT it seemed to be a non-issue with my surgeon when I met with her 10 days before surgery. As a matter of fact she seemed totally uninterested. When I asked her about the liver size problem she said that's VERY RARE that she has a problem with the liver. Generally only in very high BMI's. Mine was 41 and, again, she didn't seem that interested. So I worried myself sick for nothing. This is not to say you still shouldn't try...and you've done amazingly well. Give yourself due credit. Let's look at the picture realistically...would you tell an alcoholic they can't go into rehab 'til they stop drinking? The lighter you are before surgery, the better health you'll be in, and then you also have less to lose afterwards...it all makes sense and is a good thing but I really don't think you have to worry about it. Just do the best you can between now and your surgeon meeting and good luck.
   — cjjordan

February 20, 2008
Drink plenty of water, exercise, avoid sugary foods or snacks, eat fruits and vegetables, and HIGH protein foods. Go to www.whfoods.com and they have a list of 55 high protein foods--fish, nuts, veggiest--some foods you may not even realize has protein value. Good luck. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

February 20, 2008
I am sure that your doctor just is trying to get you in the best position he can for a safe surgery. I had to take off 20 Lbs and I missed it by 4 lbs before surgery. My doctor was please with what I did and he gave me instructions for getting ready for surgery in two weeks. He did not tell me I had to lose any more, but he did tell me the reason for the requirement before surgery was to reduce the strain on the liver where the first fat you lose comes from. I when home with the after surgery diet and tried it and I lost another 12 pounds. It was good trying the foods that I would be eating and when I found something that I liked we stocked up on it for after surgery. Just stay focused and stick to what you did to lose the 25 lbs and I am sure that you will have a safe and successful surgery. By the way, those tears don't weigh that much so dry them up and focus on the fat!
   — William (Bill) wmil

February 20, 2008
Relax....don't stress yourself out. If your surgeon didn't seem all that concerned, I'm sure it's because you have come as far as you have and because they know that even 10 lbs shrinks your liver some. You'll also be placed on a liquid diet a couple days before surgery, and for me.....that took care of 10 pounds! They don't usually like to cancel surgeries that close to the date anyway. I know they scare you to death with that thought...and I am not promising anything...just saying...I think they wouldn't even bother scheduling you if they were concerned. It is for your safety, but it also makes it much easier on the surgeon when they go in there..especially if you're having it done laparoscopically. Like the other's (who have replied to your post) suggest.... just really watch what you eat and go with the protein shakes as meal replacements. If you want this bad enough.... it won't seem like that big of a deal. But truthfully, I think you'll do okay. Also....wear light weight clothes when you go in for your weigh in. My scale always weighed me lighter than their scale did. My surgeon's office told me to go by what my scale said. I know it's easy for me to say this...as I've had it...but I was where you were...and the more I worried about it...the more I wanted to eat. Keeping you in my thoughts.... and just ....relax. Don't set yourself up for a self-fulfilling prophecy. You'll do just fine.... Hugs Cheryl
   — Cheryl K.

February 20, 2008
What can we do to help? Another 5-10 pounds would help, but that's not very realistic. I have a suggestion for you to get some support. Go to the Health Forum, and join the Mini Challenge that is starting now. It's not too late to join. You can ask for a buddy, and believe me, it helps. In the meantime, feel free to contact me directly through this website if you need some support. And please thank your husband for his service to our country. (I'm an Army Brat and went through enough of that as a kid to know what YOUR sacrifice is.). We're here for you.
   — Shirley D.

February 20, 2008
My surgeon put me on a liquid diet one week before surgery - it consisted of crystal light, any kind of broth, sugar free jello, protein drinks, clear soups and it really wasn't that bad and I lost 10 lbs that week. The purpose of going on a liquid diet was to have the liver shrink so the surgeon doesn't have to move the fatty liver to get to the stomach. Keep your chin up you will be fine just keep on the forum and it will help a lot. If you need some additional information - I can try and help.
   — Ginny564

February 20, 2008
Keep crying and you'll lose the 5-10 by dehydrating ;-). Seriously - relax, the requirement to lose 10% is to show your doctor you are serious about the commitment, and to show you you can make the life changes. Now, go get cut and pasted, and begin your new life!
   — 29Diesel

February 20, 2008
I was in the same predictament as you, only my insurance would not pay for my surgery if my BMI was over 50 (lapband) so, I rode my exercise bike 30 mins every day and counted my calories, wrote down everything I ate, and didn't drop below 1000 calories a day. It worked! So, maybe it would work for you? Your body knows when you are in starvation mode and shuts down, doesn't burn as much. Maybe this could help you, but at any rate, I'll be praying for you. I am now on my 10 day liquid diet, and am losing on it too. So hang in there, girl! You will do fine.
   — largeangel

February 21, 2008
Hi Linda! I'm in your boat hun. My surgery is February 29th, but yet my appointment with the surgeon was the 23rd of January. He told me the same thing, about not gaining weight. I was obsessed with weighing myself twice a day, until somebody said get rid of the scale. Trust me, you'll be fine. Just be sure you eat healthy things, and protein shakes. The diet my surgeon put me on is, breakfast - protein shake, lunch - protein shake, dinner - chicken or fish, veggies, and salad. He said I can have half of a protein bar a day for snack. I wish you the very best with your surgery, and hope that I was some help to you. -Cari
   — Cari_C

February 21, 2008
Try doing a strickly clear liquid diet NO SODA DRINKS and sugar free jello and sugar free apple sauce it worked for me.
   — lisa-b

February 22, 2008
Just had my surgery, know how you're feeling, it's scary to think something will prevent your surgery when you've worked so hard. Keep up the good work, you're doing terrific. Talk to your friends/family about your fears, they can help. Remember your surgeon gave you this goal to help you so the surgery will be less risky, and you've done great so far. The liquid protein diet of 1000 calories a day really takes off the weight.
   — Susan C.




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