Question:
Has anyone been told they must lose weight bfore surgery?
i'm totally upset i have waited so long for a date that i went to my dr for my second consult to review my results only to find ot all my test results were back and good to go ,,,,,except my dr wont do the surgery until i lose at least ten pounds! has this ever happen to anyone i'm very upset after all this is the reason i'm having the surgery ! what do i do? — TRACY D. (posted on July 25, 2001)
July 25, 2001
I have no personal experience with this. But, two women in my
support group were told by their surgeon (...the same one) that
they had to lose twenty pounds before surgery. Apparently some
surgeons want to reduce the size of the patient's liver prior to
doing the procedure......I'm getting this second hand.
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2001
Are you trying to have LAP or OPEN surgery? I know that some surgeons want
their patients to lose weight before they perform a LAP procedure.
— blank first name B.
July 25, 2001
My first surgeon-consult told me that I was supposed to keep a food-weight
journal for 3-6 months before surgery, and lose at least 10 lbs. My second
surgeon-consult said he never heard of something so silly, and did not
require his patients to lose weight prior to surgery. Guess who did my
surgery???? :)
— Kristy J.
July 25, 2001
Hi Tracy,
I can imagine how devestating this must be but you should ask the surgeon
his reason behind it. I have heard that even losing as few as 10 lbs can
help reduce the size of the liver thus making surgery/recovery easier and
safer. I don't know how factual that is but.... I have also read on some
posts where many patients are required to loose more than 10 lbs. I would
speak with the surgeon and just ask him what his reasons are. Go directly
to the source. Or, if he has an assitant ask the assitant. I wouldn't
speculate,we could all be well meaning but wrong!Best of luck to you!
— Linda M.
July 25, 2001
My sister is currently trying to have a RNY and she has been approved by
her insurance and everything and the DR. will not do surgery until she
loses 45LBS!!! She is looking for another surgeon.
— psstanz
July 25, 2001
I started following my surgeon's pre-op guidelines the day of the seminar
he required before scheduling an appointment. That was June 5. My surgery
is scheduled for Sep 11. Just by eliminating caffeine and carbonation, and
adding a protein supplement, vitamins, water, and exercise every day, I
have lost 25 pounds! All I am doing is hedging my bets for a successful
surgery outcome. Try it. It might work for you too. Lord knows there are
enough things surgery itself will change. I thought getting used to some of
them now was a good idea.
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2001
What should you do? Find another surgeon. I have met with several , just
to make sure I was happy and didn't pick the first one, and NONE of them
told me to lose weight prior to surgery. The surgeon I did pick, told me,
when I asked him about it, hearing what others have said, that 10 lbs
doesn't make a difference with the surgery. That's what WLS is for, heavy
people that fail on diets. He told me to actually enjoy a good meal here
and there becuase they would soon be gone for some time. If you weigh 300
and another patient weighs 600, is the doc not going to operate on the
heavier one, I doubt it. Choose someone else.
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2001
I have heard this alot but the only reasoning I have received is if it is
the choice between lap or open. Dont forget, when you eat fatty foods, the
liver can get inflammed. In my case I was told that 10 pounds might be the
difference between lap or open. I think when its a small amount, the
surgeons just want the few pound loss to have an affect on the liver since
it is positioned right above the stomach. If inflammed at any size, it
makes operating more of a challenge. Good Luck
— [Anonymous]
July 25, 2001
I ran into this issue of "pre-surgery" weight loss twice while
looking into doctors. The rationale I was given is that it makes it easier
for the doctor to operate because pre-op weight loss shrinks the liver.
Others have said that it made recovery easier. However, in my case, I knew
that I just couldn't go on another diet. I've chosen a surgeon that does
not require pre-op dieting. The down side is that I have to wait until
1/3/02 for my surgery! He has an incredible waiting list.
— Kathy J.
July 25, 2001
I went to my mandatory Ed seminar last night, and Dr. Callery told
everyone that it would make his job easier if they did not go out and
overeat becaus htey knew htey were going to have surgery- in fact, ideally
he's like us to start modifying our behavior so we actually lose a few
pounds beforehand. But I do not believe he is expecting the diets that
didn't work before to magically work now!- what nonsense!
— jomu
April 15, 2002
Kaiser wants me to lose 120 lbs before surgery (wants my bmi down to 60
from 80). I feel so defeated and frustrated. I am working out an hour a
day, drinking 2 qts of water and watching what I eat. I have always had a
very hard time losing weight and am very discouraged. I don't have the
option of choosing another surgeon because Kaiser has a program and that
everyone follows. Any ideas??? Help!
— Julie F.
October 11, 2009
I WAS TOLD BY MY SURGEON TO LOOSE 20 POUNDS THEN I FOUND OUT MY INSURANCE
COMPANY WAS REQUIRING ME TO LOOSE TEN PERCENT OF MY BODY WEIGHT WHICH IS A
TOTAL OF 31 POUNDS! SO FAR IVE LOST 26 LBS. GO FIGURE......WE ARE HAVING
WLS RIGHT!
— mishies33
Click Here to Return