Question:
Pre Op and GAINED 45 pounds in three months? Anyone else?

I had my final pre op appointment with my surgeon yesterday and gained another 17 pounds since I saw him on April 24th. He asked me to stop dieting when I saw him last. I've been swimming a lot, but have just tried to eat three meals a day. After this rapid gain, he has decided to make me very distal, instead of proximal. He never said he was going to make me proximal, but I assumed I would be. Although I can understand making me distal, I am freaked out by it. Anyone else go through this?    — NicoleG (posted on May 23, 2002)

May 22, 2002
Nicole ... I went through the very same thing! I was 385 lbs. when I had my initial conversation with the surgeon. By the time they wheeled me in for surgery, I was 407 lbs.! I had gone out for too many "last meals" and it wasn't doing anything good for my health!!! LOL Anyway, the doctor mentioned that he maybe needed to do a distal on me, and I begged him to do the proximal instead, since I was very concerned about malnutrition. He agreed and did the proximal. I am now 14.5 months post-op and have lost 180.5 lbs. I have had no trouble losing weight whatsoever. I am so glad now that I had the proximal, since my labs have been completely normal, and I haven't had problems associated with the distal. Only 36.5 lbs. to goal!!!
   — Terissa R.

May 23, 2002
I am also gaining weight like mad pre-op. I see my surgeon next month and I am afraid he is going to rip into me big time for gaining 30 lbs. in 2 months! I am not having "last meals" though. I am simply no longer dieting or paying much attention at all to weight loss. This is why I decided to have the surgery - I finally got to the point where I absolutely cannot bear to diet anymore. I have always gained back about 30% of my lost weight in addition to everything I lost after a diet and I think I am in the process of packing on the extra post-diet pounds now. I know I am supposed to LOSE weight pre-op in preparation for surgery, but I just cannot start another diet, ever. I've been going through this for 23 years and I'm totally out of steam! Just hope I get a surgery date soon! And good luck to you! There are advantages to being distall!
   — Susan B.

May 24, 2002
After my first consult in Feb. I began eating like crazy...last meals. I am still pre-op (slow process), but in the past month, I've begun to prepare for surgery. I wouldn't say I am dieting, but I started trying out protein supplements, exercising more, and I gave up caffeine/soda. I don't feel like I'm dieting, just preparing. I figure that will make things a less shock after surgery. Plus, it keeps me busy and motivated while I endure this painful waiting!
   — emilyfink

May 24, 2002
I had what is called food funerals for the last couple of months before surgery. I wanted to make sure I ate all of my favorite foods. I gained weight, but I am now 14 days post op and already lost almonst 30lbs.
   — Linda A.

May 24, 2002
Thanks all of you for answering my question! It really helps, I mean it sincerely fromt eh bottom of my heart! You're wonderful!
   — NicoleG