Question:
My doctor is making me lose 10% (35 lbs) and I'm MAD!!
I'm mad because my dr.is making me loose 35 lbs before any pre-op work is done. They say is a requirement for WLS and it will prove I am committed for life, and I say its BULL. I understand losing weight will help postop but isn't this why we are having surgery? I have many health issues and I am discouraged now!! — Sandy M. (posted on May 6, 2001)
May 6, 2001
Hi Sandy. I am also going to be seeing Dr. Ostroff on June 21st and
received a letter last week explaining that I have to loose 10% (31 lbs.).
At first I was frustrated and a little angry because not all doctors
require this, but I decided to use this opportunity to get used to what I
think my life will be like post-op. First I went to my PCP and begged him
for Meridia (to help me not feel hungry all.... the time). He gave me a
pres. for 2 months along with blood pressure medicine (a diuretic), and I
have to go back every week at first to have bp checked (it has been up for
about a year). I have high cholesterol and attended a chol. class at my
doctors office last week, and am trying to follow their guidelines (less
fat and so on). I am cutting back on qty. of food, and practicing eating
slowly and chewing, chewing, and more chewing. I am trying to challenge
myself to see if I can handle it. Hope this helps. I am looking for peer
suport with someone that is going to the same doctor as I am, and if you
would like to communicate personally, please e-mail me at
[email protected].
— Brenda R.
May 6, 2001
I am 4 days post-op and I had to lose 25 lbs. It was not any fun although I
did cheat some. This is a complete lifestyle change and for those doctors
that do require us to lose 10% first, check their record. My doctor in
Jacksonville has had ZERO losses. And he has been doing this for over 20
years. He's strict but he knows his stuff. I have had very little pain. I
was on 800 calorie a day diet for 6 weeks and because it was taking me so
long(due to cheating) he dropped it down to 600 cal. It dropped off fast
then. Good luck to you. And let go of the anger, they are only looking out
for us. We are all new to this , they've been doing this a long time. Good
luck to you and hang in there!
— Billie M.
May 6, 2001
Sandy,
No this is not a requirment for all WLS Doctors..
give my Doctor a call
I adore him he has performed surgery on the following people
I personally know with not one complication
I was Open RNY distal
the rest were Lap RNY distal
my sister Allison
my sister Lesley
my niece Allison
my friend La Donna
my friend Laura
my friend Elenore
and they also have referred many people to Doctor Frye
Doctor Paul Frye is a very kind passionate man
he is not just a WLS Doctor his specialty is Breast Cancer
and has performed 100's of Open and Lap WLS surgeries
contact :
Doctor Paul Frye
Allied Surgical Group
Fresno, CA
559-449-3040
ask to have your surgery if possible performed at the Fresno surgery
Center
it is like staying in a 5 star hotel and the nursing staff is
1 nurse to every 3 patients..family are encouraged to stay in the room
there is a hidabed in every room and they say the food for the family is
fantasic
Doctor Fryes office is very perfessional and he doesnt gouge the patient or
insurance company
my sister just paid cash $ 15,000 for Lap thats a good deal including
hospital
you will stay in the hospital for 3 days and he insists on staying in a
hotel until for 3-4 days
depending on what day your released from the hospital in a hotel to be
close incase of any emergencies
call me and I will be more then happy to talk about Doctor Frye
I abosolutly adore this Doctor ..he has a sense of humor
and makes you feel at ease...like he has all the time in the world to
devote to you
that you are special...
Kathy McAlister
831-759-9936
Salinas, CA
Open RNY distal
11-1-00
-72
starting weight 260
today 188
40-50 more pounds until goal
— Kathleen M.
May 6, 2001
Only a few doctors have this requirement and it is their choice, not all
surgeons. It is for their comfort and their protocol. It does not mean that
they are not good surgeons but they may have their own level of expertise
and risk taking, thus they have their own restrictions. If you don't like
their rules, just go to someone else if possible. If there isn't any other
doctor in your insurance plan or if you can't or won't travel or self pay,
then stop wasting energy being angry with the doctor and do something. You
may need the energy to fight the insurance company so don't waste your time
with this doctor if you don't want to follow what he says now. Will you
follow what he says post op? Do you have that confidence in him or do you
just want the surgery, period? If the goal is to have the operation and do
whatever it takes, then as Ann Landers says,"Quit yer bitchin' "
and go on this diet. And take heart, it will be the last one you'll ever
need. The surgery is the ultimate carrot dangling before you and you want
it so bad....do whatever it takes for this doctor or please switch.
— Fran B.
May 6, 2001
I was not required to lose weight before surgery but I did. I lost 43
pounds. I took the mind set that I do not change my ways very easily and I
would not be able to go from eating whatever I wanted to the restricted
diet of a post op. I started eating like a post op (a one year post op
maybe but much smaller portions and lots of protein and ZERO sugar) the day
after Christmas...Almost 3 months before surgery was planned. I am so
thankful that I did this and my doctor was a bit surprised but quite
pleased. This surgery is a life change and a life commitment. At least
when you are pre-op dieting, you know that you will keep those pounds off
forever and your efforts will not be for nothing. I would recommend taking
this as a challenge and prove to yourself that you can succeed on this one
last diet.
— smummert
May 6, 2001
Hey Sandy! I have the same doc as Billie (prior post), I have to lose 30
lbs & am currently on the pre-op diet. There are a couple reasons for
this.. 1) anytime you can lose weight where there is going to be an
incision, you reduce your chance for a deep tissue infection. 2) in order
to get to the stomach you have to kinda get under the liver, the less they
have to fold your liver the less bleeding there will be. Also, you want to
be in the best shape possible before surgery for a speedy recovery. Hope
this helps.
— sgeisendorff
May 6, 2001
My Doctor didn't require me to lose weight. As a matter of fact I was able
to eat anything I wanted up until midnight the night befor surgery. To tell
you the truth, I wish I had been on a low fat diet for at least the week
before surgery. Instead of my Lap RNY lasting 2&1/2 hours it lasted for
6&1/2 hours. All because of a fatty liver. Had I dieted it would not
have been fatty and much easier to access what was needed. Everything went
fine and I am feeling wonderful, but it would have been a lot easier for
the doctor. Most doctor's would have converted to an OPEN and not done it
LAP. My doctor perservered but the wait was very hard on my family. My
surgery was 1/15/01 and I am down 59 pounds. Hang in there... there is a
reason for everything.
— marlene R.
May 7, 2001
I just noticed that no one had vindicated your feelings of frustration so I
am here to do that. It is very frustrating to be told that you must lose
weight after a history of failing at many programs. I know with all diets
I have tried even with starvation diets I only lost 40# at the maximum.
Perhaps you should discuss your concerns and frustrations with your doctor.
Maybe he can give you some really good reasons to at least give it a try.
There seem to be some already listed. I hope you find something that works
best for you. Good luck with everything:-)
— Sara A
May 7, 2001
My dr also required me to lose weight - 10%. From my first visit with him
till my second a month later I gained 13 lbs. I knew he would not do the
surgery if I did not lose the weight. I hated this. I felt that all my life
both my mother and my then husband had been on me to lose weight and I was
wanting the surgery because I couldn't do it on my own. Or at least I
couldn't sustain a loss on my own. Anyway, after that second visit, I went
home and said to myself this is my surgeon, I want the surgery and I will
just have to play his game, so to speak, to get what I want. I chose to not
really diet but to give up sugary junk foods and I lost 32 lbs over the
next two months prior to surgery. I didn't starve at all but the cookies,
cakes, ice cream, candy were out for me...not entirely, but at least 90%.
It was not easy but at least this time I knew whatever I lost would be gone
forever. WOW What a thought! My doctor said the loss was required for two
reasons, one so that the liver is less fatty, making surgery easier for the
doctor and the patient and two, to see just how serious I was about the
surgery. I still don't really buy the second reason as I really do not
believe you can understand before surgery how your eating will be after
surgery. Just my opinion here! Anyway, I am 10 1/2 mths out and a total of
132 lbs are gone forever with 33 lbs left to my goal.
— Denise K.
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