Question:
pre-op but cant lose weight.

i was asked to try and lose weight brfore the surgery but i have tryed and im not doing very good i have gained about 5 pounds in the last month. there not gona cancell or postpone the surgery are they?    — chrissy T. (posted on April 21, 2002)

April 21, 2002
I was told the same thing too, lose weight before surgery. I asked my DR why and he said because the less you weigh before surgery the smoother surgery will go. Go figure? He really did not care if I only lost 2lb but he wanted me to lose weight before my next appt with him. I was already off and on meridia, off more than on because of my blood pressure but lost about 8lb before my appt and then another 3lb within 3 days before surgery but I think that had something to do with the magnesium citrate and the no eating foods just clear liquids before surgery. you might want to call the surgeons office to find out if they will cancel. Explain that your having a hard time and see if they can give you a weight loss pill to help. Personally i think it is a surgeon way to see if you have self control so you will be able to lose weight after surgery, in other word he wants to know if you can lose with no problem before and not use the surgery as your main source of weight loss...good luck
   — Lovett

April 21, 2002
Hi, There are two surgeons in my area. My surgeon requests that you don't GAIN anymore weight, the other surgeon requires his patients to lose 5% of their body weight. I hear he's pretty tough with this rule too. You may want to inquire with your surgeon or his nurse. Best of Luck!
   — Tammy B.

April 21, 2002
Chrissy, I wouldn't worry about trying to lose any weight before the surgery. You're going to be on that journey for the rest of your life. In fact, as your surgery date nears, you may want to get in some "last meals" that you won't be able to eat after the surgery. I wouldn't go crazy tho. I did. I gained 12-15 lbs. from the time I got my date until I had my surgery. Turns out those are gonna be the hardest lbs. to lose as I near my goal weight. Unless you got strict orders from your surgeon to lose weight, don't worry about it. That's why you're having the surgery! Best wishes to you.
   — blank first name B.

April 21, 2002
My doctor also wants his patients to loose some weight before surgery. The reason being is so that the liver is smaller (we have FAAAT LIVERS). This makes it easier for him to move things around so there is no problems getting to the stomach. It lies behing all these organs. (he does Open RNY) Here is the diet I am on from his office: 800 calorie diet for women - 1200 for men 1 slimfast for breakfast (I do soy powder choc. 170 calories) 1 lean cusine, or healthy choice, or weightwatchers (under 300 calories) I found Lean cusine the best flavor. 1 lean cusine for dinner (under 300 cal) can have steamed veggies with dinner.(no butter or marg) Snack: small apple, (80 cals) carrots ( 5 baby 38 calories) tomatoes, dill pickels, cuckes,mushrooms,etc. (0 calories) WATER,WATER,WATER OR CRYSTAL LITE. iF YOU WEIGH 200 # THEN DRINK 100 OZ OF WATER. hALF OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT A DAY. DON'T SIP, DRINK . I have lost 15 # since April 9. Also EXERCISE<walk, just move! It really helps alot. Keep in mind your doctor has your best intrest in mind so do what he requires. hope this helps. sandy
   — sandy W.

April 22, 2002
The previous poster is right, it's all about making the liver as small as possible. I lost weight pre-op by doing Atkins. Basically just keep your carb intake to less than 20g/day and you'll lose. Good luck!
   — GGinMA

April 22, 2002
My doctor does the same, for the same reason..the shrinking of the liver, making a safer surgery. He has cancelled people if they didn't lose their required weight. One guy was hooked up to the IV and everything. You'll have call your doctor to find out his plans in this event.
   — ZZ S.

April 23, 2002
Hi...Its really going to depend on your surgeon...if he told you not to gain weight - don't. My surgeon told me that if I gain weight that he will not perform surgery on me (he said if its a pound or two, that's fine but not excessive weight gain). I really can understand why he would do this as it is more risky the bigger we are and also the enlarging of the liver. Why make it harder for ourselves if we don't have to? I am awaiting a surgery date (will hopefully know by the end of this week) and prior to meeting with the surgeon again, I was dreaming of my last "hoorah" with food, but guess its not going to happen. Its much better this way anyway since the more we gain, the more we will have to lose. So I have started to prepare myself...trying to eat a bit healthier and have started going to the gym. I figure this will help out a bit post-op. Good luck to you.
   — Giovanna G.