Question:
10% pre-op losses. Why do you need to loose weight Before the surgery?
Just doesnt make sense to me, since you are there to loose it forever. — [Anonymous] (posted on August 5, 1999)
August 5, 1999
That is a bunch of crock! The doctor just wants you to lose weight without
doing the surgery. And it's probably a doctor that is not experienced with
this type of surgery. I would make sure that the doctor is a registered
doctor with the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, you can look them
up at qqq.asbs.com.
— [Anonymous]
August 5, 1999
That is a bunch of crock! The doctor just wants you to lose weight without
doing the surgery. And it's probably a doctor that is not experienced with
this type of surgery. I would make sure that the doctor is a registered
doctor with the American Society for Bariatric Surgery, you can look them
up at www.asbs.com.
— [Anonymous]
August 5, 1999
I was told some doctors require that just to see that you are serious about
the weight loss surgery.
— Rob N.
August 5, 1999
Oops. I gave the wronfg address for the American Society for Bariatric
Surgery.
Try: www.asbs.org
— [Anonymous]
August 5, 1999
The reason for losing some weight (about 10 lbs) is so that your liver can
loose some of the fat. Your liver is over your stomach, so in shrinking
the liver it takes away some of the risk in moving it around and also so
your doctor doesn't have to cut you as much or stretch the opening as wide
at the time of surgery.
— Sarah D.
August 5, 1999
My surgeon told me to lose 20 before my surgery. He said it would be easier
for me to breathe, easier for me to get up after, and easier for him
because he has to bend the liver out of the way, and the lighter you are
the less he has to bend it and the less you bleed. I lost 18 . He also
wants to see if you're compliant, he wants to know if you will listen and
follow instructions after surgery.
— Kyle C.
August 5, 1999
To the person who wrote:***That is a bunch of crock! The doctor just wants
you to lose weight without doing the surgery. And it's probably a doctor
that is not experienced with this type of surgery.*** Doesn't know what
they are talking about. Losing 10 pounds before surgery will be a benefit
for you, not the doctor. So if you have a surgery date... go for it, try to
lose as much as you can before hand. In the end, you will be glad you
did!
— Amie R.
August 5, 1999
According to my doctor it is to make your liver smaller so that
he can get to that part of the stomach he is working on.
And according to his nurse, if they were to take out my liver
now it would be dripping with fat making it hard to work with
so 10 lbs will make a difference.
10 lbs is not much to talk about. My father had WSL in 1985
and he too had to loose 10 lbs, so it is something they have
done not nothing new.
— sue ann A.
August 6, 1999
I've never heard of being ask to loss weight before surgery. If we could
loss weight effectively I don't think we'd put ourselves through major
surgery as a weight loss method. Hope someone else has a better answer for
you on this one.
— Penny W.
August 6, 1999
My doctor requires all his patients to lose approx 10% of their existing
body weight.
The reasons being 1) to minimize the length of the incision 2) to reduce
the size of
the liver. Obese people tend to have fatty liver. By losing weight and
reducing the
size of those organs in the way of the stomach facilitates the procedure
for the surgeon.
Therefore making it safer for the patient as well. My doctor also requires
his patients
to use a breathing device to strenthen the lungs to avoid pneumonia etc..
Additionally, the
process of losing weight also allows the surgeon to see how patients can
adhere to dieting.
Yes, we have all dieted before, this is a small price to pay to better
prepare your body
for this major surgical procedure. My Dr has 19 yrs experience in doing
the RNY open bypass.
He knows what he is doing. With all the preparation, his patients are only
required to stay
in the hospital for one day. He is an excellent surgeon that even comes to
hospital to walk
his patients following the surgery. So to all of those who said that the
request to lose weight
is nonsense... think again.. how long did you stay in the hospital? How
experienced or dedicated was
your surgeon.
— cris W.
December 13, 1999
I'm going to have the serious discussion with my doctor this week and
request the referral to a surgeon. In the past he mentioned Optifast as
something to do before the surgery. (yech).If I could lose 10 - 20 pounds,
I wouldn't be considering such a drastic measure.
— [Anonymous]
January 28, 2000
There is another reason not mentioned that is causing me to try to lose.
First, I weigh so much, I have heard doctors are reluctant to do laps on
people over 300 lbs. I really don't want an open because I don't heal that
fast, tissue-wise. It really does put you in the mindset to eat less, to
chew more thoroughly, to eat smaller portions, to drink more water, to take
daily morning walks, and to really think about whether this is really what
you want to do. I'm still sitting on the fence, and meanwhile I am
researching and dieting. I've done it all my life, so why not now before
the surgery???? It's not that I can't diet, it's that I am a yo-yo!!!!
— [Anonymous]
May 12, 2000
When I went for my first of three mandatory visits to see my Dr., he told
me that the next visit I had to weigh LESS than this time...then the same
things was said on my next visit (and so on).
It made me VERY ANGRY!! How dare he demand this of me in order for him to
ok my surgery??!! I was livid. I even went to anothe Dr. that did not
require this of me prior to surgery. Only thing was, I was
told that Medicare wouldn't pay for my surgery by this second Dr. So I
waited a number of months then contacted the FIRST Dr. once more. I really
wanted the surgery and I knew that they would appeal to Medicare if they
said no to paying for the surgery. They also mentioned a pmt plan. I didn't
like going back to a Dr. that demanded I take of wt first, before surgery
but I had no where else to go!! Since that time I have gotten over my
resentments
and have lost about 14lbs. My 3rd visit is scheduled for July 12 and they
will do pretesting at that time. My surgery open RNY is scheduled for July
18th. I now understand why he demands this. He wants to see if you are
really dedicated
to wt loss, cause after surgery you will have to eat sensibly. I know of
some people that have gained all their wt back after surgery. they are the
ones that thought they could go back to their old ways of eating! WRONG. I
am determined to
NOT be one of those people! I am eating healthy, sensible foods now and I
like them. So, all that initial complaining and stomping my feet...was just
the little kid in me saying NO!! give me an easier softer way!!! I know now
that after surgery
I will have to continue to eat healthy, exercise and do what the Dr
suggests. So, it WILL require the discipline that my Dr. was talking about
on my very first visit. He KNEW what he was talking about. I didn't. so,
please do not let this discourage you
from the surgery. You CAN take a few pounds off if you really set your mind
to it! That is all they ask of us.
Anonymous
— [Anonymous]
August 2, 2000
My doctor told me that by losing a little weight before the procedure would
benefit me during the surgery. Not only help out with the liver concerns
but with the breathing and heart-rate while under anesthesia. Anesthesia
is hard on a fit healthy person, just imagine how it effects and
overweight, out of shape person.
— Jim K.
May 2, 2008
It may be your insurance that is a requirement of my insurance to lose the
10%. My timing was not good if I had started the process prior to some
surgery I had back in November I would be approved by now but since I had
already started losing some weight it has been a slower process and
frustrating to me. But you know I have decided that one I am already
feeling better and will feel even better and that I WILL spend my
insurances money to get that surgery. Good luck and keep your head up and
"git er done"!
— Fish45
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