Question:
I am scheduled for my pre-op this coming Thursday

I was told at my first visit to try and lose some weight. In November I got pneumonia, and was placed on prednisone for 2 months due to the severity of my pneumonia, and actually gained about 25 pounds while taking it. I have really struggled to loose the weight that I have gained, and so far have lost all but about 5 pounds of it. I am absoloutely mortified that he will cancel my surgery if I weigh more than I did when I first went there, so I am pretty much starving myself trying to loose these 5 pounds plus a few more before I see him in 5 days. Has he done any of your surgeries without you loosing any weight. I do plan on telling him this story, and taking him my X-Ray reports showing that I did have pneumonia to let him know that I am being as honest as I can be about this situation. Please help!!!!!!!!!!! It is all I can think of. I will be completely devistated if he cancels this surgery. Thanks for your help    — katmamma1975 (posted on April 5, 2003)

April 4, 2003
My Doctor never mentioned any need to lose weight before he would operate and I was 494 pre-op. I would think that your going to be fine once you explain what happened.
   — George B.

April 4, 2003
Dawn, I think you have some good evidence to back you up. i would be surprised if you were cancelled. i think surgeons have you lose weight before surgery for two reasons: One, to help shrink your liver and make doing the surgery easier, and two, to make sure you are willing to follow their directions post operatively. (if you are willing and able to follow instructions and lose weight before surgery, it shows you are dedicated to doing what it takes to have surgery.) Prednisone can cause weight gain - getting pneumonia was not something you planned, and I think it is great that you have been able to lose most of the weight you gained because of taking it. As well as x-rays, you might ask the doctor that treated your pneumonia to write a statement regarding this event as well as verifying that he did indeed place you on Prednisone as part of your treatment. I hope it goes well for you!
   — koogy