Question:
I HAD 3 PREVIOUS WLS. MY SURGEON A NEW ONE HAS TOLD ME TO LOSS 35#

I AM 415# I HAD THREE PREVIOUS WLS. THE SURGERYS DID NOT WORK. I HAVE A NEW SURGEON RESPECT HIS OPINION. HE HAS TOLD ME TO LOSE 30# BEFORE HE WOULD OPERATE. I HAVE PASSED ALL THE PRE-OP CONSULS. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE 30# LOSS. i HAVE TRIED MANY DIETS AN ALL FAILED. IF ANYONE COULD ANSWER THIS IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED    — jmercede (posted on July 29, 2004)

July 29, 2004
Your profile is not available, so you haven't given us much information to go on. My question is why have the three surgeries that you've already had failed, and what type of surgeries were they? My take on the surgeon wanting you to lose the 30 lbs. before surgery is to lessen the risk of operating on you. At 415 pounds, you are considered very high risk. I understand that it will be hard to lose 30 pounds before surgery, and that you're frustrated, but every pound you lose (even after surgery) is going to take great dedication and a big committment. If you are really committed to having the surgery and making this one a success, then you shouldn't have a problem dieting on a short-term basis to allow you to have the surgery. Good luck to you. ~Kristy - lap RNY - 9/18/03 - 332/193/166
   — kristynush

July 29, 2004
Hey John, You know - different surgeons have different schools of thought. Some want a patient to lose weight to prove they're committed. Others want a patient to lose weight to help shrink up the liver a bit before surgery. So which surgery are you pursuing this time around? Blessings, dina Open BPD/DS July 2, 2002; 210 lbs lost!
   — Dina McBride

July 29, 2004
I have Kaiser insurance and they told me that the reason they require you to lose weight before the surgery is not really for taking off weight, but to reduce the size of your liver and get your internal organs ready for the surgery.
   — ma2two

July 29, 2004
My doctor wanted me to go on a very low carb diet before surgery, to shrink my liver. That way they could do it lap. And I was 369 starting out, so I agree that it is not for the weightloss. Allot of carbohydrates will enlarge the liver, so maybe you could cut some of them out and drink some protein shakes. This is what was suggested to me by my surgeon. Good luck, and maybe even if you don't lose, (I think I may have lost 2 or 3 pounds), they may still operate.
   — GAYLE CARMACK-LYONS