[fishroy]

Thank you to everyone with the nice words of congrats on my approval. But a new hurdle has once again been put before me, my surgeon says my BMI is too high and wants me to lose 35 lbs before he will operate. WHY???? Has anyone else had this happen and did the docter give a reason? Of course I can't talk to the doc over the phone to find out why, I do understand he is busy, but his people should be able to answer my questions.

[DocSanae]

((((((HUGS))))) Plenty of people are put on one program or another that facilitates some loss in weight pre-op to prepare for their surgery.
For instance, fr1endly2/Lisa was required by her surgeon to lose 10% of her pre-op weight (which meant about 30lb), while others are put on a few weeks to more of liquid diet or MediFast, OptiFast, or whatever.

The reasons are:
1) to reduce the size of the liver so it will not get in the way of the laparoscope

2) to prevent you from gaining weight right before surgery by your going into the "Last Supper" syndrome (there have been people who gained 10lb or more due to this, right before the surgery, which again increases the difficulty of the surgery.)

3) to confirm your commitment to the surgery and weight loss

4) to prepare you for the changes in your eating and life style you must make post op.

Hang in there, you can do it, (((((((HUGS)))))))) May your journey go well.

[fishroy]

thanks doc answers are nice to have and i knew i could get it here

[Kenyar]

yes, there are quite a few here who were asked by their docs to lose ahead and if i recall for the EXACT reasons that doc listed above. You are going to do fine and you willbe glad you lost some weight prior. I hear livers get knicked (OUCH!)

Has you doc recommended a plan? Are you on a liquid diet or doing it on your own? Either way, good luck!! We're all here rooting you on

[beckamarie]

for me I had to lose 15 pounds, the reasoning behind my doc was he wanted to make sure I was committed enough for the surgery. Ashley has had to do a medfast diet and has lost I think 25 pounds so far

[BOOTS]

Of Course Your Doc Only Wants The Best For You. It Will Be A Hard Task But You Can Do It!!!! Just Think It Will Be The Begining To Your Weight Loss Journey. Less To Lose After The Surgery.

Good Luck, We Are Here Rooting For You And If You Need To Vent Along The Way Go Right Ahead.

[MsVickie]

Doc had it. Liver size is the main thing I think they are after. If you ever watch them do it on a over sized one its much more dangerous.

[BOOTS]

So How Does That Work? The Heavier You The Bigger Your Liver? At What Point Is It Dangerous? I Have Noticed On The Boards That Some People Have To Lose Weight For The Surgery And Others Dont. So How Do They Determine This? At What Weight, Etc?

[amyswankhuizen]

My surgeon requires that every patient lose 10% of their starting weight before he will schedule the surgery. He told me that it was my way of showing him my dedication toward making the eating changes necessary for post op success. Also, I'm certain it is safer to operate on a person who is lighter in weight rather than heavier. Good luck! Amy

[MsVickie]

Boots, I want to say that you ask your questions and I love it. I cant help with all of them but some I can.

They have to go near the liver to get to the stomach. The last thing they want to do is nick it or one of the blood vessels. In overwieght patients it seems to be bigger. I have what they call a fatty liver. The surgery will help with that because it will come back to normal after I lose weight.

This link here is the best one I have found to detail it out. It will tell you how important weight loss is when you have a fatty liver. Fatty Liver. Now my Dr dont require a diet before hand however he did ask me on the last appoitment to drop 10 pounds in the 3 months I had before surgery.

All in all..........It makes it much easier for the Dr to do the surgery than to have to move it around alot to get to it. Its safer.