Can someone please explain why the doctors expect you to lose weight before the lap band surgery? I thought that was why most people had the surgery, because they could not lose it on thier own. I know I cant. I have tried every diet out there and a lot of the diet pills as well as exercise. The harder I try the worse it gets. I am in my 4th month of the visits with the nutritionist so I am not to the point of being told that I have to lose. I guess what I want to know is what happens if you dont lose what they want you to lose before your surgery? Thanks in advance

From what I've read in these forums, every surgeon is different. I think the reason they want you to lose a little is to try and make sure your liver is as small as possible. Even with a 5 lb weight loss, it decreases the size of your liver. The location of the band is very close to the liver. If the liver is enlarged, apparently the might have trouble placing the band.

That makes sense but if you cant lose it what happens? And like I said I thought the point of this surgery was to help people lose that could not.

The other reason has to do with some insurances. Mine put a restriction on my approval. I had to lose 10% from my initial visit until they would approve the procedure. They want to be sure you are seriously committed to the program before they pay to have it done. Almost like a good faith gesture. The two week diet the doctor puts you on prior to surgery is to help shrink the fat around your liver. The doctor has to move it a little to secure the lapband and if your liver is less fatty it is easier to accomplish.

Between visit 1 and 2 to the nutritionist I gained 2 lbs, mostly from doing self proclaimed last hurrahs. She told me that I need to lose those two pounds and to shoot for more. The reason is insurance apparently wants to see an attempt.

Strangely it has been a odd wake up call seeing my highest weight ever on a scale (348). I swore I'd never let myself hit 150. A week later (this Monday) I'm down to 334. If you really want to lose some, get a good Protein shake mix. I've been doing a scoop of that with 1/2 a banana and alternate between mixing with Water or skim milk. Blend it with some ice cubes to make it thicker and you will be shocked at how satisfied you will feel, even unbanded. Ive been trying to make it my Breakfast and dinner, then (for now) eating a "sensible" lunch.

My Dr has absolutely no pre op diet requirement aside from anesthesia prep the night before.

Jmat,

I cant do that unless I lie becuase I am having to keep a food log and she wants me eating 3 meals a day. I ask her about the protien shakes and she told me that I didnt need to do that. That I needed to focus on solid foods.

Tracy

What insurance do you have if you dont mind my asking

Do yourself a favor and lose some weight!! Not only will it get you in the mode of this lifestyle change, but u are more likely to get approved, and I've heard of people that didn't lose enough weight before and they had to stop mid surgery and schedule for another 2 weeks out because liver was too large. You don't want to put yourself thru that. Start your preop diet ASAP! I started mine a month before surgery and I wish I'd done it sooner only because I would have lost more. That is REALLY weird that your dr is discouraging protein shakes! My dr had me on 2-3 protein shakes a day and a sensible dinner of lean meat and veggies. My dr told me, even now, that I should try to get in 1 protein shake a day, if not more. He also said you will not gain weight from protein shakes, so when you've already eaten, and you are STILL hungry (I remember that feeling) a protein shake is the way to go. If you don't have the willpower to diet now, you're going to have a hard time after surgery. While surgery makes it easier for me, I still have to put in the hard work and self control of diet and excersize.