HI EVERYONE!

My name is Wendy and I am 42 years old. I am going to a four-hour appointment at Lahey this coming Thursday (the 16th of August) at 12:30 PM, where I see the nutritionist, psychologist, and Nurse Practitioner. I am really looking forward to this appointment. I started going through this process a year and a half ago, and decided against it. Now, I am sure I want it done.

My question is, do the doctors still make you lose a certain amount of weight before surgery by dieting, or by the liquid diet you are all talking about?

Thanks,

Wendy

I think it depends on your insurance. I have my first appt tomorrow to get it started :-)

The pre op "diet" is to shrink your liver, not for insurance. I did not have a certIn amount of weight to lose, just full liquids for two weeks. The above poster is talking about the 6 month supervised diet some i surances require.

What poster?

HI EVERYONE!

My name is Wendy and I am 42 years old. I am going to a four-hour appointment at Lahey this coming Thursday (the 16th of August) at 12:30 PM, where I see the nutritionist, psychologist, and Nurse Practitioner. I am really looking forward to this appointment. I started going through this process a year and a half ago, and decided against it. Now, I am sure I want it done.

My question is, do the doctors still make you lose a certain amount of weight before surgery by dieting, or by the liquid diet you are all talking about?

Thanks,

Wendy

not sure about the weight loss part but all dr's are different

i was in all liquid pre and post op's but there are some who doesnt have to

but congrats on your decision and welcome to this forum. there are some

great people here to help and encourage

Wendy, I was referring to Sarahsmith487.

Wendy,

Hi. I had my surgery at Lahey with Dr. Brahms in 8/2010. I was at 332 at my first consult. I was told I had to loose 35 pounds before surgery. Dr. Brahms does not have a 2 weeks preop diet but he does like HMR 500. Which is a medically supervised liquids diet of five, 100 calorie drinks. Some people do this diet for MONTHS! I bought about months worth but ended up getting allergy like effects in the back of my throat so I stopped drinking them. I also lost nothing in 6 days (when he said I would loose a pound a day.). I wonder if I should have gotten the 14 cc band instead of the 11 CC. I did not get restriction until 10.6 ccs. Really important are the 3 sessions he requries with a therapist that specializes in eating disorders.

I did loose 50 pounds before surgery (which was delayed because of other heath issues.). I REALLY like Pam O'Brien (nurse practioner). She is however VERYstraight forward. She does not sugar coat.

WOW, Honk. Where are you from? How did you lose 50 pounds? My nurse practitioner is named Sarah, I think. Maybe we can keep in contact.

Wendy

Wendy,

Hi. I had a very serious health scare so I had a lot of motivation to make this work. I had a stroke at 39 that doctors could not say with an absolute certainty was caused by my weight but they also would not rule it out. I live in southern NH and chose Lahey becaue it's a great hospital and they do not have a "Program Fee" (additional fee charged on top of insurance).

As to weight loss even presurgery I was on a pretty strick eating and exercise regiment. Through the therapy sessions I learned what my triggers were for mindless eating. I cut out all crackers, chips, Cereal, etc even reduced or fat free. In the 7.5 months from consult to surgery I ate a pretty low carb/fat diet; and did an hour of Water based cardio seven days a week. I highly recommend water based exercise, as it is so much better on the joints of the overweight. Water proof MP3 player is a must for lap swimming. I also use a snorkle which allows me to swim longer.

My insurance (BCBS) required me to loose 5% of my weight before the dr.'s office could send my papers in for approval. I did the "liquid pre-op diet" to loose my required weight. I figured it was a good way to get used to the diet I was gonna have to do later on.

Thanks, all, for replying. I think I'm gonna like it here. )