I meet with the dr tomorrow for my first consult. I got my MRI results this morning and I do have a torn meniscus in my left knee but my right knee is worse in arthirtis. I'm only 35 yrs old and the orthopaedic is behind me 100% in doing the VSG because my option with him would be to do a knee replacement and he thinks I'm to young for that. His daughter had it done a yr ago and is so glad she did it.

I already know my insurance will not pay for the surgery. I am a cash pay and fine with that. I have filled out all the paperwork for the dr tomorrow. My question is do you have to lose any weight on your own before they will operate? The reason I'm asking is because now with my knees bummed, I'm not able to exercise:(

Depends on the surgeon--you won't have any insurance hoops to jump through so that'll help you tremendously right off the bat. My surgeon didn't require a pre-op diet at all (only Clear liquids the day before surgery) but did say it's always a good idea to drop a few pounds beforehand. Other surgeons have a specific liquid diet they want you on before surgery, sometimes up to two weeks long. With that drastic a change, you'll lose weight regardless of whether you're exercising or not.

As someone who works with total knee patients every day, I can tell you that you are too young for a replacement if you can avoid it, and losing the weight WILL absolutely help with the pain and help you put it off as long as you can. That said, if it gets to the point where it hurts so much that you just cannot function with it, a good surgeon will do it for you after exhausting all other options. The components get better and better every year, and now they're saying "20 years" on the new ones.... but that's just a guess as nobody's HAD the new ones for that long. People have had the old ones for better than that and the joints are still holding up just fine. Plus, you're young enough that they may be able to do a partial replacement, or a joint resurfacing, which would leave you open for a full replacement much further down the road.

But ANYWAY lol... You should feel a huuuuuge difference when the weight starts coming off! :biggrin0:

Carrie, welcome! My doctor did not require any pre op diet for me. I am doing Atkins shakes 4 times a day for the 5 days leading up to surgery. But it was my choice. I think it depends on the surgeon and the patient.

I too am self pay so I feel your pain there, but I feel that this is saving ourselves from alot of other problems that could arise in the future! Best of luck at your appt.

Thank you both for your input. I'm so ready to do this.

I would love to see this happen within the next 45 days.

Hi and welcome to VST. I'm 33 with horrific arthritic knees. I've had 2 ACL surgeries done on my left knee, and the replacement is torn again. My right knee is jacked up, and my meniscus in my left knee is practically gone. They had to remove part of it during the last surgery.

I can attest to the fact that by dropping weight my knees no longer ache when exercising, or walking. They still ache a little right before it rains, or when we had a cold spell my knees hurt a little but nothing like before.

Best wishes on your upcoming surgery.

Tif it's nice to meet you as well. I'm getting ready to head out for this appointment. I will share with you all my experience having this consultation. Thanks for your support too!