So I wake up to find out I was cut open and the surgery wasn't even done since my liver is still too large...they want me to lose 20 lbs before they will attempt it again...

I'm so dissapointed and feel like maybe that this surgery isn't in the cards for me...

I get in a car wreck in the surgery parking lot...and now I go under the knife to be closed back up.

They knew my weight before I went under I don't get it

It is kinda funny because most doctors are like this, they won't even chance it if your liver isn't small enough. And yet there are doctors who do not even require a pre-op diet. How they do that I have no idea.

What a devastating blow! Oh, how I feel for you. I too have fatty liver weighing 228 before surgery. My surgeon required a 30 day liquid diet which consisted of daily: 5 Protein shakes, 2 Protein Bars and one Lean Cuisine, with 1 cup fruit and 2 cups veggies. That is what I was allowed to have per day for 30 days. After that 30 days, I had only lost 4 pounds but my surgeon went ahead with the Laparoscopic procedure 8-22-12. My tissues around my liver had improved and my liver had decreased and he said my surgery went wonderfully. I am now 2 weeks post-op, have lost 30 pounds and I'm feeling great. Finally got moved to Pureed/soft foods today!!! I haven't had any problems at all. I'm so glad I pressed forward. The 30 day diet wasn't easy but SO WORTH IT!!!

I wish you the best of luck!! Don't give up it will be the best thing you ever did for yourself. Just buck up and drive on...you can do it and you won't regret it!!!

God Bless YOU!!!

Does your liver become fatty faster of your obese? How does a liquid diet of one or two weeks help shrink the liver enough? How can someone be over 300 lbs but have an ok liver am someone possibly 200 does not? Is there not any prepp type tests to check this before being cut open?

Being obese can cause a fatty build up in your liver. When you digest food in your small intestine, the first place the blood containing the absorbed nutrients flows is to your liver, so your liver gets the first pick of the nutrients.

Fat is deposited in the liver which is related to insulin resistance, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Many obese people have insulin resistance and have fattier livers.

The liver also stores extra sugar/glucose for when your body gets low. Most pre-op diets are low calorie and low carbohydrate. When you go on a low carbohydrate diet, you force the liver to release more of the stored glucose, and as you lose weight from the reduction in calories, you also lose some of the fat from your liver.

If you know what you are feeling for, you can often feel an enlarged liver just under the rib cage on your right side.

geez, so sorry to hear of your troubles.Makes me sad that you have to go through this. But keep your eye on the prize, being healthy.

I know one of my fears is no losing enough and when I show up on Monday for my surgery they tell me to go home because I have not lost enough to shrink my liver. I have never had high cholesteral or triglycerides so I hope it is not an issue but somethinG I certainly worry about. '

Best wishes and keep fighting the good fight!

I did a 10 day pre op diet but that didn't work I guess...

So he's suggesting I lose 20 lbs...I lost 8 but had gained a few Before pre-op diet.

I am 316 and don't understand how people larger than I am are having the surgery? I would assume their livers would be bigger than mine??

I'm so sorry I can't imagine how you must feel. Don't give up though.

I did a 10 day pre op diet but that didn't work I guess...

So he's suggesting I lose 20 lbs...I lost 8 but had gained a few Before pre-op diet.

I am 316 and don't understand how people larger than I am are having the surgery? I would assume their livers would be bigger than mine??

It is so strange and I looked at your profile and you are still young, 31 right? I am also 31 about 15 lbs heavier than you. I am so sorry this has happened to you. I really REALLY hope for yourself that you continue on through this journey. my thoughts are with you (((hugs)))

I did a 10 day pre op diet but that didn't work I guess...

So he's suggesting I lose 20 lbs...I lost 8 but had gained a few Before pre-op diet.

I am 316 and don't understand how people larger than I am are having the surgery? I would assume their livers would be bigger than mine??

It is odd, but I guess not unheard of. Your surgeon has done a lot of bariatrics, I assume? I work as an NP in surgery with a bariatric surgeon, and while many patients have been less than ideal, anatomically wise, we do our best to get it done. My employer and I have never personally closed a patient, without doing the procedure. Your blood work (LFTs) would've been high, which is common in FLD (Fatty Liver Disease). Did he happen to do a liver biopsy while he was in there? It could help with determining why your liver is so large. I hope this doesn't discourage you. This surgery can help you become healthy and active. Please don't give up.

It is odd' date=' but I guess not unheard of. Your surgeon has done a lot of bariatrics, I assume? I work as an NP in surgery with a bariatric surgeon, and while many patients have been less than ideal, anatomically wise, we do our best to get it done. My employer and I have never personally closed a patient, without doing the procedure. Your blood work (LFTs) would've been high, which is common in FLD (Fatty Liver Disease). Did he happen to do a liver biopsy while he was in there? It could help with determining why your liver is so large. I hope this doesn't discourage you. This surgery can help you become healthy and active. Please don't give up.[/quote']

They had my blood work which showed higher cholesterol and triglycerides...I still don't know why they would go in and even try surgery had it not been feasible. Couldn't they palpate my liver size?

I am recovering from surgery that didn't even happen and I'm so sad!

They had my blood work which showed higher cholesterol and triglycerides...I still don't know why they would go in and even try surgery had it not been feasible. Couldn't they palpate my liver size?

I am recovering from surgery that didn't even happen and I'm so sad!

Yes, you can palpate a large liver, but we have extra cushion. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Please don't give up!

I am 316 and don't understand how people larger than I am are having the surgery? I would assume their livers would be bigger than mine??

Because not everyone who is overweight/obese has the same problems as others normally do.

Apparently, your doctor just has a different set of standards. He may also been trying to prove a point.

Because not everyone who is overweight/obese has the same problems as others normally do.

Apparently' date=' your doctor just has a different set of standards. He may also been trying to prove a point.[/quote']

I disagree about him proving a point. I can't see anyone putting another person under anesthesia, and insufflating them with CO2, and not completing the surgery just to prove a point. I would like to believe people are kinder than that, and I've worked with some real a**hole surgeons.

Sounds to me like you need a better pre op diet. I am surprised you only lost 8 lbs and gained some back. Doesn't sound like a good, fat flushing pre op diet.

It doesnt have to do with one's weight. The pre-op diet which is always high protein/low carbs is specifically to shrink as well as firm up the liver. When the liver is large with fatty liver syndrome - it is also spongy and weak, my surgeon told us prior to surgery that it is so soft and spongy that a retractor can rip it apart if it is lifted - which would be a complication so severe one would not even want to contemplate the consequenses.

The high Protein very low carb pre-op diet works quickly - in 7-10 days remarkable changes occur.

My surgeon said that if he went in laprascopically and saw a fat liver he will either convert to an open surgery (yikes) or sew us back up until we make it smaller. Scared me enough to follow that pre-op diet religiously.

I am so sorry that you could not have your vsg as scheduled, but things could have gone very wrong if your liver was compromised in any way. Drop those carbs to below 20 a day - up the protein, drink oceans of hydrating non-caloric beverages and your liver will shrink to a tiny little thing very quickly - and that 20 lbs will be history. Best of luck!

I disagree about him proving a point. I can't see anyone putting another person under anesthesia, and insufflating them with CO2, and not completing the surgery just to prove a point. I would like to believe people are kinder than that, and I've worked with some real a**hole surgeons.

Depends. I read on another message board where the person's doctor took their liver size as an indication that they cheated on the pre-op diet and woke them up basically as a way to scold them for not adhering to the diet. She swore she didn't but the doctor felt like she did so he woke her back up. I'm thinking as the medical professional you would first try to find out how fatty their liver is to begin with so that you can determine a difference when you get them on the table or at least be able to estimate how much they'd need to lose to get the liver down to a size you can deal with but whatever...I can't get behind assumptive healthcare when you can see my insides with a scan before surgery and know what you need to know.

Like the OP said, the doctor knew her weight so I feel he/she should have been more proactive about estimating how much she'd need to lose beforehand.

In my personal opinion, surgeons should have a provision in the consent that they'll do an open procedure if the liver is too big to access the area laproscopically. That makes more sense than putting someone under, being disappointed by their liver size and waking them up when they can just do an open procedure.

I don't believe that the liver issue is always a matter of safety when there is the open option. If your surgeon is skilled to do it either way, why postpone it when you already have the camera in their gut? I find it highly questionable and "unkind."

I want to know what will happen if he/she goes back in and the liver is still not something they can manage? At that point, I'd find another surgeon.

Unless, the OP cheated, in which case the doctor proved his/her point.