I went to see my surgen about 3 weeks ago and was weighed 465. She told me that there operating tables had a 420 pound weight limet but she wouldent do surgery on me untill i was under 400. Thats over 65 lbs.. Have any of you had to lose this much weight befor the doc would do your band? I dont understand why she wants me under 400 befor surgery. I am 6ft2 and my bmi was 59 at 465 so i was under the 60 bmi limet.. well i have lost about 15-20 lbs so far and hope to be banded in jan or feb. Still in the process of all my pre band test..

My cousin is a bariatric surgeon and he recently told me that he doesn't accept anyone over a BMI of 50 because his hospital isn't as equipped as he would like for the myriad of complications that could arise due to the higher BMI...

So, perhaps that is her reason...

However, you may want to shop around and see if there is a dr. that works out of a "better" ie more equipped hospital!

Best of luck...please keep us updated!

Rain

I am not sure where your from or what your dr. requires before surgery, but ours in NY you have to lose at least 10% of your weight before surgery. And the more you lose the smaller your liver will be. And you want you liver to be small so they dont puncture a hole in it when they go inside of your belly. Your liver is huge right now and it lays right over top of your stomach. Which is right where they have to go. Watch the 2 live surgery's on this site, you will see how big your liver is!!! Good luck with the weight loss. It would be most benificial to you too lose the 65 pounds before surgery!!!!

If the table is only certified for 420lbs and you are over that, the hospital won't permit her to do your surgery there.

Look at it this way, the larger you are the more potential complications. You have to do a liver shrinking diet anyway and the larger you are the faster you lose. So maybe consider low carb, low fat, adequate Protein. That won't leave you starving, you'll lose weight well and it will do wonders for your liver.

If the table is only certified for 420lbs and you are over that, the hospital won't permit her to do your surgery there.

Look at it this way, the larger you are the more potential complications. You have to do a liver shrinking diet anyway and the larger you are the faster you lose. So maybe consider low carb, low fat, adequate Protein. That won't leave you starving, you'll lose weight well and it will do wonders for your liver.[/quote

Thats what im saying. the table can hold 420lbs so why wont she do surgery on me untill im under 400 instead of 420. She should at least put me on my liquid pre op diet at 420 because she requires almost 3 weeks on that and i know ill lose loads of weight on it..

.

One reason might be that many docs are uncomfortable banding folks with a BMI of 50 or more. Is your surgeon super skilled and has she done a gazillion bands?

There is a learning curve to banding and banding higher BMI folks takes a bit more skill. Some docs flat out refuse to band anyone over 50BMI because their liver is often times very large and difficult to manage throughout the procedure.

There are usually about 5 incisions during banding. One of them is to hold the liver out of the way so the doc can place the band around the stomach. Some folks are so large that holding the liver out of the way bends the metal rods that are used to slip instruments in and out of the incisions. (They look like hollow metal rods) They have to make another incision so they can use two of these metal rods and even then the weight of the fat and liver can bend both rods. It's tricky to do this safely.

I have no clue who your surgeon is so I'm not downing the person at all. I'm only offering thoughts as to why she is requiring you to do this.

I dont know the answer to your question Tom, and it sounds like Wasa pretty much covered it. I just wanted to say try to stay strong, I know it seems like a nightmare now but once you have got the band you will realise that it was all worth it.

There is loads of support on the board and quite a few people are struggling through the pre-op diets at the moment, I am sure that you will find someone to buddy with.

Nina x

Can you call your doctor and ask her why the 400 vs 420? I am sure they have a very good reason for telling you this. They have your best interest in mind and want you to have a safe and successful surgery and recovery. Its hard work to lose weight but put your mind to it and do it. You can! I agree with the comments about high protien low carb. If you have already lost 15-20 lbs you are 1/4 of the way there. Get up and get some excercise and make a meal plan so you can get your surgery done safely. You will be glad you did!

I feel for you. I started at 475LBS. The Dr wanted me to loose 30 LBS I am working hard at it and I am currently on my first week of liquid diet. I have to say it is not a lot of fun but the weight is coming off rather quickly. I have lost 30 LBS and I don't get banded until Nov 26. So it can be done<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

thanks for the replys guys.. Ive been trying to do some reserch on my doc but cant find much. Maybe you all can have better luck then me. Her name is laura velcu and she is a sergen at three rivers medical center in louisa ky.. thanks you guys

thanks for the replys guys.. Ive been trying to do some reserch on my doc but cant find much. Maybe you all can have better luck then me. Her name is laura velcu and she is a sergen at three rivers medical center in louisa ky.. thanks you guys

Please check out my sig. There is a link in how to research Mexican docs. Much of that applies to US physicians as well.

You'll want to call the office and ask how many bands she has done. NOT how many lap procedures as that can be removing a gallbladder. Not how many bariatric procedures as that can by bypass. Banding is a whole different ball game.

Ask specifically how many people she has banded with a BMI of 50+.

Please see the link in my sig and that should get you started.

Tom,

I also have to get down to 400 before surgery. My highest weight recorded was 441 pounds. I have 8 pounds to go and they are the hardest! My surgeon has preformed hundreds of surgeries on people 400-500+ pounds. He even laughed when I asked him if I was his biggest patient. I just know losing the few more pounds before surgery will be safer for me in the end. Just know that you are not the only one struggling with this battle. Congrats on your 15-20 pounds lost so far.

Tom,

I met with my surgeon this past weekend and although he is willing to do the surgery even with my high BMI, I'm taking it upon myself to lose some weight before I go in - I figure the recovery will be easier too. My goal is to lose 20 or more lbs - I keep telling myself that I can eat smart thru the holidays! Hang in there and good luck

Tom have faith bro ! You can do it. Go on Optifast or Medifast now if you can. No one says you can't do the liquid diet now if you want. You can lose all that in no time and fast. It will be tough but it will be worth it. I did Optifast a couple years ago and lost over 50 lbs in less than 2 months. Just I didn't keep it off. You need to do it for surgery so it will be great.

Excessive fat can impact the surgery in so many ways that aren't terribly obvious. Pulmonary complications, tissue necorsis (a RNY friend of mine had a horrible time with this - the harder they had to push, the more damage was done), even things as every day as mobility and hygiene for post-op care. It's a LONG list.

I dont understand why she wants me under 400 befor surgery.

Really - we can speculate and guess, but if you want to know for sure, just call your surgeon and ask.