Question:
Anyone have surgery cancelled due to weight gain?
I have put on a few pounds. I started the last supper thing a few weeks early. Now I am back in control. Surgery is in 8 days. Just a bit concerned. Thanks — armonce G. (posted on February 1, 2003)
February 1, 2003
i have read posts from people who said their surgeons would not do the
surgery as scheduled because they had gained weight instead of loosing as
they were told.(or remaining the same) the dr said it showed the person is
not willing to make the lifestyle changes needed to make this tool work,
and frankly they do not want a person to fail, it reflects poorly on them!
i know of on one personally that ti shas happened too, but i have readit
here on this site.
— janetc00
February 1, 2003
I know my DOcotor was a stickler for this. His philosophy was that from
the onset of going to him and after the initial consult you were to follow
the post op diet and lose a minimum of 15-20 pounds. He will cancel your
surgery if you gain anything. His reason behind this was you are to be
making a life change...not just a short term solution abd you better be
committed to eating this way for the rest of your life. My initial surgery
had been 3 months away from my consult however I was moved up to six weeks
earlier when they had a cancelation. I was fortunate cause I had already
lost my 15 pounds and had even been to Jamaica during that time. The
bottom line...you either want to do it or you dont!
— cindy O.
February 1, 2003
My surgeon also made the stipulation that I not gain any weight or my
surgery would be cancelled. As they led me into the pre-op area the day of
my surgery - the nurse pulled me aside in a room and weighed me just to
make sure I hadn't gained any weight - or I supposed I would have been
headed home. I understand my surgeons thinking though - if I am serious
about obeying his directions post-op I needed to take his directions
seriously pre-op! Glad I did.
— Susan B.
February 1, 2003
My surgeon never threatened to cancel surgery if I gained weight between
the consultation and the actual surgery date. He encouraged me not to gain
weight, but also told me about the "Last Supper" syndrome. He
said he has had people gain as much as 30 lbs before surgery. I got the
feeling he thinks it is better to "get it out of your system" so
you can concentrate on doing what you need to do after surgery. I can tell
you I went in to surgery knowing there were certain foods I probably would
not eat agian ever, or for a very long time. I also know that the last
time I ate some of those things before surgery, I really thought more about
how they tasted and why I liked them, and came to realize, in some cases,
it was just texture or the fact that I could eat it fast that made it
attractive. I have no desire for some of the things I used to like to eat
before I had surgery, and I think having things one last time before
surgery made a difference. I think I gained about 7 lbs. before surgery.
But you know what stinks - he used the weight from my consultation as my
starting point, so I don't get "credit" for losing that 7 lbs!
There is always a price to pay....
— koogy
February 2, 2003
I think it all comes down to what instructions your surgeon gave you. It
wouldn't be fair if they had the expectation that you not gain weight but
did not inform you of this. My surgeon was silent on this issue. If he
didn't inform you that you are not to gain weight or to lose weight prior
to the surgery and then wouldn't go through with the surgery...you may want
to point out the lack of information and unfairness of not puting you on
notice. Also make sure you read your paperwork carefully. I just noticed
about a week ago my paperwork comes with specific instruction to stay off
asprin, tylenol, ibuprofren 2 weeks prior... and there was no instructions
to maintain or reduce weight. ;)
<p>Take Care, Be WEll, and Be HAppy!
— John T.
February 2, 2003
I guess it depends on if your doctor has said not to gain any weight or
wants you to lose weight. My doctor never mentioned anything like this to
me and on my pre-surgery appointment, I was weighed and the nurse expressed
surprise because I had lost a few pounds. Told me most people gain.
— Lisa N M.
February 2, 2003
Every doctor is different. I canceled my appt with a surgeon after I found
out she required a 10 percent weight loss. My surgeon said no more than 5
lbs (to account for water weight or scale fluctuations) and so I actually
lost 5 lbs. However, I think that if your doctor did not tell you not to
gain, you should be okay. However, I have heard of a doctor who didn't
have a no gain policy but who canceled someone who had gained 25 lbs in
like 3 weeks. The dr. thought that was an excessively unhealthy thing to
do before major surgery. If you're back in control and your dr doesn't
have an explicit policy, you should be okay.
— susanje
February 2, 2003
My doctor did not say anything about a pre-op weight policy. When I first
applied for the program I had already lost 27 pounds...during my nutrition
classes I lost 13 and was down 54 from my highest known weight. Then when
I went for my consult just a month later, I was up 24 pounds. I have
lymphedema in my legs and the fluxuation of fluid makes it hard to know
what I'm actually losing or gaining. My mother also said all scales are
different and it is hard to be accurate this high. I have surgery in a
week and have thoughts of doing the "last supper" thing...but
really don't have a desire to over due things. I'm just enjoying
myself...not bingeing or gorgeing.
— Sarahlicious
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