Is this normal pre-op?

[Drea_M 2]

So I finally got things set up with the surgeon.

I have my first pre-op appointment on the 10th.

Tomorrow I have to call and set up a bunch of other appointments and I was curious if this was normal...

First I have to set up an apt. with my general practitioner. I have to see her once a month for 6 months... and I can not miss a month in the calendar year or I have to start over. This starts next month.

Starting on the 1st I have to adhere to a 1500 calorie a day diet and stick to it for that period of time.

I also have to make an appointment with the dietician, the exercise therapist, and a psychologist. I have to see the dietician 4 times before surgery, the psychologist 2x before surgery and the exercise therapist at least 2x before surgery. I also have to attend a support group.

Then 2 weeks leading up to the surgery I have to adhere to a very specific diet... mostly to shrink my liver so they don't hit my liver during the operation. I have to eat the foods sold at the hospital... no Protein Shakes as I thought. They tell me to stay away from carbonated drinks and from drinking through a straw. (Of course this means no soda, no beer, etc.) And when I do drink, It has to be 1/2 hour before eating, nothing while eating, and nothing until a 1/2 hour after eating.

So if I have the surgery... it will end up being in March or April.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone who has been through pre-op? I have seen a lot of people on special diets for 2 weeks prior to surgery (mostly Protein shakes)... but haven't heard anyone state they needed to be on a 6 month 1500 calorie diet.

[bigcheese 50]

So I finally got things set up with the surgeon.

I have my first pre-op appointment on the 10th.

Tomorrow I have to call and set up a bunch of other appointments and I was curious if this was normal...

First I have to set up an apt. with my general practitioner. I have to see her once a month for 6 months... and I can not miss a month in the calendar year or I have to start over. This starts next month.

Starting on the 1st I have to adhere to a 1500 calorie a day diet and stick to it for that period of time.

I also have to make an appointment with the dietician' date=' the exercise therapist, and a psychologist. I have to see the dietician 4 times before surgery, the psychologist 2x before surgery and the exercise therapist at least 2x before surgery. I also have to attend a support group.

Then 2 weeks leading up to the surgery I have to adhere to a very specific diet... mostly to shrink my liver so they don't hit my liver during the operation. I have to eat the foods sold at the hospital... no Protein shakes as I thought. They tell me to stay away from carbonated drinks and from drinking through a straw. (Of course this means no soda, no beer, etc.) And when I do drink, It has to be 1/2 hour before eating, nothing while eating, and nothing until a 1/2 hour after eating.

So if I have the surgery... it will end up being in March or April.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone who has been through pre-op? I have seen a lot of people on special diets for 2 weeks prior to surgery (mostly Protein shakes)... but haven't heard anyone state they needed to be on a 6 month 1500 calorie diet.[/quote']

Depends on your doctor and insurance. I had to alot of what you have to do.

[sylvia42 43]

Can I ask you who your insurance is?? I'm just starting my journey so just trying to get some info

[LapbandLo 294]

I had 6 months of diet classes(couldn't miss one), 2 visits with psychologist, 3 visits with physical therapist, 1 diet class with surgeon and 1 nutrition class with surgeon.

[LapbandLo 294]

No pre-op diet though, just soft foods 24 hours prior and nothing after midnight the day before surgery. Things are different with each surgeon and insurance group.

[ChicagoRose 650]

Yep....small variations here and there but this is basically the jist of it. It's a new life and this is the time where you see if you really are committed to making a huge change. I actually found it went by pretty fast and am now 6 months banded and incredibly happy with my results as I'm sure you will be too =)

[Drea_M 2]

I have blue cross/blue shield. That must make a difference. I've been looking online and it says pre-op care is based on what your insurance requires. I also have to run to all the doctors who gave me X-Rays or MRIs for my back and ankle to show just cause for the need of weight loss surgery. Which I have. So that part isn't hard.

I just didn't realize it would be a 6 month process. I thought it would be a few weeks of pre-op appointments, then the surgery. Now I just need to start figuring out a 1500 calorie daily diet. They said I can start on the 1st, but I'm going to get a head start and start on Monday. I'm already close to a 1500 calorie a day diet anyway. I just need to make a few adjustments.

[skb123 308]

So I finally got things set up with the surgeon.

I have my first pre-op appointment on the 10th.

Tomorrow I have to call and set up a bunch of other appointments and I was curious if this was normal...

First I have to set up an apt. with my general practitioner. I have to see her once a month for 6 months... and I can not miss a month in the calendar year or I have to start over. This starts next month.

Starting on the 1st I have to adhere to a 1500 calorie a day diet and stick to it for that period of time.

I also have to make an appointment with the dietician, the exercise therapist, and a psychologist. I have to see the dietician 4 times before surgery, the psychologist 2x before surgery and the exercise therapist at least 2x before surgery. I also have to attend a support group.

Then 2 weeks leading up to the surgery I have to adhere to a very specific diet... mostly to shrink my liver so they don't hit my liver during the operation. I have to eat the foods sold at the hospital... no Protein shakes as I thought. They tell me to stay away from carbonated drinks and from drinking through a straw. (Of course this means no soda, no beer, etc.) And when I do drink, It has to be 1/2 hour before eating, nothing while eating, and nothing until a 1/2 hour after eating.

So if I have the surgery... it will end up being in March or April.

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone who has been through pre-op? I have seen a lot of people on special diets for 2 weeks prior to surgery (mostly Protein shakes)... but haven't heard anyone state they needed to be on a 6 month 1500 calorie diet.

My doctor required that you go to the weight loss management before I could see her. It was 4 appointments, my insurance did not require anything so it just took one month. But I know most insurance companies require 6 to 9 months of diet and t have you.wha

[kshannon 69]

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield - they didn't require the 6 month diet or meeting with a primary care doc every month. I did meet with the dietitian twice, (personal meeting & then a class), psychologist, group meeting, support group, ultrasound of my abdomen, pulmonologist & pre-op testing (blood work, upper GI, chest & abdomen x-Ray and EKG).

[kshannon 69]

Plus a 2 week liquid diet where I had to buy their Protein Shakes ... Every surgeon is a bit different

[Drea_M 2]

This surgeon doesn't want me on a Protein shake. No drinking anything through a straw. She says the dietician will explain why when I meet with her. Gotta make that appointment tomorrow.

One thing she stressed with me, if I get lap band... this is the ONLY surgery I can have for my lifetime. She said if it doesn't work out, I can't just remove it and have another procedure done. (not that I would. If this doesn't work, not putting myself through more surgery.)

I'm starting to get excited though. It's finally coming together. 6 months seems like a long time... but I'm 6 months closer than I was. I guess that's a way to look at it. And this 1500 calorie a day diet will give me a huge jump start.

[Timeforseriouschange 0]

I have my first appointment Monday with a surgeon, psychologist, dietician, and more. It is an 8 hour appointment. I will then be placed on a 3 month medically supervised diet (Thank you CIgna insurance) and I am sure I will be required to attends a support group which I do not mind. I am not sure what else will be required but I do think that your requirements, although a bit lengthy are relatively common. Good luck with the process-at least it is starting!

[ndpndnt 5]

I had to do the 6 month dr supervised program as well. Every month I had to see the Dr and a nutritionist. The nutritionist had me on a 1500 calorie diet that included 4 shakes and a meal. I started on April 8 and finished on September 9. I was approved on the 19th. My surgery date is Oct. 10.

[Bandista 7,466]

Hi Drea, my insurance company requires a BMI of 40 so I can't drop below that prior to my weight being submitted after I meet with the surgeon. I think most insurance companies allow a lower BMI if there are co-morbidities such as high BP, sleep apnea, etc. but mine does not. So this has been an issue -- basically I can't drop weight until I'm approved but then I can lose, including a two-week liquid diet for pre-op.

[Jim1967 3,569]

I had to do the following:

My Surgeon requires all patients to lose 5% of their weight during the pre-op stage. This was easy for me as I had to do 6 months anyway due to insurance.

• 6 month pre-op mandatory diet monitored by my Bariatric Surgeon (Cigna Insurance requirement)
  
• 4 visits with Dietician
  
• 1 visit with Psychologist
  
• Attend minimum 6 Support meetings while pre-op
  
• Physical by 3rd party Doctor for final surgical clearance. (insurance requirement)
  
• Mandatory Nutrition class for band patients
  

Spent half a day at the hospital for the following tests:

• Upper GI
  
• Abdominal Ultrasound
  
• Cardiac Echo
  
• EKG
  
• Chest X-ray
  
• Bloodwork
  

My Wife who just had Surgery this past Monday had to go through the same exact steps as above with exception to the 6 month mandatory diet. We switched to Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts back in January and they had no diet requirements.