Pre op diet

SParkle · February 22, 2010

Hi there

Forgive my questions but I'm busy reading up on the VSG before making the decision to have one done... I see people are on a pre op diet - is this to shed weight before the op, or to get into the correct type of eating habits and also display your commitment to follow through with the operation?

I'm currently on the Weight Watchers diet (here in Spain) and have lost 17lbs since October.... with my BMI being 35.5, but am concerned that if I loose too much they may think I can do it on my own. (Bad life history like so many I read of yoyo dieting, never reaching goal... etc etc.... I'm sure you know the story!!)

:tongue_smilie:

jenn20 · February 22, 2010

Hi and welcome!

I attended an Orientation before getting my class dates (through Kaiser Insurance) and somebody there asked this same question. They too were also borderline, barely making it to be considered for the surgery and were scared to continue to loose weight, but we were told that that will not effect the surgery. Again, this can be different with other insurances, etc. But once you're referred to the surgery you're basically in. For the most part they understand that people loose, gain, loose, gain. So they know that although you might be loosing right now, you've obviously had trouble keeping it off, so if you were already referred to the surgery and are going through the processes then you need not worry. If anything loosing weight before the surgery I was told is a good thing.

So overall, if you're already in the process I wouldn't be concered =)

Tiffykins · February 22, 2010

I didn't have to do a pre-op diet with the exception of low carb/high Protein.

Some surgeon do a more stringent diet to help shrink the liver because it helps make the surgery a little easier since they have to retract our livers out of the way to get to our stomach.

Other surgeons base the pre-op diet requirements off of each individual patients BMI and co-morbidities.

There's a lot of debate on the effectiveness of "liver shrinking" diets so I'm not sure on the actual facts. Some surgeons may want a pre-op diet done to help prepare a patient for life post-op. The first couple of weeks are usually the most difficult.

SParkle · February 23, 2010

Many thanks Jen and Tiff.... I'm just waiting for another surgeon to contact me then I'm going to book a consult with 2 in my area, and see what they say - I'll have a list of things to ask them so this can be one of them!