Weigh Gain Before Gastric Sleeve Surgery!

[luv-a-bull 7]

I am so frustrated! I have to be the only person to have gained weight before my surgery. Rationally I know that there is not food I will not eat again, just in moderation. But for some reason I have been eating like I will never eat again. I go on my liquid pre-op diet on 11-29 for surgery on 12-13. My preop appointment is set for Dec 1st---I can't sleep worrying that my Dr. will not want to do the surgery because of the weight gain!!! Has this happened to anyone-anyone ever been denied at their preop appt for weight gain?

[guzel 11]

I don't think you're alone. I've been reading a few posts by people who have been gaining weight pre-op. My surgeon requires that I loose 10 lbs pre op or he'll reschedule and it's been hell. Nothing like having a gun to your head, so to speak, to motivate you to lose. If it weren't for his requirement I'm sure I'd be gaining too though.

[Ian 3]

I gained 20lbs pre surgury, when I went for my pre-op appt, my surgeon was pissed.. Said lose what I gained or else. I started my pre-op diet a week early and lost 32lbs pre-op. So it worked out, but I dunno what would have happened if I had not. How much weight are you talking about, the liquid diet is pretty restrictive, it's easy to lose some weight.

[jasleeve 440]

i gained about 10lbs since the start. i meet my surgeon for the 1st time on tuesday & hopefully ill get a date! dec 1st marks my 6month appt.. hopefully he doesnt come down too hard on me.

[luv-a-bull 7]

I have gained about 12 pounds since my first appt with the surgeon in April. There was never a set amount of weight he said I needed to lose before surgery that I was told...so we will see how mad he is on Thursday. I just want this so bad I cant imagine having to reschedule

[Finding MeMe 204]

You are not alone, I am gaining weight also mainly because in order to maintain my current weight of 242 I have to work out at least 90 minutes a day and since I know that I am getting the surgery I said F this killing myself to workout. I am working out for 60 minutes for my heart and lungs no longer just to maintain and not gain.

[christin 54]

Admittedly I am struggling to not gain weight before my surgery in January. I have gained 5 lbs since my initial consultation in October. I felt a bit out of control for a few weeks after I finalized my decision and got my surgery date. I guess it was the food funeral stage.

Something happened to me this week though and it clicked in my brain that I am having this surgery to change my life forever. This is actually going to work! Any weight I can lose before January 9th will not come back!! It will be gone forever! So I think I owe it to myself to prepare my body for surgery to have the most positive outcome. I have started walking daily, have cut out carbonated beverages, and I am drinking 100 ounces of Fluid daily. I have also promised myself that I will eliminate my 2 trigger foods from this point forward: Ice cream and chips. I know they have to go forever because they will slide right down that sleeve and I refuse to spend all this money only to sabotage my efforts.

Anyway... just know that you are not alone. But all it takes is a decision to honor your body and refuse to treat it disrespectfully anymore. You are worth it! (And so am I... talking to myself here too!)

[FishingNurse 1,210]

I too had several food funerals and I gained at least 8 lbs in 2 months. it happens!!!

[DoOver 17]

I'd strongly suggest you talk to them honestly and find out what their firm expectations are. My program is also very strict on this issue and they said they cancel approximately 10% of their surgeries each month for this reason. So you are not alone at all. I did the same thing for a window of time and now that I'm on the other side, I actually know it was something I needed to do. I'm sorry they (program) didn't understand it. And on the date of surgery I was where they wanted me to be. But the gain, then loss that happened in the mean time was actually my way of getting ready. They were angry about it but I now know I needed that process. And on the day of the surgery I shocked myself by going in with no fear and no reservations. I was ready. And prior to that date, I wasn't even sure I would be brave enough to show up at the hospital.

A side note. My program demanded you give up carbonated drinks from the day you enroll in the program. It was the only thing I did not do. I've said before that one of the most important things about this whole process is knowing yourself and being truthful....at least inside your own head. I was drinking caffeine free diet coke. I'd quit drinking it before and knew it would be no issue when it was time. So I drank it up to the day I started my pre-op fast. Again, the way my mind works, that meant there were no regrets. I didn't look back on months of denial of something I didn't really need to be denying myself. I did not have a carbonated beverage for months after the surgery and, ironically, about 3 weeks after my first one I went to a support meeting where they announced they no longer required complete permanent abstinance from carbonation -- only from the start of pre-op to 90 days. Same rules they have for caffeine. So it sort of validated my method. I would have actually been angry if I had given up the diet coke I love for no benefit or reason.

As it turned out, I went into surgery down weight wise down the approximate 10% they required and the surgeon was thrilled with my flat as a pancake liver. I was not the ideal pre-op patient until I knew I had to do it. I was perfect from the day they handed me the liquid stuff and others who were in my group later told me they were not.

So my advice: get the rules, understand what you are actually required to do and then be honest with yourself as to whether you need to take a bit more time before you actually roll into the OR. Just because you are "death row eating" right now, it does not mean you can't do this. It just means you need to make sure YOU know you are ready and then meet the rules they tell you. My program said they get mad because people are not honest and do not believe that if they are insurance approved (or have self paid) that they will cancel and they do. They actually do.

[IslandGrrl 11]

I gained about 10 pounds from my first meeting with the surgeon to my pre-op appointment. Even though I'd lost over all, and was still down 10 pounds from my all time high, he was not happy and gave me a right good scolding. Basically, he set a very unrealistic (for me) weight loss goal for my 2 week pre-op diet, and told me that if when he put the scope in, my liver was in the way, he would call off the surgery. I was very upset and relost the weight I'd gained, but didn't make the weight loss goal he'd set by surgery day. Apparently, the weight I lost was enough because my surgery was a success, and at my 2 month follow up, he was very happy with my progress.

DoOver gives some good advice. Speak honestly with them, and find out exactly what they expect. I can tell you that the fear of waking up without having the surgery was in the back of my mind almost until I woke up in recovery. If you can avoid that kind of worry, but getting explicit instructions, I'd highly recommend it, if only for your peace of mind.