Timing - Should I Do It Now Or Hold Off?

[bwohlgemuth 2]

Greetings all. Newbie here, so here we go. 5'11"/460 and trying to get this damn thing done.

I am trying to get the band implanted sometime during mid April. My doctor (who I just met today) tells me I have to lose 40 pounds before surgery. This won't be a big deal, but I have a timing constraint.

This summer, my family and I are taking a cruise in early July. I want to be healed up and ready to go before we leave on the cruise. Looking at my book and from others, it looks like the "life back to normal" timeframe is about four to six weeks (when I say normal, I mean being able to lift kids/bags and run around after my kids like a normal dad and swim in the ocean). This means I have to have the surgery completed by mid-May. I can't wait until after the cruise because of a work blackout for timeoff. That lifts sometime in Sept/Oct depends on negotiations. This is also my first time under the knife and I have no idea how I'll heal (normally fast for small stuff...)

I'm self-paying for the Op (insurance excludes coverage) and I don't want to spend six weeks of shakes/etc if there's no way I'm going to make the "forty pounds in six weeks" timeline. The doc also wants to now keep me overnight which almost doubles the price.

I don't want to put this off, but I also don't want to throw cash at a pipe dream (especially since I know can live at 1200-1500 cal/day and have lost 17 pounds without really trying since my initial visit in January).

I want to get this done (tomorrow if possible) but I also want to take a practical approach to it.

Sorry if this question has been asked before.

Also, do all doctors take the magic BMI spinning wheel as "word from God"? I had the head of our fitness department at the local university do a BMI check on my and it was around 42. According to the "magic wheel", it's around 65. Up until last year I was doing twice-weekly Tang Soo Do lessons and can run around like any normal dad.

Thanks,

Brian

[edieparks 2]

Yours was a lengthy post.

I read thru twice and I would vote to hold off , enjoy your wonderful trip and family and come back ready to get down and dirty.

Life is to short to stress about all the time problems.

I want to say have the surgery but I just don't see how is will be possible. I held off on my surgery to have a vacation too. In my case it was silly to wait. In your case...... I say wait.

Try to get that weight off .

BEST OF LUCK,

edie

[shortgal 5]

As far I as know, Bariatric surgeons use the general BMI calculator and your BMI would be around 64.

The higher your BMI, the faster you'll drop weight on a liquid diet. I think it's possible you can lose the forty pounds, if you are dedicated to the liquids.

You could also give yourself a couple extra weeks to lose the forty by having surgery later in April. I don't see why you wouldn't be able to go on the July cruise. You'd have all of May and June for recovery with surgery in later April instead of Mid April.

[lessnless 1]

I was riding horses daily two weeks after surgery--no reason to think you couldn't be back to normal activities after 4-6 weeks.

Even if you had to have a porter carry your bags, or skip the swimming pool, I think you'd still have a fantastic time--especially if your 50-100 pounds lighter by July! Think how active you'll be, without all that extra "baggage".

[favorite 3]

have the surgery before the vacation. you will enjoy it so much more with the weight you lose being gone. dont stress about not being able to carry bags and swim. you'll be able to do it all in the time frame you posted. i was fine after a few days, so the weeks that you have will make you tip top. plus i bet you are at least 70 lbs lighter than you are now. imagine that :biggrin2:

[kossde 6]

You know, there's two sides of this:

Aspect 1) I'm sure you'll be perfectly healed by July - so No need to wait, right?

Aspect 2) I went on a cruise last year and there was SO MUCH FOOD!!! if you have the surgery first, make sure you are prepared to say, "No Thank you" a lot.

Good luck on your surgery and enjoy your cruise

[JohnC 31]

I agree with kossde. All cruises I've been on there's been food everywhere you turn, and I never had the willpower to walk away from it, after all it's vacation. But if you have the surgery first then the band will probably put the brakes on for you. Plus there's the chance you could gain back the 17 Lbs. you've lost plus some extra. Good luck.

[Brandy~ 2]

There is no reason to put off being banded. I would be banded asap to begin a new healthy life. You are going to have to learn how to eat properly whether you do the surgery now or later.... The bags wont be a problem I am sure carrying those. You have 2 months heal up before you go on the trip.

Go on the cruise have fun... but this trip will probably be different for you and you will find more joy in the things you do with your family than you do with food. It's a whole new love affair.

[bwohlgemuth 2]

Thanks everyone for the insight. I'm working my ass off this week to drop as many pounds as possible, but if they start "tut-tutting" again, I will probably put it off and go to another place.

I really am not thrilled with the service at this place (I work with exec customer service, so maybe my expectations are too high). I laid everything out for them, but it feels like this place is too busy to care (plus they are the only game in town).

Off to go walk to dog again (third time this morning, she's (the dog) looking at me wondering what type of crack I'm smoking).

[losingjusme 12]

i say go with it ASAP too. you should be fully healed by July.

good luck and have fun on the cruise

[Daisalana 33]

Any chance you can post-pone the vacation?

Even if you are feeling better by the cruise, if you're still in post-op diet.. the last thing you want to do is be surrounded by NO-NO foods. When you are told you can only drink clear liquids.. and you're looking at lobster & steaks.. I just wouldn't put anyone though that!

[bwohlgemuth 2]

Any chance you can post-pone the vacation?

Even if you are feeling better by the cruise, if you're still in post-op diet.. the last thing you want to do is be surrounded by NO-NO foods. When you are told you can only drink clear liquids.. and you're looking at lobster & steaks.. I just wouldn't put anyone though that!

No chance on postponing the trip. Already paid for along with tickets and everything. Plus, we are meeting some good friends of mine on the trip and we're going to have four families on this cruise. I am NOT going to ruin everyone's trip because of this surgery.

The first fill according to the office is 4-6 weeks after surgery. Going all liquid on the cruise is a major problem, especially if there are complications just after the fill. Last thing I want to do is be stuck on an island or being evac'd because of this thing.

And before you ask, yes, I want to get this done. I would love to be 70 pounds lighter going on the boat.

[Daisalana 33]

I just went back to re-read your timeline.. April to July is no problem!! Not at all. You'll be back to lifting bags & chasing kids by June. By the trip, you'll also know if you've had any issues from surgery (blood clots, or anything else that would cause you to get 'stuck on an island'). It's so extremely extremely unlikely being 'too tight' or 'too loose' is going to cause some horrendous complication. And, due to statistics you may not even notice your first fill.

Have fun on the trip!! :angry_smile:

[bwohlgemuth 2]

Yeah, April works out perfect. My fear is May, especially mid-May. By May 15th, that puts me at six weeks post-op for the cruise. By then I'm supposed to have my first fill, which means most likely all liquids for two weeks. Hauling around a week plus of Protein Shakes, plus the problem if the bag gets lost/whatever puts additional strain on the whole thing.

[sfeiner 2]

I would have it done but put off the fills until you get back. But you will have to be extremely careful what you eat on the cruise or you will gain back all the weight and maybe more.