Surgery Cancelled due to RX Diet pills!!

LynneB · April 8, 2008

:drool: surgeon put me on Phentermine 3 weeks ago to get the max loss possible b4 surgery & I went for pre op appt at the hospital this morning & anesthesia Dr refused to do my surgery because a pt went into cardiac arrest last week on the table & anesthsia found out that it was due to diet pills. Apparently they have found out that all diet pills counteract the drugs they give to put you to sleep & cause heart arythmias & skipes in blood pressure. So now I have to be off the phentermine at least 10 days before they will do it. So now I am resched for 4/18 instead of 4/11. I am so bummed, this is my 2nd time doing the 10 day liquid diet & 2nd time being cancelled, 1st time was cuz of insurance. I am glad they arent taking chances w/ my life, but really sad to have to wait & continue w/ liquids for another 10 days. :frown:

Jo Skinnie · April 8, 2008

Thank goodness they rescheduled! I would much rather have to wait an extra week or two than face the possibility of cardiac arrest! I know it's frustrating when you are ready to go. Count your blessings and have a great surgery on the 18th!

Brandy~ · April 8, 2008

I called my surgeons office just this morning to ask if the meds I am on are OK. They told me not to worry about it and talk to the anestiologist next week at my pre op :frown:

No diet pills for me tho.

kathystrick · April 8, 2008

Oh Lynne! I'm sorry you are having to go through so much trying to have your surgery. I hope the rest of your journey goes well. Keep us all posted on how you are doing!

coolcrystal · April 8, 2008

Yeah, I don't know why any doctor would put you on diet pills before a weight loss surgery! that was just dumb in my opinion. Of course, I don't know why lap band doctors put people on a liquid diet when a south beach diet does the same exact thing AND teaches people how to eat properly before getting banded. The liquid diet doesn't teach crap. Even though this has nothing to do with your post.. it just makes me so mad!

travelgirl · April 8, 2008

That sucks. I'm so sorry that this happened to you. At least they decided not to risk your life by going ahead with the surgery.

newimage · April 8, 2008

Good Luck with your surgery!

kei1170 · April 8, 2008

I totally agree... I'd much rather wait another week for the operation vs. the unthinkable. Hang in there... the days will fly by and this will be a distant memory!

Hastings · April 8, 2008

When I saw my doc for the first time and they gave me a bunch of typed pages, on the first page in very very large letter were the words: "If you are taking phentermine, you must be off it for 14 days prior to surgery". It wasn't an issue because I wasn't taking it, but on the next page it listed meds and whether or not to take them the morning of surgery. I took my high blood pressure pills but not the stuff for diabetes.

Sunshine_68 · April 8, 2008

What a bummer that u can't have the surgery yet. But you just need to remember that another week is not that bad at least you have your life to live!! I've never heard of a surgeon putting a band pt. on diet pills either. I have heard of the dreadful liquid diet, but luckily my surgeon doesn't even do that very often. Good luck with your band and I hope you end up feeling about yours the same way I feel about mine, it's my best friend of almost 2 1/2 yrs. God Bless You

juliegeraci · April 8, 2008

Sorry to hear about this. I am so glad you were able to find this out though.

mstrina27 · April 8, 2008

When I saw my doc for the first time and they gave me a bunch of typed pages, on the first page in very very large letter were the words: "If you are taking phentermine, you must be off it for 14 days prior to surgery". It wasn't an issue because I wasn't taking it, but on the next page it listed meds and whether or not to take them the morning of surgery. I took my high blood pressure pills but not the stuff for diabetes.

Wow you know it isn't cool that you have to have it r/s but just think... you would not want to be the 1 in 1000 that something happens to you know... And think about how because they are making you wait.. the lives you are helping to save with this post... Also giving a heads up like myself... Because i take Adipex-p which is the brand name to phentermine so I am going to stop taking it as of today. Thanks again for posting this as well..