So many questions!

[Christine_California 0]

Hello all,

I assume the purpose of the preop liver diet is to shrink the liver so getting the band around the stomach is easier? Years ago I had an ultrasound and it showed I have a fatty liver as I imagine many of us obese folks do. Did anyone know ahead of time that they had a fatty liver? It sounds like different surgeons prescribe different diets - "real" food vs. shakes. Is the aim of the liver diet high Protein, low fat?

Anyone else have Blue Cross PPO in California? Curious how the approvals have gone. I have plenty of co-morbidities. The surgeon that I'm considering asks that people go into their family practice physician first. Did most of you do this?

What does the psych eval entail? What are they trying to determine?

A couple of people who had gastric bypass (which I won't do) said one plus is that since their stomach was cut away, many of the hunger pain hormones/receptors are gone too. Even though the lap band squeezes the upper part of the stomach to give a feeling of fullness, is the lower portion of the stomach going crazy with hunger pains?

Thanks!

[coltonwade 27]

Hello all,

I assume the purpose of the preop liver diet is to shrink the liver so getting the band around the stomach is easier? Years ago I had an ultrasound and it showed I have a fatty liver as I imagine many of us obese folks do. Did anyone know ahead of time that they had a fatty liver? It sounds like different surgeons prescribe different diets - "real" food vs. shakes. Is the aim of the liver diet high Protein, low fat?

Yes the purpose is to shink the liver to make the surgery easier . But its also so that they do not nick the bile duct . which can be BAD BAD !

I would assume most people have some form of fatty liver ( obese people that is ) I had a low fat high Protein diet ) and my liver was just fine my doc said . Different docs prefer different pre op diets to shrink the liver.

Anyone else have Blue Cross PPO in California? Curious how the approvals have gone. I have plenty of co-morbidities. The surgeon that I'm considering asks that people go into their family practice physician first. Did most of you do this?

you might want ot post this on the insurance thread it might get more attention there.

What does the psych eval entail? What are they trying to determine?

Honestly my psych eval was a joke, the doc liked to talk more than he liked to listen to me. I had to fill out a questionnaire that sked the same 20 questions 4 different ways . It was a joke. BUT basically they want ot make sure you od not have any eating disorders, mental issues that would keep you from succeeding at the band. Its no biggie.

A couple of people who had gastric bypass (which I won't do) said one plus is that since their stomach was cut away, many of the hunger pain hormones/receptors are gone too. Even though the lap band squeezes the upper part of the stomach to give a feeling of fullness, is the lower portion of the stomach going crazy with hunger pains?

no the way the lap band works is there is a nerve that runs down the back of your esphogus to your stomach , That nerve is what is beign pressed on by the band. THAT IS what keeps you feeling full !! That is why as you lose weight and lose fat from your stomach you have begin to feel hungry and have to go get a fill , because you not longer have the band pushing on that nerve.

The "lower " does not feel hungry if that make sense ?

HTH

Mindy

[kh1967 0]

I too have a fatty liver. I have been on the pre-op diet for 4 weeks. I had to lose 5% of my body weight for insurance purposes, and the Dr. said I might as well start the diet now. The Dr. also told me that if I didnt get the liver to shrink, I may have to have an open surgery. I do not want that.

The psych eval was a 25 minute interview and then 370 questions asked in different ways. I did fine on the 370 questions, but was told I am a binge eater. I am not sure what that means, because I do not clear the refrigerator out, nor eat 10 pizza's. So I am not sure how that will effect my insurance approval. I am in a holding pattern for now awaiting the call to schedule my surgery. I am kinda thinking, that I may have to see a counselor in order to get this binge eating thing taken care of before insurance approves me. But that is just my opinion. I am not sure how common it is. Your other questions I can not answer, because I have not been banded as of yet. Good luck to you.