My bypass was postponed for a year from June due to unstable bipolar. In the meantime I was supposed to follow the diet. Problem is, I haven't. I feel like the prisoner on death row and I've been eating like the prisoner on death . I have to see the surgeon next Friday. Will this disqualify me from surgery, I have lost a couple of pounds in 3 months.
 

I guess it depends on your surgeon.  Personally, I think it's rather unreasonable to expect someone to stick to a diet for a whole year prior to having surgery.  If we could do that, we probably wouldn't need surgery.  I think it's even more unreasonable to expect someone with unstable bipolar disorder to stick to a diet.  If your condition is stable now, then I would think you should be able to stick to a reasonable diet for a reasonable amount of time, though.

This is all stuff you'll need to talk to your surgeon about.

PAULETTE-I agree with KELLY. What were you "expected" to do? Were you given a certain amt of pounds they wanted you to lose? A % of pounds?

Whatever did or did not happen, I do think you should keep your appt, no matter what, and see what your options are NOW. Do not be afraid to step up, and see what's next--it may not be as bad as you may be fearing it will be...

Please update and let us know what happens!

I don't think its the sole decision of your surgeon regarding your bipolar status.  It should be a team decision with your psychiatrist.  If your bipolar is unstable, then your combo of anti psychotic meds and anti depressants and mood stabilizers aren't correct.  During this waiting period is when the changes should be made to meds.  Once those changes are made the easier it will become for you to 'stick' to anything at all.  and that should be communicated to your surgeon.  I have a real problem with this situation.  I'm sorry for venting.  You should be seeing your surgeon with a report from your psych. next Friday as well.  how can a wls surgeon look at you and decide how you are doing mentally anyway.  i understand he will see how you are doing weight wise, but the issue with that is that you have tried for how many yrs diets that didn't work, hence the whole needing surgery in the first place!

I don't think you would be denied surgery for noncompliance because you didn't lose weight over a years time.

Or do you mean noncompliance in terms of managing your bipolar disorder. In that case, you just need to comply.

 Bipolar has beern stable for almost a year. They want it to be two years. The noncompliance is with the diet.

Not really advice about your specific question but- What exactly is "unstable" bipolar? I have been diagnosed as bipolar for 15 years and I have never heard the word unstable placed before it. Does this mean that you can't have had any extreme episodes that cause hosptialization or police contact?

There is such a wide spectrum of bipolar that I don't believe people should be disqualified strictly because of this, however, it would definitely be a good idea to get things under control before surgery. After surgery for the first month and a half I was over the moon and then all of a sudden I was THE MOST depressed person in the world. I still have a lot of ups and downs in my head and for no apparent reason. Hormones go psycho after surgery so you have to be prepared for it. I think the emotional rollercoaster hits us a lot harder than the people without bipolar.

 There is bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2. In Bipolar 1 the mood swings are wilder with psychosis sometimes. I am Bipolar 1 and was hospitalized last June for mania. The psychologist told me that the most common aftereffects of the surgery are mania. That's why they are being cautious.

I felt exactly the same way!! I had to be on that stupid six month supervised diet for my insurance. I did not lose a gosh darn pound. When I went to my surgeon for my pre-op appointment I was reading the paperwork and it said if I had gained 10 pounds he would not do the surgery. What??? NO ONE TOLD ME THAT!! I was actually up a few pounds, but not 10. I had my surgery, but I had a few minutes of panic. I think you're fine but you could call and ask...

Laura