Question:
Has anyone been posponed due to lack of exercise???
Hello. I was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday, but.... I saw my surgeon for pre-op appointments on Friday and he cancelled the surgery and said I had to come back in 2 months because I hadn't been exercising enough. He wants me to exercise 5 days a week for 50 minutes before I can get surgery. Needless to say, I'm depressed, but resigned to doing my best to comply in order to get this surgery. — NewJoolz (posted on January 12, 2004)
January 12, 2004
I certainly admire your tenacity; if I could have exercised for 50 minutes
5 days a week, I wouldn't have needed this surgery! I'm so sorry your
surgery was cancelled; I'm assuming that your doc wants you to be as
physically healthy as possible before surgery. I wish you the best of
luck!
— Moysa B.
January 12, 2004
I had to *prove* I had a vigorous exercise program also, at the time I was
upset but due to this program my recovery was textbook. I had such an easy
recovery physically, up and around with no help and my RNY was open..I feel
I owe it all to exercise. I swam by the way, If you can not swim, walk in
the water. Best of luck to you and believe me you will not be sorry you
have to do this. It has to become part of your life post op so just get in
the groove now and GO FOR IT....it is soooo worth it..
— Kathy S.
January 13, 2004
I'm still pre-op but I've had my initial consult with the surgeon. He told
me that he would not do surgery unless I was in an exercise regiment. He
specifically told me to go to the pool and waterwalk (bad knees) a minimum
of 5 days per week for 30 min - 1 hour each time. If I gained weight or did
not exercise regularly, then no surgery and I believe him.
He explained that it would make the surgery go better, improve healing, and
help with the weight loss by increasing muscle mass. Because of my very
low metabolism rate (due to all the yo-yo dieting I've done), it is very
difficult for me to lose. By increasing my muscle mass, my metabolism
should improve some.
— ssundlee
January 13, 2004
I can see the benefits to exercising as a pre-op with post-op recovery and
a good habit developed to carry you into post-op life, however, I believe
these doctors put too much stress on the pre-ops..stop smoking, lose X
amount of weight, exercise so many minutes a day, etc, etc...I can't help
but wonder, if we had been capable of following this schedule as a pre-op,
we would have never needed surgery to begin with! Thankfully my surgeon
did not require any of this. I'm not sure I could have followed such a
stringent schedule as a pre-op. And how stressful to you, especially the
postponement of your surgery...You can always look around for a new
surgeon, or just buckle down and follow docs orders.
— Cindy R.
January 13, 2004
I could not have started an exercise program before surgery-- the excess
weight was too much of a burden, I felt incredible embarassment at working
out in public, my sleep apnea and high blood pressure left me almost
constantly exhausted and I was constantly distracted by the incredible
hunger I almost always felt. And, although I appreciate the wonderful
benefits of exercise, in my 15 months post-op, I haven't started an
exercise program although I do stay very active (and have lost over 270
pounds).
When I hear of surgeons who demand exercise regimines or specific
pre-operative weight loss, I question their understanding of the emotional
and psychological needs of the morbidly obese; consequently, I doubt their
ability to provide the ongoing support that is needed for successful weight
loss and weight maintenance. My suggestion would be to try to find a
surgeon who has a better understanding of the needs of obese patients.
— SteveColarossi
January 13, 2004
I had a very strict surgeon and lived with the constant threat of having my
surgeon cancel my surgery. I gained 5 lbs the week before. I was required
to join a gym and walk the treadmill at an incline everyday for 30 min to
build muscle in my calfs to help prevent blood clots after surgery. I
resented to constant feeling I was going to be cancelled but I appreciated
it all the day I went in for surgery. I knew I had done everything
possible to prepare myself physically to come out of this surgery ok. I
believe everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we don't ever know
why....You'll do it....your going to do great! Best of luck to you.
— nani68
January 13, 2004
I know several posters have said that this doctor is asking too much but I
don't think he is. My surgeon didn't require this but I think your doc just
wants to see how compliant you will be with the program after surgery.
Besides it would take you much longer than 2 months to get another doctor
to set a surgery date for you. If you are unable to do any weight baring
(sp?) types of physical activity, I would suggest the swimming or water
aerobics of some sort to help you meet the requirement. I agree that the
more you can do for yourself now, the better you will do through the
surgery process. God Bless and good luck to you on your journey. Tina
LapRNY 10/6/03 275/213/155.
— tntwildlife77
January 13, 2004
Steve, couldn't have said it better myself. I know there are some here that
think it's great that a doctor requires pre-op weight loss and excerise. I
find it ludicrous. My surgeon and nutrionist have a clear understanding of
the struggles of obese people.Pre-weight loss and excerise was never
required, just a liquid diet a few days before to decrease the fat around
the liver. The psyciatric (spelling?) eval determined whether I had a clear
understanding of what was expected of me after surgery.
— Debbie W.
January 13, 2004
If this had been a requirement for me I would have never been able to get
surgery. I don't even exercise 5 days a week at 11 months PO and have lost
214 lbs and 28 from goal.
<p>I understand that your surgoen is likely looking to see that you
are committed to the PO life. While I did continue to do weight training 2
times a week before surgery I was able to do very little aerobic activity.
Walking hurt like unbelieveable. My hips would cramp somthing awful and
the low back pain was very significant.
<p>My PO exercise came very slowly due to my weight and pain. It
took me till 6 months PO to be able to walk 1 mile continuously without
stopping. From there I worked on increasing the speed and incline to burn
more calories. The distance came fairly quickly after that point but I
needed to get a significant amount of weight off before the body could move
like it should.
<p>I think this surgeon is too overzealous, unless he never deals
with SMO patients. I doubt there was more than a handful of SMO who could
have met this requirement and even the MO many times have significant
physical issues that just does not make this realistic. I don't know what
to tell you. The bottom line is many of the things of PO life we need to
do we cannot do until we are PO and have lost weight. We don't suddenly
wake up from surgery and can walk a marathon. It takes time. I'm glad you
are determined to do your best but don't beat yourself up if you cannot do
that amount of exercise. Work on the 5 days a week and whatever you can do
should be fine, in my opinion. My surgeon would have a good laugh at this
requirement as he knows it is unrealistic for the great majority of
patients they have.
— zoedogcbr
January 14, 2004
Part of the pre-op requirements for my surgeons's office, The Wish Center
is 8 wks of a practice diet with taking of vitamins, water and EXERCISING 6
DAYS A WEEK for 30-45 minutes a day and logging of all my meals. This info
all had to be logged on sheets that the center provided. It really equipped
me for the post op life. I am still at the fitness center 6 days a week, or
sometimes I will walk or ride my bike outside if weather permits. My BMI
was about 6 points lower than yours, I started out at 42. During the 8
weeks time frame I also lost 6# which were not required or planned. It was
great to hear that I was bringing my weight down even before surgery at my
second pre-op appointment. You can do this, you just have to set your mind
to it. You are beginning in the right way by joining a health club, you go
girl. Many doctors like to see a little progress before surgery, it does
not have to be a major thing. It also shows that you are motivated to
continue with the life long program that you will be on post-op.
— ChristineB
January 14, 2004
ps previous poster. By the way my doctor's office requires from all of its
patients the 8 week practice diet with exercise that I just described and
all they do is bariatric surgery. So they are intune with super and
morbidly obese persons.
— ChristineB
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