Just got a call from the Doc's Office

OK, the reason for the high protein shake diet pre surgery is usually to shrink your liver or at least firm it up so that the surgeon can pu**** out of the way during Laproscopic Surgery. My surgeon explained that if my liver was too soft he would simply be forced to open me up to do the surgery.
Now I was 459 on the day of my surgery and I was at a Center Of Excellence Hospital. In fact at one of the premiere WLS program hospitals in the nation. We all had the frustrations of delays. It took over a year for me to get everything all set. But after it was all set up everything went fast and smooth. Hang in there it will all come to pass.
Save the 44 to come hunting with me. I will spot you a boar worthy of trophying.
Nick

Thanks I just don't like jumping through hoops.  I am 14 lbs from goal, I am going to bust my ass and give them what they want.. I can't give up now. Last night  I replaced a shake with a small meal. That alone made it so easy.


Man I have to go practice shooting that thing some more. It is not my favorite thing to shoot.. I made the mistake of taking it to an indoor range..  It scared everyone down the lane.  haha the concussion inside is too much. 

It took me 3 years of weekly practice to get dead on with a 44 magnum with a 10" barrel . I began practicing with 44 special rounds until I got use to holding up the heavy gun and could feel comfortable with the heavy length tendency to tip down. I know it seems hard to believe but combined with working out to strengthen my grip and arm muscles it took that long to get good. By the time I took my concealed weapons class I was so proficient that I used my 44 to qualify at the range. I remember the range instructor telling me, "you will never keep up and qualify with a revolver much less a big cannon like that." The law in Michigan requires 50 on target hits out of 200 rounds in a given time limit. After I shot my 50Th shot the instructor tapped me on the shoulder and said "your done you have 50 tens already. I have never seen anyone shoot and reload a big frame revolver so quick and accurately." (I did use speed loaders). My friends use to ask me to come shoot competition bowling pin shooting and beg me to use the 44 mag. The loved seeing the bowling pins fly off the table.
The 44 mag is a deadly accurate weapon in the hands of a trained and practiced shooter. In boar hunting I have found it a great back up gun. The stainless steel Marlin lever action rifle in my Manly Monday posting is a 44 mag carbine which is my prime boar gun. My life has been saved twice from charging boars by my 44 mag. At over 450 lbs I did not have the options of running for shelter or climbing a tree. In both charges I held my ground and relied on my 44 Ruger and my shooting skills to prevail, although I have to admit I wished I could have climbed a tree the one time. when I didn't drop the boar until he was within 15 feet of me. Yes for those that have to ask, I did need new underpants after that. That is one of those times you don't care if you can't trust a fart.
Now as to the sound of a 44 mag it is more punishing than the recoil. I once let an marine *****turned from the gulf try my 44 mag at the range. He fired it once and put it down cussing and swearing at me. On my first visit to a indoor range with it, I got the only lane left in a full range. After I fired my first shot I heard someone say "What the F**k was that?" After firing about 50 rounds, I stepped out of my lane only to find that I was the only person left at the range. The others all left because of the noise. I booked the range at less used hours after that as to not drive others away.
Happy shooting.
Nick

I think most OR "standard" OR tables are rated for 500 pounds.  A 6'4" male at 400 pounds has a BMI of 48 - 49, which in my opinion is not overly high for a WLS program.  You see people with much higher BMIs undergoing WLS on TV and I am pretty sure some of the guys here in the Locker Room must have had surgery at over 400 pounds.  You would think that a center of excellence would be taking care of the high risk or heavier patient population.

Do they want you at 399 for the surgery, because that is your 10% weight loss?  Like others have posted this 10% weight loss makes a huge difference in the safety of the surgery.  Not only does it give your Doc more space to work during the surgery, it also has a big effect on blood pressure, makes it easier for you to breathe (and them to breathe for you during the surgery).  If it is the 10% of body weight it is your Doc, minimizing the risk of complications.

Good Luck, Hang in there and try not to be frustrated

Jim

Hell, My Commercial grade treadmill is rated at 500lbs so I know the hospital table should be at least that too.


The Hospital said they needed the 50lb loss. They are having a committee meeting on April 29th to see if they will drop the weight requirement and do my surg..  They changed hospitals on me but the first one I was supposed to go to only required a 10lb loss..

heck if i know

Update.. I was at 418.8 for 4 days. Now I am at 413.  I am going to give them their 399.    My surgery date is May 8th.. 


I understand the whole thing of shrinking the liver and the safety. I just don't like to be BS'd. 

Give your money to Mexico, not these beurocratic greedy red-taping corporate SOB's. =P from what i've read, it seems so much easier and lighter on the wallet.

Mex never.. I'd only be saving 5000 going there. THat is not worth it to me.

Uniteddude   you said something there I don't understand the releveance of ..  "the hospital wants to be a Center of Excellence" ..   (?)  

  So what exactly do them mean by that  --  they won't operate on WLS patients over a certain weight/BMI???    are they afraid that if a patient has a post-op complication then their hospital won't be in the major leagues?  

  I'd say RUN from that hospital (or shuffle if you have to) now ..  or any hospital that is more concerned with how nice their record looks to others (like to a licensing/certifying agency) than the needs and concerns of their patients  ..        Just IMHO ....


   This reminds me of my former law partner, a criminal defense attorney with a pretty good rep here ..  He once confided to me his felony trial record is so good (i.e. he very rarely loses) in major part due to the fact he won't take a client's case all the way to jury trial no matter how much he's paid if he thinks there's at least a 50/50 chance the jury will find the client guilty ..   Instead, he persuades the client to negotiate out a plea, so that way he doesn't risk tarnishing his rep.     

I see what you mean. They tell me they want me at a Safer, lower BMI.   My surgeon is just using the facilities there. He is not part of this center. Their docs are not touching me.  I did have to use their Dietian but thats about it.   I saw my own dietian as well.