Pre Surgery Questions

cheryl1952 · 06-29-2008, 10:25 PM

I would like to know if any of you started a diet early to try and shrink your liver for surgery. I would like to go ahead and do that even though I haven't had an appointment with the surgeon. How can I get access to this? Also, does insurance keep on paying for your fills?

Nancy33 · 06-29-2008, 10:54 PM

Have you gotten your approval for insurance yet? Some companies require you to see other doctors and if you are able to lose by other means you will not be approved. Be careful, that said, your surgeon will tell you how to lose the weight you need to lose before surgery.
Everyone has a different story on what is required, some people go on liquid diets, some do other methods but the diet the surgeon puts you on the last couple of weeks before surgery is never fun. I get a fill every month and my insurance has paid. Of course I had to repay my deductable at the beginning of the year. Fills can be expensive, my doctor requires the x-ray tech to take pictures at every visit.

Jodi_620 · 06-30-2008, 06:24 AM

I agree with Nancy. Just wait until you are two weeks pre-op then start your recommended diet. The diet is different depending on the doctor but most are liquid protein diets which are very difficult and there really is no reason to do it any longer than the recommended two weeks. Since the first place that fat leaves our body when we diet is our liver, two weeks will be plenty of time to get the fat from yours. If you are on the higher end of the BMI scale and want to drop a few pounds you could just lower your food intake but it really isn't necessary.

You should check with your insuarance company to see if they cover fills, they all have different guidelines.