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How much weight loss is enough?

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Posted 6/1/2008 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
     I am new to this forum and think it is a great thing.  One of the things I like so much about this forum is the positive attitudes.  Great bunch of people. 

     I am scheduled for Da Vinci on 6-19-08 and have been trying to lose weight for quite a few months.  It seems now that I have hit a wall, and no matter how little I eat, my weight stays the same.  My Doctor says that he can do the surgery now, but if I could loose another 10 lbs, it would go a lot better.  I am 5'10" and weigh 235, but I am solid and not flabby.  A very slim friend had the same surgery, but he had major continence problems and ED. 

     Does anyone have any experience with being overweight and having the Da Vinci?

     Thanks in advance.  I will post my stats soon as possible.

Posted 6/2/2008 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis, however I will say you will not find a better group of supporters than you will right here.
I am not a good one to share anything about weight. I had radical last July and it was a failed attempt. My weight was 200 and I am 6 1".
I would encourage you not to stop eating, it is crucial that you stay strong and healthy so as to be prepared for life after surgery. Eat smart and exercise as often as you can.
please stay in touch with us.

peace and grace
Dale
Posted 6/2/2008 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
Char1947

Sorry for the reason your here but welcome.  I did not opt for surgery and traveled to Florida from Louisiana for my treatment.  I can not offer anyone advice on surgery but to know that there is a life with this thing we fight.  I have tried for the past 3 months to lose and have made virtually no progress.

You have come to a great place for info and support.

I again  welcome you and hope you will stay with us during your journey.

Richard yeah tongue yeah

Posted 6/2/2008 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Chas,

There's good advice in the preceding posts. Don't stop eating before surgery, you will need all your strength for recovery. I had open surgery and recovered quite easily after exercising as much as I could before. And I was not "in shape" by any measurement. Do what you can but don't overdo it...

Jim
Posted 6/2/2008 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
 

good luck on your surgery.   i was so stressed out before surgery i lost 8 pounds.  also, doctor put me on a liquid diet 2 days before surgery to clean me out and kept me on liquids until i passed gas after surgery.  i lost another 8 pounds.   i was somewhat weak and needed to eat to stay healthy. 

 

Posted 6/2/2008 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Paul's just under 6 foot and 239. He's been that way forever and his surgery/ recovery went better than average.
He hits the treadmill 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes is about all. I wouldn't worry. Eat healthy, cut some carbs and walk 20 minutes 3-4 times a week. You should do just fine. Oh, and stop / start the urine flow every time you go pee between now and surgery. You won't regret it.

Swim
Posted 6/2/2008 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Chas1947

I had open surgery last may and my Dr told he wanted to lose a lot of pounds because I would be better off. I saw a nutritionist at a local hospital and she did a prescription for me and suggested what I could eat and lose weight. You have to be careful with dieting before surgery because you need to keep your stamina up. Get this advise and exercise as much as you can. I was really scared I could not get the surgery because this was the choice I had made for getting rid of PC. Good luck to you and let us know how you are doing.

Mika
Posted 6/2/2008 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum. I will add that it can be helpful to do abdominal crunches prior to surgery. I was in good shape going into the procedure, but think the extra exercise workouts helped.
Posted 6/2/2008 11:15 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for all of the response.

Chas.

Posted 6/3/2008 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Chas,
I am 175cm (5'8'') and at diagnosis weighed 107kg (230 lbs). When I decided to go with surgery (Da Vinci) I really hooked into losing weight during the six weeks prior to facing the knife and lost 6kg (14lbs) by altering my diet and a regime of exercise. Diet changes consisted of restricting red meat to very small portions (replaced by fish and chicken), cutting out things such as biscuits, cake and the like, eliminating fruit juices and softdrink (pop?), consuming much more fruit and vegetables and just generally eating less of the stuff we know adds kilos. Exercise was not over the top but rather consistant walking and abdominal crunches, push ups. I maintained this regime as soon as I recovered from surgery and the weight continues to gradually fall away (currently I have lost a total of 18kg......40lbs) and I have got to tell you I feel a great deal better for it. The Da Vinci went very well and recovery was pretty swift. Initial incontinence was resolved in about 8-10 weeks although, alas E.D. is still a problem.
Good luck with the upcoming surgery.
Bill
Posted 6/5/2008 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Greetings, Chas.  I had open surgery 3 months ago.  Prior to surgery I weighed 245 and am about 5' 11".  I told someone my prostate must have weighed 13 pounds because that is what I lost from the day before surgery until I got home from the hospital.  My doc told me to eat breakfast the day before surgery and after that it was nothing but liquids until I got home from the hospital 2 days after surgery.  I have gained a few pounds back but am still around 240.  I have done very well with incontinence and ED issues.  My doc never said a word about my weight.  All of my post op recovery continues to go well.  Trust you will do great.  We will be praying for you as you face this disease head on and make good preparations.  David

Posted 6/5/2008 2:31 PM (GMT 0)

My doctor suggested that I loose weight 6 weeks before surgery. I was 5’ 10” 232lbs. I started dieting and exercising, was 211lbs the day of surgery. Reducing food intake caused some constipation. I continued on the diet after surgery not wanting to regain what I had lost. Although one of my prescriptions after surgery was a stool softener, it didn't work very well. I continued to have problems with constipation. I controlled it to some degree before surgery with Metamucil, was afraid to take it after surgery because the stool softener warning said don’t take with a laxative. Constipation seems to be one of the side effects of radical surgery, at least temporary, at any rate, I fell into a trap. I now have a serious problem with hemorrhoids which has caused me more pain and has incapacitated more than the surgery. I am happy that I lost the weight and recommend it, just be sensible and avoid the trap that I got into.   

Posted 6/6/2008 12:27 AM (GMT 0)
Ace,
I have the opposite problem. When I changed my diet I eliminated white bread and red meat and dairy products and sugar added foods. Replaced them with fish, chicken, wholegrain bread (limited to 3 slices a day), lots of vegetables (retaining my much loved mashed potatoes) and a whole lot of fruit (at least 7 pieces a day). I also changed my pre-diagnosis of consumption of tea and coffee (about 10 cups a day) to green tea (4 cups) and a couple of glasses of pomegranate juice. I have never had bowel problems before but this diet has really loosened me up.
Bill :-)
Posted 6/11/2008 11:42 PM (GMT 0)

     Thanks again for all of the imput.  With just a week left before Davinchi I guess I will have to go with the weight I have.  It sure was easier to loose weight 30 years ago.

     Chas47

Posted 6/12/2008 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
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Posted 6/12/2008 1:27 AM (GMT 0)
I had open radical and lost 30 pounds from August 25 to Dec. 5 A slim fast shake in the a.m. a salad and soup for lunch and a Healthy Choice TV dinner at night. I went with the Healthy Choice because the 300 calories includes a dessert.
You might want to check out the Science Section of the NY Times a couple of weeks ago regarding a new study on the robotic surgery and complications.
Posted 6/12/2008 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
One more thing .. try Post mini shreaded wheat with blueberries and slim milk. Worked for my bowel situation.
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