Question about pre-op diet

[Tampagirl 2]

From everything I have read... It looks like you have to go on a 2 week liquid diet prior to getting band. Why is this? I feel that would be extremely tough. Not to be snarky but I feel that if I was capable of that, I would not need the band.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Not every surgeon requires that. Some actually require a longer diet, some don't require any pre-op diet at all. It all depends on your surgeon.

The 2 week pre-op diets are rough but necessary when a surgeon requires it. They're not to lose weight but rather to shrink the liver. In obese people, the liver is extremely enlarged and fatty, making it very difficult to handle without injury during surgery. With Lap Band surgery, the surgeon has to be able to move the liver out of his way to band the stomach. So, a lot of times they put you on a pre-op diet to shrink the liver.

It's definitely a diet that you must stick to if given one, too. I've read many cases of people going in for Lap Band surgery and coming out with all the scars but no band because when the surgeon got in there, the liver was too big to proceed safely so they closed the patient right back up.

Just remember, if you are asked to do a 2 week liquid diet, it's only 2 weeks out of the rest of your life. You can handle it.

Best wishes.

[dolphintattoo 96]

My surgeon also has you on liquids 2 weeks post surgery and has said if you can't handle the 10 day pre op, you are not a good candidate b/c not following a strict diet after will lead to complications.

[Jewelsm1127 351]

Not all docs require a liquid diet. Some require none and others require Atkins style, etc. The reason they do it is to decrease the fat around the liver which lays right in front of the stomach and they have to lift it up and out of the way during surgery. I had to do Bariatric Advantage Protein Shakes and sugar free Clear Liquids for 15 days before surgery. To me it was all part of the process of getting ready to get banded. I think it also helped me get mentally ready for the band by not being able to eat solid foods and having to exercise self control to get there. Keep in mind as others say...you do have to use self control with the lap band. You can have just about all the foods you eat now and those slide right through and you can gain weight anyway. A lot of people have to fight head hunger. You may not be hungry but you can still down a pint of ice cream even if you are banded. My doc made darn well sure I was very well informed before having the band done. In my opinion you have to be very mentally ready to get the band. Browse the other threads and you will see a lot of posts from newcomers wondering why the band isn't stopping them from eating. It was a great choice for me but I say research research and research to make sure it is the right choice for you. I wish you lots of luck and success!

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

My thoughts exactly. Don't get the band if you expect it to do the work for you. It won't. You will have to work hard to change your eating and living style if you expect to be successful. Not be snarky, but ask any bandster here who has lost significant weight. It ain't easy. I would talk with the doc and psychologist about your decision. Seriously... I am concerned for your success.

[Maddysgram 6,159]

I was one of the lucky one's and did not have a pre op diet, b/c I had already lost weight before banding. My Dr will order a 2wk liquid diet if need be. So it is a patient by patient choice.

If you look at my ticker, that weight loss was all me, not the band. I have not received enough fills for restriction yet. So at the beginning it is "just another diet", but this time with a tool to help reaching goal and staying there.

[FLORIDAYS 3,040]

From everything I have read... It looks like you have to go on a 2 week liquid diet prior to getting band. Why is this? I feel that would be extremely tough. Not to be snarky but I feel that if I was capable of that, I would not need the band.

I use dr Aquila in Tampa and he requires it to shrink the liver and teach you to live with out eating. Even 3 weeks for some depending on the amount of belly fat you have. It's imperative that you are committed to following drs orders or the band isn't the right choice for you. Not to be a Debbie Downer but you are smart to explore your options before being banded rather than regret being banded.

Things I had to do to be successful we're....

No carbonation ever again from the start of the pre op diet

Count and track every calorie I put in my mouth during the losing stage and even now that I am maintaining I still keep track in my head so I don't gain

Learn to use a food scale and be religious about it

Stop drinking liquid with my meals

Survive on 3 oz Protein, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 of starch at every meal

Stick to 1000 calories to lose weight

Give up alcohol while losing except for the occasional indulgence...and I do me occasional

Eat liquids for 4 weeks then mushies for 10 days

Visit my dr monthly for most of my losing..about 18 months. My dr charges 50 for office visits and 100 if you get a fill for self pay patients

Attend support meetings

These are just some of the things I thought of off the top of my head. And keep in mind they are what my drs orders were...they vary depending on the drs school of thought but basically they are pretty similar.

[merika0821 7]

From everything I have read... It looks like you have to go on a 2 week liquid diet prior to getting band. Why is this? I feel that would be extremely tough. Not to be snarky but I feel that if I was capable of that' date=' I would not need the band.[/quote']

My Dr did require a 2 week liquid diet but I saw it more as a practice for after surgery. Imagine little restrictions then bam only liquids plus you just had surgery and miserable from that. The liquid diet made it easier for me when I was healing from surgery and plus you lose weight to jump start your new life!

[Maddysgram 6,159]

My Dr did require a 2 week liquid diet but I saw it more as a practice for after surgery. Imagine little restrictions then bam only liquids plus you just had surgery and miserable from that. The liquid diet made it easier for me when I was healing from surgery and plus you lose weight to jump start your new life!

Great attitude!