Liquid Diet - Did you cheat

[*susan* 1,709]

Ok, so, my doctor told me I need to be on my pre-op diet for 2 weeks, 3 if I can. My surgery is two weeks from today. I started the pre-op liquid diet on Monday. I have already lost 5 pounds.

I am now officially starving. I have been very well behaved. The family is having pizza tonight and I so want just one slice. But, I am afraid what will happen if I do. I probably won't, but am just wondering if anyone cheated on their pre-op diet, and if you did, how close were you to your surgery date?

[K@t 38]

Hey Susan,

This question has been posted many times before and the answer is yes, many people cheat on the pre diet (I stress pre, because post op cheating could be dangerous) and I am in the same boat as you, I need to start the liquid diet next week and to be honest I'm not sure how I'm going to do it, but I know it will pay off in the long run, hopefully making recovery easier. ( and less gassy!)

[fiveholts714 0]

I didn't have to do a pre op diet, but if you are trying the shrink your liver then fatty pizza is definately a no no. Leave the house while they eat. I feel for you....

[DonnaB 3]

The first two days of my liquid diet were the worst. I had a horrible headache and stomach PAIN. But I didn't cheat. After the first two days I did fine and so will you.

The doctor has to retract your liver - move it out of the way - to place the band. If the liver is spongey with fat it becomes more difficult and possibly dangerous. The liver starts losing its fat almost immediately when you begin your liquid diet. If you don't believe it, you must have missed Oprah on the day her pet doctor showed actual human body organs on her show! Yikes! That was pretty scary. The worst case scenario is that you go into surgery, have general anesthesia - a risky thing all by itself - and wake up to hear that your doctor could not do the surgery because your liver was too fatty. You'll have gone through the majority of the procedure, have the scars and the recovery pain, but have NO BAND to show for it. AND PAID FOR IT TO BOOT!

My recommendation is to suck it up and forego the pizza. There will be pizza to eat after you've had surgery and have recovered completely. Just keep telling yourself that there will be all kinds of good food to eat - LATER.

Sorry, is that too much tough love? LOL You'll be OK. Another reason to stick with the liquid diet is that your recovery from surgery will be faster and you'll have less pain if you do it. Now would you trade THAT for a slice a pizza?