Last minute surgery and Liquid pre-op diet question.

[Paul_Y 3]

I just had my final Dr. visit yesterday (Wednesday) and he had an opening for Monday; I took it. My question is that since I do not have the traditional 2-3 weeks of pre-diet and a full week of liquid diet, what is my best option?

I just checked out the options from Walmart and they have a decent selection of ready shakes:

• SlimFast (high carb/med sugar, moderate Protein, low fat)
• Atkins Advantage (very low carbs/sugar, moderate protein, high fat - 9/3.5g)
• Boost - High Protein (high carb/low sugar, high protein - 25g, low fat)
• EAS Lite - (moderate carb/low sugar, high protein - 20g, low fat) - not Meal Replacement, designed for post workout.

I think the purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver to make the surgery safer; if that is the primary objective, then from the above, the Atkins should be best.

Is there something better that I can purchase local? I got a 4-pack of the Atkins and it tasts ok, but wanted advice before buying more.

My plan was to drink 4-5 meal replacement shakes and then drink 1-2 V8's, but I just noticed that they have 11g sugars each.

[DreamLife36 6]

Try this one from Wal-Mart

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Body-Fortress-2lb-Chocolate-Whey-Protein/10322406

I use it now and it taste's ok.

[Paul_Y 3]

That is exactly what I bought for post-op suppliment, but I was not sure about using it for pre-op. My RD wants me to use nothing but whey Protein Isolate post-op and this is a mix of Isolate and concentrate, but it is half the price of Isolate and I have read a ton of body building forums about the difference. I discovered that the Isolate is better for fast absorbtion after exercise and the concentrate is overall healthier because of the extra amino acids. So I figure that this is a good compromise.

I may have answered my own question from another post in this forum who said the liquid diet should be ~500 calories and no more than 10g carbs per day. It looks like since my focus should be on carbs, I should drink the Body Fortress stuff with 16g carbs per 500 calories vs the Atkins at ~20g per 500 calories.

Hmm, is it total carbs or 'sugars" to keep under 10g per day?

[Forensikchic 528]

I only had six days of preop diet too. I used muscle milk premade banana creme flavor as a meal replacement for Breakfast and lunch and drank crystal lite and diet cranberry juice, Water, etc. Went totally off caffieine and the headache was mean! I got to eat 3 oz of Protein a night with non starchy veggies. That meal at night made it so much easier! I had talapia or chicken and green Beans or something like that. I also walked two miles each day (required). I hope that helps. I lost 9 pounds in 6 days doing that and I was not so deprived because I got to chew for my evening meal.

[emily_0192010 168]

My pre-op was a bit different... it was two weeks super low carb (which I was doing anyways) and then two days of Clear liquids. I would go with whichever is lower carbs.... lowering your carbs helps your liver shrink and that is the ultimate goal of the pre-op diet.

Also, from personal experience the EAS carb advantage from Walmart aren't horrible. I can't drink any except for the regular chocolate one, but that ones tastes pretty good to me.

Good luck!

[RickM 1,753]

I would suggest that you ask your surgeon or his staff what he suggests under the circumstances as you are primarily doing the diet for him - some surgeons do a pre-op diet and some do not. Since the primary rationale for the pre-op diet is to improve liver condition to make the surgery easier for the doc (and therefore on you as well - you want to keep the guy who's digging around inside you happy,) I would ask him.

Since fatty liver is the condition that they are trying to improve upon, I would think (in my non-expert opinion) that the higher fat content of the Atkins variety would be the one that you would want to avoid. I would go for the lowest calorie and highest Protein variety at this point and not get too worried about carb count or anything else until after your surgery (if your doc even cares about counting carbs - many do not.)

Does he do a clear liquid diet the last day or two as most do? If he does, then you should also seek out some of the Isopure clear liquid Protein drinks, (or similar products) and maybe make up some hi-pro Jello with unflavored Protein powder (which is usually acceptable as a "clear liquid".

[legnarevocrednu 47]

I just had my final Dr. visit yesterday (Wednesday) and he had an opening for Monday; I took it. My question is that since I do not have the traditional 2-3 weeks of pre-diet and a full week of liquid diet, what is my best option?

I just checked out the options from Walmart and they have a decent selection of ready shakes:

• SlimFast (high carb/med sugar, moderate Protein, low fat)
• Atkins Advantage (very low carbs/sugar, moderate Protein, high fat - 9/3.5g)
• Boost - High Protein (high carb/low sugar, high protein - 25g, low fat)
• EAS Lite - (moderate carb/low sugar, high protein - 20g, low fat) - not meal replacement, designed for post workout.

I think the purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver to make the surgery safer; if that is the primary objective, then from the above, the Atkins should be best.

Is there something better that I can purchase local? I got a 4-pack of the Atkins and it tasts ok, but wanted advice before buying more.

My plan was to drink 4-5 meal replacement shakes and then drink 1-2 V8's, but I just noticed that they have 11g sugars each.

When I go on my pre diet, I'm only allowed to choose from 3 or 4 different Protein Shakes. I know one of them was Undry which you can only get online, but I believe EAS is the other one. I'm not sure how it tastes, but it's doctor recommended! Do you have a GNC local? I know they are more expensive, but there is more to choose from plus, the people there know what they are talking about. I actually really like going in there! Good luck!

[Paul_Y 3]

No, I have no requirement for two days of clear diet, but I do need to take a colon clense the day before (Magnesium Citrate) at 3pm and 7pm and only Clear Liquids after I start that.

As far as GNC, I do have one of them local, but I have lost all faith in them when the lady told me all of the Protein powders are mostly the same, it doesn't really matter which one I choose.

I have done further google'ing and seem to find that low carb is better than low calorie or low fat diets. But I agree about contacting your surgeon. Mine does not seem to have a preference because it is mainly for the habit for the post-op diet, but I just want to optimize my personal surgery success.