Pre-Op Diet...friend Or Foe

[Cat Scratch Fever 2]

​Hey there! I am new to this site and I thought I would ask a question to see what people theought about this pre op diet. I was FINALLY approved by my insurance a week ago and went to see my surgeon and get a surgery date yesterday. It will be on June 5th. While speaking to him, I noticed he didn't have any instructions on a pre-opt diet so I asked. I had been reading and hearing alot of people had been instructed to do so and was curious. My doctor told me that pre-op diets in his opinion were "torture" and a two day liquid diet would be sufficient pre surgery. I was blow away by this so I wanted to hear other folks thoughts on this. The only thing he suggested I do was try to loose between 5-10 lbs by my surgery date and to make sure not to gain as that would make my liver enlarge and make the surgury more difficult. For those of you who have done it what do you think and what would have been your reaction to this interesting news?

I look forward to reading your feedback and documenting my journey. Thanks in advance!

XOXO

Cat

[JDHenin 165]

I say lucky you! I had to do a week. It was hard.

[kwindham 57]

My surgery is scheduled for Monday, April . My surgeon only requires 2 days of liquid diet preop! Yay for Me!

[Cat Scratch Fever 2]

DO you think the liquid diet helped? I'm trying to decide if I should do it or not. Thanks for the posts!

[Back~To~Amy 307]

I actually considered looking for a surgeon who doesn't use a pre op diet. I haven't started mine yet, but I'm sooooooooo dreading it. Count yourself as lucky!

[LTARLTON 7]

My surgery is April 24th and my doctor only required me to be on liquids 24 hrs prior to my surgery. Part of me is thankful but part of me thinks I should do a couple of days anyway. Just so the post-op liquid diet is not such a shock.

[DaniEA 10]

My surgery is April 25th and I've had to be on a all Protein Shake diet for 16 days....i agree w your Dr. It is torture!!! I have cheated a few times and then I feel so guilty I freak myself out into considering cancelling all together! I have a lower bmi and have lost 20lbs since last Tuesday!!! Im thankful for that and Im sure it will make post op easier but..... Torture is the right word!

[DaniEA 10]

My surgery is April 25th and I've had to be on a all Protein Shake diet for 16 days....i agree w your Dr. It is torture!!! I have cheated a few times and then I feel so guilty I freak myself out into considering cancelling all together! I have a lower bmi and have lost 20lbs since last Tuesday!!! Im thankful for that and Im sure it will make post op easier but..... Torture is the right word!

[Lyra 43]

I'm going into day 3 of a 7 day liquid diet. Although my doc wants us to only have 20g of Protein a day, low sugar and low fat rather than just stick to Protein Drinks. So we can have clear broth, sugar/fat free pudding, fat free and no added sugar yogurt. Which really doesn't fill you up at all. Honestly, though, it's uncomfortable (I'm not gonna lie) but if you space your 'food' out evenly I've found that while you're hungry you're not "I will kill somebody if I don't eat a burger right now" hungry. It's not fun, but it's doable.

[Smoggy 152]

My surgery is not until July 2nd, and I just had my consult today. My surgeon also said no "set" liquid preop diet would be necessary. He advocated eating high Protein in the run-up to the surgery, light meals the week before and liquid the last couple of days. I will try to lose as much as I can between now and then, and get a bit fitter as I think it will just make it an easier surgery both for me and him.

[Bubbaloo10 55]

The two week liquid diet is something that some doctors require and others don't. I had to go two weeks and it was miserable on the first two or three days, then smoothed out. The biggest problem I found with it was that your social life doesn't stop just because you're on a liquid diet. We went to a community potluck dinner for Easter and it was hard to watch others feast while sucked on my little Protein Shake. A couple days later, we went to a western dinner show and BBQ and it was the same experience. If you can control your environment, it is more doable than if not. It is tough, but you can get through it. If nothing else, it shows a commitment to this process. I lost 11.6 lbs in 14 days before surgery and I honestly believe it made a big difference in how well I bounced back after surgery. I'm only 5 days post op and I believe I had fewer aches, pains and problems because of it. Don't stress over it. If the doc requires it, just do it. If he doesn't, all I can say is LUCKY YOU!