Open Surgery?

[amusgrave 22]

Did anyone have to be cut open completely? Or did everyone have just a few small incision

[RawrrAshleex3 137]

5 small incisions, + I had a terrible hiatal hernia repair at the same time.

[amusgrave 22]

I don't understand the whole shrinking the liver thing... What are the chances of it not being shrunk

[RawrrAshleex3 137]

So it does t cause complications or need to be smushed out of the way as much. I ended up back in the hospital for 5 days a week later due to so,even and liver complications.

[karenb4729 309]

I don't understand the whole shrinking the liver thing... What are the chances of it not being shrunk

If you don't follow the preop diet your liver won't shrink. They need to retract the liver to get to the stomach and if it's too large they can't do it. Each Dr has their own way to get the liver smaller but the general rule of thumb is to limit carbs to no more than 50 or less per day for a minimum of two weeks and that puts your body into ketosis which will shrink down the liver however, all it takes is one day where you exceed that 50g carb and you liver will blow right back up. That's what my NUT told me - my Dr required a 30g carb or less diet 30 days before surgery. My liver was the first question I asked when I woke up.... thankfully it was teeny tiny according to the Doc.

[amusgrave 22]

Ok so i cheated and had salt and chili powder on my cucumbers. Do u think i will be ok.

[amusgrave 22]

Im so nervous! I had bread sticks too. Im really nervous. What happens if its too big.

[mesaucedo 207]

If it is too big, they won't do the surgery. Some people on here have had it cancelled. They are cut open and as soon as they see it is too big to safely move out of the way, they pull out, stitch them up and that is it. They have to do the diet all over again.

But it is better that way instead of risking it with a large liver, they could accidentally puncture it and that wouldn't be good.

Honestly, I have seen tons of people on here that have cheated once or twice on their diet and have been fine. But I would not advise anyone to ever do so.

[TCBunny 9]

Did anyone have to be cut open completely? Or did everyone have just a few small incision

I had it done with 1 incision...

[karenb4729 309]

There was someone on here recently that went in for surgery, opened him up and closed him right back up because the liver was too big. Its really about safety because your liver is not an organ to fool around with.

If you cheated on your pre-op its best to come clean with your Dr so there are no surprises.

[amusgrave 22]

I just called my dietician and she said that there is a chance that they will have to do open if the liver is not shrunk enough. Im so nervous I do not want an open surgery. They don't know until the day of.

[EbonyJ 5]

Some people have pre-op diets of 30 days, some are 14 days, some are 10 days and some as short as 3 days. There were 8 people having surgery the same day as me and at least one from each of the Pre-op diets. Everyone had surgery and they all went well. It depends on your size. The larger you are the larger your liver and the longer your Pre-op diet. If you have cheated a little I think you'll be fine. I was on a 14 day diet. I slipped up 2 or 3 times but was very very strict the 3 days before surgery. I lost 12 lbs Pre-op and my liver was normal size.

[RawrrAshleex3 137]

I didn't have one... Between having a lower BMI and it staying steady for 6 months dr said no need liver should be ok.

[amusgrave 22]

Some people have pre-op diets of 30 days' date=' some are 14 days, some are 10 days and some as short as 3 days. There were 8 people having surgery the same day as me and at least one from each of the Pre-op diets. Everyone had surgery and they all went well. It depends on your size. The larger you are the larger your liver and the longer your Pre-op diet. If you have cheated a little I think you'll be fine. I was on a 14 day diet. I slipped up 2 or 3 times but was very very strict the 3 days before surgery. I lost 12 lbs Pre-op and my liver was normal size.[/quote']

Ebony! Thank u so much.. What was Ur weight going into surgery? U seriously made me feel so much better!

[EbonyJ 5]

You're welcome, I'm glad I could help. I was 302 before Pre-op diet, 290 on the day of surgery and I'm now 270 at 3 weeks post-op.