If you did poorly on the pre-op diet, did it affect your sucess afterwards?

[WeeWers 48]

Hello All,

My doc wanted me to do a 3 week pre-op liquid diet. I feel shame and discouragement that that means I'll do poorly post op -- and not do well losing the weight!

Has anyone ever done well losing weight who did poorly on the pre-op diet?

Thank you,

WeeWers

[Justinh125 472]

The pre-op diet is partially about trying to shrink your liver. When you are in a negative energy balance (calories in < calories out,) your liver will burn its fat for energy. This makes the laproscopic procedure easier.

But I wasn't perfect on my pre-op. Don't tell anyone, but I totally snuck down a big greasy pizza like 3 days before, and it wasn't a big deal. The day before surgery, make sure you do exactly what they say, and the day of surgery, do exactly what they say. I don't think it's a huge deal otherwise.

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

Did your doctor give you reasons why he wants you to do 3 weeks?

I think you might be setting yourself up a little here, if you get folks telling you they cheated or did poorly throughout the pre-op and are losing well, then is that ok?

No one here, outside of a medical professional that is aware of your history, is fit to judge what is best for you.

You have to trust in your surgeron. Its not a punishment, it is to get you in the best possible condition - mentally and physically - for your surgery and recovery. Check out this thread http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/78443-the-pre-op-diet-is-not-a-punishment-its-an-opportunity/

It is a very good read.

I worry when I read folks looking for it to be ok not to follow your surgeons advise. Lots of times things are ok, but do you, or anyone for that matter ,want to be the one that isn't?

Things can happen in the best of circumstances. I think it's the surgeon's job to do their very best, and our job to follow their instructions both before and after surgery.

Best of luck to you.. You are stronger than you think and you can get through the pre-op.

[Justinh125 472]

To be clear, I'm following my surgeon's advice NOW, post-surgery. I basically had a breakdown of sorts and ordered pizza before surgery.

Also, (and maybe this is Justin the lawyer talking,) the surgeon's guidelines are there to protect them from liability as much as to help you get the best results. If I was advising a surgeon, I would tell them to error on the side of extreme caution when advising patients about anything. For example, my surgeon's "official" recommendation is that I wasn't allowed to drive for 2 weeks post-surgery, but the same surgeon told me in real life "off the record" that I could start driving again as soon as I quit taking narcotic pain meds.

[JerseyGirl68 1,172]

To be clear, I'm following my surgeon's advice NOW, post-surgery. I basically had a breakdown of sorts and ordered pizza before surgery.

Also, (and maybe this is Justin the lawyer talking,) the surgeon's guidelines are there to protect them from liability as much as to help you get the best results. If I was advising a surgeon, I would tell them to error on the side of extreme caution when advising patients about anything. For example, my surgeon's "official" recommendation is that I wasn't allowed to drive for 2 weeks post-surgery, but the same surgeon told me in real life "off the record" that I could start driving again as soon as I quit taking narcotic pain meds.

I hear you Justin, in all fairness to you, I must have been typing out my resonse when you posted. So my comments were not directed at yours, just my overall feeling about sticking to what they tell you. And again, simply my opinion.

I agree that the doctors do err on the side of caution, I also think that each of us are at different starting points, different co-morbidities in some cases and different overall health and I like to think our doctors have our best interests in these regards..... while covering their a**es too. :-)

I'm glad you're doing so well!!

[Aussie Ali 13]

I'm on day 4 of my 3 week pre-op diet. Day 3 was the hardest so far. Length of pre-ops seem to differ between dr's. I'm def following it to ensure my body is in the best condition it can be which in turn should lessen complications... Well that's my thinking anyway! Secondly 3 weeks is a tiny part of the rest of my life! Don't put yourself in situations if you think you will be tempted! Stay strong!

[joatsaint 2,814]

The pre-op and post-op diet were 2 different worlds for me. Pre-op, my mind was constantly focusing on what I could eat next. Post-op, those thoughts were completely gone.

I believe it was the reduction of the hunger hormone Ghrelin that kept me hungry all the time. Or maybe I just had to hit rock bottom before I could lose the weight. :-P

If my brain worked pre-op the way it does now, I'd never had needed the surgery and could have lost the weight on my own.

[WeeWers 48]

Hello Jersy Girl,

I think if you go back and re-read my post -- you will see that I was NOT asking people to tell me it's ok not to follow their docs orders.

That was quite a leap.

WeeWers

[No game 14,437]

Hello Jersy Girl' date='

I think if you go back and re-read my post -- you will see that I was NOT asking people to tell me it's ok not to follow their docs orders.

That was quite a leap.

WeeWers[/quote']

So what do you mean? Shame? Shame that he's making you do it?

Shame and discouragement because you can't stick to it?

[No game 14,437]

To be clear' date=' I'm following my surgeon's advice NOW, post-surgery. I basically had a breakdown of sorts and ordered pizza before surgery.

Also, (and maybe this is Justin the lawyer talking,) the surgeon's guidelines are there to protect them from liability as much as to help you get the best results. If I was advising a surgeon, I would tell them to error on the side of extreme caution when advising patients about anything. For example, my surgeon's "official" recommendation is that I wasn't allowed to drive for 2 weeks post-surgery, but the same surgeon told me in real life "off the record" that I could start driving again as soon as I quit taking narcotic pain meds.[/quote']

So.... If you know the inside story as to why they would be covering their asses (hence the pizza) pre-op.

Surely the post op diet would be partially a scam too! All of this nefarious advice our doctors give!

[Justinh125 472]

So.... If you know the inside story as to why they would be covering their asses (hence the pizza) pre-op.

Surely the post op diet would be partially a scam too! All of this nefarious advice our doctors give!

I think you misunderstand the word "scam." I don't think anything they say is a scam at all. It's all legitimate good advice. What I meant was that, doctors have to protect their patients for the "worst case scenario." Example:

Let's say Stomach Medicine A will cause your stomach to explode post-surgery for 5% of the patients, but not cause any problems for 95%. The doctor would be out-right unethical to say anything other than, "if you take Stomach Medicine A, your stomach will explode." Now, for 95% of the people, it won't happen, but the doc needs to look out for the 5% that might have the problem. It wouldn't be a "scam" at all. It would be ethical.

Would I choose to gamble that I could be one of those 5%? I guess it's up to me if I'm willing to gamble with my health.

Would I have felt bad if they had to cut me open for surgery because the pizza made my liver too big? Probably, but I took a risk, and they were able to do it laproscopically anyways.

[No game 14,437]

I think you misunderstand the word "scam." I don't think anything they say is a scam at all. It's all legitimate good advice. What I meant was that' date=' doctors have to protect their patients for the "worst case scenario." Example:

Let's say Stomach Medicine A will cause your stomach to explode post-surgery for 5% of the patients, but not cause any problems for 95%. The doctor would be out-right unethical to say anything other than, "if you take Stomach Medicine A, your stomach will explode." Now, for 95% of the people, it won't happen, but the doc needs to look out for the 5% that might have the problem. It wouldn't be a "scam" at all. It would be ethical.

Would I choose to gamble that I could be one of those 5%? I guess it's up to me if I'm willing to gamble with my health.

Would I have felt bad if they had to cut me open for surgery because the pizza made my liver too big? Probably, but I took a risk, and they were able to do it laproscopically anyways.[/quote']

No I didn't misunderstand the word scam...

I was making a joke.

But let me ask you this. If the doctor cut you open and operated, and in the process of doing so, nicked your liver or something worse resulting in long term complications. would you fess up about the pizza or world you have taken legal action??

Oh by the way another joke.. Get it? you're a lawyer?

Ok not that funny of a joke...but I'm not a comedian (or a doctor).

[Justinh125 472]

No I didn't misunderstand the word scam...

I was making a joke.

But let me ask you this. If the doctor cut you open and operated, and in the process of doing so, nicked your liver or something worse resulting in long term complications would you fess up about the pizza or world you have taken legal action??

Oh by the way another joke.. Get it? you're a lawyer?

Ok not that funny of a joke...but I'm not a comedian (or a doctor).

Well, there would be no grounds for a lawsuit if the doctor harmed me in the ordinary course of the surgery. Unless you have a really messed up surgeon that is grossly negligent or something, or live in a jurisdiction with more "patient friendly" med-mal laws, the doc would practically have to chop you up with a chainsaw for you to have a claim.

And furthermore, I totally fessed up and told him, and he said "3 slices of pizza 5 days ago isn't going to make a difference today." He also pointed out that I shouldn't ever, nor would I probably ever be able to eat 3 slices of pizza in one sitting ever again anyways.

But see, I lost 7 lbs in the 3 weeks before surgery. He can't say "eat pizza" because then people would eat pizza every day and gain weight before surgery.

[No game 14,437]

Well' date=' there would be no grounds for a lawsuit if the doctor harmed me in the ordinary course of the surgery. Unless you have a really messed up surgeon that is grossly negligent or something, or live in a jurisdiction with more "patient friendly" med-mal laws, the doc would practically have to chop you up with a chainsaw for you to have a claim..[/quote']

Why did I know your were going to say this??

[kailie 238]

Are you feeling shame for your 3 week pre op diet because you feel your doctor thinks you need to lose more to perform surgery? Or shame because you will cheat through out those 3 weeks?

No joke my surgeon told me if I was going to cheat-fine but I best make sure I was still losing weight and not to go crazy. If your doctor feels you need a 3 week pre op it's honestly in your best interest. If its bothering you this much maybe you should call and ask why?