How necessary is this pre-op diet?

[gregthegroove 130]

No, by all means question everything. I questioned my dr too about why I had to follow a two week shake diet since I was below goal weight already. He then explained the whole liver thing. I'm just saying, learn to trust on why you need something the doc wants. It's in both your best interests.

[Jersrose43 837]

I'm not sure I made myself clear. I am NOT listening to anyone but my surgeon--I wouldn't even think of not following his instructions. I'm not tempted by anyone else's regimen . . . I was just wondering what other people's doctor's instructions were. The "Tom, d**k and Harry" have no affect on me. I'm just curious why some doctors make it sound so dire and others don't even ask their patients to follow anything. That's it.

My doc has different requirement of length based on patient. So as I stated, he knows your medical history, he knows what you need to do, how far etc.

Don't know about your doc but mine also ordered an abdominal ultrasound to see my pretty innards and gallbladder beforehand. Give him an idea.

[Jersrose43 837]

I'm not sure I made myself clear. I am NOT listening to anyone but my surgeon--I wouldn't even think of not following his instructions. I'm not tempted by anyone else's regimen . . . I was just wondering what other people's doctor's instructions were. The "Tom, d**k and Harry" have no affect on me. I'm just curious why some doctors make it sound so dire and others don't even ask their patients to follow anything. That's it.

My doc has different requirement of length based on patient. So as I stated, he knows your medical history, he knows what you need to do, how far etc.

Don't know about your doc but mine also ordered an abdominal ultrasound to see my pretty innards and gallbladder beforehand. Give him an idea.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Will add only that I've seen from online posts that some WLS patients (most of them were quite large or suffered from something called "fatty liver disease") were required to be on a stringent liver-shrinking liquid diet for up to 4 weeks.

Just be glad you're not on one of THOSE pre-op diets.

And do see if you can find other ways to relax. People on these pre-op diets usually have only one or two rough days of headache, lack of energy, irritation. After a few days, most people just get used to it and plug ahead.

In any event, this part will be over soon.

[Bufflehead 6,358]

@@Luana526 yes, it is online only. I would link you to it, but this site has an auto-linking feature that renders it impossible to link directly to the Unjury site. If you click on the word Unjury in any post it should link you directly to their website. Or just google Unjury chicken Soup.< /p>

[Forsythia 882]

I think it's different for every patients needs. I want to say almost ALL doctors will for sure do a one day to two day all liquid diet before surgery. The two week all liquid pre op diet maybe a requirement for those that are obese or with a higher weight as surgery carries more risks with obese. The main reason is the stomach is located kinda behind the liver and following an all liquid diet will get your liver to use up all it's glucose storage and shrink down and make it less slippery to handle as well. It's a tight space in there so the docs need all the help they can get. Just follow your doctors orders, there's a reason and it's not particular your jobs to question.

Not to mention, it's also good practice to get in a habit and routine. What do you think life will be like post op for two weeks? liquids, shakes and broths.

Neither of the surgeons at my hospital have anyone do a liquid diet - at all. Maybe there are individuals who have special circumstances - fatty liver or something - but the average bariatric patient who uses Northwestern Memorial in Chicago do no liquid diet. And I was over 300 lbs when I started the program. I ate normal food up until the night before my surgery. For everyone here who had to do one, there are lots of us all over the place who had no such mandate.

[Luana526 61]

Sooo interesting . . . my friend in Las Vegas did not have to follow a special diet and my friend here on Long Island (whose starting weight was 420 pounds!) also did not have to follow it. However, two other friends near me DID have to follow it . . . each losing about 30 pounds pre-op. I'm just finding this all interesting. Someone mentioned an ultrasound of my gut--I did have one of those and my doctor said afterwards, "Good! Your liver is nice and small." I wasn't as hungry today. Had my Breakfast Protein Drink, two apples, salad with Protein, and I'm now drinking my second drink which, by the way, is only 100 calories. That's why I think I feel weak sometimes. Thank you, everyone, for responding! I think this forum is GREAT!

[lose4life2 152]

Just finished day one of pre op diet and I'm so tired. It wasn't as hard as I thought although I am now feeling a tad bit of headache trying to emerge. I hope tomorrow isn't bad either, but my stomach growls A LOT!!

[Carol1560 45]

well lets put it into a perspective you might get, how do you like working on raw chicken or raw liver? If it is coated with a slick coating of fat, it is difficult to handle. So with that being said, the diet that you are on will reduce the coating of the fat on your liver, the doctor has to move it to get to your stomach. It is healthier for you to lose that extra fat and it is easier for your surgeon.

WIth that being said, yeah I cheated on my preop diet but I did not go crazy and I stopped all of that within two weeks of my surgery cause I did not want to add any risks to my surgery or my life.

[Luana526 61]

Thank you, but I'm not having a problem "getting" perspective. Just curious what other people's instructions were and why those instructions vary so much from doctor to doctor. I got all the "liver lowdown" on my first visit. I have an undergrad degree in clinical nutrition (yeah, I know, odd) so none of this is over my head.

[maggiemayuk 106]

I don't like the sweet Protein shakes either and only have the Soups - it will be different brands though as I'm in the UK. My hospital asks us to have broths, sugar-free Jello and low-fat/low-sugar yogurts pre-op but I've been using the Soups because the yogurts are too sweet for me. I know that as long as I'm on a ketogenic diet my glycogen will be used up. The only sweet shake I use is vanilla but I drink that hot mixed with coffee for breakfast as I can't face Soup then.

My surgeon emphasised to me how important the liver-shrinking diet is - it's a tricky operation anyway and the last thing you want is to risk complications by having a liver that gets in the way - you'll be under longer too if they're finding it a bit of a struggle to access your stomach.

[Luana526 61]

Thanks for the input! I'm enjoying reading everything . . .

[resipsa89 28]

My doctor does not require a liquid diet except for the day prior to the surgery. The patient coordinator told me that it's because the hospital I am having it done at has an exceptional bariatric center and their tools don't require a small liver. I'll admit that this thread has made me a little nervous though, so maybe I will do a 3 day liquid diet on my own before surgery!

[barriej9 61]

Pre op sucked really bad. I had to keep in mind 2 things. It will make my surgery go batter because my liver will be smaller and easier to operate around. Second it keeps you bowels from being swollen or inflamed. My nurse was saying if they were inflamed there was a greater chance of a nick and infection. I am a teacher and I understand the extra layer of frustration.

[Luana526 61]

Ahhhh, so now I'm getting the bigger picgture. Different doctors, different hospitals, different TOOLS. Interesting . . .