Liver Reduction Diet or Straight Liquid Pre-Op

[dparciak 4]

Wondering if anyone had the choice between the Liver Reduction diet or liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery. Which did you choose and why?

[GradyCat 3,697]

My surgeon just had me restricted to 1500 calories/day for two weeks pre-op in order to shrink liver. I didn't do liquids only.

[Unstuck 16]

My doctor wants all liquid but the nutritionist that works with him is trying to change his mind into adding lean Protein and low carb vegetables. I went with that because it was so much easier. I did liquids daytime and lean meals for dinner. The only thing I changed was I went all liquid the last 36 hours but that was mostly so I could flush my system. My dr went out of his way to tell me my liver was in perfect shape for the surgery so it worked for me.

[RickM 1,753]

1 hour ago, Unstuck said:

My doctor wants all liquid but the nutritionist that works with him is trying to change his mind into adding lean Protein and low carb vegetables. I went with that because it was so much easier. I did liquids daytime and lean meals for dinner. The only thing I changed was I went all liquid the last 36 hours but that was mostly so I could flush my system. My dr went out of his way to tell me my liver was in perfect shape for the surgery so it worked for me.

Good for your nutritionist! I don't know why some docs still do these liquid pre-op diets - personally, I would avoid those docs if I could (which I did, as our doc doesn't do any pre-op diets.)

To answer the OP's question, no, we didn't have a choice, nor did we have to do a diet. However, if we did, I would choose to keep my diet as close to your long term post-op ideals as possible, to avoid the continual changing up of the diet as one progresses through to one's ultimate maintenance lifestyle. Make the concessions that are needed to accommodate the post-op steps toward "real" food, but keep the vision long term. Unnecessary liquid dieting simply distracts from the long term goal of learning to eat a healthy diet that aids in weight control over your lifetime.

[Ed_NW 684]

High Protein low carb was my pre-op diet. The surgeon told me my liver was perfect. I just had to do a liquid only the day before to clean the pipes.