Pre-Surgery Diet

[travelinsnorkel 0]

I'm considering getting the lapband surgery and I'm wondering how everyone does with the pre-surgery diet. It looks like some of you are able to follow it, some not so much. I feel that if I could follow a liquid diet, I wouldn't need the band! I'm sure after the band I will be able to follow the program because I will have no choice, but I don't know how I will do with the pre-diet....

[losingjusme 12]

its not really a question...

if your surgeon requires it, you just do it.

the reason for the pre op diet is to shrink your liver. that makes it easier on the surgeon which ultimately makes it easier on you for recovery.

its normally for a short time (usually no more than 2 weeks) and the surgeons vary greatly upon what they require. i could eat low fat meals twice a day, some people are liquids only.

you can do it!!

[kossde 6]

My pre-op diet starts on Monday. I will have one week of Clear Liquids and then the following Monday, I'm going in for surgery. This is going to be hard! But, I've already instructed my family that they have two choices of things to eat this following week: salad and pizza - the two things that I would rather starve than put into my mouth. I will stock up on sugar free Jello, organic chicken broth, and black / herbal tea.

mmm... Chicken broth :teeth_smile:

But, I'm going to do it. I've worked my butt off for 4 months to get this surgery- no WAY I'm going to risk it by not following the pre-op diet. For one week (if not a moment longer) I can go without food. I'll just have to find other ways to occupy my time - Maybe I'll write a novel about a lady who gets lap band and loses a lot of weight :rolleyes2:

Good Luck to you!

[duweb 0]

Hi...right now I'm on the 6 month diet as a requirement for medicare. I lost 7 lbs. the first week...probably because I'm walking several times a day. As for the liquid diet, I had to do it for 2 weeks several years ago before having hiatel hernia surgery. It really wasn't that bad and I lost 20 lbs. I'm just in the beginning stages of this journey and wanting it to hurry up. Now that I've made up my mind to have the lap band surgery it seems like it will be a lifetime to wait. My husband and I decided to both have the surgery and I think it will be much easier to do this together...I know the dieting is easier since i cook the same thing for both of us! Did anyone else have to diet for 6 months prior to surgery due to insurance? Is anyone from mississippi?

Edited March 29, 2008 by duweb
mississippi gal

[PSTEVENS9 0]

I'm going to swart my pre-op diet on Thursday. It's an Optifast shake, three times a day for three weeks prior to surgery and one week after. I think it will be the hardest thing I've ever done. I had to have blood work done last week and I had to fast for 14 hours. I thought that was tough and it was only a little taste of what's to come. But, I'm determined to do this. The thought of failure is more than I can stand. I keep hearing that I won't be hungry after a couple of days, but I'm sure those couple of days are going to be Hell.:thumbup:

[alice150 0]

I'm with Kossde. Whatever I have to do, I will do. I don't have a pre-op diet. I have 2 days preop clear liquids. In some ways, I think it will be harder because I haven't had to do a liquid diet until 2 day before.

I think you h ave to learn to substitute eating with other things. Reading, crossword puzzles, kudoko, whatever.

Alice

[sophiekitty 0]

My surgery is scheduled for Monday, 3/31. I have 2 days clear liquids pre-op diet. I started the clear liquids today and it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. Although when I went to pick up take-out food for my parents at an Italian restaurant, it got a little difficult. But so far so good.

[travelinsnorkel 0]

Has anyone researched why each surgeon has such different requirements? I wonder how that plays into recovery. It seems like there should be a standard across the board...

[TxChelsey 1]

My surgeon does not reqiure a pre-op diet at all. Just no food or drink after midnight the night before the sugery. I am grateful, as I think it would be a nightmare for me. I do, of course, have the 5 week liquid diet post-op. But I will have a tiny stomach then and won't be hungry all the time!!

[PSTEVENS9 0]

My understanding about the reason for the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver. My surgeon said this makes the surgery a little safer, since they have to move the liver to get to the stomach.

I watch 'Big Medicine' (good show to watch if you're considering this surgery) on the learning channel and I've seen them perform surgery with a large liver and they have to try and move it and keep it out of the way while they do the surgery. Makes sense that it's easier if the liver is smaller.

I would think (just my opinion) that some doctors know it is very difficult for people who have difficulties with food restrictions would figure the people will cheat, so why bother expecting them to do this? Other doctors want you to prove you are dedicated to the process, and treat his as a test. And again others, who are just concerned with making the surgery safer?

[moonshadow2468 0]

I was on opti fast for two weeks pre op. Never cheated at all. The Dr. said the operation was only 12mins!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The recovering was easy. The Dr. said my liver was very small and he didn't have to retract it. Not going to lie the pre op diet was very hard, but for me it was worth it.

[wanda-sc 0]

I have Medicare and when I called they didnt say anything about a 6 month diet. If I "honestly" went on a six month serious diet, my BMI would drop below acceptable. Then I would gain all the weight back. Had you been on diets before? This one really scares me.

[LynneB 0]

I am on day 4 of a 10 day liquid diet. Its not so bad with the exception of the major headaches! I can have 1 can of campbells broth based Soup a day (boy do I look forward to that for dinner!) and all the sugar free jello/popsicles/fudgesicles I want, and all the broth I want. The worst broth IMO is Swansons, the best is called "Better Than Bouillon" I got it at Publix. The veggie & chicken are really good but the mushroom was gross. I also like the GNC Essential Natural Protein, the vanilla cake, chocolate fudge, and strawberry are yummy. So far so good, I havent cheated except for licking the salt off 1 mini fat free pretzel, but I didnt eat it & it sure was hard not to!

It just isnt worth the risk of my Dr closing me right back up if my liver isnt shrunk enough!

[PSTEVENS9 0]

I'm on day two of the liquid diet. The first day was awful. I felt light-headed, nausious and I had a splitting headache. Today has been much better. I had a headache in the morning, but it's gone now and the hunger has subsided. I've had nothing but the three Optifast shakes that I'm allowed. I think I'll be OK and make it through the next three weeks.:cursing: