preop-surgery-postop advice

[vegasgirl44 0]

LateBloomer! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I thought it was honest and entertaining. I think one of the great things about this site is that we get to read everyone's experiences before, during, and after the band. I just had my psych eval and nutrition visit today--surgeon appointment on the 15th, and God willing, I could have surgery in a few weeks. I have been reading everything I can, copying and pasting notes and lists of things to buy, and loving the whole thrilling process. I appreciate all posts, especially yours. The funny thing is when you talked about your period. I wondered the same thing and you answered the question for me. Many people would consider that TMI, but not me! LOL! I loved your post! Right up my alley, baby!

[clayverde 2]

You know, I am going to have to agree with Apple2 on this one - while she may have been too short with how she said it, I think she has a valid point. The liquid pre op diet is not a test of character or anything like that. It is for a very specific reason - not to shrink the liver as so many people post, but to reduce the fat and sliminess of the coating of the liver. The surgeon has to push the liver out of the way to get to the stomach and put the band on. The liver is a very fragile organ and more prone to damage. So if the liver has less fat surrounding it and is less "slimy" it is easier to keep it out of the way without damaging it. Which is safer for you. And the recovery can be much slower with some damage to the liver or if the surgeon had to do more digging around inside to get the band on. No long term damage but more bruising of tender organs which translates to more aches for the patient. I'm sure many surgeons don't require this either because they know they will be able to band the stomach regardless, or because the patient doesn't have as high a BMI as someone else and therefore doesn't have as much fat around the liver, or maybe a dozen other reasons that are particular to the doctor or the patient. And I definitely agree with you that you shouldn't be ashamed or have to hide the fact that you may have cheated or slipped off the wagon - this is very difficult and many people are going to slip up and it helps to see that someone else did it and came out okay - you really don't want to slip up and eat sherbert and then read that sherbert reacts with the meds they give you and means death!! So yeah, it is important for people to be able to read that someone else had the same difficulties and slipped up and breath a sigh of relief. However, I think that it is CRUCIAL to emphasize the importance of following the diet as strictly as possible. It is to help YOU!! I am dying right now to eat anything, but I also really want the best possible outcome for my surgery and that is more likely by following the diet. Many people ate anything and everything before the surgery and turned out fine, but why chance it if you don't have to? Some people smoke their entire lives and don't get cancer, but who wants to gamble like that? So - to sum up - don't beat yourself up if you slipped. Don't be ashamed. Do brush yourself off, remember why it is so important to follow the diet and try again. Good luck everyone!!

[Mommy.ArmyWife 6]

Actually, my doctor said it IS to shrink the liver. That is exactly what my doctor told me. The liver absorbs so much fat from our diet, and restricting calories and fat can shrink it to normal size. At least that's what my doctor told me. And, judging by the surgery I watched on YouTube, they aren't as fragile as you'd think! That liver retractor was scary!