Alcohol and Pre-Op Diet

michkor · June 20, 2008

I know everyone seems to have a different pre-op diet. I have 2 weeks of liquids with 1 sm Protein rich meal per day. Does anyone know what effects alcohol will have during the pre-op diet? Not a big deal, just trying to gather information so that I understand the whole shrinking of liver thing.

Michee · June 20, 2008

I think drinking alcohol would negate any of the positive benefits of the pre-op.

Alcohol is full of calories and carbs, the idea of the pre op diet (to my understanding) is to consume less, thus losing weight, and thereby shrinking the liver.

Long2BFree · June 20, 2008

I would recommend you contact your surgeon or nutritionist to ask this question. They will be better able to answer your question.

chefsteph · June 20, 2008

I think the main reason for the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver so alcohol would be a big NO NO !!! I was told no alcohol so i didn't even think about it. My pre-op diet was also 2 liquids and 1 sm. meal, it was hard at first but it got alot easier during the second week. Good Luck :smile:

Stephanie

Flowerpurr · June 20, 2008

Everyone is right about the no alchol thing. The problem is you won't be eating any carbs to help asorb it so you are leaving your kidneys and liver to do all the work there for hurting them. Besides after surgery you aren't suppose to drink. So if you are considering drinking through your two week diet you should consider not getting the surgery. Look at it this way do I want to drink or do I want to die early? Simple choice really.

Kat225 · June 20, 2008

NO, NO, NO!!! Alcohol directly effects the liver and if it is the liver that is to be prepared for surgery then....well you know. You wanna make sure your body is in the best possible shape for surgery. It's important to take it seriously.

Northwest_Nance · June 20, 2008

I echo what everyone else has said.... NO ALCOHOL! Even when it's not a pre-op diet but just a regular diet for weight loss, alcohol will slow down your loss. But for the pre-op diet it's even more critical, as several others have said..... the purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver and get it as healthy as possible for surgery. I have heard of surgeries being cancelled AFTER the doctor gets started, because the liver is not in good enough shape to be moved. (Yes that's rare but it happens). So not only would alcohol put a big damper on your ability to lose the pre-op weight the doctor wants you to lose, but it could have a big adverse affect on your liver.

After your post-op diet you can drink when you choose, IF you choose (it WILL slow down your weight loss but I've had the occasional glass of wine and a few White Russians and as long as I plan for them, they haven't hurt me, except it does stall the weight loss for a few days).