Just started 2 week pre-op liquid diet

[kid 1]

OH MY GOSH!!! I'm on the 2nd day of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. I'm feeling hungry most of the time and I feel stressed out. I've been "snapping" at my husband too. HELP!!!

[klutzyazhel 0]

Hey kid, I am not day 13, it WILL get easier...Hang in there! Is it ALL liquid? And can you have caffiene? I am lucky, I get 1 meal too, but it is still hard, but I also know that it's what's required for the surgery...Have you lost any weight yet? I am down 13 pounds, it's a great jump start..It'll all be worth it soon enough..Good luck!:shades_smile:

[poodles.me 0]

I am also wicked snappy at everyone. I wonder if its not withdrawal too. Of course injesting only 800 or so calories will probalby do it as well, but I wonder about the carb connection.

How does the all liquid work? I might try it for the next week. I am really motivated to lose as much as I an up front to jumpstart things.

Can you share your diet/day with me?

[Stephanka917 0]

OH MY GOSH!!! I'm on the 2nd day of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. I'm feeling hungry most of the time and I feel stressed out. I've been "snapping" at my husband too. HELP!!!

Hi there,

I am on day 3 of my "All Liquid" diet- my nutritionist said if I feel weak (yes) I can trade a nasty Slim-Fast for a small portioned meal. I just had a 1 cup serving of spaghetti and meat sauce and I couldn't finish it! But it was nice to CHEW!!!!

Good luck!

~Steph

[Stephanka917 0]

Oh! sugar free popsicles are good, too!

[Deb A 0]

What is this about a pre-op liquid diet? Is this standard procedure? I haven't read anything about it in the info I've looked into... :shades_smile:

[kelli130 0]

The liquid diet is required for a number of reasons. 1. Some doctors want you to lose 2-5% of the weight before surgery. 2. You will lose fat from your liver. The liver is right where the band needs to be. They will retract the liver, but it still needs to be shrunk. Some doctors will actually postpone the surgery if they open you up and the liver is too fat. 3. This diet prepares you for the way you will eat after the surgery. Remember, your recovering from major surgery and your stomach will need time to heal.

The liquid diet was definitely very difficult. You just have to keep the goal in sight! I would say the first 3 or 4 days was the hardest. I was also a diet coke addict and gave that up during this time too. My physician liason told me that warm liquids actually make you feel fuller. I rewarded myself each evening with a cup of warm beef or chicken broth at dinner time.

I hated the shakes, but I downed them quickly. I drank a lot of propel Water and chewed a lot of sugarless gum. I was thankful my husband was very understanding. I bought convenience foods that he could fix for dinner and I went back to the bedroom during dinner so I didn't have to be around the food.

Just remember why your doing this. Keep your eye on the prize. I didn't find this sight until a couple of days before surgery. I wish I had found it when I started the liquid diet and I would have been on here for distraction.

Good luck. We've been there and we'll be here if you need us. Your life is about to change.....for the better! Good luck!

[Stephanka917 0]

The liquid diet is required for a number of reasons. 1. Some doctors want you to lose 2-5% of the weight before surgery. 2. You will lose fat from your liver. The liver is right where the band needs to be. They will retract the liver, but it still needs to be shrunk. Some doctors will actually postpone the surgery if they open you up and the liver is too fat. 3. This diet prepares you for the way you will eat after the surgery. Remember, your recovering from major surgery and your stomach will need time to heal.

The liquid diet was definitely very difficult. You just have to keep the goal in sight! I would say the first 3 or 4 days was the hardest. I was also a diet coke addict and gave that up during this time too. My physician liason told me that warm liquids actually make you feel fuller. I rewarded myself each evening with a cup of warm beef or chicken broth at dinner time.

I hated the shakes, but I downed them quickly. I drank a lot of propel Water and chewed a lot of sugarless gum. I was thankful my husband was very understanding. I bought convenience foods that he could fix for dinner and I went back to the bedroom during dinner so I didn't have to be around the food.

Just remember why your doing this. Keep your eye on the prize. I didn't find this sight until a couple of days before surgery. I wish I had found it when I started the liquid diet and I would have been on here for distraction.

Good luck. We've been there and we'll be here if you need us. Your life is about to change.....for the better! Good luck!

Kelli-

Did you stay off the Diet Coke??? I am a DC JuNkIe and I have no idea how I will live without my chemical cocktail! Did you get massive headaches from caffeine withdrawals?

~Steph

[kelli130 0]

hey steph! yes, i have stayed off the diet cokes. my doctor told me i needed to stay away from carbonation once my band is in. he told me that the acid and carbonation can errod (sp) the band. I have read the tread about the others having terrible gas. I don't know if they are drinking carbonated beverages or not, but "knock on wood" I am not having any problems with gas. My surgeon also said it can cause esophagas (sp) problems.

I didn't quit it right away. I didn't want to start a liquid diet and quit d.c. at the same time, that would be hell. I was on a two week liquid only diet. I told myself I would quit the d.c. on the monday before my wednesday surgery. we had a birthday party that saturday night at Chuckie cheese for my 8 year old daughter. That was torture! I was in tears from hunger, but I had my diet coke and that saved me from taking a bite of pizza! Sunday was the next day and we had some yucky weather so I didn't go anywhere and I had no diet coke in the house. I just laid around most of the day and did laundry. I also took a nap that day. I really didn't have a bad headache, suprisingly. I told my husband if I had known that diet coke the night before was my last, I would have enjoyed it more.

I woke up Monday and went to work and didn't have much of a headache at all that day. It was hard to drive my my local Speedway and not pick up my morning fix.

I can tell you this. Those Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights before my surgery were the best night sleeps I had ever had!

I am still caffiene free today and no carbonation. I drink a lot of Propel black cherry and kiwi strawberry waters. It wasn't as hard as I had anticipated. If you want to wean yourself of the caffiene, switch to ice tea with caffiene. Just make sure you are drinking plenty of Water so the caffiene does not dehydrate you.

You can do this. I used to be a Mountain Dew junkie and I quit that and switched to diet coke.

There are two more benefits to quiting the diet coke. 1. My stomach was flatter, no more bloating. 2. Artificial sweetner can also make your body crave sweets. It has something to do with the insulin, blah, blah, blah. (my endocrinologist told me this) well, she was right. i don't crave the sweets anymore either. who knew!?

good luck. quiting will be the best thing for you! i'm here if you need me!

Edited December 20, 2008 by kelli130

[Big08 0]

I'm certain this is a testament to my "problems" with food, but the two week pre-op liquid diet has me the most concerned, even over having "elective" surgery. I will start my two week pre-op on the 8th of January. I'm not looking forward to it.

[sandielaw 0]

Oh yeah...the liquid diet is no fun. Not only are you cutting back dramatically on calories, but you're hardly consuming any carbs.

Aside from being ravenously hungry, I remember being irritable, weepy, forgetful, and downright stupid. I snapped at everyone who even looked at me funny. I'd cry at the drop of a hat. I can't tell you how many times I forgot basic and obvious things or walked into a room without a clue why I was there. Worst of all, I had a hard time concentrating on anything. I would forget what I was talking about mid-sentence at work...embarrassing.

BUT...it will be over soon. You'll still be hungry after the surgery, but you'll probably be allowed to have a bit more in terms of carbs. Check with your surgeon though...

Remember, the pre-op diet is about shrinking your liver and losing some weight. But you're on liquids post-op because it puts less stress on your system, allowing you to recover faster. So don't panic if you're still hungry and not losing weight right after the surgery. The band won't work if you're not healthy.

[poodles.me 0]

hey steph! yes, i have stayed off the diet cokes. my doctorThere are two more benefits to quiting the diet coke. 1. My stomach was flatter, no more bloating. 2. Artificial sweetner can also make your body crave sweets. It has something to do with the insulin, blah, blah, blah. (my endocrinologist told me this) well, she was right. i don't crave the sweets anymore either. who knew!?

quote]

I agree with what your endo told you about the artificial sweetner but wont the same thing happen when you drink the other stuff like propel and fruit 2o etc.? Or what about the sugar free Protein shakes? SO much stuff has that fake sugar. I am really sensitive to it and it will keep me up at night if I drink certain types.

So can I ask you, are you hungry now? What are you eating?

Today has been hard for me b/c although i did the modified version of the pre-op (mine is 3 shakes and a small meal) this week, today starts the official 10 days till and now that I know I have no choice its harder. I'm hungry.

Especially when I'm sitting next to hubby who just polished off about 7 cups of Cereal in one sitting....no exaggeration. This will be harder on me b/c of lack of support and that I still have to cook for everyone else...ugh...:tongue_smilie:

[mlafentres 0]

I'm a newbie here and I seen this post and just had to ask if any of you are experiencing nightmares or vivid dreams while on your pre-op diet?:tongue_smilie:

I hardly ever dream and I didn't know if the experience I had last night will be something I need to prepare myself for.

My pre-op diet is just a bit over 30 days long and I'm on day 5.

Thanks

[Stephanka917 0]

I'm a newbie here and I seen this post and just had to ask if any of you are experiencing nightmares or vivid dreams while on your pre-op diet?:tounge_smile:

I hardly ever dream and I didn't know if the experience I had last night will be something I need to prepare myself for.

My pre-op diet is just a bit over 30 days long and I'm on day 5.

Thanks

Hello,

I have been having crazy vivid dreams, but I am also taking Chantix to quit smoking (IT WORKS!!!) and that is a big side effect of that med.

Good luck, we have to remember all the hard work is worth it!

~Steph:thumbup:

[lyndzileigh 0]

Kelli-

Did you stay off the Diet Coke??? I am a DC JuNkIe and I have no idea how I will live without my chemical cocktail! Did you get massive headaches from caffeine withdrawals?

~Steph

I (thank goodness) do not have to give up caffine. What I can tell you is I am having a horrible time this past week with the diet. I cheated so many times it was unreal. I was good each day until around 7 pm..then I was starved. I told myself I have to do this diet this week..or my band might be put on hold for the 29th...:tounge_smile: