Has anyone NOT done the pre op diet....what happens?

[jkrej]

I have a vacation scheduled returning on December 17. I want to schedule my surgery before the end of the year, so will be limited in time...and to be honest....not sure I can do a liquid diet. What happens if you don't?

[Texas76058]

I think many of the Dr's have different pre-op diets. I'm a newbie here, so probably not much help. I have heard of some people thinking they are going in for surgery, only to wake up and the Dr didn't do it because the liver was to fatty. I know it's hard, good luck whatever you decide to do! Keep us posted!!

[Charly144]

Hi there, the pre-op diet is very important - it is to shrink your liver so that the surgeon can get access to your stomach. If you don't do it, the potential is that the surgeon cannot operate or cannot operate laproscopically.

In the UK we have a choice of 3 pre-op diets. One is all milk based and the decond very dairy based as well. I am dairy intolerant so could not do either so i followed the third diet which allowed solid food like white/green vegetables a very very small amount of protein (meat or cheese) and lots of other bits and bobs. It was all weights of food and measurements and I was fine on it.

I know you desperately want the op before 2013 but you need to do it right and prepare yourself and your body correctly.

Best wishes,
Charlotte x

[zmdh39]

Lots of people have different diets and some non at all. Just call you doctor and ask him what the purpose of the diet it and that will tell you if you have any real leeway with it. I know of some doctors who use it to shrink the liver, and if your liver has not shrunk enough, they will actually close you right back up and not do the surgery. I also know some doctors that use it more as a tool to getting you to eat healthier, lose weight, and really just want you to do it as a way of getting you used to limiting yourself mentally. I think it is extremely important for you to follow whatever guidelines your doctor set out for you, he does it so that you can be a success. With that being said did I follow my 10 day liquid diet perfectly...ummm...no. I cheated here and there on it on the 5th or 6th day, but it was never more than a bite or two of some real food. I know it seem impossible, but after about the 3rd day its really not that bad, your real battle will be with you head, not your tummy...so it is really good practice for you to start telling yourself no. I am almost a month out and my head still hasn't caught up to where my body is at...its a hard thing to do...just keep practicing making the right choices, and eventually both head and body will get there. Good luck

[gemini*eyes]

most people that are really large need one to shrink the liver so its not in the way. at least half the threads I've read people do no pre OP at all. just the 12 hrs prior to surgery I think nothing.. my BMI is 37 I have no pre OP and surgery next week. I've been eating like no tomorrow and I'm at an all time high weight because of it. I have heard that people that do a long liquid diet lose slower at first since they already had a head start.. some people think it helps you after surgery to see what the liquid phase is like.

[Laural]

Like everyone above has said, every Dr. instructs pre-op diets differently. The reason for it is to shirnk the liver. My Dr. had us do 1 week of 2 protein shake and 1 meal then the 2 days before surgery, it was the all liquid diet.

Best wishes!

[Grace]

I had no preop but to do liquids the day before...BUT...I had to lose 20 lbs before I could even see the surgeon and keep it off for the 6 wks between then and surgery. They weighed me at the hosp the day of surgery and would have cancelled if it was evident I'd been binging.
It's for your own safety! And, it's about your body not going into shock getting no food all of a sudden after surgery, it's about helping your brain adjust. It's not just the doc being pushy.

[itchycat55]

My pre-op was 2 weeks long, 11 days of 2 protein drinks and a dinner of lean meat and salad or veggies of some sort, then 3 days of liquid diet, broth, jello, juice, water, popsicles. By the time I was checked in for surgery I could have chewed my arm off, but I was determined to do what I was asked to. It is all part of the journey and how bad you want it.
I kept telling myself it is only a few days out of my life, so why don't I do something good for myself...
I lost 37.4 lbs in that 2 weeks! I was over the moon at the weigh in at the hospital.
And yes, different Drs, different pre-ops...just ask the Dr. why, what and how.

[foodlover]

Hi there my pre op diet was 8 odd days and O boy did I Not follow it! Lol two days before the surgery I ate everything that I was going to miss eating. My surgery went fine I'm two weeks out... My surgeon said mine was the easiest surgery he'd ever done btw I had a laparoscopic sleeve. Good luck!

[marilynlw]

You will need to talk to your doctors office to see what they expect as a pre op diet because they all have different requirements. My doctor does not require any pre op diet. The only thing they said was stay away from the last supper syndrome where you eat huge amounts of everything you love because your wont be eating it again for awhile. We are not allowed to gain weight. The nutritionist said to try to eat low fat and low carb for at least the last two weeks before surgery because that will help with the liver fat. But no real diet. So you need to see what they require.

[Everdreamer]

My pre-op was for 2 weeks but it was not liquid. It was basically very low carb with lean meats. I will tell you however that it is VERY important that after surgery you do follow the all liquid prescribed......This is crucial for your stomach to heal and avoid leaks. You will have to be on liquids for 2 weeks minimum after surgery. Eating solid foods can cause a leak. PLEASE be aware of that after surgery...you may want to just do liquids a few days to see if you can handle it before you take the plunge! I am sure you can if you put your mind to it but you definitely have to be ready for that!

[landrumdrl]

My doctor was very clear in my first appointment. If you are not committed to the preop diet requirements then he would not do the surgery. Your liver has to be less fatty so they can move it around to do the surgery.

[lidibear]

It doesn't matter how large you are, shrinking the liver is not based on bmi. My concern is if you don't think you can do the liquid diet are you ready to go weeks post op to eat real food again? There is a reason for every part of this wls. Including before and after. Why put your life at risk if you aren't ready to fully commit?

[Beckyu]

My doc has me doing 14 days of 3 protein shakes and then chicken broth and sf jello. PAINFUL!!!! But I know it's for my best interest and I sure wouldnt want to sewn back up without having the surgery due to fatty liver. Oh how my doc did the 2 protein shakes and one lean meal. I could definitely do that!

[gemini*eyes]

actually the larger you are the larger your organs are due to more blood vessels needed to pump the blood through your larger body. so yes larger people have larger organs. I didn't say it was due to BMI. I was saying my doc ordered no preop for me and I even talked to the surgeon on the phone. I do agree binging prior to surgery is a no no but there is a reason more than half sleeves don't do a preop. the other mumbo jumbo is the red tape and hoops caused by insurance companies. larger people are more at risk for everything which is why people with higher BMI have to go on liquid to lose weight prior. skinny people can have a fatty liver that is true. I haven't heard a single story that says surgery failed due to failing a pre op. they want the stomach empty which is obvious. I plan on a three day liquid and bowel cleanse and that's just for my own piece of mind not because I was told to do so. people can do a liver cleanse if they want to shrink the liver.. follow your docs plan that simple..