Liquid diet

[Liz44]

I see some of you have a one to two week low cal diet before surgery. My doctor has me doing the liquid diet the day before surgery... Should I do a liquid diet for a week to get myself ready? What is the benefit of it? thanks in advance... One more week!!!!!

[janainsworth]

I will have my surgery on the 13th and have yet to talk to anyone.....so I am reaching out.

[tinman]

The only purpose of the pre-op diet is to shrink your liver. Your liver sits on top of your stomach and shrinking it makes the surgery easier for the surgeon.

There's nothing more to it than that. Some surgeons require a two week liquids only pre op diet. Some require a one week and some don't require one at all. Mine had a five day clear liquids diet and I managed to make it through four days. I actually some turkey breast at the airport in San Diego the day before my surgery. I came through it just fine.

[Liz44]

Thank you and congrats on your weight loss. I figured I'd cook a veggie soup and have that this week to cut back on fat and carbs and have some stored for when I can have soup broth. It's coming so fast I'm like a chicken with my neck cut trying to prepare myself. House clean, extra food stored for my guys, laundry etc. Thanks again!!

[niki k]

Yeah it helps with shrinking the liver, and makes it easier on the doctor. Also making it easier on you. Good luck!!

[Firebreak]

I am reaching the end of my required 10 day preop liquid diet. As others have said, they do this to shrink your liver so it's easier to work with, less chance of nicking something accidentally.

One of my colleagues at work just had emergency gallbladder surgery and they nicked his liver. In his case, there was no opportunity for a preop diet. They had to go in a second time to fix it, but now he's fine.

[princess5750]

I as well am on a 10 day pre-op liquid diet...my surgery is October 13th! It's easier than I thought it would be but then again, I AM only 3 days in!

[Stacy'sSleevedLife]

I was sleeved in Mexico and had to do a 2 week liquid. The purpose is to shrink the liver so that hopefully they can use less gas and you have 1 less incision. If the liver is to big then a second liver retractor is used so another incision will be made for it. This is how my doctor explained it to me.

Good luck

Stacy

[Pattycakes]

I'm getting my sleeve on Oct. 13 too! Yesterday was very hard for me on this liquid diet thing. My husband is a great cook and he prepared a fabulous meal and I stayed in my room so that I wasn't too tempted. I cheated earlier in the day with a ham and cheese sandwich and then I had a bit of dinner. Today is easier since I'm at work and I can stay busy. Good luck next week!

[Hummer]

I was told to not eat anything sweet. Could eat anything else but no alcohol. Two weeks before. And my liver was then very small and no problem. Hope that helps.

[janainsworth]

I am having mine done the 13th too......just trying to hear from others. I don't have to start my diet until about 3 days before....and liquid dieting is not my best thing. I will try my best though.

[neaty521]

I was not required to do a liquid pre-op diet at all. I was just told to lose a certain amount of weight. But like you, I felt like i was missing out on something lol. So instead I did a low calorie diet that consisted of very low carbs, high protein and low fat. Most of my meals consisted of a lean protein and vegetable for dinner. Which is similar to a liquid diet but a lot easier to follow. With that being said, my doctor said that my liver was good for surgery and he had no issues. What I recommend is if your surgeon does not insist on you going on a liquid diet, then don't over think it! If you want to give it a try, go for it. But if not, just try and eat healthily before your surgery.

Looking back, I wish I had not stressed so much about not having to go on a liquid diet.

[Liz44]

Glad you told me about the drinking.. Not that I'm a heavy drinker but for my birthday on the 27th I had a couple drinks.. oh ok maybe a few...This weekend everyone had a drink or two and for some reason I only had half a small cup of margarita and I was done... I'm not much of a drinker.. has to be an occasion.. So I believe I'm good for the two weeks no alcohol... sweets well.... I'll have to plead the 5th... Exactly why my sugar level is outta wack... No more sweets and low fat diet for me until after surgery.... Thank you all so very much for the answers... Anyone else having their surgery on the 12th???

[KNEWDAY4ME]

Hello,
My insurance company required a 6 Mo supervised diet. My doc placed me on a liver reduction diet that focused on protien. The first reason of course was to shrink the liver, the second reason which I think was just as important for me was about mind set. I basically had 6 months to prepare, practice and actually focuse on protien first. The diet was very strict and I lost close to 80 pounds. It has made working with the sleeve so much easier as I was able to practice for 6 months. I had a target weight I had to make before he would do the surgery. I passed the target by 30 pounds.

Three days prior to the surgery, it was a clear liquid diet. It is interesting how so many have had different experiences.

Best of luck to you!

[RaginCajun]

My experience with the pre-op liquid diet - 2 weeks of nothing but Bariatric Advantage shakes - was interesting. It was disgusting, so much so that I only did 3 shakes per day (not the 5 that was recommended). Eventually had to actually hold my nose when drinking the shakes down, and then immediately flushing my mouth with Crystal Light lemonade to kill the awful taste.

Two things resulted: 1) I lost 30 lbs over the 2 weeks of doing this; 2) It was so disgusting that I had no desire to eat anything.

I was on a mission to no longer let food control my life, and it was so awesome to jump start my weight loss by doing this.

-RC-