One last meal????

[Cakemaker]

Im on day 9 of my 21 day liquid pre-op diet and now im dreaming of food.....I live in an area that only has 1 mcdonalds and nothing of anything else....so travelling to a city (which i rarely get to go to) for my surgery is making me wonder if it would be ok for me to have one last really nice meal while im there like a day or 2 before my surgery.....anyone have any thoughts on this?

[SomeGuyJeff]

id first ask - what to you is a nice meal? are you talking a buffet?? or are you talking fine dining with valet only parking? i would think theres a difference.

personally - i knew what got me to where i was pre-surgery. i enjoyed my last dr pepper -- but i felt better in the days after i stopped drinking them. in my countdown to liquid diet phase, i bought a doughnut. ceremonial last one. my son ate it. after surgery you can still eat most of what you eat now - just far less of it.

do i miss anything? i think i miss the idea of being able to just scarf down a good burger when im hungry and want something to eat. lol. but i enjoy the much healthier me now - and am looking forward to an even healthier me in the future

[mellowjoy]

I wouldn't do it. Surgery is not a food funeral. You'll be able to eat again after your stomach fully heals up, you just won't be able to eat the same quantity. Last meals are for people on death row, not people making a change to their lifestyle for the better.

[Ann2]

I sure wouldn't go do a food funeral meal just before surgery.

The whole point to your pre-surgery diet was to shrink your liver so the surgeon will be able to navigate around it and to lift it easier without hurting / tearing / puncturing / ripping / damaging it. If you were to eat what would probably be a high-calorie, high-carb meal, you'll just put a lot of glycogen right back into your liver along with a lot of water that glycogen needs to be stored there. Your liver would just swell right back up real fast.

And then what was the point of your "liver-shrinking" pre-surgery diet if you go do that just before surgery?

[thenewmetoday]

Since I only had to do a 3 day prep. it was not difficult. It seems that there is a different instruction for many. It is best to follow your drs. instructions and having said that you are two weeks from surg. if you are going to do something now would be better. Go to mcd have a chicken wrap with some fries (not too deadly). Get back on plan from then on. It will all be returned to you over time. Good luck.

[sraebaer]

You'll be able to eat any thing you want after surgery, well actually after about 6 weeks. There is no need to think you need a "last meal." Plus the reason for the pre-surgery diet is to shrink your liver and make surgery safer. You want that, don't you?

[Luann]

I had 2 food funerals in the couple weeks before my surgery. Was it necessary? Probably not. But I did not need to be on a diet other than 3 day clear liquid, and being in Mexico & not being able to eat - I knew I would be on my pity pot if I had not even had some passable Mexican food somewhere recent along the lines. Phad thai from my favorite thai place, & some Mexican food from a pretty good place at least by Seattle standards.

I didn't go gut buster on either one. And even though I can eat a wide variety of foods now - my spicy food days are over. 1 star on the thai food is pushing it, can't eat jalapeno hot foods at all.

[Brandonf150]

I guess it all depends on what is more important you.

[KNEWDAY4ME]

Absolutely not. A 21 day pre-op diet is exactly what it says . . . . If the doc wanted you to have a meal in the middle, he would have said, "oh, by the way, have a nice meal on day 10."

[Cakemaker]

Hahahahaha! I never actually thought about it as a food funeral.... its just i live in samoa and im travelling to New zealand to have my surgery and i was just thinking its such a shame to go all the way to nz and not have something different as i'll be flying out as soon as im cleared for travel again. but yea thanks mellow for the scarey comparison now all i'll think about if i slip up is "death row"

[RaginCajun]

There is a HUGE amount of variation on how the Docs and programs work. Some do 2 week pre-op diets, some do 3-4 weeks, some do NONE. I have even read a post where the Doc actually recommended that the patient do a last normal meal night before surgery. So, it is really up to you.

But, this is a real opportunity for you to START STRONG and declare victory over what is likely a lifelong battle with weight. Think of the positive mojo and good karma you will create by taking a stand NOW that you will no longer let food control your life.

-RC-

[cathbas]

my doc told me..why the food funeral? you will be able to eat again..
and guess what..i can eat again!! so just keep on walking..soon enough you will be on the other side and thinking..this is great!!

[Cakemaker]

thanks everyone! flying out in 2 days getting more and more nervous ....thanks ragincajun you've given me the boost that i need!! no food funeral for me!!

[didi100]

Cakemaker, you really will be able to eat anything you want again soon -- and you'll also be buying new clothes soon, fielding lots of compliments, fitting into seats you didn't. Get ready for lots and lots of positive changes!!!