Pre Op Diet

**bndjones** · 06-13-2016 05:55 PM

It seems that there is a wide variance in the pre op diet prescribed by surgeons. I'm still in the seminar and research phase so I've got a bunch of questions. It appears that some surgeons want you on pre op for anywhere from one week up to six weeks. What has been your experience and is this just to see if you can tolerate a liquid diet for an extended time?

**Pam G** · 06-13-2016 06:18 PM

This really bugged me, pre op. I was on a 2 wk full liquid diet, but I wasn't the best at following it. I did ok, but halfway through, I had a restaurant meal that I'd been obsessing about. And I went a little crazy the day before surgery, but the rest of the time I followed it.

I figured that if there is so much descrepancy among surgeons, then it must not be that important of a thing. Of course, I will cover my ass by saying that you should follow the advice of your surgeon.

**Alaska Girl B** · 06-13-2016 06:58 PM

I was given a three day preop liquid diet, and drank Isopure the day before, which gave me the protein and electrolytes to get thru one day and a Night of no liquids on surgery day and the night....I felt really strong after surgery. I think it makes a difference also what you weigh also... I was 192...yes, do what ur dr tells you... The protein shakes helped on the liquid preop diet...

**mslfields** · 06-13-2016 07:37 PM

My surgeon told me to do a 10 day pre op diet hearing a lot of these other ones being 2 weeks or more I guess I'm lucky. I start my pre op Sunday. yay!

**Merry Mary** · 06-13-2016 08:05 PM

If you're committed to being successful with the surgery, then follow the diet your doctor gives you. Just because others don't have the same pre-op diet doesn't mean the same thing works for you. And on a similar note, just because you can eat something, doesn't mean you should. Ex. A chocolate milk shake is not part of a liquid diet, nor is melted ice cream. Best of luck to you.

**Theresa2** · 06-13-2016 08:06 PM

I was on 14 days of optifast, allowed 1 cup veggies, then three days clear liquids. I was told it was to shrink liver

**Shirl** · 06-13-2016 11:27 PM

I had two weeks of preop diet, followed by 3days of clear liquid diet only. I self imposed a gradual liquid diet six weeks post op. I can't do anything cold turkey I had to ween myself into it. I lost 24lbs preop.

**Sarcastic_Bard** · 06-14-2016 10:19 AM

I had a one month diet where I had to be at no more than 1000 calories. No liquid diet until about 4 days before the surgery.

I will say that this is different from what many have had before surgery, but this wasn't even "standard" within my surgeon's own practice. There were some other patients who were put on a liquid diet a week before, 1250 calorie limit for two weeks with liquid diet only two days before, liquid diet two weeks before, some on a meal replacement for three months replacing one meal with a protein shake or two meals with a protein shake for 6 weeks. It really varies patient to patient not just surgeon's practice to surgeon's practice. For me I had already been eating ketogenically for a year and had been regularly strength training and weight lifting for two years so I didn't need to be on a liquid diet as long as some others. Your doctor/surgeon/dietitian typically tailors a pre-op plan to suit your body type, health goals, medical issues, and current weight so that is most likely why you've seen such a variance in pre-op diets here. There is really no one "pre-op plan fits all".

**bndjones** · 06-14-2016 02:15 PM

Well I kind of thought this was the case. My first seminar (going to a different one this Saturday), the Doc indicated a 6wk diet. I really liked him but not looking forward to the pre op plan. Got my first appt with him on July 1 for consult.

Thanks for all the good ideas here. Truly appreciate it.