NewStarter

I think it's a real positive that you are so honest with yourself. Also, I would share with you that the pro-op "liver shrinking" diet was hands-down the hardest part for me of the whole thing. (Harder by far than the surgery and recovery, which seemed like a breeze!) I didn't have any major binges in the last week, but I cheated every chance I got in little ways. And felt horrible about it. You are nervous about the procedure coming up, you still have your full stomach so you're extra hungry and on a low calorie diet, and maybe you feel like it's your last chance to indulge in these comfort foods. I don't want to candy coat the situation for you (to use your pun), but just try to take the long view, if you can. The surgery DOES go easier if you tough out the pre-op stuff and follow the directions. And you still have four days left! Do your best. After the surgery, you won't be hungry again for a long time. I'm not an expert by any means, but I'm a little over 3 months out, and things do change drastically. I'm down 40 lbs. since the surgery. It's not as fast as I had hoped, but it's pretty consistent. Good luck! p.s. If nothing else works, try the "scare yourself" tactic ... that's what I did. I was scared the doctor would stop the surgery if my liver was too big.

Good luck! Will look forward to hearing about your experience after you get home.

Hi! Hang in there! I feel like a kindred spirit to you, and it helps to hear what you're going through. I'm getting ready to start pre-op diet Wednesday. I'm starting it a week early because I have a "fatty liver" and am very worried it might interfere with my surgery. Spent 1/2 hour in Costco yesterday staring at all the vitamins, looking for ones that meet the requirements. The ONLY thing that was right was the B-12. None of the chewable calcium seemed to be the right formula, and I couldn't find any chewable multivitamins except gummies. They told us in the pre-op class not to buy gummies. Today I'm headed to Wal-Mart for meal replacement shakes, more vitamin shopping, and other odds and ends. It does feel weird to be buying all this "stuff" -- a lot of it pretty unappealing -- that one never imagined needing. But like you, I want to be prepared. I don't want to come home from the hospital and be thrashing around trying to get something and not know where to get it. I'll look forward to hearing how it goes for you! Like you, I believe it's going to get lots better. A summer of good change is ahead for both of us.