I am scheduled to have surgery Tuesday Jan 24 (Dr. Aceves,Mexicali) and am supposed to be on high protein, low fat, low carb diet. Not only am I not following the pro-op diet, I am totally into last meal syndrome and eating like there's no tomorrow. I can't tell you how disgusted I am with myself. Should I cancel the surgery or do you think the Dr will do it anyway. If I'm having this much trouble following the diet now, is there hope for me after? Anyone that experience similar or can relate I would really appreciate hearing from you.

My doc usually prescribes Optifast pre surgery, but I didnt officially have to do it because I had a BMI of 35. I had a go and failed miserably, I think I would need a gun held to my head to stick with that.

But on the morning of surgery, I wasnt weighed, merely asked for an estimate by the anaesthetist (which is standard practice for any surgery here), and I hadnt actually seen my doc for about 6 weeks. In short, my doc wouldnt have had ANY idea whether I'd done the Optifast or not. Not having actually eyeballed my liver pre surgery he also wouldnt really have known how big or fatty it was either.

So if you can pull yourself together a bit, take a deep breath and resolve to stick to the diet from now, I wouldnt cancel your surgery. And dont be too hard on yourself, if it were that easy you wouldnt need a band would you?

I've read so many people posting about the last meal syndrome...no one can convince you of this, but you will get to eat most of the food you like, after surgery, just not nearly as much. See what you can do to boot camp it through the next few days; anything you can accomplish before surgery can only help. Don't cancel. Good luck, and post anytime! Cindy

my dr will cancel the procedure if there is weight gain between preop check and surg day. =(

Can I qualify my answer lest it sound a bit irresponsible - it IS important that you try to do it, due to the liver shrinkage. I really just meant that so far, not so good, but pick yourself up and keep going, not that it doesnt matter whether or not you do it at all.

I would recommend contacting your doctor. You don't want to show up, get weighed at the last minute, and have him cancel surgery. More than likely he will give you a slap on the wrist and tell you to stick with the diet until surgery. But I would call just to be on the safe side. I wish you the best.

I didn't get weighed on the day of surgery and I did slip up a bit on my preop diet, but I spoke w/ the nurse at the office regarding it. Call your doctor and discuss it with him, but try to get back on track as well. You can do this!!

As mousecrazy said though, you're still going to be able to eat all those foods post banding, just in smaller amounts. The only thing I've had to give up is gnocci (due to doughy content) and I could even have that in very tiny amounts .. I just don't think its worth the work it requires lol...

Good luck to you

Stop beating yourself up.

The reason your getting the band is because of bad eating habits, and we all wouldn't be here if we ate small portions and stayed true on diets.

My doctor gave me a 5 pound weight gain limit and I gained 3 pounds the week before my surgery and another 2 before the actual surgery.

I also went out for a lobster feast the night before my surgery, and I had surgery at 8 in the morning. I just had to make sure I hadn't had anything to eat or drink for 12 hours prior to surgery.

I really wouldn't worry about once the lap band is on and your eating habits because you can't and won't want to eat when it's over believe me. I was a huge pig before I got the band. I could eat sooooooo much and now I eat under 1500 calories a day, it's amazing.

DON"T CANCEL! Just think how much it took to get you this far.

I'll be thinking good thoughts for you on the 24th.

My doctor said he would "leave" the inside of me if my liver didnt show the weight loss (or liver shrinkage)... cancel the opporation after he already got inside of me.. this made me think it was impossible to lie or fake him out... I lost the 40 pounds terrified that would happen.. and I would owe all this money and not even get the band

I ate a lot in the days leading up to surgery, but was on clear liquids only on the day before. And I didn't have any problems

Does he want you to lose weight, shrink your liver, or is this a suggestion? Either way, most of us have had the "last meal" syndrome. You can eat most foods when your banded (not quantity). Take a deep breath and try again. Limit snacking...that helped me lose a few pounds pre-op...Shawn

I'm in the same place you are, joelnisandiego. I also have surgery on the 24th and have been doing Protein shakes morning and night and just a sandwich for lunch as someone here recommended. I may have lost a couple of pounds, but not much. And I see the doc tomorrow for my pre-op visit and will probably get weighed then. So I'm nervous, too. Hopefully both of us will have surgery anyway. Best of luck to you!!

Emily

I had the Last Meal Syndrome and I put my surgery date off til I had gone thru this process of "letting go" of foods. Mainly pizza and ice cream.

I didn't lose weight on my 2 weeks of pre-op diet, but it was low-fat for the most part.

Part of this depends on your weight and the actual condition & fattiness of your liver. It would be better to call first thing Monday morning, explain that you have not yet managed to start preparing your liver and go from there.

Or simply postpone it for a week or two. Or a month or two. Your head really has to be ready for the change. Some people never get there.

Oh .. and by the way? I had been told I would never again be able to eat so many different foods. The truth? Generally untrue. While I CHOOSE not to eat rice or potatoes or, Pasta or bread, I HAVE had pizza and even a bagel. And, SOMEDAY, if I have a chance to have some cake or some ice cream, I will. I just don't allow them into my home.

I only had to fast the day before surgery so I had alot of last meals.

Every doctor is different so I would call the office and talk to the nurse or doctor.