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What if my liver doens't shrink?



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OK I know this may be a dumb question, but I start my liver shrinking diet on Sunday and am so scared my liver won't shrink. My doctor said if he gets in there and it's not, he will sew me up and send me home! That's my biggest fear!

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If you do the pre-op diet it will! I was worried too and it turned out good!

Good Luck!

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OK I know this may be a dumb question, but I start my liver shrinking diet on Sunday and am so scared my liver won't shrink. My doctor said if he gets in there and it's not, he will sew me up and send me home! That's my biggest fear!

It's probably just a scare tactic on his part. When you lose weight, the liver is the first place it goes. If you just lose 5 or 10 pounds it will shrink enough.

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I'm sure he's trying to scare you. I didn't have a post-op "liver shrinking" diet because my surgery date was changed at the last minute. I only had a few days to prepare, I was fine, the surgery went fine, I wouldn't worry. Just do as the doctor orders, you'll be fine.

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Ok this makes me feel better. I am excited to lose weight before but just scared it won't shrink. I am psyching myself out!

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some surgeons do not require the pre op diet, i heard somewhere that it their way of showing us what to expect after surgery and after each fill. that way you can get used to the liquid diet. if that is true, i am mad because i have to do if for two weeks and that takes my thanksgiving away from me. but it is a good practice anyway and you get a jumpstart to weight loss. good luck and don't worry.

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some surgeons do not require the pre op diet, i heard somewhere that it their way of showing us what to expect after surgery and after each fill. that way you can get used to the liquid diet. if that is true, i am mad because i have to do if for two weeks and that takes my thanksgiving away from me. but it is a good practice anyway and you get a jumpstart to weight loss. good luck and don't worry.

You might as well get used to not having Thanksgiving. It has become my least favorite holiday. Since I live close to Canada, my new Thanksgiving tradition is to cross the border and go Christmas/Chanukah shopping.

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Part of the reason for the pre-op diet (the major one I think) is that sometimes the liver can be so enlarged with fat that it's hard for them to actually place the band. I think if you do your best you should be fine.

As for the poster who is missing Thanksgiving....my preop diet started a few days before Christmas last year. That was really tough, especially since no one but my husband knew I was having the surgery. Just think of the weight you would probably gain if you weren't on the diet and rejoice in the fact that you will actually lose weight during the holidays!

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This is my fear too! I have been on the South Beach Phase 1 (my surgeon's choice) for my pre-op diet and I haven't lost a pound!! My surgery is 10/21 and I'm nervous my surgeon will not be pleased! I have been following it to a "T" and nothing, nada . . . this is why I want the Band!! Anyway, almost wish I was on the liquid diet instead!

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I agree it is probably a scare tactic. just keep in mind that the more you lose before surgery the better. you will be so happy with yourself. stick to the things he has told you to eat, don't cheat. YOU CAN DO THIS !!!! You can do anything and this is the beginning. best of luck, keep communicating it will really help!quote name='Kellysue' timestamp='1318623908' post='1674146']

OK I know this may be a dumb question, but I start my liver shrinking diet on Sunday and am so scared my liver won't shrink. My doctor said if he gets in there and it's not, he will sew me up and send me home! That's my biggest fear!

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Probably a scare tactic. They may just be trying to ensure you don't GAIN any weight. I have read many posts of people who go over bored with the "last supper mode" and gain before surgery.

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I weighed 302 day of surgery. I had a fatty liver. I had my surgery. They don't want you to gain any weight, but I actually gained 5 pds before surgery! I drank some laxatives and lost it the day before, ironic, but I still had surgery. Don't worry about it, just prepare yourself because I didn't learn and now I'm now understanding how to eat smaller portions and smaller bites. They make you do the pre-op diet for a reason. Good luck!

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Im getting nervous about this too. I lost 5lbs the first 5 days and now I'm up 2.5 and I have been following this to a T! Surgery is in 6 days!

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That was my concern when I was getting Banded.

I asked my surgeon, and he said we can work around it, so don't worry.

I lost weight though, so I had NO ! problem at all.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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