Hi everyone - I am having surgery with Dr. Rumbaut down in Monterrey, Mexico on May 16th. The paperwork that Dr. Rumbaut has given me suggests a liquid pre-op diet only for those with a BMI of over 50. I'm interested in knowing your experiences???

Please respond so I quit worrying about whether or not I need to do this!

Thanks

Gettinghealthy:)

My BMI was 48 and now is 32... I did not have to follow any diet before surgery..except to drink Magnesium citrate the day before....shooo.. weee might I add that was a stinky situation!!!! "WINK"

Gettinghealthy,

From what I remember - anyone that was OVER 250 pounds should have a pre-op diet.

They say that the diet lessed the fat around the liver - making the surgery an overall easier experience.... for both, surgeon and patient.

I went to see my doctor for the first time March 14th (Tuesday) here in Athens and he scheduled my operation the following Monday! He said a light diet all week and liquids only for two days before the op. My starting weight was 375lbs and I had no problems at all. I think it's an individual doctor thing.

My surgery is scheduled for April 28th and my doctor had me start on the liquid diet on April 10th. He has us get our "liquid diet stuff" from Physician's Weight Loss Centers. I have found most everything I have tried so far to be quite yucky tasting. But, I am reminding myself there is a wonderful benefit to it, as a reward, I will get my band.

Dr. Herrera said the liquid diet is necessary because they will be doing a lot of work right around the liver. When you eat, the liver collects all the fat and ucky stuff. If it is in bad shape, it could easily get damaged during the surgery. He said if he goes in and my liver is in bad shape, I will not get the band and will have paid him $16,500.00 to just go in and look around a little. I want that ol' liver to be healthy, I am not going to risk my band for anything. So, I am sticking to the liquid diet. And, on a good note, after only 4 days, I have already lost 5 pounds. :nervous

My doc is having me do a liquid diet 1 week before surgery and I have a BMI of 40.5. I heard however it helps with the gas and pain afterwords, not to mention easing you into the liquid diet after surgery.

I am on Optifast and 1 meal a day for 28 days! I am in Day 4 right now and am surviving. If I can make it through the holiday weekend with my entire family and extended family around 'gorging' themselves, I will make it through to the surgery on May 8th. is it Monday yet?? :-)

My surgeon has all of his patients (regardless of start weight) on the Optifast diet for 2 weeks pre-op. It does shrink the liver and make the stomach easier to get to. Speaking of liver... I am an Ultrasound Tech and I have seen my liver prior to surgery. I was eating and drinking alcohol (both in excess). I am 2 months post-op today and looked at my liver and it looks do much healthier. It does not have the fatty infiltration it did before, and it has shrunk significantly. I was so excited to see how healthy I am getting inside and out!!!

Thats a big motivator! Congratulations!

wow, congrats Prinnie - in only 2 months is a big difference, they say normally 4-6 months to get rid of the fatty infiltration (or so my dr said)

My BMI is 40% and I'm REQUIRED to do a liquid diet for 2 weeks. My surgery is scheduled for Sept 15th, so I started my modified liquid date on Sept 1st. I can have one meal with lean protein, one snack, and non starchy veggies but the other "meals" are Carnation Instant Breakfast drinks. I feel a little dizzy at times and I have a constant headaches. Has anyone experienced these symptoms?

Edited September 4, 200817 yr by SashaVaughn

I had a BMI of 43 pre-op. I did not have to do a liquid diet except for 2 days before surgery. I had one week of low cal, low fat and two days of liquid. After surgery I had 3 days of clears, two weeks of full liquids and two weeks of mushies.

I am 4 days pre op (Sept 9, 2008)

My BMI is 40 and I have been under dietician supervision for a year prior.

My instructions were to do liquid diet (4 x Ensure High Protein and 3 x 250ml Skim Milk) for one week prior to surgery.

The dietician explained it was to shrink my liver to enable the surgeon to see.

I am on my fifth day. Days three and four were he worst for headaches and fatigue.

Edited September 5, 200817 yr by JayinCalgary

Its common to have a preop diet. Thankfully my doc didn't require one.