Pre-op diet

[Malaika 50]

My advice - don't go to all Clear Liquids before surgery. You are going to be so sick of them after surgery, I can't imagine adding it before surgery. That was the worst part of the surgery - the ten days of clears afterwards. fruit juice is HIGH in carbs. I'd rather get it in the fruit itself or some other healthy food.

I agree with RB - the liquid phases, especially the clears was the abosolute worst -- I never expected to be so happy to be able to eat some Jello. And I would also always prefer to eat fruit than drink the juice - less carbs and more Fiber. Plus you get to CHEW!!

[Nanna509 1]

Green Jell-O. Gahhh

What about orange? Grape? Tangerine? Can you have small amounts of fruit? Canned manderine (sp?) oranges in orange Jello is pretty good.

Also, if you want raspberry, grape, or cherry popsicles they have sugar free, coloring free (looks like water) kool aid now. Couldn't you freeze that for more flavor variety?

I didn't know they made color free. Thanks for the info. I also read someone froze "crystal light" popsicles.

[Malaika 50]

I didn't know they made color free. Thanks for the info. I also read someone froze "crystal light" popsicles.

No - Crystal Light now makes popsicles - there are like 6 different flavors - 2 flavors per box. I think the best are the raspberry lemonade and the tropical punch. The lemonade is good - my least favorite is the peach tea. I've seen them range in price from $1.99 to $2.50 (there are 8 or 10 in a box I think)

[ash 5]

No - Crystal Light now makes popsicles - there are like 6 different flavors - 2 flavors per box. I think the best are the raspberry lemonade and the tropical punch. The lemonade is good - my least favorite is the peach tea. I've seen them range in price from $1.99 to $2.50 (there are 8 or 10 in a box I think)

I have some of those! Not sure of the flavors...yellow and red, haha! I forgot about them,but since I'm on clear liquids only for today, I might need to break into the box!

[Malaika 50]

They are yummy and a great way to get in liquids if you have a difficult time drinking, like I do, after surgery.

[BobBayCityMI 111]

Start my pre-op liquid starvation diet on Sunday. My, oh, my. It seems like one of my best friends (food) will be dying. But I also know it is OK. They warned us about the headaches, bad breath, grogginess, and irritability. To which my wife responded, "So what's new?" She does have a point. A fat, eating wrong Bobby is no joy either!

[*susan* 1,709]

Bob, I found the first three days were the worst. Once I got past them, the headaches and hunger pangs subsided. The bad breath, well, that went on a little longer.

[Malaika 50]

Bad breath? No one has ever said anything to me about bad breath - what causes that?

[*susan* 1,709]

Going into ketosis can cause the bad breath. I quoted the information below from another site:

"When people eat less carbohydrate, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ?-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. But there is one type of ketone molecule, called acetone, that cannot be used and is excreted as waste, mostly in the urine and breath (sometimes causing a distinct breath odor)."

[Malaika 50]

Going into ketosis can cause the bad breath. I quoted the information below from another site:

"When people eat less carbohydrate, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ?-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. But there is one type of ketone molecule, called acetone, that cannot be used and is excreted as waste, mostly in the urine and breath (sometimes causing a distinct breath odor)."

Very intersting and makes total sense -- maybe because I'm always afraid of bad breath, I'm brush my teeth and keep mints (SF) handy all the time and so I haven't offended anyone (yet).

[*susan* 1,709]

I was constantly chewing gum to cover up my bad breath. Fortunately, I am past that now. Either that, or I have gotten used to it and everyone else are to polite to tell me otherwise!

[LAN2k 18]

Has anybody an aversion to artificial sweeteners? I can't tolerate any of them. If I can find unsweetened Protein Drinks and add stevia? My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 15. I am meeting with my surgeon this wednesday and hope he can help me figure a way around the chemical sugar substitutes. I'd love to know if anyone else has any suggestions?

[Malaika 50]

Has anybody an aversion to artificial sweeteners? I can't tolerate any of them. If I can find unsweetened Protein drinks and add stevia? My surgery is scheduled for Sept. 15. I am meeting with my surgeon this wednesday and hope he can help me figure a way around the chemical sugar substitutes. I'd love to know if anyone else has any suggestions?

I use Stevia - I prefer it over all the others -- I have found that since surgery it only takes about 1/3 of the packet. I know the serving size is 1/2 of the packet - however, I find that too too sweet.

[LAN2k 18]

Thanks, glad to find another stevia user here. Now I'll need to research which products come unsweetened!

[MacMadame 81]

I haven't seen any unsweetened Protein powders, but there is at least one out there that is sweetened with stevia. I think it's Jay Robb.