Hi, This is my first thread.... I am having surgery in a week from today!!! Sooo Excited, seems like its taken so long to finanlly be at this point. I am supposed to be on a liquid only diet for 10 days, and its tough. Just wondering if everyone did this and ALSO, Now that your banded, Do any of you still enjoy a glass of wine, or a cocktail????....if so, how long after and what works well, as far as not upsetting tummys.

Apprectiate any replies and all advice!

Good luck on your surgery. I did a one week pre-op diet that consisted of full fluids for 6 days and clear fluids the day prior to surgery. My surgeon discourages alcohol so I haven't had any since surgery.

Mine is only for one day.. I know it must be hard but just of all the rewards you be recieving soon. you can do it

Stephanie,

I've waiting for my surgery date and i'm not looking forward to any kind of pre opt diet. I don't think i could do it. I've kind of noticed myself actually eating more knowing that the surgery is coming. Its like my body knows somethings up and is just wanted to eat everything in site. So a liquid diet does some what frighten me because i really don't think i can do it.

Please let me know how you get thru the whole thing. You're going to be my advice when my time comes.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and just try your hardest.

What is the reason for the liquid diet anyway?

My surgeon required a week of liquids...low fat, low sugar liquids.

The liquid diet preps your liver for the surgery. It will allow your liver to shrink in size which makes your surgery easier. The surgeon needs to lift your liver up off of your stomach in order to have room to install the band. Without the liquid diet there is a pretty good chance that your liver will be blubbery and hard to manage. (When someone is inside my body working I want to make sure my organs are as orderly as they need!! Ha Ha)

Good luck on the surgery!!! Congrats!

I was on a one week liquid diet - clear liquids for 24 hours prior to surgery. I am 14 weeks post op and have had wine with no problem and a mixed drink - no carbonation - with no problem.

My surgeon required OptiFast for 2 weeks. That was the worst part of the whole process. It was to shrink the liver. Unfortunately when he went in my liver was not shrunk. But everything went OK.

what is opti fast? is it like slim fast?

my dr. had me do instant carnation breakfast (no sugar added) for 8 days prior to surgery. i was so worried about being hungry that I started shrinking my stomach two weeks prior to this. The first week I just did smaller amounts. the second week I did carnation throughout the day and one very small meal at supper and carnation for evening snack. the third week it was straight carnation. i was hungry some but not like i feared. it was true that after three or four days of straight carnation, the hunger went away, lightheadedness, etc. if i can do it, you can too. i had major anxiety about this but i made it through. it may have had something to do that i started early and had some control over it. i don't know.

Thanks for the great reply. I apprecate it I can do it and will!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU STEPH!!!

i'll come visit lol

I did it for 2 weeks I think, or maybe closer to 3. Honestly, it's only the first few days that are hard. After that, your body adjusts and you aren't hungry all the time. I added in veggies & fruits for something to nosh on (except the last day before surgery). Still lost a good chunk of weight and my liver looked great said the doc.

I started on OptiFast, but it gave me eczema, so I switched to Glucerna. They sell that in the drugstore alongside Ensure / Boost (not with the SlimFast or diet food). It's formulated for diabetics to not spike your blood sugar and it has fiber in it to help keep you full longer.

No preop diet for me. Just a suggestion to live "like I was banded" ie drink lots of water, do lots of chewing, limit portions etc for the last 3 weeks. I barely made it throught the 3 weeks of liquids/3 weeks of mushies following surgery. If I had a preop liquid diet too I think I would have chewed my arm off! It is definately the toughest phase, but once it is over it's like it never happened and it is SOOOO worth it! Good luck!

I did it for 2 weeks before and for 2 weeks after.Good luck to you!!!!!

My Doctor required 2 weeks liquid diet for me pre surgery, for him it's 2 or 3 weeks depending on your BMI - body fat percentage, the higher the body fat the longer the pre-op diet. It's so that the liver loses fat and becomes small enough for them to do the laproscopic procedure around. I found my 2 weeks really challenging. Twice I replaced one of my liquid meals with the equivelant calories in sushi, and twice I replaced one of my liquid meals with fat free artificial crab. Other than that I followed the diet for the two weeks. Post surgery my Dr. said my liver was still on the larger side, but they were able to navigate around it. You may want to ask your Dr. what they will do if your liver is too large, they may either not proceed with the banding, or switch to non-laproscopic surgery, meaning a large incision right down your middle. Keep in mind that the liquid diet is for a reason, it might make a difference in how your surgery goes. Some people have high BMI's go to a Dr. that doesn't require pre-op diet, and they manage just fine. Does that mean the Dr. is able to do as good a job? I have no idea. Try to follow your Dr.s recommendations as best you can, if you fall of the wagon, don't beat yourself up, just get back on the plan, and make sure you're honest with your Dr. so they know what to expect. For instance I've heard some Dr's will do a scan first too see how large the liver is before going in. Best of luck! and congratulations in advance!

XO

Leila