hey all,

i was wondering if anyone would care to elaborate on what their pre-op diet was? i was just approved for surgery and got my date: april 15th. but my nutrition class isn't until april 7th and i cannot wait to hear what it's all about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks in advance if anyone can share what i'm in store for!

Typically it is just a simple liquid diet. Protein Shakes, broth or clear Soups, Jello, juices, typically anything that can be sucked through a straw.

The purpose is to START the weight lose process and to reduce the size of the liver, which gets it out of the way and makes surgery easier as there is more room to work and less chance of the liver getting nicked or bruised. It also unloads the bowels as there will not be as much stuff in them for the surgery.

Some surgeons insist on it, some do not. It is a wise thing to do and will generally make you feel better afterwards and reduce the risk that you will be constipated - a common side effect of anesthesia.

It is really up to your surgeon and also whether or not you lost weight on your own, I lost 200 lbs before the surgery but I started a pre op diet 2 weeks before and it was 2 Protein Shakes and a small salad with a piece of lean Protein and oil and vinegar for dinner. Then 2 days before it was only soft foods pudding, Jello, broth, all sugar free and fat free... the day before was just jello, broth, and Water and I also had to take a laxative two nights before the surgery to make sure I was cleaned out.

It varies by doctor... The way I lost most of the 200 lbs was 5 small meals a day all with lean protein as the focus. Hope this helps but i'd put in a call to the doctors office or nutritionist if I was you.

my surgeon requires 10 days of full liquids with goal of 60g protein per day. Lucky you, nutrition appt is only a week before surgery so you won't have to suffer long

Mine was: Don't eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery.

Before that, the surgeon specifically requested that I not change *anything* about my eating habits (ie, no drastic reductions; no big last-supper blowouts) prior to surgery. Note that this instruction came after it was already established that I was not a binge-er and had fairly regular/good eating habits.

Two weeks, 5 protein shakes a day. As much zero calorie non carbonated fluids I can handle.

Three weeks of protein shakes and soups, with liberal doses of rabbit food for crunchiness (lettuce, celery), then one day of clears the day prior to surgery and nothing after midnight.

Just got mine today. 11 days liquids, allowing only for one scrambled egg, and one low fat string cheese.

3 days clear liquids

last day clear liquids with two doses of Milk of Magnesia

Then the next morning report for surgery.

I am required to do a 3 day clear liquid diet and nothing after midnight before surgery. It has been a rough couple of days, but I am happy to report that today is my last day of liquids! I go in for surgery tomorrow at 8am! Good luck to you. This is a crazy journey and I'm so glad to finally be here. You will be soon too!

My pre op diet was very strict and my Dr told me to follow it with no deviations at all, period!

3 Atkins shakes a day.

As much water, Sugar free jello, broth, and coffee / tea as you want.

Mine is as follows...

Breakfast 8 oz skim milk, 1/2 scoop Protein powder, 4 oz fruit

mid-morning premade Protein shake

lunch 4 oz fruit, 6-8 oz plain yogurt

afternoon 4 oz vegetable, 1 oz peanuts or1/2 cup hummus or Beans, or 2 tbsp Peanut Butter

dinner 4 oz protein, 4 oz vegetable, 1/2 cup whole grains or 1/2 potato with 1 tbsp olive oil

early evening 8 oz skim milk, 1/2 scoop Protein Powder, 4 oz fruit

The above diet for two full weeks and then on the last day you can eat the breakfast, mid-morning shake, and lunch then switch to Clear liquids after that and take mag citrate at 5:00, then lots of Water before midnight and npo after that. Wondering how fast mag citrate works? Hmmm.

thanks, thanks, and more thanks for all the sharing!!!! i look forward to seeing what my nutrition requirements will be. on march 15th, i'll be one month out...... i may start something like one of the above suggestions just for the hell of it - take off as much weight as i can pre-op!!!