When I was scheduled to have my surgery in Dallas, the doctor required a 2 week clear liquid diet. I was totally unable to stay on it as I was hungry all the time. I have now switched to Dr Aceves (not because of the diet requirements) and he does not require a pre-op diet for lower BMIs. His pre-op diet for higher BMIs allows full liquids and lean Protein and veggies, which in my mind seems a lot more reasonable.

I also cannot stand artificial sweeteners, so i was struggling to drink 2 glasses of the BariEssentials drinks a day, he wanted me to have 4.

When I canceled the surgery in Dallas, they told me that all doctors require the pre-op diet which I know is not the case - why is there such a difference of opinion about this??

Iegal, you're right - I shouldn't have responded the way I did, sorry,

wow i guess this is a touchy subject! i dont think anybody should critisize for just chiming in but that is my opinion. anyhow, i did have a 2 day stay because i lived so far from the hospital that my doc wanted to keep an eye on me for one extra day. i didnt need a drain and i was thankful for that. as a matter of fact, and i dont know if this is common or not, my doc didnt even use stiches. he used sterie strips. i had 4 small insisions all about 1/2 an inch in size and i am so happy with the look of them. totally expected to have bigger scars! as for the diet....he required a 2 week liquid diet for all of his patients regardless of bmi. in my opinion why wouldnt someone want to do the most they could to have the best outcome. this is coming from someone that HATED the pre op diet, as evedinced by some of my posts about being on the diet...lol... however i lost so much weight i was thrilled and i just got that much close to my goal weight that much sooner. it is also said that the quick weight loss does shrink the liver as well as make it more pliable (capable of being moved without tearing) the liver is a BAD thing to have bleed as it is very difficult to stop the bleeding once it has begun. anyhoo good luck to anyone still waiting for the day, and congrats to anyone who is lucky enough to be on the other side already!

@iegal My Surgeon is Dr. Ann Lidor from Johns Hopkins Bayview and the surgeons there do use a drain for VSG and RNY but not lap band.

Just thought I'd add my $0.02.. lol.

I think the lesson here is that there is no "one" right way and it doesn't mean your surgeon is from the dark ages or less competent if he does things differently than another surgeon at a well known hospital. Fotrunately Dr Aceves had no issues with my liver and I'm recovering well. Thanks to everyone for the support !

Update: I am now day 6 post-op and having no issues with the clear liquid diet. Unlike before the surgery, it helps that I don't get hungry and that I'm sipping slowly all day. Seeing as I am unable to stomach the artificially sweetened Protein drinks it's probably a good thing I didn't do the pre-op diet, as it is I will have only 10 days of almost zero calorie intake rather than 24.

I can't wait for the full liquid phase to begin

Just goes to show, there is a reason they call it "practicing" medicine!

Hi NewLife;

YEAH - congrats on being sleeved and welcome to the losers bench. Our goal is the same...to lose weight. We can do this together regardless of our preop diet...or not preop diet, right?

Hugs to you and again congratulations!

iegal