I am scheduled for surgery in 3 weeks and I thought that I would be following a special diet the last 2 weeks before surgery but my doctor told me not to diet, just liquids the day before and if I want to have a "last meal" to please do it 2 days in advance. Is this pretty normal? Most of my friends were on protein shakes for a week or more before. Is this because I'm a "light weight"? I'm at 39 BMI.

Different docs have different regulations prior to surgery. Some docs like the pre diet because it shrinks the liver which kinda lies on top of the part of the stomach they are working on. It is not an absolute requirement but if you would feel more comfy with a nice small liver I guess you could do your own.

My dr also only requirements a 1 day pre op liquid diet. I was really confused about this too, but the nurse told me he does that because "if you could go on a very strict diet for 2 weeks, then you wouldn't need the surgery", lol. He does this for all his patients (I'm a 40 bmi, btw). Hope this helps!

Wishing I had your doctor! I'm a lower BMI person at 40 and I have to do a 4 week diet. Really blows! My first instinct was to ignore the doctor and just do 2 weeks, but I didn't and it has been difficult and I still have 2 weeks and 5 days (but who's counting) until surgery. My diet consists of 4 Protein shakes a day or 2 shakes and 1 small meal of protein & vegetables only (no carbs at all). In addition I could have all the clear sugar fee liquids, Jello, popsickles I want as well as broths.

I don't get the different thinking from all the different doctors but who knows who is right so I'm just following my doctors orders. But, like I said, it blows!

I was on basically the same plan - nothing special until the day before.

There is a lot of variation in programs - intensive pre-op diets or none at all; extensive Clear Liquids to normal liquids to mush to soft to normal over weeks post op to mush and soft from the hospital on out; no carb trendiness to basic good nutrition with hi Protein. It's mostly based upon what experience the surgeon has and what has worked for him in the past. With the VSG being relatively new, much of it is based upon the surgeon's experience with other procedures, so I suspect that a lot of the intensive liquid post-op diet is a holdover from RNY practice. I was one who was on mush/puree/soft stuff in the hospital, so if their program says that garden burgers, egg noodles, mashed potatoes, tuna, rice & Beans, oatmeal, etc are fine in the first month, they have a lot more experience with sleeves, some 20 years worth, than I do - who am I to argue? If the doc doesn't feel that an intensive pre-op "liver shrinking" diet is necessary, and he's a liver specialist along with his bariatrics, I figure that he knows that aspect of it better than most (I also won't argue with him about his no alcohol for the 12-18 months prime weight loss period policy, either - he knows our livers better than most docs.)

My doctor told me the exact same thing and I did great in surgery. Be happy you don't have to be on liquids with a 'normal' sized stomach! You would be sooo hungry! Good Luck and all the discomfort is SO WORTH IT!

BTW...I started out with a BMI of 40 and in 8 months I am at goal! My BMI is now 25!!! Life is GREAT!!!!! You have a lot to look forward to!

My surgeon doesn't require the 2 week pre-op diet for BMIs lower than 40. Not sure if he does a day or two of liquids, I haven't asked yet.

I am exactly at 40 (was 39.9 at orientation) so I am hoping I don't get one. I see the benefit, but I am a volume eater and have no desire to suffer like that. One or two days of liquids before surgery is punishment enough. (I will, of course do it though if he requires me to)

I am so glad to read everyone's thoughts here ... I am scheduled to my surgery this Saturday and my doctor only requires 24 hours clear liquids before surgery, so i was worried why others have to go on more stringent diets, etc. ..... am glad to hear that there are many of you out there that also were instructed to to clear liquids for 24 hour prior to surgery .. this puts my mind at ease! As you can imagine, I am getting a tad nervous .... Not sure what my BMI is but I am very overweight and just looking forward to beginning a new phase of my life and getting healthy so I can live a long life as I should be able to ....

Thanks everyone for all your words of wisdom!

My surgeon doesn't require the 2 week pre-op diet for BMIs lower than 40. Not sure if he does a day or two of liquids, I haven't asked yet.

I am exactly at 40 (was 39.9 at orientation) so I am hoping I don't get one. I see the benefit, but I am a volume eater and have no desire to suffer like that. One or two days of liquids before surgery is punishment enough. (I will, of course do it though if he requires me to)

I am so glad to read everyone's thoughts here ... I am scheduled to my surgery this Saturday and my doctor only requires 24 hours clear liquids before surgery, so i was worried why others have to go on more stringent diets, etc. ..... am glad to hear that there are many of you out there that also were instructed to to clear liquids for 24 hour prior to surgery .. this puts my mind at ease! As you can imagine, I am getting a tad nervous .... Not sure what my BMI is but I am very overweight and just looking forward to beginning a new phase of my life and getting healthy so I can live a long life as I should be able to ....

Thanks everyone for all your words of wisdom!

I was also not required to go on a pre op diet. I had clear liquids the day before and I had to drink 2 bottles of Mag Citrate to "clean me out". My surgery went great and I had no problems. As far as the pre-op diet goes... it is to shrink your liver, if you have a fatty liver, because the liver is in the way of your stomach and during surgery they have to kinda pick it up and move it out of the way, to cut your tummy out, so its just a lot safer if your liver is smaller, fewer surgical risks. Im sure you will do great! Good luck!!

this puts my mind at ease! As you can imagine, I am getting a tad nervous ....

Best wishes & congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I will be sending you lots of good vibes. Please post when you can.

Wow!!! I'm a 40 BMI'er and my doc is requiring 2 weeks of a pre-op diet. It's pretty much Medi-fast, but I can have sugar-free Jello, popsicles and Diet Soda. I'm on day 2 and I'm already thinking about what I would have been eating this weekend if not for this silly diet!!! (Hence why I need this darn surgery!)

Good luck to all!

My surgeon doesn't require the 2 week pre-op diet for BMIs lower than 40. Not sure if he does a day or two of liquids, I haven't asked yet.

I am exactly at 40 (was 39.9 at orientation) so I am hoping I don't get one. I see the benefit, but I am a volume eater and have no desire to suffer like that. One or two days of liquids before surgery is punishment enough. (I will, of course do it though if he requires me to)

thanks everyone!!!! I am waiting to hear what time I have to go to the hospital tomorrow for surgery .... won't know until 2:00 today .... like sitting on pins & needles!

Thanks everyone for all your words of encouragement and thoughts -- it's so nice to have a place like this to come to to talk!

surgery at 1:30 tomorrow -- have to be at hospital by 11:00 ... am so nervous!!! Am drinking lots of clear fluids (water, tea, etc.) today .. am floating (and peeing constantly) :-)

see you guys on the losers bench ... move over, here I come!!!

thanks everyone!!!! I am waiting to hear what time I have to go to the hospital tomorrow for surgery .... won't know until 2:00 today .... like sitting on pins & needles!

Thanks everyone for all your words of encouragement and thoughts -- it's so nice to have a place like this to come to to talk!

thanks - I wish you all the best too ... will be in surgery tomorrow this time (it's actually scheduled for 1:30pm), so hopefully will have good things to report next week or shortly thereafter! Am so excited/nervous .... thanks again for your well wishes! When is your surgery?

Best wishes & congratulations on your upcoming surgery! I will be sending you lots of good vibes. Please post when you can.

I'm jumping through insurance hoops at the moment. Hoping for end of November.