I am miserable. I can't sleep, and all I can think about is eating.

If I eat during these two weeks, will I still be able to have the surgery?

I honestly don't know how they could tell if you have cheated on your pre-op. The purpose of the pre-op is to decrease the size of your liver so it will be smaller so the surgery is easier for the doctor. Unless they took a before and after xray and compared the size of the liver, how would they know? That makes no sence to me!

Well, for the surgeons who care, they know. And, if they are strict about it, then, I would say there is a huge chance they would sew you back up and not do the surgery. You have to think about it this way. Some surgeons may see it as increasing their odds of liability for malpractice or surgical complications if this is something they believe firmly in. If you were supposed to be on the all liquid diet and don't follow it at all, they are going to know. Why take the chance?

I was fortunate that my Dr. didn't have a pre-op diet.

I asked my surgeon at my first appointment if I would have to be on a pre-op diet to shrink my liver, and he said in thousands of surgeries he's only had one patient whose liver was large enough to be an issue for surgery. He had me lay on the table and palpated me - then said "You're fine. You've struggled enough, let's give you the tool (my VSG) you need to get you're weight off. Just don't go nuts till then".

I vote my Dr. for President. He knows most of his patients are professional dieters, and I alone have lost enough weight in my life to equal a small SUV. But without this wonderful tool we've been gifted with, we just couldn't hold our ground. A mechanic can't fix an engine without a wrench, and statistically without surgery the odds of losing most of your body weight and keeping it off for 5 years is ZERO.

I really appreciate the compassion my Dr. shows his patients. We should all have at least as much if not more, for our fellow warriors.

I know there was some disagreement earlier in this thread but may I just say for someone struggling with the liquid diet that I am pretty sure we would all agree that....... LIQUID DIET SUCKS! Not just sucks a little bit but really really really sucks. So if you are all whiny and angry and down and thinking about driving up to a window for a heart attack in a sack....don't think there is anything wrong with you. If there is anyone out there who can say that the liquid diet was a breeze then they most likely wouldn't need surgery.

The good news....it starts getting easier about day 3. Somewhere along day 3 you go into ketosis if you are on a high protein/low carb diet. This acts as a natural appetite suppressant. If I had to do 14 days of day 1 or 2 I would never make it. I am on day 4 and it was doable today. Not fun, not pleasant, but doable. To be honest, however, I have been an over-sensitive, emotional wreck for the past 3 days. If you are reading this on the first few days of your pre-op diet you are probably overly sensitive, tired, shaky, have a headache, and are absolutely starving. The entire world is probably ticking you off and you could come through the computer and slap someone that says "if you can't do the pre-op how are you going to do the post-op?" I caved and had a boiled chicken breast and asparagus on the first night, then a boiled chicken tender on day 2 and 3. Today I did ok. If you do cheat, make it a smart one. Don't cheat with carbs or you will kill the ketosis benefit. Good luck. My Nut. swears it is easier after the sleeve.

Oh yeah--I am down 10 pounds in 4 days.

I start a 3 week shake/bar pre-op tomorrow..part of me wishes I had the dr. That didn't require it, but I'm also looking forward to not gaining 1 more pound. I've done enough damage to myself with food ....I'm looking forward to dropping a few lbs. Before surgery...I feel like it's going to have me headed in the right direction. (don't judge me when I complain in the next few days or weeks about it,) Ha-ha! Wish me luck!!!

I also read this:

The importance of Protein cannot be overstated. A diet with adequate protein ensures that you lose fat, especially abdominal fat which can interfere with surgery, and maintain lean muscle mass even while reducing your caloric intake. A balanced and nutritionally rich high protein diet ensures that your body will have everything it needs to recover well from bariatric surgery. The high protein liver shrink diet also helps you acclimate yourself to the higher protein, reduced calorie, reduced carbohydrate diet you will have to follow after surgery.

I start a 3 week shake/bar pre-op tomorrow..part of me wishes I had the dr. That didn't require it, but I'm also looking forward to not gaining 1 more pound. I've done enough damage to myself with food ....I'm looking forward to dropping a few lbs. Before surgery...I feel like it's going to have me headed in the right direction. (don't judge me when I complain in the next few days or weeks about it,) Ha-ha! Wish me luck!!!

I also read this:

The importance of Protein cannot be overstated. A diet with adequate protein ensures that you lose fat, especially abdominal fat which can interfere with surgery, and maintain lean muscle mass even while reducing your caloric intake. A balanced and nutritionally rich high protein diet ensures that your body will have everything it needs to recover well from bariatric surgery. The high protein liver shrink diet also helps you acclimate yourself to the higher protein, reduced calorie, reduced carbohydrate diet you will have to follow after surgery.

Good luck--I will stress again that while the first 1-3 days are not fun, you will feel better soon. It gets way easier! Good luck!

Oh yeah--I am down 10 pounds in 4 days.

You are doing so well, I've only lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks. I have cheated with spoons of Peanut Butter, I even had three chicken tacos on 4th of July. I am back to being so strict this week in order to loose 15 pounds before surgery. I am hanging onto hope that it gets easier after surgery.

I've also been SUPER emotional and my patient is running so thin.....my poor husband

When is your surgery date? I am in 6 days!!!

I am on day 3 of my 2-week diet and I am quite shocked at how well I am doing. I thought it was gonna be a lot harder but I haven't had anything but protein shakes and broth. Everyone is different so don't get discouraged.

Good luck--I will stress again that while the first 1-3 days are not fun, you will feel better soon. It gets way easier! Good luck!

Thanks Texarkolina! First day has been good so far, don't feel bad at all or even been hungry...but I do think it may become of challenge becuase of variety....but my dr. also said I can have veggies - carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers....

I'm off to the store!

You are doing so well, I've only lost 8 pounds in 2 weeks. I have cheated with spoons of peanut butter, I even had three chicken tacos on 4th of July. I am back to being so strict this week in order to loose 15 pounds before surgery. I am hanging onto hope that it gets easier after surgery.

I've also been SUPER emotional and my patient is running so thin.....my poor husband

When is your surgery date? I am in 6 days!!!

My surgery is July 23. I am concerned about getting through the weekend with this diet. It is hard enough preparing food for my toddler once a day. Three meals and 2 snacks is going to be rough. I know the emotional bit will level out, and I have been told that it gets way easier after the surgery. Keep strong! Good luck on your surgery--I can't wait to hear how you are doing!

Thanks Texarkolina! First day has been good so far, don't feel bad at all or even been hungry...but I do think it may become of challenge becuase of variety....but my dr. also said I can have veggies - carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers....

I'm off to the store!

Dang----I want veggies.....sigh.....Enjoy them!

Dang----I want veggies.....sigh.....Enjoy them!

I don't see why you can't have them...veggies barely have any calories, no fat, no sugar. But they were very specific to those vegetables only. On my last week, I can't have the veggies. I think it's just for variety because I have to go 3 weeks.

Keep me posted on how you're doing!

I don't see why you can't have them...veggies barely have any calories, no fat, no sugar. But they were very specific to those vegetables only. On my last week, I can't have the veggies. I think it's just for variety because I have to go 3 weeks.

Keep me posted on how you're doing!

My diet is very strict--just the packets of shake mix and water. I have added boiled chicken breast strips on days when I just couldn't do it, and I am concerned that it is going to be a problem. I am still in week 1 and it gets easier each day. I know I will need to 100% stick to the diet a few days out. I am kinda like--how do people do this and work/take care of family, etc. I guess I am doing it, but I don't know if I could function if it weren't for that few bites of chicken. It is less than an ounce at a time and I am having 3 or less a day, so I think it should be ok, but you never know......

Yea it's a liver shrinking diet and very important for the liver to be small enough so he or she can see to do the surgery. Just think if u can make it thru these 2 weeks it will be over and safer for you. Good luck!!