My surgery is 2 weeks from tomorrow. My surgeon doesn't do the liquid diet so I'm just on a really restricted low cal/low fat/low EVERYTHING tasty diet I've lost 15 lbs. so far. My fear is this won't be enough to make a significant difference in my liver size before surgery. I'm hoping to lose more before surgery but my weight loss slowed down a lot once I hit about 14 lbs. How will I know if I've done enough? I have a pre-op appointment with my surgeon and the hospital tomorrow and I'm not sure what to expect from that or if I'll have to do liquids in the last few days before surgery either.

We went to the same office!! I didn't go through Dr. Bauman but went through Dr. Villanueva. Do you live in Concord?! I desperately need a buddy close by for support!!

As far as your question goes, it doesn't take a lot to shrink it. Did Dr. Bauman give you a specific amount to lose? I'm sure you're good. The OTC meds,carbonation/caffeinated stuff and fried/fatty foods are what enlarge your liver and if you've cut out all that stuff, you should be good to go.

I am not using your dr. office. But I am close to you guys also. I live in Waxhaw.

Yay, neighbors! Yup I live in Concord! It's so good to see that there are people in my area that have been through the same things. I've cut out all of the things you mentioned and I never drank soda or had caffeine much anyway so that was easy. I guess I'll have to wait and see what they say at my pre-op appointment tomorrow morning.

Oh, and Dr. Bauman didn't give me any specific amount I needed to lose, he said he just wants to see if I can lose weight by following the eating plan they gave me.

If he didn't give you a set amount to lose, I imagine he will be happy with 15lbs. I lost maybe about 5 pre-op and that was enough that my surgeon was happy. You will probably at least have to do a clear liquid diet the whole day before surgery. It's not as hard as it sounds, by that point I was really too tired to care about it. Keep your eyes on the goal, you're doing so well =D

Oh, and Dr. Bauman didn't give me any specific amount I needed to lose, he said he just wants to see if I can lose weight by following the eating plan they gave me.

I'm sure he'll be proud of your weight loss at this point! Let me know if you want a walking buddy after you get your surgery! I like the greenway off of Branchview (Hwy 3) the best. Are there any other greenways around that you know of? Also, do you plan to go to the support group they have? I think it's the first Thursday of every month in the new Gateway building off of Copperfield.

5 and 15?! Lucky! I have surgery in a week and two days (August 7th - yikes!) and I was required to lose 30. To be completely honest, I'm more scared about having to lose that than I am about the surgery all together.

I think if you weren't given a specific goal, just try your best and anything is good. I know it's better if you lose more (since you lose it first in your abdomen? this is what the nurse practitioner told me) but I certainly wouldn't bat a lash at 15 pounds