Pre Op Help Questions

SRKS72 · November 9, 2006

I am scheduled for surgery on November 20. I am on a special drink called Myocel. All I can find out is that it is a drink that my doctor sells and they hold the rights to the drink. It is a hight protien shake. I am to drink it 2-3 times a day and eat two 4-8 oz meals a day. My problem is that the day I went in for my first appointment I was scheduled for surgery on November 27. They called back and had moved my surgery to the 20th. That date will give me the week of Thanksgiving to recover using less sick time at work. Now I am very excited about having the surgery, but I really wanted to have one last meal of real Mexican food. The way it has worked out I had to start the diet right when she call with my new appointment date. I wonder if it would mess things up to bad if I went on a date with my Husband and I ate one meal of mexican food. My starting BMI is 37 and I would still have 7-8 days more days on the diet.

Also, once I have the surgery will I still feel hunger? I just don't understand how the big part of your stomach being empty doesn't make you always feel hungery.

Kat817 · November 9, 2006

As far as having your big Mexican Feast with DH, I seriously doubt it would prevent your surgery, or cause you problems, but that is something only you can decide if you want to do.

As for feeling hungry...

Yes just after surgery you will likely still feel hunger, because you will only be drinking, and the liquid just goes through the pouch, it does not hold weight in the pouch while the stitches holding the lower stomach up and over the band heal. After you heal and begin foods, you will still likely feel some hunger until you get filled. Once you are filled and reach some restriction, then hunger will abate. The nerves that signal fullness are at the top of the stomach, so until you are able to eat and hold food at that level, they explained to me, you will possibly feel hunger. You have no nerves signaling either fullness or emptiness in the lower portion of your stomach. You just always had to eat, fill it fully up to the top to feel full before. Once you are banded, that level to reach the nerves is next to nothing! There are cases where just the placement of the band will hit the nerves, and you won't have hunger issues. Just the placement of my band, helped, and I had some restriction from just the band itself. So while you won't have an immediate cessation of hunger, it will improve until, you suddenly realize that you are having to remember to eat each day...

Now this is as close as I can remember my Dr. explaining this to me...I may not have it exactly right. The best person to ask is your Dr. He can also show you exactly what they will do with the lower portion of the stomach, how it is stitched up and over the band,and why you must obey the post op diet so closely!!! You have to give it time to heal. So in my opinion if you plan on having the meal...better before than after!!

Good Luck in your surgery. Make an effort to discuss how they do this with your Dr. it will make so much more sense, and you will know more about what is happening with your body. It is an awesome thing this band!!!

You'll love it!

Kat

kmoorhead · November 9, 2006

I work for three surgeons that do lap bypass and lap banding and I have never heard of anything like the special diet you have been put on. I would go eat Mex. food and not worry about it or say anything about it to the physician. High Protein is good because it promotes healing but you ought to be able to eat what you want also.

SRKS72 · November 9, 2006

Thanks so much!!!!!

beachgirl · November 10, 2006

We did eat a huge Mexican meal as we were in Mexico and there was no preop diet and we all 3 did just fabulous. I would enjoy my last meal and enjoy time with your husband. You'll be fine.

alicat3924 · November 10, 2006

I too was on a liquid diet 2 weeks prior to surgery...I quit having my last meal as it seems that's all i did for a month prior to this. I was so afraid my liver wouldn't shrink and they would have to do an open proceedure I totally stuck to the liquids. For me my "last" meal was important...but not as important as having my surgery go well.

This is totally your call though...I hope all works out for you good luck!!!

Bullwinkle · November 10, 2006

I would go eat Mex. food and not worry about it or say anything about it to the physician.

I don't agree with that statement in the least. Communication with the guy who is gonna have his hands and instruments inside of you is essential, in my books.

This is SURGERY, folks. Your doctor will be performing that surgery on you. He KNOWS what he's talking about when he tells you to follow XYZ plan before surgery. My surgeon told me that I will be following a liquid diet pre-surgery to shrink the liver away from the stomach. The dietician told me that some people don't listen, eat whatever they like beforehand, and then when the doc gets in there, the liver is huge and he cannot get to the stomach area well enough to band it.

If your doctor tells you that you CAN eat regular foods before surgery, do so.

If your doctor tells you that you CAN'T eat regular foods before surgery, then don't.

Just do what your doctor tells you. He knows what is best for YOU.

My two cents..........