Hi All,

I've read on the board about people being on a liquid diet for 10 days or more pre-op, and am wondering if this is accurate? I am scheduled for Surgery on January 11th and my doctor is saying with my BMI I only need to be on liquids for 3-4 days. I just was wondering if anyone knows why the difference? :help:

Lori

Hi Lori,

What is your BMI....I guess every doctor is very different. I had to be on a pre-diet for 14 days...

Good luck with your sugery....

Doriana

Thanks for the quick answer! My BMI is 45.9 -

You're probably right about every surgeon being different I'm just worried that I somehow misunderstood. I would hate to show up and be told no at that point :paranoid I'll talk to my surgeon next week and verify, but would still appreciate anyone's thoughts...

Lori

You are right. Every doc is different. Some don't require anything, and others do. I had to do a low carb, high protein 14 day diet. It wasn't too bad. The liquid diet 2 weeks after the surgery then 2 weeks of mushies after that were harder for me than the preop diet. I was so tired of broth. Ugh. Be thankful you only have to do a few days.

Good luck on your surgery. It is a wonderful journey!!!

I have not been banded, however in the seminar I attended the Doctor indicated that a main purpose of the pre-op diet was to shrink the liver (remove fat) and allow better access during surgery to the lap-band location. Does this sound right to those who really know?

I was told that the liquid diet is to shrink your liver because they have to get it out of the way to ido the procedure. If you have a high BMI you are more likely to have a swollen liver if it is a lower BMI then you don't need to go into the dieting faze for as long to make the same effect. This is what my Dr. had told me. Hope that helps.

Here's what my nutritionist wrote when I asked why the liquid diet was necessary and not just a low glycemic diet:

"You are to follow the pre-op meal plan that was given to you. I know it's hard because it doesn't consist of a lot of substance, but it is a requirement from Dr. --- in order to have surgery. Every person whom is overweight or obese has an enlarged liver. The liquid diet helps shrink the size of the liver, fat around the abdomen and helps Dr. -- perform the surgery in record time and prevents him from poking your fatty liver with his surgical tools. If your liver is fatty and it gets poked it will bleed and therefore the operation will take longer. Please follow the guidelines and don't have anything that isn't already listed on the pre-op diet. Dr. -- has been known to put his camera in the belly, look at the liver and if it's still too large, a funny color from eating solid foods or if he feels that you cheated, he will cancel your surgery on that very day! So please take full advantage of 2 Protein shakes a day and 3 servings of cottage cheese, milk or yogurt to help fill you up as much as possible. The previous items include protein for satiety! "

Guess that puts the fear of God (and Dr.--) in ME! I want my liver the right color, whatever that is!!

I was told the same thing by my surgeon. Shrinking the liver is the goal of the pre-op diet. He told me that it depended on the BMI - with higher BMI's he will not do the surgery unless the prescribed weight loss goal has been met. With lower BMI's he still wants you to do the diet, but doesn't set a weight loss goal for you.

makes sense if you think about it.

My surgeon actually showed us pictures. There was a marked difference between a liver that was normal size and one where the patient didn't follow her pre-op diet. He actually had to close her up after he got in there because every time he even touched her liver it would bleed and bruise terribly!!!! It wasn't a pretty picture. So, if you want to have your surgery go smoothly, make sure you follow your physicians advice to the letter!

I am fortunate in that my surgeon only requires me to be on a low carb/high Protein diet for several weeks prior to surgery and then be on Clear Liquids for two days prior. He says it is easier to make the transition to liquids if you have already gone through carb withdrawal ahead of time. The low carb diet hasn't been too hard to follow and I have already lost 12.5 pounds in a week and a half. I can deal with that!