No Pre-Op Diet? What Gives?

[Ree 215]

I had my pre surgery testing yesterday and I was really surprised when I received my instructions packet. No where on there did it say I had to do a pre op diet. It seems as though many are required to do a pre op diet on here. So how many of you guys were required to do a pre op diet? and for how long?

My instructions only say to start a clear liquid diet on the 17th (surgery date is next week on the 18th) and not to drink anything at all after midnight, except for in the morning (of surgery day) to take my medications.

[Arts137 1,811]

AOK, then that's your plan.. Mine was a two week Optifast fast, but surgical practices differ!

[Lorie269 392]

I did not have a pre-op diet either. Just liquids the day before and nothing after midnight. That part was tough because my surgery was supposed to be at 1:30pm but I didn't get taken in to about 4:30pm. I did, however, start changing my bad habits and sticking to high Protein, low carb in the months before surgery. I managed to lose 21 lbs from my first consult to my surgery day.

[Ree 215]

I guess I'm just a bit confused over this because a few months ago when I was still seeing the NUT she told me there is a pre op diet that needs to be followed for 7 to 10 days. She never went into it with me and never mentioned it again after that one time. I always figured at some point I would be starting a pre op diet and I was a little surprised when I found out I wasn't required to do one. I don't know if not having a pre op diet is a good thing or a bad thing, or if it really doesn't matter either way?

[Arts137 1,811]

hmmmm

ASK, there IS a point to the pre-op very low calorie diet, it shrinks the liver and that helps the surgeon.

BUT some surgeons do not ask the patient to do this...

[Wls4me 163]

Just give your doc a call to clarify. There is a wide variety of preop instructions out there. Personally I didn't have a preop diet, just nothing after midnight the night before. Your dr may not think you need it. Just ask. You'll feel better.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Yes. Don't guess about anything. And ask questions a second or third or more times if you still aren't sure of the answer.

All the best advice I've heard says -- take someone with you to your meetings, because these are stressful times, and you may not remember everything that's said.