Did your Doc require a pre-op diet?

Yes, Dr. Kuri wants me to do that Liver Shrinking Diet for 3 weeks prior to my surgery. It's a combination of liquid shake meals for 2 meals of the day with the 3rd meal basically being a low fat diet.

Yep. I have to follow the full optifast diet, replace 3 meals a day with shakes and have 1 cup of veg a day. Oh joy! I can do the diet and the taste doesn't bother me the way it does most people, but I work with little kids. Not gonna be fun the next few weeks, I can tell you!

I had to be on all liquids the day before surgery and that was it.

Yup, I am actually on it right now.

Mine requires the liquid pre-op diet.

I have a question (hopefully it doesn't sound too stupid..) but I have something to do during first 2 days of the diet (a retreat) and I doubt I would be able to do the liquid diet on those 2 days (really one day and a half), so my question would be.. if I started my diet a week earlier than I am supposed to.. would forgoing the diet those two days do a lot of damage? I still plan on eating as healthy as I can while there so I don't see it as a big issue? Just curious. I want to jump start the diet regardless because I figure the more I can lose prior to surgery.. the better.

If you start the liquid pre-op a week earlier, then your liver will begin shrinking that week. You could conceivably do some damage that one day off, but if you RESTRICT the CARBS you intake on that day and make sure you are consuming more protein, you should be okay.

The key to shrinking the liver is the carbs it has to process. It will attempt to store them, which is what will increase the liver size. So if you can refrain from carbs, you'll probably be okay.

:wink: We (hubby and I) went to our seminar on 06/2/09 and were really inpressed with everything and set our next appointment for 6/10/09 to start the process. We were given good news that our insurance covers the lap band. Now our surgery is on July 24,2009, I am very excited :thumbup:because I need to lose 80-90 pounds (hubby about the same). We were told to do the Atkins diet from July 10 until our surgery.

No, thank heavens!

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Yes, full liquids for 1 week before surgery...I am struggling with it...I want to chew...even the crappy cafeteria food looks good right now

Wow,,, all of you seem to have easy doctor's as far as liquid diets go. My doc has me on a liquid diet that consist of Atkins shake for breakfast lunch and dinner and for lunch and dinner I can have one cup of chicken broth and 1 cup of green vegi's. I'm on day 6 and have 9 more to go,,,,, and did I mention that I'm loosing my mind???!!!! It's so hard I have no idea how I'm going to make it till next Wednesday!

I just found out I am getting surgery next Thursday so I only have 7 or 8 days for the liquid diet. Basically it is 2 shakes a day and then a lean dinner like lean cuisine...or lean meats and 2 pieces of bread, ALthough I am not going to eat bread as I dont like it :thumbup: Since I only have a week until my surgery I am going to just drink 3 slimfasts a day. But the carb on them is 24 which seems a lot to me. In the past when I did the lowcarb diet, you couldnt eat more than 20 carbs a day. So this is really low carb, its just high protein....

But the carb on them is 24 which seems a lot to me. In the past when I did the lowcarb diet, you couldnt eat more than 20 carbs a day. So this is really low carb, its just high protein....

SlimFast makes a low carb version that only has 2 grams of carbs per can. I know Sam's Club carries them in a 12 or 24 pack but I've also seen the 6 packs in some grocery stores.

Another option is Isopure's Dutch Chocolate protein powder. Two scoops in 12 oz of water is only 3 carbs and you can get that at GNC. Some CVS pharmacies carry it as well. It's a bit thinner than SlimFast, but has an acceptable taste...and I'm really really picky.

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My drs office told us we only could drink Slimfast High Protein, carnation instant breakfast no sugar added, or some boost. Those were the only three. For after the surgery, I did buy that unjury unflavored to add protein to everything...

I started my pre-op diet this week. I have a projected surgery date the middle of December.

It seems that the main goal of the diet the nutritionist put me on is to begin to establish habits of the way I am going to have to eat following surgery.

I have to eat 6 times a day, each time must include protein and a varied amount of carbs, fats etc. depending on the time of day.

She put me on a plan to cut back on my coffee intake. I drink a LOT of coffee. So, I'm getting weaned back gradually, mercifully.

I can't have anything to drink 20 minutes prior to, during, or for 20 minutes after I eat.

Ten days prior to surgery, I go on an all liquid diet which I'm NOT looking forward to. But .. I CAN and WILL do this.

The doctor wants me to lose 5 lbs before surgery. The nutritionist told me the liquid diet will shrink my liver making it easier to get the band positioned on my stomach.

I'm glad they have me practicing the diet now when I can screw up with less consequence. There are a lot of new habits to learn.

Drasan,,, everything your doctor's are saying is pretty much what I was told as well. I was told that I should practice taking small bites, chewing 30 times and watching everything I eat, staying away from breads, pasta's and rice because after surgery, those things can be hard on you. I won't even lie to you about my two week liquid diet,,, it was hard. But every day got a little easier. I could have liquids, 3 atkins shakes a day and about 2 cups of green vegi's. I was having a hard time, so my doctor said to increase my protein shake to 4 a day and try to drink more chicken broth for the salt,,, it really helped. What also helped a lot with the shakes were to put them in the blender with some ice,,, it make it a bit different and sometimes on liquids,,, you just need different, lol:-)

I had my surgery on Oct. 21st and after the 2 week liquid diet,,, I had lost 17 pounds. So keep that in mind,,, it's exciting to know you lost weight before the surgery. I'm still on mushies to help the healing process,,, but I won't get my first fill for 3 more weeks.

Good luck to you,,, I know you have heard this,,, but believe me,,, the time will go by with the dreaded liquids and you will be on the other side of this journey.