Good morning! I started my three-week pre-op liquid diet on Monday. Things are going okay, but I've experienced leg cramps the past two nights. This morning, I woke up with a headache. I was wondering if this is normal with a high-Protein diet like this. I've been consuming between 60 and 80 ounces of Water each day this week along with my 4-5 Proteins shakes...even maybe with a cup of broth mixed in. I was more tired yesterday than normal. I'm going to try to increase my water intake today to 100 ounces and see if that helps.

Any suggestions or advice?

i had leg cramps several times during pre-op. we figured out that i was not intaking enough Calcium. i added an extra calcium and it took care of it. i would suggest calling your surgeons office and run it by their nurse. they can get some blood work and remedy the scenario for you!

I also got bad headaches like days 3 and 4 of my pre-op diet. I think it was my body adjusting to the really restricted diet. Day 5 and after I was fine. I didn't have as much energy, but it wasn't that bad. Once my body adjusted to the new diet, those things get better.

Also my dr included carnation instant Breakfast sugar free in my list of approved Protein drinks. I would recommend one like that a day because it has a lot of other nutrients along with the protein.

I hope this helps!

@@mi75 @@snochick2005 Thanks for the feedback. I figured it was something with vitamins or such. I'm supposed to have blood work done fairly soon, but I'll go ahead and call the office and get some advice. And I appreciate the suggestion about trying the Carnation Instant Breakfast in addition to the protein shakes. Don't mind if I do!

I had both leg cramps and headaches, i dont know why i had leg cramps but i figured low potassium and my headaches was from lack of food and drastic calorie reduction

I am not pre op yet, have only just started the process. The headache day 3-4 is withdrawal from carbs/sugar and you likely feel run down and tired also?? I was on a high protein and extreme low carb diet before and lost 60 pounds, but have gained most of it all back now I got the headache day 3 and it lasted a couple days, I was told that it was fro withdrawal from carbs/sugar. It will go away. Also you will likely have issues with being cold pretty soon. I was always in a sweater, even in summer.

Edited July 3, 201412 yr by Midge73

looks like good advice above. hopefully by the time you read this all of that is behind you. hydrate and Vitamins.

cheers

@@Midge73 @@Rovobay @@msfitn2014 Thanks! I guess withdrawal makes sense. I hadn't really had any carbonated drinks or anything like that in a while, but I know sugar is mixed into all sorts of foods. And I was a big carbs eater before, too.

I'll up my Vitamins to help with the leg cramps. I've had leg cramps many times before--either because I wasn't getting enough Water or because my legs got too cold. When I get them in the middle of the night, I jump out of bed and try stretching them out. But I didn't think either was the case this time. I had to ask because I couldn't imagine myself jumping out of bed after surgery and dealing with the cramps. No way!

@@Midge73 I stay semi-cold even now. I sometimes wear my sweater in the office or even turn my little space heater on low. And it's the middle of the summer.