I am pre-surgery (4 November date) and wondering if anyone else has troubles with horrible headaches. These just started since I started cutting a lot of carbs out of my diet, cutting down on foods (while trying to get more Protein in), and trying to lose a few pounds before my pre-op protein shake/clear liquid diet starts on 23 October. Is it carb withdrawal headaches? These are worse than the caffeine withdrawal headaches I had when I gave up soda pop products about two months ago.

Any suggestions? Thanks,

Terry

I suggest, insteading of cutting carbs, why not start drinking Protein shakes 20 minutes before each meal? That way, you will naturally eat less of the more caloric foods at meal times. Also, you can make protein recipes from the powders for Snacks between meals, even ice cream! Check out the blog, The World According to Eggface and http://proteinartist.com

Cutting carbs puts your body into ketosis and that transition can cause headaches. The worst part though is that you have to go through the whole transition over again if you go out of ketosis and then back in again. So once you are in ketosis, try to stay there by keeping your carb intake consistently low. I went through the same thing on my pre-op diet when I had to start drinking protein drinks and nothing else for two weeks pre-op.

Cutting carbs puts your body into ketosis and that transition can cause headaches. The worst part though is that you have to go through the whole transition over again if you go out of ketosis and then back in again. So once you are in ketosis, try to stay there by keeping your carb intake consistently low. I went through the same thing on my pre-op diet when I had to start drinking Protein drinks and nothing else for two weeks pre-op.

Wow! That must have been hard! I was allowed 1/2c. oatmeal in the morning, Protein shakes at meals, applesauce, yogurt with a 1/4c. fruit pureed together (paw paw was great!), sugar free puddings, totaling 1100 calories/day including 60 - 80 grams protein. I never went into ketosis. Had to do it for 9 days, and didn't feel too much like cheating. My liver shrunk just fine.

Wow! That must have been hard! I was allowed 1/2c. oatmeal in the morning, Protein shakes at meals, applesauce, yogurt with a 1/4c. fruit pureed together (paw paw was great!), sugar free puddings, totaling 1100 calories/day including 60 - 80 grams protein. I never went into ketosis. Had to do it for 9 days, and didn't feel too much like cheating. My liver shrunk just fine.

I was limited to three protein shakes a day and one green salad with calorie-free dressing. It came out to about 450 calories a day and next to no carbs, so I went straight into ketosis. I was terrified of cheating at all because I did NOT want to go through the headaches again once I got past those first couple of days! Under 20 grams of carbs per day will definitely put you into ketosis.

Now I know why I feel terrible!! I just started my pre-op diet, and I'm not really feeling hungry as I am just a little strange. My OP is on Oct 14th!! I am so excited. In the diet they only allow 1 cup of green vegetables a day (cucumber, celery and radish are my go to veggies) Does anyone think it would do so much harm if I upped that to a little more? I can't see celery doing much harm and I love to just munch on it while watching tv.