Pre-Surgery Liquid Diet Side Effects

[PlBren 21]

I hate to be graphic but I was curious if anyone else is having the same issue I am after being on the pre-surgical liquid diet.

I am one week through the two week diet (Protein shakes, broth Soups, sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles). Yesterday, I had some serious cramping, associated with a tar like bowel movement. The cramping resolved itself, but the tar like bowel movement has not, as I had another one today.

Maybe this is just my intestines cleaning out the bad stuff?? I don't know but I thought I'd ask and see if anyone else had this issue.

[_Kate_ 2,224]

food can stay in your colon and intestinal tract for a while, years even. I know when I did a cleanse years ago, I couldn't believe the gunk that came out and yes, it was black and very tar like. I didn't have this on the pre op liver leansing diet but perhaps you were just disloging stuff that had been there for a while!

[Dream4tc 192]

Have you had any problems with weakness, nausea, lightheadedness? Do you have any history of taking NSAIDS like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or any blood thinners like coumadin, plavix, xarelto? If so, it would be worrisome for a possible GI Bleed. I would call your doctor and notify them of these tarry stools.

[PlBren 21]

I had my pre-surgical doctor visit today and asked her about it. She wasn't concerned after asking me a few more questions. Yay!

I've just got to get through this second week on the liquid diet. Funny, I feel fine from when I wake up till about 10am. Despite when I drink my first shake. No hunger at all. From 10:00am to 2:00pm - moderate hunger that is not a big deal, I can work through it. From 2pm to 8:00pm - I feel as if I am starving and nothing I can do seem to be able to distract me from how hungry I am! Even if I eat all my shakes and Jello Snacks in this time period - I still feel starved (not that I've done that with my intake, but I've come close a couple of times). Then, after 8:00pm it goes back to moderate hunger until I go to bed.

What is everyone else's experience? Do you have bad times? How long do they last? I'm gnawing on my arm right now...

[Dream4tc 192]

That's good! Try chewing a piece of sugar free gum or a few mints. liquid diets are really hard. How many grams of Protein are you drinking?

[PlBren 21]

That's good! Try chewing a piece of sugar free gum or a few mints. Liquid diets are really hard. How many grams of Protein are you drinking?

I never thought about chewing gum. Good suggestion. Thanks Dream4tc.

I have between 70-80 grams of Protein a day, 30-50 grams of carbs and no more than 30 grams of fat.

Tonight went well, I figured out what to eat (drink) during the day so that I could drink 2 Atkins Dark chocolate shakes for dinner and they filled me up (I was still hungry after 1 shake - waited a while and then drank the second). These are my favorite shakes but they have a lot of fat in them (10 grams each) and not as much protein (15 grams) so I have to make sure my other Protein drinks during the day are pretty much fat free or close to it in order to have two in one day.

So, I am going to continue that for the rest of my pre-surgery diet to better control my hunger (drinking the 2 shakes at dinner time). I drank them almost three hours ago, and am still quite content, no hunger at all.

[Dream4tc 192]

Awesome! Have you tried higher Protein Shakes? Premier Protein are really tasty and have 30 grams of Protein. They have chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. The best thing about protein shakes is you can alter the shakes to just about any flavor by adding extracts. So a simple vanilla Protein Drink can turn into a Butterscotch, caramel, Rum, or a chocolate protein drink can be Chocolate mint, coconut, etc. They have about any flavored extract that you could think about. Yummy! You just have to taste test to see what you like. Higher protein might be what you need. You can also blend them with ice and it may help keep you more full. Ugh I have a hard time with too much fat. I always tend to go over.

[PlBren 21]

Awesome! Have you tried higher Protein shakes? Premier Protein are really tasty and have 30 grams of Protein. They have chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. The best thing about Protein Shakes is you can alter the shakes to just about any flavor by adding extracts. So a simple vanilla protein drink can turn into a Butterscotch, caramel, Rum, or a chocolate protein drink can be Chocolate mint, coconut, etc. They have about any flavored extract that you could think about. Yummy! You just have to taste test to see what you like. Higher protein might be what you need. You can also blend them with ice and it may help keep you more full. Ugh I have a hard time with too much fat. I always tend to go over.

I actually drink mostly Premier Protein shakes. And my fav is Vanilla with lemon extract. My problem is that a single shake doesn't fill me up at night (but is fine for Breakfast or lunch), and if I drink 2 of the PP's at night for dinner, then I'll have too much protein eat day (because I have one for Breakfast every morning). So, having three PP shakes a day would take me to 90 grams of protein and that doesn't include what ever I have for lunch.

Thus - that is why the Atkins works for me. The two Atkins shakes together are the same amount of protein as one Premier Protein Shake, so I get two full shakes at night, but don't go over on how much protein I have. And I think the higher fat in the Atkins is what is helping me stay full. Fortunately, nothing else I am eating has much fat in it (3 grams per PP shake) so even with one PP and two Atkins shakes, I think I can stay under 30 grams of fat a day. I just have to keep my lunch and Snacks limited to 10-20 grams of protein, 10-30 grams of carbs, and 7 grams or less of fat.