Pre- op Diet

[lisaannedp 10]

Three weeks ago when I saw my doctor, she wanted me to go on a 1600 calorie or lower eating plan for the three weeks between then and completing my steps. I see her tomorrow, and I'm terrified because I have not done as well as what I should have. I don't believe I have lost any weight. My struggle has been, I feel, mostly a "Farewell" to all of the gluttonous food I need to leave behind. I have cut caffeine, been drinking my Protein, bought a Vitamix to help with my pureed stage. I have been paying attention to drinking while eating, and trying to get out of that habit, quit drinking out of a straw, all of these things I feel like I need to give up and develop habits with. But the food has been the hardest. I find myself thinking "You won't be able to have this anymore, might as well".

I am nervous that my doctor is going to feel like I am not taking this seriously enough, and delay scheduling my surgery consult with the surgeon. Which, I am taking it very seriously, and I feel I am doing my best, but it's very overwhelming to change your whole life in a few weeks.

Part of me feels ashamed, like, "If you can't do this, how are you going to get through two weeks of liquids". And I just feel like I'm unraveling. Then my rational brain tells me to calm down and keep doing my best and not to worry.

Has anyone else experienced these feelings pre-op? And how did you combat them? Also, has anyone had their surgery delayed for reasons related to this?

[JamieLogical 8,684]

You should not beat yourself up for the mistakes you've made, since they are in the past and you need to move forward. Just don't let those makes serve as an excuse to make future mistakes! You need to get out of this food funeral mentality. I am almost 17 months post-op now and there is literally NO food I can't eat. So you can and will be able to have most of the foods you love again eventually. The difference is you probably won't WANT them as much as you think you will.

It is truly possibly to have your surgery delayed if you don't stick to the plan, especially the pre-op liquid diet, since the purpose of that is to shrink your liver. If your liver is still too large, your surgeon can and will elect not to complete the surgery if the deem it unsafe. You need to take it seriously. But, again, let go of the mistakes you've made so far and just focus on doing better from this point forward. Regretting those mistakes will accomplish nothing and likely only steer you toward emotional eating.

[Ronjohn 84]

I certainly had some of those thoughts during my 6 month pre-op diet. Near the end I actually gained a few pounds, as I was "gettin in my good stuff". However, when it came time for my pre-op diet I didn't mess around. I knew that there were health risks involved with the surgery, and there was no way I was going to put myself at risk just for a few slices of pizza, or whatever it was. Buckle down and do it for yourself!

[lisaannedp 10]

@JamieLogical@Ronjohn Thank you for your feedback. I am totally committed to this process, I really am. And I will FORCE myself to stick to the liquid diet two weeks pre op. The part I'm on right now is not an exact diet. Basically my doctor wanted me to start forming habits and eating healthy. There weren't a lot of stipulations besides to measure and track my food and do Protein to get in the routine. So I might have been overreacting a little bit, or dramatizing it. I won't threaten my health as far as the liquid diet goes.

I haven't met my surgeon yet, nor do I have a date, so I'm still a ways away from the liquid part. I am just struggling with the food Funeral part for sure.