I have my failed my pre-op liquid Diet. Terrified I won't be able to do surgery

[abigman 12]

Hello

First time poster.

I was told by my surgeon (based in NSW) to do 6 weeks or more liquid diet. I'm 189kg 177cm male.

I started 7 weeks pre-op, I did 4 weeks straight no problems, then I completely stuffed up and have basically been eating like I was before for two weeks (which is unhealthy and way too much) and I now have 5 days till surgery. I've made a promise to myself that I'm going to be 100% strict from this minute onwards until surgery day, which is in 5 days.

I'm terrified I will not be able to get the surgery done. What should I do? Have I blown it? I'm too ashamed to tell my surgeon I only had to do it for 7 weeks and I failed.

[Shaydi.Laine 237]

Only 7 weeks??!! ONLY? Wow, that is a long time to be on a liquid diet, especially with a normal sized belly. That just sounds cruel to me.

In the states, the common time frame is two weeks, and some do not require it at all. If it were me, i would get back on the wagon right now and not say a word to the surgeon about it. At your weight, you probably knocked off significant weight on that 4 weeks of liquid, but you can pack it back on fast doing what you're doing.

Good luck!

[#BirdDog 604]

5 days till your surgery, I'd let my surgeon know. Most only want 2 weeks of a strict liquid diet. 7 weeks seems awful long.

[WitchySar 244]

7 weeks of liquids only? If I had been in your place I'd have been immediately looking for another surgeon. What was his reasoning for requiring such a long liquids phase? Like Shaydi said, that sounds cruel.

[Ab1gman 0]

Only 7 weeks??!! ONLY? Wow, that is a long time to be on a liquid diet, especially with a normal sized belly. That just sounds cruel to me.

In the states, the common time frame is two weeks, and some do not require it at all. If it were me, i would get back on the wagon right now and not say a word to the surgeon about it. At your weight, you probably knocked off significant weight on that 4 weeks of liquid, but you can pack it back on fast doing what you're doing.

Good luck!

It is a long time, if I could stick to 7 weeks without enormous cravings and hunger getting the best of me, I probably wouldn't be in line for surgery.

I just did something I didn't want to do... I weighed in.

So all up, I started at 189kg pre-op, when the surgeon saw me.

I lost 14kg all up down to 175. I just weighed in now (I usually weigh myself in the morning, and it's the afternoon here) and I clocked in at 177

So the good news is, I only put 2kg back on from my initial loss of 14kg.

So my net loss since opti is 12kg.

I feel a lot better, I was honestly expecting to put it all back on in two weeks. I'm hoping since I didn't put much weight on, my liver should still be good. And I'm not having so much as a teaspoon of cheating for the next 5 days.

[Ab1gman 0]

7 weeks of liquids only? If I had been in your place I'd have been immediately looking for another surgeon. What was his reasoning for requiring such a long liquids phase? Like Shaydi said, that sounds cruel.

I'm assuming because of my very high BMI, and he might have wanted me to get in the mindset of eating very little so I'm mentally prepared for surgery. If 2 weeks is the standard, I'm hoping that means my 4 weeks recently done (2 weeks ago) and 5 days pre-op should be enough.

I'm 12kgs down in total, even after not being on shakes for two weeks.

[AvaFern 3,516]

At 5 days out from surgery, if you're strict with your liquid diet, you're fine. Your liver will, ideally, still be small enough that when they go under it to get to your stomach they won't crack it. The reason for the liquid diet before surgery is primarily to shrink the liver. A 7 week liquid diet is a little ridiculous and 1 week is more than sufficient. I had a 1 week liquid diet, and a family friend had no liquid diet at all (lucky jerk). Both of us were fine.

[Cari Dickenson 148]

lucky to those only doing 2 weeks I did 4 weeks and that was pretty harsh... I cheated on mine and had Beans for dinner nightly I still lost 28 pounds... 7 weeks is a long time and yes mine was based on my weight... and I managed to get through it though, I often wonder how... just keep on it.. you can do this.. good luck I hope it goes well

[Hiraeth 515]

LOL! Wait... They made you try this for 6 weeks?! What in the world... That's is ridiculous! I only did mine for one week and my surgery went amazing. Your doctor is probably trying to be completely sure that there are no complications. I also heard that the bigger your BMI is, the longer they usually make you do the liquid diet. But my gosh... 6 weeks is the longest I've ever heard. Please be 100% dedicated to this liquid diet for the remaining 5 days. And PLEASE tell your surgeon about what happened. I screwed up my liquid diet the DAY BEFORE my surgery. I was only allowed to have Clear Liquids the day before, and without thinking, I had non-fat chocoate milk. I was so upset. I told my surgeon (nervously) and he didn't mind. He said, "Well, it's done. Let's rock and roll!" Ha! I think, in my opinion, you've already shrunken your liver in the 5 weeks of the liquid diet prior to your fallback. So you probably have not increased your liver size that much in just 2 weeks. Worst case scenario, your doctor will probably postpone the surgery for about 2-3 weeks. If maybe you insist on trying to have the surgery, he might open you up and find that your liver is a good size to continue the operation. Just PLEASE stick to only liquid from now on, until your surgery and at least 2 weeks after your surgery. Good luck! Keep us updated! Prayers~

Edited August 22, 2016 by Hiraeth

[abigman 12]

You guys have made me feel much better, thank you!

I am going to be 110% strict for the last 5 days, and hope that the 4 weeks prior, and last 5 days pre-op will be enough to have my liver healthy.

I did do a blood test about two weeks ago, and the results were my liver was fatty but he said only a bit higher than average range, so based on that I'm hoping I have it in good enough shape for surgery.

[PJenkins 18]

I think you must remember that the thing is the journey. How well can you follow directions? This is like learning to ride a bike. You fall off and get back on. I don't quite get the 2 weeks of previous behavior? You need to figure out what that was about for you. Why did it take you so long to face it? It is time for a reset. Most of the complications appear to be related to not following the post op diet. Cheating here could be fatal.

[Hiraeth 515]

Exactly, what the person above said. It could be fatal if you don't tell your surgeon. We are not doctors, so your surgeon needs to know what happened. But just in case you can still have the surgery, continue on liquids. 110% is perfect thinking! Proud of you!

[curveballs 0]

My surgeon only required 1 day of liquids only pre-surgery and 2 weeks of a low fat menu. I wasn't 100% on the two weeks but I was on the day before. Surgery was fine.. 7 weeks is crazy and I doubt your the first that stumbled!

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[Cluelesswinner 32]

Stick to your guns and do the remaining days clean. You will be fine. You can do this!!!!!

[abigman 12]

Stick to your guns and do the remaining days clean. You will be fine. You can do this!!!!!

Thanks for the encouragement. I've been 110% perfect for 3 days now and, will continue that way until surgery. I want to do this!