I have four days until my surgery and I am starving on this pre op diet! I so badly want to just have one more yummy meal, but I am afraid it will enlarge my liver somehow and mess up surgery. Has anyone here not followed their pre op diet and or cheated? I am committed and know I have to commit for life after the surgery. Anyone feel the same? Thanks! Any positive post op stuff would be appreciated! Lastly, did anyone experience hunger post op?

I didn't cheat on it as, like many, I didn't have a pre-op diet other than the empty the GI tract thing the day before surgery. It all depends upon your surgeon and how sensitive he is to the need to do such a diet - some are quite specific that they don't think that you did their diet when they get inside that they will close you up and have you try again (though I have never actually seen anyone have this happen,) while others could care less about the diet as they know what they are doing in there irrespective the liver shrinking thing (or whatever rationale they are using.) Some quite specifically don't want their patients fasting for weeks ahead of surgery as they want them as strong and healthy as possible going into surgery - all kinds of different philosophies out there.

The best thing is to follow their instructions as you want them as comfortable as possible when they are rooting around in your insides.

Note to lurkers and early researchers - it is best to find out about these policies as early as possible - as questions when you go to that first informational seminar rather than find out once you are committed to the practice and it's too late to change.