Did anyone else’s doctor tell them a pre-op diet is not necessary?

[BostonWLKC 806]

I didn’t have to either. Just shakes and liquids for 1-2 days before to get food out of my stomach.

[sillykitty 10,705]

12 hours ago, Creekimp13 said:

I will say that the two weeks of mind games giving up food and switching to shakes prepared me well for the shock of not being able to eat for weeks. I think maybe it's a good idea to give people an escape hatch if they're not truly committed.

Just for my own experience, I have to say that this would not have been true for me. I would have been miserable. I know from my dieting experience, I hate being hungry, it makes me disheartened and want to give up. That though is no indication that I lack commitment to WLS. It has not been reflected in my success to date.

[nenes78 528]

My program was 13 weeks of classes prior to getting cleared for surgery starting with 1800 calories a day working down to 1200. After classes we were cleared to visit the surgeon. After the initial weigh in with the surgeon he warned if i weighed one ounce more on any visit (initial and pre-op) I would have to start all over. Once surgery date scheduled i had liquid diet 2 days before and nothing for 12 hours before surgery. I went through Kaiser Options program

[Elle_Woods 36]

Awesome! Thank you all for the good info and advice :) I am glad to know I am not the only one. I am on a vacation this week then i will have 5 weeks once I get home before surgery. I plan to eat very nutrient dense super healthy foods to prepare my body for surgery! And prepare my mind for what I will be eating after.

[ksf 1]

No pre op diet. Just clears 1 day before surgery

[CalGuy64 66]

My doctor insisted on a two week Liquid Protein pre-op diet. His rational was that he wanted as much room as possible to operate in the abdominal cavity. The purpose of the pre-op diet was to shrink the liver (the biggest organ in the abdominal cavity) and thus make surgery easier.

Wanting my surgeon to have the easiest time possible I did a three week liquid Protein diet and lost 26 pounds. I specifically asked him about my liver when he came to check on me post-op. He told me that my liver was normal with no observable fatty deposits and that he had lots of room to work.

[NYJenn 1,461]

My surgeon is highly recognized; he only requires Clear Liquids 24 hours before surgery. No other pre-op diet

[chattycat 91]

Mine required a 2 week 1200 Calorie Diet, and fast after midnight before the surgery, said they find that adequate. I was happy to eat real food as I know I won’t have it for awhile post op.

[Missouri-Lee's Summit 1,256]

I think this "all over the map" way of doing things just confuses bariatric patients. You'd think after millions of bariatric procedures, there would be a fairly standard practice of sorts. Not even close. I think the pre-op all-liquid diet was a challenging time that also included a primarily positive boost. It felt good to feel successful even before my surgery.

[Strivingforbetter 246]

No pre-op diet required by my surgeon, and I've been successful with my weight loss.

[ArJay0621 2]

Hey I had surgery 6/21, at my pre op 6/4 where I weighed in at 248 my surgeon also said no pre surgery diet was needed. My surgery was covered by my insurance. Not sure why i just had to stop eating and drinking by midnight before surgery and drink Gatorade night before and morning of.

I knew someone who had the same surgeon a few years ago who had to do a Protein Shake diet before surgery, she started at a higher weight...maybe that’s why?

[Red Alicia 29]

I really hope I don't have to be on only liquids for two weeks. I don't think I could do it. It seems to me that a person that has the will power to only have liquids for two weeks wouldn't need weight loss surgery. I salute those that have done it!

[soph504 47]

No pre-op diet here, just liquid diet 72 hours before surgery. I was told it’s bc I have a relatively low BMI (32).

[Gypsyvangirl 29]

On 6/26/2018 at 8:07 PM, Elle_Woods said:

Hey all,
So I am confused.....I have a doctor who is very experienced and I feel very confident in.....but he told me that he does not need me to do a pre-op diet. My BMI is a little lower and I am Doing self pay, but I would still think this maybe would be necessary? Has anyone else had gastric sleeve without doing the pre-op liver shrinking diet?

Yes, mine. Im in Dallas and my Surgeon has been doing this over 20 years, trained most of the other dr's. No pre op and a much faster pace post op diet too. I didnt spend the night in hospital either.

He said the preop shrink liver belief doesnt really work...

Edited June 28, 2018 by Gypsyvangirl
Added

[Elle_Woods 36]

Thank you all for the replies! This makes me feel better.
For those who did not do a pre-op diet, did you doctor tell you to eat in any specific way? Were you supposed to lose weight before surgery anyway?