Hi guys,

I am on a 2 week liver shrinkage diet, i am four days in and am suffering a lot of what i assume is hunger pain.

Is this normal ? I knew it was not going to be easy in anyway, shape or form and i will carry on regardless but at times the pain has been a 7 out of 10

Also does it ever stop? I kinda expected to struggle for a couple of days and then sort of get used to it.

Maybe i am wishful thinking on that one lol.

Just now, lingre said:

am having this dull headache and a little dizziness and wanted to see if others have experienced this or not?

headache is from the carb withdrawal. Dizziness may be as well.

I didn't have to do any pre-op diet at all except the day before was just non sugar drinks and non sugar jello so I commend you all for your dedication! Something that helped me enormously after surgery was using a shaved ice maker. You could eat it plain or drizzle sugar-free gatorade or even clear protein drinks on it. You just feel like you are eating and it is so satisfying plus you are getting some liquids in. I had one from wm for years but they also sell them for around 20 on amazon.

1 minute ago, Sweettoothless said:

I didn't have to do any pre-op diet at all except the day before was just non sugar drinks and non sugar Jello so I commend you all for your dedication! Something that helped me enormously after surgery was using a shaved ice maker. You could eat it plain or drizzle sugar-free gatorade or even clear Protein Drinks on it. You just feel like you are eating and it is so satisfying plus you are getting some liquids in. I had one from wm for years but they also sell them for around 20 on Amazon.

I am definitely going to try this! Great idea.

16 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

headache is from the carb withdrawal. Dizziness may be as well.

Nice-how long does this part last before it stops?

Oh and best of luck to everyone! Good days are up ahead! After a few months of feeling odd things heal well (for most people) and small portions become your new normal. From all that I have read it seems the pre-op phase is the most difficult.

1 minute ago, lingre said:

Nice-how long does this part last before it stops?

it's been a few years for me, so I can't remember exactly - maybe three or four days?

3 minutes ago, lingre said:

Nice-how long does this part last before it stops?

here's an article about it. It lists both headaches and dizziness as symptoms:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/keto-flu-symptoms#symptoms

On 9/9/2019 at 7:15 AM, smaller_sav said:

I have hungry pains quite a bit too. I try and take big drinks of Water. I figured I'd enjoy the big sips of water now while I can since it's so restrictive afterwards. I've had horrible headaches from detoxing caffeine too. I just keep telling myself it will be worth it.

Getting off caffeine has been awful for me! I feel like I’m walking around in a fog and I keep having headaches.

13 hours ago, Lizzziee said:

Getting off caffeine has been awful for me! I feel like I’m walking around in a fog and I keep having headaches.

Yes!! I finally got over it this past weekend because I purposely ran out of coffee at home since no one else drinks it there. I can honestly see why people relapse. It was terrible. Out of habit I still want to make a cup of coffee and drink it, but nope.

My heart goes out to you. I was on liquids for two weeks in May prior to surgery. I was so crazy. I found hot broth helped a lot and miso soup. On day of surgery my surgeon said liver was perfectly small and it made it so much easier for him. You must stick to this for your own safety. Hang in there it will be worth it.

On ‎9‎/‎8‎/‎2019 at 11:18 PM, catwoman7 said:

I personally thought the pre-op liquid diet was the hardest part of the whole thing. It seemed to get easier after about the 3rd or 4th day, though - at least for me.

I am on day 4 and it's not as bad as the other days. It's definitely a mental game.

Headache finally went away yesterday - so 7 days before it lifted. After reading some of the info provided on carb withdrawal I started to increase my sodium intake with broths and that seems to have helped. I am still beyond hungry and don’t know how I will go on full liquids starting Tuesday next week. I got my sodium intake from broth and I have trie a few and sooooo many are just nasty and taste like chemicals to me. What kids of broths have others enjoyed that I can try out to help me through this next phase?

Headache finally went away yesterday - so 7 days before it lifted. After reading some of the info provided on carb withdrawal I started to increase my sodium intake with broths and that seems to have helped. I am still beyond hungry and don’t know how I will go on full liquids starting Tuesday next week. I got my sodium intake from broth and I have trie a few and sooooo many are just nasty and taste like chemicals to me. What kids of broths have others enjoyed that I can try out to help me through this next phase?

I like the Herbox bullion cubes. I've tried Herbox packets and different brands of bone broth and didn't care for the taste.

Okay so if you guys haven’t already tried this, take some beef bone broth liquid and add some sea salt. It will help