June Surgeries

[pk88 147]

20 hours ago, Iluvbats said:

I am 10 days out and REALLY struggling with this pre-op diet. 2 shakes a day and one meal. It's killing me. Last night I fell off the wagon and had crackers and Philly cream cheese and today I had a spoon full of macaroni cheese! I don't even like macaroni cheese! I have to get through the rest of this day and 9 more. Thankfully I'm not hungry right now but this is hard. If I could do this diet, I wouldn't need surgery!

Hang in there. Post-op you will not likely get that one meal for a while. Expect to be on liquids a week, full liquids another week before getting cream/pureed foods (all depending on your dietician's approach). I highly recommend getting sugar free popsicles and pudding. The pudding helped me a lot with carb cravings. SO MUCH of the pre-op diet is mental. If you haven't already, I recommend finding the forum "What is your Why?" and journalling about it. Having that long term goal in mind while preparing your body for surgery and caring for it afterwards is crucial. In the short term, everyone goes through withdrawals from food, from eating to replace boredom or out of habit, but those that manage this best are the ones with great faith in why they are doing it. Best to you!

[NewMe_2021 56]

Four days left to go! My pre-op diet is starting to get to me. Nothing but liquids for 14 days starts to make drinking the Protein Shakes quite the challenge. I'm starting to find there are days where I just am not hungry or cannot stomach another shake and basically have to choke them down. I can definitely understand not ever wanting to drink this type of shake again. I'll definitely be purchasing different ones for post op. The impact on ones digestive track on a diet like this is a real thing and has caught up with me during the final days on the pre-op diet. At this point I would rather just not have to drink 5 a day and maybe just have to drink 2 and just not eat. Just have to limp across the finish line! Friday is right around the corner!

[Sch902 7]

I am doing a Nutrimed diet. I guess it is sort of like Optifast? ? I just started today but I can tell I have underestimated the struggle 🥴. I am definitely jealous of the ones getting to have actual food. I keep telling myself this is only temporary and we will feel and look so much better ❤️

[Sch902 7]

2 hours ago, Jessyr702 said:

@Sch902 Good luck !!! first day of liquid diet for me too.. i'm scheduled on the 23rd

We got this🙏

[Iluvbats 51]

I think it's mostly a mental thing for me.Nights are the hardest as you say. I did goof up this morning and I hope it won't lead to my surgery being postponed. I didn't realize how important this step is so I am going to knuckle down and get serious.

[chunkymonkey123 30]

I am scheduled for June 17th . So excited & nervous !

[asj2ayo 2]

I had my surgery June 3, 2021

[tsrewis 4]

40 minutes ago, chunkymonkey123 said:

I am scheduled for June 17th . So excited & nervous !

surgery twins! That's my date too

[chunkymonkey123 30]

1 minute ago, tsrewis said:

surgery twins! That's my date too

Yay ! Good luck to you

[Jessyr702 4]

Hey everyone, what have you or are doing as far as liquids 2 weeks prior to surgery?

I am drinking crystal lights, premier juice drinks and some broths and stocks any recommendations or ideas would help! Thanks

[Jessyr702 4]

@NewMe_2021 Hi , what kind of shakes did you have for the two week liquid preop ?

[Aliana Wood 19]

3 hours ago, Iluvbats said:

I think it's mostly a mental thing for me.Nights are the hardest as you say. I did goof up this morning and I hope it won't lead to my surgery being postponed. I didn't realize how important this step is so I am going to knuckle down and get serious.

Don't beat yourself up too much if you slip up once or twice during the pre-op diet. Surgeons know that this will probably happen and they will not cancel your surgery over 1 or 2 slip ups. The whole point of it is to shrink the liver (if indeed you are on the liver shrinking diet pre-op). Your liver is going to still shrink a great deal even if you mess up once or twice in the course of 2 weeks.

[Idk91 11]

3 hours ago, Iluvbats said:

I think it's mostly a mental thing for me.Nights are the hardest as you say. I did goof up this morning and I hope it won't lead to my surgery being postponed. I didn't realize how important this step is so I am going to knuckle down and get serious.

I am struggling with feeling incredibly hungry too, the only things making me stick to it perfectly is the fear of not shrinking my liver enough and the op being postponed. I’m 8 days down now, 6 to go. I know it’s so easy to say it but try and think of it as a brief but very important part, and of course things will be much easier and better afterwards 🤞🏻

[Iluvbats 51]

So I found these on Amazon. I don't know if you can find them cheaper elsewhere but I thought they would make a change from the Protein Shakes. They are not too bad. Somewhat gritty but not bad.

[NewMe_2021 56]

@Sch902right there with you...my sister in law had vsg surgery in December and she was allowed to have oatmeal during her pre-op. Never thought I would be so jealous over oatmeal LOL. You are right...it is temporary! Just have to keep on keepin on at this point!

@Jessyr702 My plan is 5 Glucerna Hunger Smart shakes a day with some broth, SF jello/popsicles and tea added in as needed. My program gave me several shakes to choose from, so, I was limited on what I could drink. Their reasoning is that all my nutrition is coming from the shakes and they wanted ones that had the best nutritional profile. I originally wanted Premier Protein, but, they said while those are a great shake if I'm drinking 5 a day it would be too much Protein for my kidneys. So, saving those for post op.

Down to 3 days of liquids. Last night I decided to turn my shake into something I could tolerate. I filled a blender cup with ice, added the shake and blended till smooth. I ate it with a spoon, which, was a nice change. I think the ice helped to dilute it to the point where I didn't feel like it was sticking to my mouth. Whatever it takes at this point!

Started washing with my Hibiclens and taking my Gabapentin today. Getting close!