Well after being in the process 6 months with one doctor. Switching to new doctor for 3, I finally have a surgery date for May 24! I am relieved it is finally working out.
I do have a question about the preop diet. Old doc did 2weeks, new doc does 7 days? Anyone have any info/research on why one is better than the other or IF there are better time frames with one vs the other?

Pre-op diets vary WIDELY from surgeon to surgeon and there is pretty limited research on efficacy from one plan to another. The primary goal is to shrink your liver to allow for as mush operating space as possible. Liver shrinkage is achieved by a reduced calorie, low carb diet (this reduces glycogen). The main thing is to just be compliant with whatever your surgeon recommends to give yourself the best outcome possible!

I am currently on day 2 of my pre op diet... It sucks lol I am on 2 weeks... Surgeon says it depends on your BMI... My BMI is like 55, People on lower BMI have 1 week and there are those who dont even have to do a pre op diet just a liquid diet the day before surgery. but yea like someone already said every surgeon is different. Some surgeons allow at least 1 small meal along with the protein shakes a day, Some are strictly just liquid. So if you only have to do 7 days you are lucky in my opinion

I was shocked when someone told me her surgeon had her on a full liquid diet for 2 weeks prior! But again, every surgeon will have his/her own rules. I think it's really just a matter of making sure your liver is REALLY shrunken, not to risk the surgeon being able to do what he's gotta do. My surgery was pushed off bec of a covid uptick just then, and then I was only given one week notice before my surgery. I flipped out, and was like, oh no, what about the 2 week pre-op? They told me to just be super strict with only lean proteins, veg, minimal fruit, and it would be fine. I also did clear liquids one day prior. As mentioned above, it may also have to do with your BMI and what the pre-op ultrasounds showed on your liver.

it ain't easy, but then, no one said this would be! Best of luck to you!

Just do what your NEW surgeon recommends. I didn't even have a liquid diet, just low carb. Someone else on here had liquid but NOT low carb. It's all a mess because they apparently don't do any randomized controlled trials to see what works!

The variations on a pre op diet are infinite. There is no rhyme or reason to them. I am sure the doctors pull a piece of paper out of a hat and use that. Apart from the liquid diet everyone else had a different diet and diet length. Don't bother about anyone else's diet, your 7 day one will do fine. When you get to the last day you will be happy to end it.

The extent of my pre-op diet was don't eat after 6:00pm the night before surgery.

Again, surgeons' have a wide range of differing requirements. I believe the key issue for us is to follow the plan we are given. If you start picking and choosing from different plans then you are on no plan at all.

Good luck,

Tek

I looked and looked for actual studies on one time frame vs the other and as all of you all have said seems like there’s not a real rhyme or reason. I’ll stick to 7 and be happy :-)

they vary a lot and some people don't even have to do one at all. So just do what your new surgeon requires.