I am 10 days away from my surgery I am having difficulty sticking on my my fluid diet since I heard you can shrink your liver in one week. I keep postponing my start and enjoy stuff I wouldn't be able to eat after surgery. ? How are you guys doing or how you did it?

P.S Being without coffee is the hardest, I could do coffee and water for 2 days straight.

Edited May 7, 20224 yr by Walktoseetheroad

My experience for myself was the first 3 days were a challenge but after about day four I was doing really good. By the time of my 2nd week I wasnt even hungry and just finished out the week. We'd all like to think it can be easy but its not when first starting out. Hang in there and you should be able to conquer it. I was a big Dt Coke drinker and I had to let that nemesis go. By the 2nd week I had no desire to drink Dt Coke. That made me happy

The length depends on your BMI. Some people can do 1 week. While others like myself needed 2 weeks. Worst thing that can happen is you get in that operating room and they open you up and end up closing you back up without doing anything because the liver was too big. I did 2 weeks. Yea its hard at first but after 3-4 days it gets easier. and as for coffee. While every surgeon is different. I was specifically told not to give up coffee during this time. that the pre op diet would be hard enough. I was free to drink coffee tho they said to use sugar free creamer. Also ask your bariatric team. While mine was liquid. They did say if i was struggling too much i could have 1 small meal a day of lean meats like chicken/fish 2-3oz and 2-3oz of certain veggies. (I did Sockeye salmon and asparagus)

Thank you???This is a relief my BMI is %40 exact. My surgery is on 17th, hopefully I have enough time to shrink my liver. Please pray that I succeed.

For me the liver Shrink diet was the hardest part. That’s because I had no real issues post op. It is pretty tough for most of us though for the first few days. Then, many say it gets easier. The better you shrink your liver the less maneuvering around it they have to do so that is less pain from bruising and stuff post op. You seriously do have this. Just pick a time and start. Ideally right now.

Thank you☺️I am starting tomorrow morning, I got this! I have done so many crazy diets, I know I can do this. I think the psychology of I am never gonna be able to eat like this again is messing me up.

1 minute ago, Walktoseetheroad said:

Thank you☺️I am starting tomorrow morning, I got this! I have done so many crazy diets, I know I can do this. I think the psychology of I am never gonna be able to eat like this again is messing me up.

I was the same way but it’s so unnecessary. You will eat your favorite foods again. Just in smaller portions. I am a little over a year out and I can eat anything I ate pre op. I have been able to for a while now.

Oh man lol I did a whole thread on the dreaded "hell week" as I called it lol Not gonna lie. The first 3 days were HORRIBLE for me. Day 4 started to get better and days 5-7 were easy. You just have to do it. I wanted to quit every day those first 3 days. Heck, I think I did, in my head lol But I remembered why I was doing it, and I came here for support (and this board is FANTASTIC for that) and I made it through. You will, too. But you're going to psych yourself out if you keep putting it off and building it up to yourself so high it feels like some insurmountable wall. You got this!!!! Nothin to it but to do it!!!!

10 hours ago, Walktoseetheroad said:

I am 10 days away from my surgery I am having difficulty sticking on my my Fluid diet since I heard you can shrink your liver in one week. I keep postponing my start and enjoy stuff I wouldn't be able to eat after surgery. ? How are you guys doing or how you did it?

P.S Being without coffee is the hardest, I could do coffee and Water for 2 days straight.

Certainly leave it no longer. You can do it. I am day 13 of a 14 day diet of Optifast plan. Before I started it i was scared that I just wouldnt be able to do it. I also knew that If I cant do this now then I would never manage after having my Op. Yes, I did have a couple of headaches and bouts of nausea for the first five days but after that it got easier.

Keeping busy is also good. I have done heaps of cleaning. Where I live must be in shock. This might be TMI but i feel a change in the shape of my body. Maybe that is the my shrunken liver talking. Stop thinking. Thousand of people have done this before. You can too.