Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Pre-PreOP Diet and Appointment Jitters



Recommended Posts

Hey everyone! I'm new here, but have been reading a lot of the posts. I just created my profile. My preop for surgery is next week and my surgery is scheduled in August. I'm in complete panic as I gained weight since this process started back in February. I'm worried the doctor and nutritionist will berate me or worse, kick me out of the program and deny my surgery. I'm also really stressing about this Pre-Op Diet. I don't know all the details yet about my specific diet, but I'm sure it will be very harsh. I have Fatty Liver Disease and my liver is incredibly inflamed. They are going to want me on the diet immediately after meeting with them and I just don't know if I can do it. I don't like being hungry, it's one of the most uncomfortable feelings to me. It just sounds like sheer misery is in store and I'm scared about all this. My husband is being as supportive as possible, but he can't seem to stop snacking in front of me! Please tell me your experiences with pre-op appointments and the diet.

Edited by LRSB
mispelling

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

i gained a couple pounds from my first consult to my pre op appointment. It happens. as for the pre op diet... Yea its not easy. i dont know how long you will be on yours as you havent posted any weight or height in your profile but most common is 2 weeks. yea it sucks the first few days. After about 4-5 days you start to adjust and are not as hungry anymore. and yes that hunger feeling is horrible. but just think about what it will be like after surgery. I am almost 3 months post op. Rarely ever hungry. I gotta remind myself to eat and drink. Just gotta get thru this final step of the pre op diet and you will be golden.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I doubt your team will berate you and if so I would consider a new team. (If possible) The entire reason you are there is because of the struggle.

I believe every teams (surgeons) requirements are different. Mine had a "final" weight check it was the last time you were weighed before surgery would be scheduled. At that point in time you had to be close to where you started but some gain or loss was acceptable. BUT at that point up until your surgery day you could NOT gain weight. If you gained weight, your surgery would be rescheduled.

My pre-op diet was technically 10 days but I did it for 14 days because I didn't want to start it over a weekend. I thought it would be easier while I was occupied at work. I was correct, by time the weekend came I was ok and got thru it pretty easily. I am sure it also has to do with what your pre-op diet allows. Mine was 4 Protein Shakes a day plus you were given a list of foods that you could eat up to 6 servings of each day. The ability to actually eat and chew made it easier for me.

You will be fine, just put on your big kid pants and get determined! You can do anything with determination.

Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I seriously doubt they will say anything about your gain unless they specifically told you not to gain? Our weights fluctuate and they know that. My pre op diet wasn’t bad. I was allowed 2 shakes and then a lean Protein low carb dinner (meat and veggies). Plus we had free foods like Jello and pickles we could have if we just had to eat something. If I remember correctly we could chose between shakes and yogurt. And we were allowed to have broth. I didn’t love it but I wasn’t starving at all. Even if your is more strict because of your liver you just gotta keep your eye on the prize. I know I could do anything for a week or two in order to change my life for the better. And during that diet, if it gets a little touch check out the thread called “weirdest non scale victories” and see some of the changes you have to look forward to post surgery. Also, whenever you want to eat, hop on here and get talking. We are here to help you through it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Worrying is a waste of time. Try not to do it. You can loose a lot of sleep whilst worrying. Nobody likes doing the Pre Op diet, Its a form of cruelty that goes on and on. If you want the surgery you will have to do it, especially as you have the fatty liver. My time in purgatory lasted 3 weeks, I wanted the surgery so badly, I slipped once and had to cross my fingers behind my back that he didn't open me up and say he couldn't do the surgery. Good luck with your journey.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yeah, the pre-op diet is truly just a matter of toughening up, staying focused on why you're doing it, and soldiering through it. It's not fun, but it's only a couple of weeks. Totally doable. Remind yourself "it's not forever" because it's not. Surgery will arrive before you know it, and honestly, my pre-surgery nervous energy helped getting me through the liver shrinking diet. Distract yourself, stay busy. Eyes on the prize.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you everyone. Just feeling a little down and defeated, I guess. I know I'll get through it because I have to in order to better my life and hopefully get rid of this awful Diabetes and excessive insulin (two of three main goals behind doing this, the other of course is losing weight).

Also, I tried to update my profile to include all the stuff you all have under your names like weight, surgery date, etc, and I couldn't figure out where to do it. I'll check some of the help boards now.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, LRSB said:

Thank you everyone. Just feeling a little down and defeated, I guess. I know I'll get through it because I have to in order to better my life and hopefully get rid of this awful Diabetes and excessive insulin (two of three main goals behind doing this, the other of course is losing weight).

Also, I tried to update my profile to include all the stuff you all have under your names like weight, surgery date, etc, and I couldn't figure out where to do it. I'll check some of the help boards now.

You did figure it out, it is there dear.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 07/07/2022 at 09:29, LRSB said:



Thank you everyone. Just feeling a little down and defeated, I guess. I know I'll get through it because I have to in order to better my life and hopefully get rid of this awful Diabetes and excessive insulin (two of three main goals behind doing this, the other of course is losing weight).




Also, I tried to update my profile to include all the stuff you all have under your names like weight, surgery date, etc, and I couldn't figure out where to do it. I'll check some of the help boards now.


Take a deep breath… give yourself a little grace and just be honest with your team when you talk to them.

When I had my first appointment they gave me instructions on what my program required (I didn’t have to loose weight but I couldn’t gain weight). Had my final weigh in today. The dietitian I met with was super nice - she said to call if I had questions, concerns or got off track and she (or her team mate) would answer any questions I had or make recommendations for getting back on track.

If you are worried about what the pre-op diet is, can you ask for an appointment with the program dietitian/nutritionist so that you can talk about your concerns or ask questions about what is involved?

Maybe knowing some more information will help set your mind at ease. I was given the pre-op diet ahead of time to go over and ask questions to make sure I understood what they wanted. I started trying some of the options so when the time comes I know I can tolerate the options to make the whole process easier.

I also have a very enlarged liver - and NASH … that’s what sent me down the path for surgery. I expressed that concern when I talked to the program psychologist about having the surgery. She reassured me that I’m not the only person the surgeons have had to address that with and the nutritionist reiterated that today. The whole point of the pre-op diet is to shrink the liver, make it more pliable and help the surgeons be able to safely do the surgery.

You can get back on track and while I’m not looking forward to my own Pre-op, I know it will be difficult… but we can get through this.

You have a lot of support on here and we are all with you in this.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • BeanitoDiego

      I ordered the Barbecue Protein Crisps here from BariatricPal, and find them quite tasty. The Ranch flavour, not so much. They are very filing and have a satisfying crunch.
      I continue to shrink, and am amazed at the changes all over my body. Visually, it is striking to me. In the mirror, I look thin to my eyes, but I don't feel thin, although I can see more bones and veins and tendons and floppy skin. Cardio-wise, It takes a lot more effort to get my heart rate up and I'm now monitoring which heart zone I can get into and for how long. My resting heart rate is the lowest it's ever been.
      If I think about it, and I left myself feel it for a time, I weep (like, boohoo cry) with joy. I am so grateful to myself, and proud of myself for having the courage to have taken the leap to better health.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Yearofme43

      Well round 2 fight, second attempt at this sleeve surgery.  First attempt found out i have situs inversus that was a year ago, so after another long journey i received a new date for December 1, 2023 for the sleeve. Started pre op diet Friday going well just waiting for the big day, for any tips for newbies look at my prior post alot there of what not to do under temptation,  lol 😆 😅 😀 hope everyone has a great outcome
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • NickelChip

      Feeling a little sad today because a few weeks ago I had a call from the surgeon's office and they had a last minute opening on November 20 because of a cancellation. I am not scheduled until December 27, which is way later than I had expected when I started all this. My "ideal" date in my head had been November 13. I was so ready to jump at the chance, but I just couldn't make it work. As soon as I mentioned it to my mom, instead of being supportive, she had all sorts of reasons why I shouldn't move the date. Some were valid, like my teen daughter has a special (but not super special) thing going on later in the week that I would probably have to miss, and others were less valid, like she didn't feel ready and it might ruin everyone's holidays. Um, excuse me? It's not about her! And how would I single handedly ruin both Thanksgiving AND Christmas for my entire family by having a surgery? But she had informed me when I first got the December date that she planned on getting a hotel near the hospital and staying that night to be nearby, despite the hospital only being about 40 miles away from home. I didn't ask her to do that, but that's her plan, so there you go. She didn't ask me if I felt ready now, or what the wait through the holidays felt like for me with the surgery looming. So that was the part that hurt. I felt like I was having to make sure everyone else was okay with my choices instead of me, which is a theme in my life for sure. Don't get me wrong, my parents have been there for me so many times, and I don't want to sound ungrateful. But this really made me sad that what I wanted simply didn't factor in. Basically, I passed on what felt like a dream come true to get that call, and I've had to reconcile myself to it as best I can. I've found some silver linings, like more time to clean my house and test some recipes. But if I hadn't, I would be on my pre-op diet now (my surgeon only does a short liquid diet beforehand, so a Monday surgery starts the pre-op diet on Saturday morning). Instead, I'm getting ready to make dinner for myself and the kids, and I still have 39 days to go...
      · 2 replies
      1. New To This23

        I can relate to the parent's situation. I am 42 and still struggle with pleasing them. Yet they do whatever they want with no concern for how it affects anyone else, so why do I feel so obligated to them? I wish I had some advice that could help. One thing I have tried to do is stop sharing things with them that I really don't want to hear their opinion on. (like the business I am starting)

        Like with this surgery, I knew I was going to need their help getting to the appointments and back from the surgery, so I knew I had to tell them. But I did not tell them until I was almost at the point of getting surgery that I was doing this.

        I got hard judgment from my father, which I expected, I made him promise not to share this with his brothers (who are assholes) I told him whether he likes it or not I am an adult and I deserve respect and privacy especially when it concerns my health. (he begrudgingly agreed)

        My mom on the other hand was supportive, but she has the tendency to add some dramatic flair about everything. her typical M.O. is to pop onto social media and rattle on about how something that is not happening directly to her, is affecting her ( I get it there no talking to the man she married about this stuff, so it's nice to have someone to listen).

        I know they both struggled with trying to respect my wishes, they looked shocked when I told them that if I lived somewhere else, I would not have even told them I was having this surgery.

      2. NickelChip

        I'm glad your father did agree to respect your privacy by not sharing with your family. And I guess I should be glad my mom keeps the dramatic flair off of the socials!

        I'm both lucky and unlucky that my brother had VGS 15 years ago. On the one hand, my mom understands the concept and has seen my brother's good results from it, (we inherited the obesity from my father's side, and Mom has never dealt with more than those pesky 10 lbs average weight people always want to lose). On the other hand, my brother took exactly the opposite approach from me. He didn't live near family and told no one, had no support. He went to Mexico as self-pay and didn't say a word until about 4 weeks after when he was having some serious emotional struggles, living alone, and compounded by the fear of realizing that to get family support, he had to "confess." So his recovery was very different than what I anticipate for me. But because of all that, my mom definitely sees this as a "REALLY BIG DEAL." Which it is, but not the level she's at with it. Like, it's not an open heart surgery being performed in 1982, or experimental cancer treatment. I've also noticed that as my mom ages, she takes change a lot harder. She doesn't have the mental flexibility anymore to make an instant change of plans and roll with it, whereas I do that probably a dozen times a day.

        I'm grateful for their help, but it comes at a price.

    • Heidi911

      Has incorrect surgeon but won’t let me fix
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Chevygirl

      Gastric Sleeve Journey.
       09/07/23 Consult with Dr. Amir Aryaie of BMI Surgical Institute
       09/11/23 Cardiologist (EKG) Piedmont (Dr. Don Rowe)
       09/11/23 Labs done Labcorp
       09/18/23 Pulmonologist Piedmont (Dr. Zolty)
       09/27 1st Nutrition Appt Telehealth ( Paige Espenship)
       10/4 Home Sleep Study 
       10/9 Stress Test
       10/26 EGD done by Dr. Aryaie (Northside Hospital)
       10/27 2nd Nutrition Appt Telehealth
       11/6 Psychology Consult (Beal Wellness) 
       11/7 Psychology Evaluation
       11/17 Waiting on nutrition progress notes to be sent over to submit to insurance company
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×