Surgery finally approved and scheduled for late Nov. Has anyone had to be on a pre-op liquid diet for 4 weeks, this is my doctors recommendation.

there seem to be a lot of different pre-op diets. Mine was strictly ultra-low cal (or no cal) liquids, 4-5 protein shakes a day, plus sugar free Jello, sugar free popsicles, and a limited amount of tomato juice and broth (I think a cup of each). But that was two weeks. Some people are allowed to have a small dinner with regular food, but I was not. Hopefully you'll be able to since you have to do it for four weeks. Mine was just for two - thankfully!!!

Mine is scheduled to be 2 weeks of mainly protein shakes and one small (4 oz) dinner.

Thanks for the comments, I guess it's just his specific requirement. I know it will be hard but I'm seriously determined and will follow his specific guidelines. I was just curious if anyone had to do the 4 weeks.

Typically we only see 4 weeks for people with a lot more weight to lose. Don't know what your specs are since you have not added them, but people with a BMI in the 50's or 60's will sometimes have a 3 or 4 week pre-op diet.

If that's you, it's to make the surgery as safe as they can.

Some do more than 4 weeks some less. I needed to do it for two weeks. The time needed also depends on an number of factors. The surgeon may have requirement to do a certain amount of time due to a starting weight and or getting the patient to show commitment to the process.

Their primary reason for anybody to do the diet is to shrink the liver so that makes the surgical field easier to access. Asking the surgeon their reasoning. Hope it all goes well for you.

Four weeks is the longest liquid diet that I have heard of. I feel for you. I did 3 weeks but I did get certain vegetables to eat. Its to shrink your liver so the surgeon can operate easily

I did two weeks. Tomorrow is my last day of pre op diet. Monday is clear liquids and Tuesday is the big day!

My specs are 5'3, 207 lbs which equates to a BMI of 36.7. Therefore going on a 4 week liquid diet will probably reduce my BMI ever more, just don't want to lose the ability to have the surgery.

15 hours ago, bradshawdx said:

My specs are 5'3, 207 lbs which equates to a BMI of 36.7. Therefore going on a 4 week liquid diet will probably reduce my BMI ever more, just don't want to lose the ability to have the surgery.

This seems very extreme for someone with your stats. All surgeons are different, some are just mean