I am currently one week into my two week preop diet on Optifast and fluids. I am having a conversion from my 10 year old sleeve to a full bypass January 9. I know I cannot eat 12 hours before the surgery and the diet is pretty clear that the only sustenance I can have during these two weeks is the Optifast. As I understand it, this is to reduce the size of my liver to make the surgery less complicated. I’m 270 pounds 60 pounds below my pre-surgery wait 10 years ago.

So here’s my question;: I’m just wondering if I could have one more real food meal before the surgery on maybe the morning of the eighth or the evening of the seventh? My thinking is by then my liver will be whatever size it’s going to be for the surgery and I’d really like to have, one more bite of real food before 4 to 6 weeks more of liquids and purées. Anybody have an opinion?

I don’t have any medical advice for you. I can only share that all my food funerals before my own bypass were a total waste of time, money, and energy. In six months you will again have the choice to eat absolutely everything you could possibly crave. So why now? Are you self sabotaging? Ask yourself the hard questions then do the hard inner work. Therapy, treadmill, phone a friend, OA there’s lots of positive choices. Some of us “get you,” no judgment, I’m currently looking at my son’s box of Funny Bones on New Years Eve.

that's a question for your medical team, but my answer would be no.

Edited December 31, 20223 yr by catwoman7

I reckon that it probably won't hurt to eat the meal... But...

I started therapy, a couple of months before surgery. I knew that I was going to need help to figure this stuff out, so that I wouldn't sabotage my efforts, after I'm able to start eating a more normal amount of food.

Food is just a symptom of a problem with me and the way my mind works. If I didn't have a twisted relationship with food, I wouldn't've needed bariatric surgery.

The surgery only gives us a temporary reprieve. It allows us about a year of being able to lose weight - pretty much no matter what we eat. In that time, we really ought be working on our relationship with food. If we don't fix our eating habits, we will regain the weight later on.

I would strongly advise sticking to the programme you've been given. I think the time for your last 'food funeral' would have been before you started the 2 week pre-op diet, not right at the end of it. I have heard tales of people whose surgery has been cancelled just because they didn't adhere to their programme. I'm so sorry you're feeling the need to eat forbidden fruit at this late stage - I TOTALLY understand it, having had disordered eating for most of my adult life, but I hope you can get past it. The final outcome after surgery is really honestly totally worth much more than a few dishes you want right now this minute. Best of luck on your journey. ?

Edited December 31, 20223 yr by Spinoza

I'm sure this isn't the response you were hoping to get, but remember that you are about to get major surgery. Your surgeon -- whom you are trusting to cut you open and surgically rearrange your digestive system -- has given you explicit instructions for your pre-op diet, and now you are asking strangers on the internet for permission to circumvent your surgeon's instructions. Is it worth taking that chance?

I would say no. On top of possibly having the surgery cancelled while you're on the table, you're embracing a negative view of food and your new lifestyle. The idea is to work on having a better, more normal, healthier relationship with food. You will be able to eat relatively normally a few months after surgery, but you have to adopt a healthier way of eating, move your body, drink lots of fluids, and change your mindset to look at food as fuel instead of losing a bestfriend and coping mechanism. Maybe go into therapy to start getting your thoughts and feelings cared for. Otherwise you will sabotage this whole thing. Stick to the diet you were given. There's a reason they gave it.

Thanks everyone. That’s what I expected and honestly I have accepted. Just needed to hear it from someplace outside of my own head.

I had a whole day planned. Buffet, Chinese, burgers, everything. I was expecting to get my appointment a month or 2 after my surgeon called. He called & wanted me to get the surgery in 2 weeks & put me on a diet that day, which means I missed my big cheat day

& tbh, I don't feel like I missed out on anything! I'm 3months out & im already enjoying foods I love (with moderation ofc) - it's not a 'forever goodbye' thing w food, it's more so a 'I'll see u later' thing

Edited January 1, 20233 yr by bbykitty