I am on a very strict pre-op diet for my lap band. It consists of 500-700 calories a day of 5 Protein shakes and 2 cups of chicken broth. My Protein Shakes must be the muscle building kind and I cannot go over 20g of carbs a day... for 2 WEEKS. So I've been doing this pure liquid diet for 6 days now...

I've been moody, mean, angry, irritated, etc. and I just feel horrible for my boyfriend (who really hates me right now)! Anyways, my BMI is 40.. I'm definiately overweight but before this pre-op diet I ate healthy... just my portions were too big. I would eat 2 salads a day, never ordered food or got fast food, etc.

Anyways, i CHEATED tonight because I went crazy and felt like I was going to die if I didn't eat anything... Now I'm freaking out that I'm going to go into surgery and my liver will be too fatty and they won't be able to band me! I'm self pay so I CAN'T afford for this to happen!!!

Any advice?! I feel like such a failure! What are you supposed to do when you are ravaging after 6 days of 500 calories??

I've heard so many different types of pre-op diets...not sure why there are so many different variations. Mine is 1200 calories per day. How bad did you cheat? I think the important thing is to get back on track right now! I certainly am not a doctor, but I would be willing to bet that one day won't prevent your surgery. This pre-op diet is tough, but we have to be more tough! Fast food has been my problem and tonight driving home I counted over 20 restaurants on my route home. Temptation is going to be everywhere. I hope you have an easier time tomorrow and stay strong!

Tuesday I start 4 weeks of medifast shakes and I am dreading it. But I am telling myself that it's just another step in the right direction. It took me years to get this size and a few weeks of blah is a small price to pay to start getting rid of it. WE CAN DO THIS!!

I had a strict 3 week diet. I didn't do what the doc said. I lost 15 pounds MY way...modified Atkins...but my liver was too fatty. I came to in recovery without the band. I did what the doctor said...to a T...for 2 1/2 more weeks, lost 17 more pounds, and got the band.

My advice to you? Call your surgeon tomorrow, tell them what you ate, and see if they think it will impact your surgery? Odds are, if you stick to the plan for the rest of the time, you'll be ok. But your surgeon knows your blood work etc and should have a good grasp of what's needed for you to be successfully banded.

I don't mean it to tell him like confession...we're human etc! But you REALLY don't want to go into surgery and come to without the band. I wish I'd realized it; we could've saved me a lot of anguish etc. So tell your surgeon and let him either allay your fears or bump you back a little.

And normally Miss Lissa would be right that one day won't hurt, but because the diet is formulated to get a reaction going in your body that pulls glycogen and stored energy from your liver, when you "cheat" you short circuit that reaction/process. So it may or may not have been enough to mess you up. I truly hope not! And odds are she's right...but make sure.

Edited November 14, 200817 yr by RestlessMonkey

I wouldn't have thought one meal would be a problem either but I do think its best to check. When I first saw my specialist 2 years ago I was told I didn't need to do pre op diet because of my BMI (35). Now he has changed his mind about this because he found keyhole surgery wasn't possible when the liver was too fatty and some patients had to be opened up completely. I would rather wait a little longer for surgery than have that happen so better to be safe and check.

I am not looking forward to the pre op diet at all. I think I will feel exactly the same as you but I'm sure we can get through this - good luck