I'm following my doc's pre-op diet - full liquids which includes Clear Liquids and Soups with no chunks (creamy), frozen yogurt, popsicles, yogurt, etc. This is a 2 week diet, I'm on day 6.

And I see that other people are on clear liquids only for 1-2 days. And some that are on liquids for a full week. And some are on low carb - so they can eat meat and stuff, just no sugars/carbs. And some that really don't have much of a diet at all.

I'm not having any problems on my diet though I wonder why all the different types of diets? I know that all docs are different, but for most other medical issues there are general guidelines.

To me it seems really weird that clear liquids, full liquids, and no carb diets can all have the same effect.

Think of the preop diet as a kind of "prescription". Not everyone needs one, and there are different ones. That's why it's important that you pick a surgeon you trust, and then TRUST him/her to do right by you. As long as you do that, and follow YOUR instructions to the letter, you'll come through fine!

My surgeon explained it to me that it all depended on your method of eating before surgery, your BMI and your health conditions. He uses those as determining factors on what kind of pre-op diet to put his patients on.

The first doctor I had said he didn't believe in pre-op diets because patients have enough to worry about beforehand. Turns out I didn't like him, so I found another doctor, and he put me on a liquid protein diet 2 weeks before the surgery. I've done well overall, and it took some time to get over the headaches and dizziness (about 3 days).

My surgery is this Tues (may 19) so I thought I would cheat and have one last steak before the big day. What a huge mistake! My stomach has been hurting all day and I've spent a lot of time running to the restroom. I don't recommend anyone try that stupid move I made..... Uggghhh.... I doubt I'll even have a shake before bed.

Tomorrow I have a clear liquid diet all day, then Tuesday, under the knife.

Good Luck!

I had no specific diet instructions before my surgery except nothing to eat or drink after midnight.

I took great pleasure in the foods I was able to eat the week before my surgery.

It might have been primarily because I am on an insulin pump that they decided against a pre-op diet for me, I don't know though. The others I chatted with didn't have a pre-op diet either.

I had a 3 week long preop diet; I read over and over on here about people who didn't have to do one, or had one and cheated, so I figured I could too. NOT! I didn't get my band the first time because I hadn't followed the diet (I lost 15 pounds but not by following the diet my doc gave me) and my liver was too thick. I followed the diet precisely for 2 1/2 more weeks, lost 17 MORE pounds, and got the band.

SO the take-home from this is to clarify with your doc and do exactly what s/he tells you to do. If you don't have to have one, good for you. If you do, follow it!

I was supposed to do shakes for 2 weeks but I only got the call that I was having surgery 2 days after I was supposed to start them so I actually didn't start the diet until day 4 - Yes preop diets suck and alot of surgeons have different methods but overall it's the same end result - A shrunk liver which results in an easier surgery. I wish I had your preop diet though, would've been nice to have frozen yoghurt.

I wish I had your preop diet though, would've been nice to have frozen yoghurt.

See, that's what I mean. If the purpose of these pre-op diets is to shrink the liver, what is it specifically that causes the liver to shrink?

Is it no carbs?

No fats?

No food?

It just seems to me that there should be at least some kind of standard. Like, if you are diabetic you don't eat a lot of sugar. That's a given, firm, set rule for the most part.

So if the goal is to shrink the liver, what actually shrinks the liver?

It sounds to me like everything shrinks the liver regardless of what kind of diet it is.

I AM NOT COMPLAINING about my own pre-op diet, so please don't misunderstand my post, I'm just really curious as to why so many different kinds. Sure, I can understand some docs prescribing some people one type of diet and others a different diet based on those specific people's needs. But this doesn't seem to be the norm. It seems like a doc has one preferred diet, for whatever reason they like that one diet, and that's the one that all their patients follow (with some exceptions I'm sure).

I'm doing very well on my pre-op diet - I think. I've lost 9.5 pounds in 7 days. One more week to go. But I have been wondering, if I'm doing this liquid diet that includes yogurt, frozen yogurt, Jello, pudding, etc., will my liver really shrink??? Especially when I hear about other pre-op diets that are much more restrictive. Would doing just clear liquids be better? And then there are those doing no carb diets and are eating bacon and steaks. And their diet is supposed to shrink the liver too???

It's just very confusing to me.

dhall111 My doc explained his diet and rationale to me (after the fact) I won't post it here because I don't mean to "diss" someone else's doc or diet etc but you might ask your surgeon why s/he prefers a certain diet over another. Mine had good solid reasons for his. :redface:

Restless Monkey,

How did they ascertain that your liver was too large for surgery? Did they take an Xray before surgery or did they rely on a physical exam? Also, what type of pre op diet were you given? I am on a low carb, high Protein diet for two weeks pre surgery, then one day of clear liquids. Is that what you had?

Annieminute

I'm very confused about the pre-op diet, too! My surgeon put me on a hi protein Slimfast diet with one meal/day. . chicken, veggies, etc. for 2 weeks. He told me I could do Optifast, but last time I tried that I was constantly sick to my stomach. I'm really trying, but it's hard because I am always hungry!

Every surgeon has there own diet that feels gives there patients the best possible outcome. You ask 10 different surgeons, they give you ten different diets, and most all of the same outcomes, it's just physician preference.

P.S. Some physicians have cancelled surgery due to patients liver being too fatty. They usually proceed after a wait and low fat diet.

Restless Monkey,

How did they ascertain that your liver was too large for surgery? Did they take an Xray before surgery or did they rely on a physical exam? Also, what type of pre op diet were you given? I am on a low carb, high Protein diet for two weeks pre surgery, then one day of Clear liquids. Is that what you had?

Annieminute

I'm not sure how he knew, believe it or not. But not an xray..probably ultrasound, and liver enzymes, and palpating it, and my weight and age! And I had a THREE week preop diet so you can see why I thought "oh wow I'll cheat and he'll NEVER know!" NOT! I can laugh about it now but not be cavalier about it. I had to drink 64 oz Water (at least), 2-3 of a specific Protein shake, and 3 oz lean poultry or fish and some green veggies, and that's it. no butter no SF Jello nothing else. And when I did what he wanted the weight dropped off of me, and the fat from my liver.

So do what your doc wants and you'll be fine. Don't cheat just because some people on here think it doesn't matter...I am sure no one would want to intentionally derail or undermine someone else but if you trust your doc to operate on you, trust him to tell you what to eat pre and post op!

Good luck!