Im freekin out because I weigh 460 lbs and Im self pay so I cant afford to have a fatty liver. My doc is putting me on a 3 week liquid preop diet. Will this really shrink my liver if its fatty? I dont understand how 3 weeks can be enouph time?

If you do what your doctor tells you to then it will fullfill his qualifications to shrink your liver. I think people misunderstand the difference between fatty liver and fat period. I am not a nurse and don't profess to know exactly how it works but there are a lot of nurses on the forum who post at night and I am sure they can tell you what the difference is. But if you stay on the plan, hopefully you will be fine for surgery.

Hi...I sure hope it works, because I have been on the pre-op diet for a week now and I have one more week to go before my surgery. Surgery is scheduled for early Monday morning, August 31st. I am doing everything the doctor and nutritionist said, so I hope my liver will be all ready to go. My weight this past January was 419, I started the process at about 380 in April, and I was 374 when I went to the doctor last Friday (a week ago). Since I started on the pre-op diet, my weight was 364 this morning. Let me know how you are doing!

Hi there. I have posted a link for you. The whole liver shrinking thing had me worried too. I followed my doc's plan and everything went well. The nurse told me he had plenty of room to work "in there." The liver has to be moved slightly to the side so there is enough room to work on the stoma. Hope this link helps.

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f84/using-alli-shrink-liver-78886/

Yes the most important thing to do is what the docotr say. My doctor told me do five days out but AND i did not HAVE any problems, so i started early it want huRt you only help you more if you start before hand. The reason is for the liver TO STRINK , so they do know what they are talking about or they would not tell you. Good luck!

Edited August 25, 200916 yr by jordie22nc
MISPELLED WORDS

Each doc seems to have a different "liver shrink" diet. Just because YOU are fat doesn't mean your liver is, though of course there is some correlation. Mine was too large and I did my "own" diet instead of the docs and didn't get the band the first time thru. 2nd time (doing what my doc told me and losing another 17 in 17 days, in addition to the 15 I'd lost that first 3 weeks of "my" diet) and he was successful.

The thing is; the liver has to be small enough for the surgery to be done laparoscopically, but my surgeon COULD have "opened me up" and done it the old way. He was just afraid he'd lacerate my "thick" liver, trying to move it to place the band around the top of my stomach doing it laparoscopically and he knew I had school starting and didn't want a lengthy recovery (which is what happens when they have to cut you open to place the band).

If you are worried, discuss your concerns with your surgeon. He may advise you to do the diet a little longer, or may be able to tell (from blood, ultrasounds, etc) that you'll be ok. Don't just freak out, though, talk to him about it. AND yes, follow the diet YOU are given to the letter, not anyone else's diet.