Pre surgery Liquid diet is HARD

[Aquam527]

I’m having surgery 12/18 and yesterday I started my 2 week meal replacement shakes and it is ROUGH. It tastes fine, but it’s not easy going from eating normally to not eating anything. I’m hoping it gets easier because I am having a hard time drinking enough shakes because it’s easier to be hungry than force shakes. I blended my shake today with frozen fruit to help but it’s still not easy. Anyone else have trouble getting themselves to drink their meal replacement? Any tips ?

 

[JudyNY]

Is your 2 week pre-surgery diet only protein shakes? I know some doctors do that but for me it was just breakfast and lunch and then a lean dinner. But then again, part 1 of my pre-surgery diet I was already cutting back on a lot of food so it wasn't that much different for me. But I know you aren't alone as I've heard other people struggle with that phase. I'm sorry I don't have any helpful tips, hopefully someone else will. I hope it gets easier the closer you get to your surgery date.

 

[missyinacage]

I was only allowed the meal replacements the program gave us, which included protein soups and puddings, and sugar free jello/popsicles. So, not even fruit. I did blend all my shakes with ice. But if you're allowed to have other things, I might try adding the protein to pudding, as at least it has some texture. I believe they sell protein puddings/soups that you can use in replacement of just shakes. It's still liquid but at least the soup is warm. If you are not allowed any of that, just know it's only 2 weeks and you can do this!

 

[Desi]

I must say everything I had to do pre op was much harder than post op
Pre op was hard and I felt hungry and deprived - a few years back I gave up on the program - finally did it this time and so happy
Post op is so much better - I never feel hungry or deprived
Well except for the pasta I really miss !
I am 2 months and a few days post op and have lost 36 pounds and am finally getting the hang of life again with my new eating habits and vitamins.

 

[Tokash]

Its important to stick to what your plan is. Shakes suck but the first couple of days are hardest and even worse if you don't have a good shake. Like above I was allowed soup, sugar free jello and sugar free pudding.

Most importantly make sure you are not adding in foods your not allowed to have. The discipline now will be well served after surgery.

 

[Elidh]

A very low fat, low calorie pre-op diet does indeed shrink the liver. Obese folks eating a high-fat diet will have an enlarged, fatty liver. The fatty liver is quite friable and it's difficult for the surgeon to maneuver safely (especially when done laparoscopically). I did the 2-week, all protein shake pre-op diet twice. The first time was last March, and on the last day of the diet the surgery was cancelled due to (what else?) Covid. The second time was in July and I went on to have the surgery.

 

[JudyNY]

Diane, I too was told about the liver shrinkage because of a 2 week diet. We were told to start a healthier eating plan right at the get-go when we first met with the surgical team, however it did get much leaner the last 2 weeks before surgery. I can't say for sure if it actually shrinks the liver but I can tell you that it motivated me to stick to it knowing that I could be turned down last minute because I didn't lose some pre-surgery weight. There is the "last supper" syndrome that some take as to eat whatever they can before they can't anymore. While I did have a couple of things that I had "just because" for the most part I stuck to the pre-surgical diet and lost 44 pounds.

 

[Elidh]

Sorry you have been misled, Diane.

There's a lot in the literature and on the web about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Excess fat and carbohydrate intake lead to over-accumulation of fat in the liver. It's a real thing. My pre-op ultrasound showed fatty liver disease. After the surgery, my surgeon remarked that he could tell I had adhered to the pre-op diet. I recall the bariatric surgeon (Shaw Somers) on the series "Fat Doctor" occasionally mentioning the appearance of the liver during surgery, as in "they had a successful pre-op diet".

 

[JudyNY]

Yikes Diane, sorry to hear about the hepatitis. I like water and thought it wouldn't be an issue of me getting in my water after surgery but weirdly that's changed. Not as easy as I thought but I do it.

 

[JudyNY]

Try bottled water. Get the big jugs from the store and test them for purity and especially for chlorine content. I just think the taste of that water is so superior to anything that can ever come out of the tap.

Our tap water is extremely high in chlorine. We have a community well for our development and it's sulphur water without it. Quite prevalent in our area.