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[CurlyQT]

How did you get through your pre-op diet?!!!

I am 4 days into the diet, again, which consists of 3 protein shakes a day and plenty of water. I am losing it. I almost vomit every time I down a protein drink. Water is no problem. My problem? Mentally I'm doing my best but physically not so much.
I work 2 jobs, go to school full time, teach college courses, do research and hopefully have time to shower. 2 out of the 4 days I have only had time to get 2 shakes in a day but even when I do get all three in I am just exhausted. My body has A LOT of energy reserve to fall back on but it feels like I'm living off of the whopping 660 calories I accrue a day in the shakes. With my lifestyle and lack of time to do much of anything it's no wonder I gained so much weight but I am off of those, horrible for your health, energy drinks (caffeine free ones) and I guess my body hasn't caught up yet.

And I just want a piece of cheese. Not even an entire pizza, just a freaking piece of Munster Cheese. I'd actually pay money to have a piece of cheese. How the heck am I going to get through 10 more days of this? Gesh. Okay done whining now back to my 12 hour hospital night shift and another wonderful banana creme muscle milk. Yippee!

[lesliethequeen]

Well, kiddo, I just feel awful for you! I only had to do liquids for two days before the surgery and that about killed me!

Does your doc know what you do every day, because that really isn't a healthy amount of calories for such an active person?
And the protein shakes are pretty vile at one or two a day with, say that piece of cheese you are longing for. i can't imagine...

But your doctor must have a good reason for the diet...sorry it's so hard...

[CurlyQT]

I hope she has a good reason too. Ha! Apparently it's a liver shrinkage issue. I don't think my liver is huge or anything, they didn't look at it. It's just her wls program. I'll just bite the bullet and walk it off. Ugh. If I pass out I'm eating a piece of freaking cheese.

[HopenToBeThin]

If you are on nothing but prot shakes, is 3 enough?

[ttowe]

Sounds like you need to change up protien drinks. Is this one she provided for you or are you working with your own?

Toni

[baka]

The first three days are always the hardest.

If ya want I'll do it with you if it will help ya along - LMK

Ian

[lmscrogg]

You are lucky---I don't get to do protein shakes. Just good old liquids....I feel sorry for my co-worker, husband and kids. I KNOW I am not going to be very pleasant. :-)

Good luck!

[haileygirldb]

I waited so long to have my surgery that when it came time for the liquid diet the days blew by for me.

[trishansen]

IMO the amount you are eating for two weeks is not nearly enough.  I had a similar issue - I was told by my surgeons assistant to have 3 or 4 RTD meal replacements a day for 3 weeks prior to surgery.  When I met with the nutritionist prior to starting the liquid diet, she expressed concern and contacted the surgeons office on my behalf. It turns out that I was to be taking between 900 to 1200 calories a day via the RTD shakes, meaning I should have up to 5 or 6 a day, not 3 or 4.

The nutritionist prepared a plan based on calories, protein and fibre content to meet her concerns for my health, and the surgeon readily agreed to it. I was on this to shrink my liver too.

This is what I did for the three weeks:
Day 1: 3x Premier Protien shakes (Costco), 2x Glucerna Diabetic meal replacement
Day 2: 3x Premier, 2x Ensure Fibre meal replacement

Are you able to talk to a nutritionist, or the surgeon directly to confirm exactly what the requirements are for you?

[CurlyQT]

Sounds like you need to change up protien drinks. Is this one she provided for you or are you working with your own?

Toni

My nutritionist told me to drink the muscle milk cause I am lactose intolerant. But I don't think I am limited. Well I am slightly limited. I have to have at least 20g protein per drink and less than 5g sugar. Any suggestions?

[CurlyQT]

The first three days are always the hardest.

If ya want I'll do it with you if it will help ya along - LMK

Ian

Hahahaha! Actually you are right. It's day 5 and it's kinda going well. Mostly cause I am a carnivore and love my meat which I was having a problem with but I read further into the diet and I can have broth. Woohoo!

[CurlyQT]

You are lucky---I don't get to do protein shakes. Just good old liquids....I feel sorry for my co-worker, husband and kids. I KNOW I am not going to be very pleasant. :-)

Good luck!

Just liquids for 2 weeks? You won't survive. Literally.

[FatAly]

I hope things are getting better.  It seems that everyday of the pre-op diet got a little easier.  Liver shrinkage (depletion of the glycogen stores) is very important to a successfull and uncomplicated surgery. Bariatric Eating (Inspire be) has some good protein powders.  Adding the unflavored to broth is good...and i added a few drops of hot sauce (that's how i roll) to give it a little kick.  My brother makes hot spices and i found if i added a sprinkle of that, it almost tasted like the liquid from hot and sour soup! I was a happy girl!  And don't forget sugar free popsicles!
Good luck....I'm hanging in there with ya...post-op diet ain't much fun either.

~FatAly~

[MacMadame]

But your doctor must have a good reason for the diet...

Don't get me started....

There is no reason to put people on a 2 week liquid diet. Yes, it's nice to "shrink" the liver pre-op. But you don't need liquids to do this.  You just need a high protein, low carb diet. In fact, many of the liquid diets people go on are high carb, low protein and so they are less effective than just having the patient eat an Atkins style solid food diet for the two weeks.

[long rant about the 2 week liquid diet and why this is a bad protocol for most patients deleted]

This is what I tell people: if you are going to cheat on one of these diets, do it by eating protein and not crackers. You want to follow the spirit of the diet if not the "all liquid" portion of it. Also, talk to your program if you are having a particular difficulty. (Like not being able to tolerate certain shakes.) You won't be the first one to have these issues and hopefully they will be open to working with you and have some good suggestions for how to get through it.

[OperThinMint]

The first 3 days are definitely the hardest!  I had a horrible headache for a few days then it went away and things got easier.  I had 2 protein drink meal replacements and one low fat, low carb meal.  After having the 2 drinks for breakfast & lunch I filled up pretty quickly with the lean meat & veggie dinner.  My surgeon said my liver was "tiny" so you should check to see if you can add meat at least!

[lesliethequeen]

I love all the answers here...I was thinking the same thing but trying to be supportive. 

I had to do 2 days of liquids - other people don't do any pre-op stuff except cleaning out the colon. The whole thing seems pretty subjective!

[Kellie]

I love all the answers here...I was thinking the same thing but trying to be supportive. 

I had to do 2 days of liquids - other people don't do any pre-op stuff except cleaning out the colon. The whole thing seems pretty subjective!

Yeap- I have nothing better to do today than to revive old posts!  (Okay Im procrastinating real work)

Do a lot of people have to "clean out their colon" prior to surgery?  When I had my Lapband, no one ever mentioned this, so I didn't even know some Dr's were having their patients do this.  My current surgeon /program has not mentioned anything about this either, but I have read in books that some Docs require it.  Why would some, but not all?  Should I stick to pure liquids a day or two before my surgery just in case?  (Though they told me to do their diet, which is protein shakes, 2 lean cuisines, 2 fruits, and unlimited veggies)  Seems like I'd have a lot in my system before surgery.  If I don't "Clear my colon" when they do the bypass, is there risk of contents spilling out?! I'm so terrified of that!

[MacMadame]

If they don't tell you to do it, don't do it. The last thing you want to do is show up for surgery not having follows YOUR doctor's orders. Your doctor has his ways he likes things to be and doesn't want you to be following some other doctor's procedures, which may or may not mesh with his surgery technique.

[ttowe]

With my RNY, we did two days of liquid before, but didn't have to take any "colon cleanses".

but I also know of people that didn't do any type of liquid diet and did have to.

Another surprise to me what the special soap I had to bath with the morning of surgery. Kinda weird but no big deal.

t

[Servicegirl]

I had 5 days of 3 atkins shakes per day then a citroma colon cleanse.

No fun.