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Starting Pre-Op Diet

Yeledov

Yeledov

Member
Tomorrow I start my two week liquid pre-op diet. For those of you who have experience, what do you wish you had done before beginning this journey? So far, from a student of my spouse, they recommended to really enjoy something crunchy because you will miss chewing!

Other advice and well wishes always welcome!
 
The only thing I can think of, you are already doing and that is to be in this group. I didn't join until a few months after surgery because there were no local groups due to Covid. This group is so much more valuable than my local group and I've learned so much more!

One of the things I wanted to have before my two week pre-op was an Italian Sub of all things! So whatever you want as a send off, do it! You don't want to be craving that while you are on all liquids and have it be haunting you.

I wish you the best of luck Jordan. May the two weeks fly by fast!!
 
The day before I started my 2 week liquid diet, my husband threw me a surprise 50th B-day party. Aside from the cake (I'm not a fan of cake in general) he got my favorite pizza, cheesecake and margaritas! I only had a little bit of each but I was happy to have had all of my favorites "one last time". As it turns out, I can still eat pizza and cheesecake so a "good-bye" wasn't necessary. But the small portions I had at the time, when I could have gorged, STILL make me proud of myself. So, enjoy a "good-bye" meal, but don't undo all the hard work you've already put in. Also, you're going to do great!! But I'm absolutely sending well wishes your way for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!
 
Hello Surgery Twin!

I accidentally started a day early but by the time I figured it out it was too late to do anything but plow on. Today is day 6 for me. I blame the fact that I had to put my beloved dog down earlier in the month. It was somewhat expected but still, I loved her and I miss her. I wasn’t really paying enough attention for a couple weeks.

I’m doing better than I expected. It definitely helps that my partners have taken over dinners for themselves so I don’t have to cook. That heatwave actually worked to my advantage because I never feel like eating in hot weather. How are you doing? Have you worked out some ways to make this 14 day liquid diet tolerable for you? Are you looking forward to surgery or are you having anxiety about it? I’m kind of having both.

I’ve found a nice cup of broth at night really helps with the all day sweet shakes. A friend who had wls a few years back suggested Real Lemon packets to mix in water to have something tart. It worked so great I bought the lime and grapefruit version too. Ive also been getting some tips from wls patients on TikTok of all places! I also just got a sno-cone machine and a bunch of sugar-free syrups. That should be a good way to have a little fun for the next 9 days.

Wishing you the best!!
Jonah
 
Yeledov said:
Hello Surgery Twin!

I accidentally started a day early but by the time I figured it out it was too late to do anything but plow on. Today is day 6 for me. I blame the fact that I had to put my beloved dog down earlier in the month. It was somewhat expected but still, I loved her and I miss her. I wasn’t really paying enough attention for a couple weeks.

I’m doing better than I expected. It definitely helps that my partners have taken over dinners for themselves so I don’t have to cook. That heatwave actually worked to my advantage because I never feel like eating in hot weather. How are you doing? Have you worked out some ways to make this 14 day liquid diet tolerable for you? Are you looking forward to surgery or are you having anxiety about it? I’m kind of having both.

I’ve found a nice cup of broth at night really helps with the all day sweet shakes. A friend who had wls a few years back suggested Real Lemon packets to mix in water to have something tart. It worked so great I bought the lime and grapefruit version too. Ive also been getting some tips from wls patients on TikTok of all places! I also just got a sno-cone machine and a bunch of sugar-free syrups. That should be a good way to have a little fun for the next 9 days.

Wishing you the best!!
Jonah
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Awe! Your post made me smile, we are indeed surgery twins

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. That is hard under normal circumstances. Hugs.

It also sounds like you have supportive partners! So glad to hear that they are supporting you and this journey. My husband has been really helpful too. Fixing his own meals and doing the kiddos dinner has been helpful.

The liquid diet is going better than I anticipated. I guess I too started a day early…my only reason is I cannot count! Haha. I am drinking four protein shakes a day. For lunch, I will sip broth. I have also treated myself to a sugar free popsicle at night. I have had low energy and a headache but doing good. I thought I would struggle more in the beginning, but I think end will be a challenge for me as have started to think about and crave some foods.

What a great idea with the snow cones! You will even be able to enjoy that after the surgery! I am trying to convince my husband that I need a ice pebble machine.

As far as the surgery, I am feeling both anxiety and excitement. I have never had any surgery before so to be there with out any loved ones is a bit scary, and I am excited to move to the next phase.

Have you found any good resources for post surgery diets?

Wishing you the best, surgery twin!
 
Jonah, I still call for my cat, Izzy, who died almost two years ago at the age of 16. I can't bring myself to adopt another. My Izzy would stare deeply into my eyes, even when I wasnt looking at her. I kinda feel widowed.

I bought a bunch of sno-cone syrups, too, to add to my vanilla protein shakes. It was good, but I found the trade-off minimal. It was easier just to mix up the shake and get on it.

My condolences. I feel ya.
 
@dianeseattle
Thank you. I miss my little pupper very much. Of all the dogs I’ve had she and I bonded the most. She was only 7 years old and I’d had her for 6 years. A healthy chihuahua lives about 15-20 years, but she had a very bad accident as a puppy with her previous family. It caused her to lose an eye and damaged her brain, resulting in a seizure disorder. We managed to keep the seizures under control for about 5 years before they started to take over. We fought with specialists and different meds but it was pretty obvious where we were heading. In the end, I knew I had given her the best life possible. It helps to have no regrets.

I’m sorry about your companion Izzy. My spouse had a very strange but lovable cat named Fiend. He was a complete dope and we all loved him. He was about 13-14 when we lost him. That was over 4 years ago and my spouse still isn’t quite over it. I think it is like that when you have an extra special bond with an animal.

Going to try to make sno-cones tonight! Mostly it is for fun and variety so just doing the activity with my household will be a good thing.
 
Yeledov said:
@dianeseattle
Thank you. I miss my little pupper very much. Of all the dogs I’ve had she and I bonded the most. She was only 7 years old and I’d had her for 6 years. A healthy chihuahua lives about 15-20 years, but she had a very bad accident as a puppy with her previous family. It caused her to lose an eye and damaged her brain, resulting in a seizure disorder. We managed to keep the seizures under control for about 5 years before they started to take over. We fought with specialists and different meds but it was pretty obvious where we were heading. In the end, I knew I had given her the best life possible. It helps to have no regrets.

I’m sorry about your companion Izzy. My spouse had a very strange but lovable cat named Fiend. He was a complete dope and we all loved him. He was about 13-14 when we lost him. That was over 4 years ago and my spouse still isn’t quite over it. I think it is like that when you have an extra special bond with an animal.

Going to try to make sno-cones tonight! Mostly it is for fun and variety so just doing the activity with my household will be a good thing.
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Jonah, So sorry your pup went through that. She was very lucky to have you in her life, I am sure. Pets are family. Some we bond with a little more than others. One of my cats lived to be 19, while we knew we were very blessed with her longevity it was still hard to say goodbye. We've always been a multi-pet household. At one point we had 6 cats at one time because my daughter was living here with hers. They all have their own personalities and just like people some we bond with more than others.

Enjoy the sno-cone! Great weather for it!!
 
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Yeledov said:
@dianeseattle
Thank you. I miss my little pupper very much. Of all the dogs I’ve had she and I bonded the most. She was only 7 years old and I’d had her for 6 years. A healthy chihuahua lives about 15-20 years, but she had a very bad accident as a puppy with her previous family. It caused her to lose an eye and damaged her brain, resulting in a seizure disorder. We managed to keep the seizures under control for about 5 years before they started to take over. We fought with specialists and different meds but it was pretty obvious where we were heading. In the end, I knew I had given her the best life possible. It helps to have no regrets.

I’m sorry about your companion Izzy. My spouse had a very strange but lovable cat named Fiend. He was a complete dope and we all loved him. He was about 13-14 when we lost him. That was over 4 years ago and my spouse still isn’t quite over it. I think it is like that when you have an extra special bond with an animal.

Going to try to make sno-cones tonight! Mostly it is for fun and variety so just doing the activity with my household will be a good thing.
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Snow cone machine is the best idea I have heard in a while! That will be so much fun and will come in real handy after surgery when you want something that adds to your liquid intake. I understand about your pupper, my two are my life I would be so lonely without them.
I have machine envy when I see those frozen margarita machines, even though I prefer a margarita on the rocks. They look like fun and the variety of what can be made is endless. Wishing you all the best, you are almost there!
 
I’m on day 12 of my pre op diet that is supposed to be 14 days but I miscounted and started a day early. I didn’t realize until 2 days in so it was to late to go back then! I haven’t found it as difficult as I feared. I do feel lucky that my partners have taken over cooking for themselves. I used to do all the cooking and I just don’t trust myself not to unthinkingly pop something in my mouth.
My program did do a psychiatric evaluation. It’s pretty much just a check in that you understand what your getting into. I found it to be useful to talk about some of my fears.
 
Again it's amazing the differences in everyone's program requirements. My pre-op diet is 2 days oof clear liquids, starting Sat morning before my Monday surgery. And that can include full sugar apple juice, popsicles including bomb pops, etc. Please know that I'm not trying to brag; it's just not quite what I expected to hear in class today. Good luck everyone with your pre-op diet.
 
I think someone already mentioned the fact that the bigger reason for the pre-op diet is the doctor's need for more room to maneuver in there. If you have an open procedure, it's less critical. But laparoscopic surgery needs really exact targets, and in the morbidly obese, the organs are overweight as well. So the fast or pre-op diet is really a good idea for your own sake. It's hard, though. The only thing my surgeon told me was to try to eat less between our last office visit and the surgery date. But that was many moons ago, and I had an open procedure where my gallbladder was also removed, which is typical these days.
 
dianeseattle said:
I think someone already mentioned the fact that the bigger reason for the pre-op diet is the doctor's need for more room to maneuver in there. If you have an open procedure, it's less critical. But laparoscopic surgery needs really exact targets, and in the morbidly obese, the organs are overweight as well. So the fast or pre-op diet is really a good idea for your own sake. It's hard, though. The only thing my surgeon told me was to try to eat less between our last office visit and the surgery date. But that was many moons ago, and I had an open procedure where my gallbladder was also removed, which is typical these days.
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The surgical team seemed to be more concerned with having the stomach empty & the colon pretty much empty esp for the RnY surgeries. No mention in our class about fatty livers or other concerns. Idk if it's because of the surgeon's vast experience or his use of robotics. Btw no drain tube/bag to take home! Yay Woohoo!!!
 
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