alexaymelek
Member
Finally scheduled after so much headache....today is my first pre op diet, it’s so hard. How did you guys do it? Why do some people have to do the pre op diet and others don’t?
Surgery scheduled 0626
- Thread starter alexaymelek
- Start date
dianeseattle
Member
I think nowadays everyone has to do a pre-op diet. I think it is required by Insurance.
Other members here will tell you that their doctors told them to do this as a way to shrink their livers. I'm not so sure about that. But whatever.
I did not have to do a pre-op diet because my surgery was almost 13 years ago. They did suggest to me that I learn to chew my food more thoroughly and they suggested I lose a few pounds before surgery which I did.
There is no getting around this though. The REAL reason the pre-op diet is super important because it is the way that you learn to eat post-operatively.
I'm really sorry though, that you have fallen off the cliff into a very painful place. I imagine the change in your diet is very disturbing and you may even suffer some physical problems like weakness and shaking and headaches because of the changes in your blood sugar.
But I would say if you have a serious problem, call your doctor or nutritionist and get their blessing to add a few more food items.
If you're just feeling a little woozy, you might want to have an orange or a banana or a sip of something. Just don't eat anything that has a lot of fat in it or a lot of sugar in it. And if it has sugar in it, make sure it is natural sugar, such as what you will find in an orange.
Believe me, you are not alone. We all sympathize with this change you have to go through. But in my opinion you will grow to love eating better food and you will not be able to figure out how you ate all that crap and got where you got. But that will take awhile.
Of all the members here who have had surgery in the last year, did any of you "cheat" a little because it was too hard to change your style so quickly?
Other members here will tell you that their doctors told them to do this as a way to shrink their livers. I'm not so sure about that. But whatever.
I did not have to do a pre-op diet because my surgery was almost 13 years ago. They did suggest to me that I learn to chew my food more thoroughly and they suggested I lose a few pounds before surgery which I did.
There is no getting around this though. The REAL reason the pre-op diet is super important because it is the way that you learn to eat post-operatively.
I'm really sorry though, that you have fallen off the cliff into a very painful place. I imagine the change in your diet is very disturbing and you may even suffer some physical problems like weakness and shaking and headaches because of the changes in your blood sugar.
But I would say if you have a serious problem, call your doctor or nutritionist and get their blessing to add a few more food items.
If you're just feeling a little woozy, you might want to have an orange or a banana or a sip of something. Just don't eat anything that has a lot of fat in it or a lot of sugar in it. And if it has sugar in it, make sure it is natural sugar, such as what you will find in an orange.
Believe me, you are not alone. We all sympathize with this change you have to go through. But in my opinion you will grow to love eating better food and you will not be able to figure out how you ate all that crap and got where you got. But that will take awhile.
Of all the members here who have had surgery in the last year, did any of you "cheat" a little because it was too hard to change your style so quickly?
alexaymelek
Member
It is so hard. But I overly commit and I want to do so good. I do not plan on cheating. My doctor said it was to shrink my liver too. I just need to get my mind off of food. Lol
dianeseattle
Member
Well, good luck sweetie, and feel free to complain here in this forum as much as you want to. We are all here to listen to you.
alexaymelek
Member
I am nervous as hell. More nervous about it not working, since I have no thyroid.
dianeseattle
Member
I lost my thyroid to Graves disease in 1985. The only way to stop my hyperthyroidism at that time was to irradiate my thyroid gland so it would never work again.
I take 88 micrograms of thyroid replacement hormone everyday. The rule of thyroid hormone replacement is that you take it at least a half hour before you eat anything. I have not been good at that in the past. I don't remember anyone ever telling me that.
Now I take it at bedtime along with my iron tablet. And in 35 years since I lost my thyroid gland, it has not affected my weight at all. My doctor explained to me several times that it is really a mistake for people to associate weight with your thyroid hormone dosage. The thyroid gland has a lot of stuff you're more likely to suffer from than to gain weight.
From the National Institutes of Health:
"Thyroid hormones control the way the body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even the way your heart beats. Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body’s functions slow down."
Do you have an endocrinologist? Thyroid disease should not be left in the hands of general practitioners. You should definitely have an endocrinologist because of the many ways that no-thyroid-gland can affect your body. I didn't even cut and paste them all here.
The more you reveal about yourself and your fears, the more I believe that you have an opportunity to start a whole new life with all your organs working the way they're supposed to.
I take 88 micrograms of thyroid replacement hormone everyday. The rule of thyroid hormone replacement is that you take it at least a half hour before you eat anything. I have not been good at that in the past. I don't remember anyone ever telling me that.
Now I take it at bedtime along with my iron tablet. And in 35 years since I lost my thyroid gland, it has not affected my weight at all. My doctor explained to me several times that it is really a mistake for people to associate weight with your thyroid hormone dosage. The thyroid gland has a lot of stuff you're more likely to suffer from than to gain weight.
From the National Institutes of Health:
"Thyroid hormones control the way the body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even the way your heart beats. Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body’s functions slow down."
Do you have an endocrinologist? Thyroid disease should not be left in the hands of general practitioners. You should definitely have an endocrinologist because of the many ways that no-thyroid-gland can affect your body. I didn't even cut and paste them all here.
The more you reveal about yourself and your fears, the more I believe that you have an opportunity to start a whole new life with all your organs working the way they're supposed to.
My surgeon explained that the pro-op diet is to shrink your liver so they have a better window to visualize the stomach and intestines. It was a hard week for me also. We had a pizza party at work the first day of my liquid diet and then had mexican food a couple days later. I just hunkered down and reminded myself that these foods were part of the reason why I was having the surgery and I had to keep my eyes on the prize. By day 3, I found that I wasn't hungry any longer. The protein shakes kept me on an even keel. Good luck and keep your chin up. This is all temporary. Eventually life will get back to a new normal and we will enjoy solid food again, just less of it, and hopefully, better choices.
canecorso81
Member
I'm in the same boat. Did you get your approval from insurance? I forgot I apologize.
3momchaos
Member
I will have my last appointment at the beginning of September because my insurance changed their requirements in May. It would have been the end of July.