Why only Liqiuds beore Surgery

My surgery is scheduled for monday the 15th. The only requirement is nothing to eat or drink after midnight. I'm curious to know the reason why some doctors.

Rita - My doctor/program says it's better for you and the surgeon to lose that extra 10 pounds right before surgery. It makes his job easier. It also makes your liver shrink a bit which also makes it easier for the surgeon.(At least that was the explanation he gave me). Good luck with your surgery!!! Mine is 8/17/05. Lynne

Hi Lynne, I started this journey on 7-04-05 with a visit to the Obesity Consult Center. The requirements for surgery is to lose 5% to 10% of your body weight before surgery so that your liver will shrink and the fatty tissue won't be so tough to get the instruments thru. There program also include going to a Behavior Change Group and Physical Activity for Life Education Lecture Series for six weeks. I've lost 8% of my body weight since May preparing for this surgery. Maybe that's why my doctor didn't require a liquid diet. We are about to begin one of the most fantastic journey's of our life on the losing side. May God and His angelssurround you and your OR team on the 17th ******************************************Rita

So you won't vomit and aspirate during surgery

Hi Sharon, I'm thinking this might be a good idea for me. I have 6 days left before surgery and I was thinking if I change to liquids 3 days before it hopefully will do the trick of empting my stomach. How long before surgery did you change to just liquids? ***********************************************Rita

My program also required that you lose 10% of your body wieght before they would even write the letter for the insurance co. I did that too. This is additional weight they want you lose. Lynne

My surgery is for tomorrow, 8/10. I have been on liquids for 4 days. They told me that for lap. it will shrink you pancres and liver and will make surgery go easier and faster. I guess it helps that I have lost 10 pounds in 4 days!

Hi Patti, Wow ten pounds in four days. I think that's what I'm going to do even though my doctor doesn't require it. I know the more you shrink the pancres and liver the easier surgery will be. I'm going to go your route and start my liquid diet on thursday, 4 days before surgery. I'll keep you in my prayers tonight and may God and His angels be with you and your OR team tommorrow. *****************************************Rita

Hi Rita, I was just thinking the same thing yesterday. I went for my blood work and EKG. I was thinking to myself lets try to do the liquids and see if I want to kill anyone afterwards. HAHA By the way how do you get all the cute little smiley faces and angels? I'm the one that is having the surgery the same day as you at NEMC. Good LUck Thinking of you today PAtti.. Prayers are with you also. Donna

Hi Donna, I called my sister at Tufts to see about this liquid only thing. She said she didn't have to do it for her surgery. She also asked one of the nurses she works with that also had the gastric bypass. She said there's no requirement to go on liquids (they didn't). She suggested to eat light on saturday and do mostly liquids on sunday and nothing after midnight. I think you should go with your doctors instructions. Everyone is different. On to the cute smiley faces. Go to the right side of the page when your typing a message. It says Toolbars click on Title images and double click on the face you want to appear next to your title. click on message emoticons and type in the code of the image you want next to the word in your message you want to see it next to. You can alway**** preview to see if it's how you want it before submitting your message. ***************************************Rita